E-bikes - Fad Or Future?

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1. Is this just another fad that appeals to a market where there is money to spare?? What wheel size is best, fat bikes, single cogs ......
   For the majority of us these subtle changes make a small difference to our riding. I question the benefit of e-assisted biking against the additional weight you carry.
   I really enjoy riding long trails and as an older rider I love the feeling of success on my own. I target increasing my distances. Would an e-bike really push the Kms? I have seen it assist downhillers on their climbs but will it help me go from 50Km ride to an 80Km ride?? Then at the end of the day will I feel the same accomplishment adding the extra Kms through assisted riding?
   I also love a day in the park, and have been known to get the shuttle up hill. But again the downhills that I have 'earned' somehow mean more to me. I kind of get how a 160+ rider would benefit (I ride 140 which I love) as I rode one around the shop the other day and it felt loose as, but then adding the extra weight what will that do to the down hill.
   And then again if I had the money for an e-bike, I'd also have the money for a decent new trad bike and have change to buy some other toys too!!
   Kia ora!
2. ...I would ride an E-bike,if someone gave me one...but i would buy a normal bike first,as,i think e-bikes cost too much,for me anyways,and i ride bikes,to enjoy cycling,as a sport,to keep fit...e-bikes,for me,kind of defeats the object,of man and machine,vs.the great outdoors....that said,if they were to get a lot cheaper,..i would def.consider having one....
3. Wouldn't it be great to have a downhill e-bike for downhills without any lift / uplift service? Ride down, get to the bottom, then turn on the pedal assist and cruise back to the top.
4. I'm 60 plus years old, ex motorcycle trials, enduro and trail rider but my health has changed. I now have a Scott hardtail ebike and its opened up a whole new world. I can go out with my fitter mates and have fun and my paralysed from the chest down mate can also now go out with his hand cranking ebike tricycle. Both of us are ex motorcyclists. Yes, if you are young and fit then fine go without a motor but don't knock us guys that have been there and done that, yet still want to get out there with ebike assistance to play like we did before.
5. I will definitely buy one in next two years :) I'm not as fit as pro-riders and I cannot cover as many trails per day as I would like to (I'm not getting younger either). For me this is a perfect option for not getting tired too early in the day :)
6. Haven't got an E bike but I would have one if they were not so expensive. I am 56 and I ride a road bike so I consider my fitness level pretty good. An e bike for me would enable me to ride further and for longer periods. I would not be so bothered about the roller coaster hills we have here in Yorkshire. I feel peoples egos get in the way of owning one with the mindset of that you have to be an athlete to be a proper biker. Well if an e bike can benefit you by assisting your peddling up a hill without giving you a heart attack or unrestricts you from exploring further afield then where is the harm in that? I think there is room for both types of bikes the same as there are different types of bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, e bikes. Whatever gets you on a bike then that is the bike for you. Stuff other peoples opinions of what is considered to be morally right, If it makes you feel good then do it. Bike snobbery is what stops some folk from enjoying cycling. To be frank about it, if someone has a reason for an e bike why judge them. Personally I have no problems with any form of cycling including tandems!!!
7. They are too expensive >.>
8. As a long-time avid cyclist & racer with a degenerative condition, I've been relegated to shuttle & park mtb riding these past 3 years. The prospect of being able to rejoin my friends out on some of my favorite xc trails and to be able to enjoy the pedal-y sections on my current trails is exciting for me. These bikes may be able to expand the horizons of others who, for whatever reason, aren't getting out enjoying the great outdoors on two wheels. The current limitations to our trail access has been the only thing keeping me from purchasing one of these bikes. Unfortunately, that also means I continue to only ride 1-2 days a week instead of the 5 days I used to be able to enjoy.
9. I'll probably get one. I have a bmx, an enduro mountainbike and a dualsport motorcycle, seems like an interesting way to ride. I rented one in san Francisco with my wife who doesn't really ride and she handily kept up with me.
10. Embrace technology! These bikes are fun. It is another way to enjoy the outdoors and grow the bike community. It also helps older guys/gals who just do not have the physical capability any longer. Great coverage GMBN.
11. These manufactures wouldn't waste time and money developing these motors, frames and batteries if there wasn't a market for them, they have obviously seen the increase of sales and there is a market for them, regardless of whether you like them or not, they are here to stay, If it encourages people outside and helps them get fit and enjoy life, then I see them as a good idea, if it helps someone who has sustained an injury in the passed to carry on with the sport they love and enjoy, then these bikes and the developers are doing a great job.
12. First, MTB purists want to outlaw e-mtb because of weight. What about me I weight 240# which is more than most if not all e-mtb rider/e-bike weight, are you going to outlaw me?
    
