Electric Mountain Bikes

[Scaf]

I thought the very same thing myself...... main reason would be that I am late 50’s and never going to be super fit. An electric assisted bike will allow me to improve my fitness whilst exploring the many off road cycle routes around Hertfordshire.

I borrowed a Halfords cheap one a month ago and whereas I could only ride my current bike for an hour, less when off road, I managed 4hours of assisted riding, exploring areas I could never have reached on my standard bike.

 

[Mr K]

I thought the very same thing myself...... main reason would be that I am late 50’s and never going to be super fit. An electric assisted bike will allow me to improve my fitness whilst exploring the many off road cycle routes around Hertfordshire.

I borrowed a Halfords cheap one a month ago and whereas I could only ride my current bike for an hour, less when off road, I managed 4hours of assisted riding, exploring areas I could never have reached on my standard bike.

Don't be defeatist! Whilst peak performance capability does decline with age, and quite markedly after 70, you'd be amazed at what you're capable of if you work ******* getting fitter - you do have to push yourself frequently to build up the fitness, though. At least once a week, or you lose your gains. No pain, no gain.

I'm about as "late 50s" as you can get and most people would probably describe me as pretty fit (I can run a hilly 5km in under 24 mins). I know older men who can do it in about 20 mins, though they're dedicated high mileage skinny types. Cycling's quite an easy exercise in comparison to running. There are loads of cyclists who ride long distances in their 80s, and Herefordshire hills are fine if you have low gears.

On the other hand, electric mountain bikes are great for getting up mountains for a bit of fast downhill fun, if that's what you plan.

 

[Scaf]

Don't be defeatist! Whilst peak performance capability does decline with age, and quite markedly after 70, you'd be amazed at what you're capable of if you work *** getting fitter - you do have to push yourself frequently to build up the fitness, though. At least once a week, or you lose your gains. No pain, no gain.

I'm about as "late 50s" as you can get and most people would probably describe me as pretty fit (I can run a hilly 5km in under 24 mins). I know older men who can do it in about 20 mins, though they're dedicated high mileage skinny types. Cycling's quite an easy exercise in comparison to running. There are loads of cyclists who ride long distances in their 80s, and Herefordshire hills are fine if you have low gears.

On the other hand, electric mountain bikes are great for getting up mountains for a bit of fast downhill fun, if that's what you plan.

I appreciate that if you work hard and put in the time a good level of fitness can be achieved at almost any age. But like so many I work long hours and have huge extended family commitments so I have to be realistic.
We shall see

 

[BennyD]

Electric bikes; what a load of cr4p. That’s like having a moped without the smell of two stroke oil. I despair at what society is turning into.

 

[JonW]

These are good value Scaf...

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/e-bike...1wKUlxVnwEANKm04rYgaAusLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[D Walker]

I am struggling to see the point. Surely a bike (Cycle,) is about us powering it. Why not just buy a moped for scooting about?

Totally agree.
Electric dogs that walk themselves next....

 

[azapa]

Electric bikes; what a load of cr4p. That’s like having a moped without the smell of two stroke oil. I despair at what society is turning into.

I understand. But try one. There are two types: 1. the lazy a55 one that you just push a button and go, 2. the not quite so lazy a55 that multiplies your input (peddling) by some %. The later are the dogs danglies because you do actually get some burn riding them.

With 10% torque add you just get over the rolling resistance of the bigger tires and weight of the bike, in that it feels like a regular mountain bike. With 50% torque add you pump the thing along. With 100% torque add, well, I've never seen anyone get off without a stupid grin.

Also, the "torque add" bikes in general don't have buttons, cables, switches all over them - they look like real bikes.

They are so inviting to peddle, and you can go that much further and faster, the resulting workout is great. Honest.

 

[