    Second because of my weight and because I am in good physical condition I put put more horsepower to rear wheel than my wife does on her e-bike. Which of us should be outlawed from your mtb trails? I am doing more damage based on horsepower and weight than my wife.
    
    Third exercise is not the only reason I mountain bike. I bike because I like the outdoors, fresh air and the beauty of nature. So if I go for a ride just to enjoy mature and not to get exercise should I be banded from your mtb trails?
    
    For me it does not insult me when my wife passes me on a hill with her e-bikel. Heck I get passed by 16 year old kids. I know it is a insult to your manhood when some 60 year old lady passes you on her e-bike but get over it.
    
    See the arguments against class 1 peddle assists mountain bikes on bike trails is just silly when you think about it. If e-mtb's bring more interest we will get more trails and more people to maintain them.
    
    Don't we all want more trails to ride?
13. I got an eBike for one main reason... Because electric cars are insanely expensive! I can commute on my ebike to and from work or around town significantly faster without showing up covered in sweat. In the good weather it is a great alternative to a motorcycle as it is significantly cheaper due to virtually no fuel cost, no registration, and no insurance requirements. In the garage it takes up a lot less space than a motorcycle would, is easier to move around if it is in the way, and is easier to maintain. The thing that all the people spewing hate don't realize is that not everyone who rides a bicycle does it for the exercise. In this day in age of extreme government regulation, rising vehicle costs, and rising fuel costs, ebikes are a simple and cheap solution for transportation issues. Especially if you live in a downtown or overly congested area...
14. Sold my car and got an E bike, I now get to work 20 mins faster no more sitting in traffic.
    within last 2 years of owning it , it has paid for itself in saving of petrol and insurance.
    
    trust me buying one wont just replace normal mountain bikes but also cars and public transport.
    and mine only weighs 29kg with range of 45-65km.
15. e-bikes are the future no 2 ways about it. There will always be standard bikes but as technology improves and costs and weight reduce, e-bikes will be common place everywhere! and no I haven't got one:)
16. I voice to have same equal of trail access for hiker ,normal bike ,& e bike In US, as in Europe .Only need follow basic common trail courtesy rule, rather then all the govt regulation,since some law writer don't even ride bike! (see some law maker want put ebike limited on motor spot!.) Our country have a lot to go..
17. E-bikes, I want one, but I see them more for in town than for mountain biking, researching e-bikes is what got me to buy a mountain bike again after years of not biking, having so much fun going out for a rip everyday this summer.
18. eBike is a nice word for electric MOTOR cycle. Keep them off my trails.
19. heres my tale on it... or my 2 takes.. i have 2 homes 1 in connecticut, u.s.a.. and on in the basque country in spain... in the u.s. i can ride my normal full suspension bike no problem and do 60km.... unassisted no breaks yada yada yada... in the basque country i feel like ive never riden before.. hill after hill after hill... ive been riding for 20+ years... and omg these hills are murder.. my first ride this year with a friend in spain had me pucking after 30 minutes.. i can ride every day in the u.s. and no matter what i wont be ready for these hills... my second take is my wife... she loves to ride.. about 2 years ago she injured her back severely she can ride in the u.s. but impossible in the basque country... her next bike will be an ebike so she can enjoy the amazingness that is the basque country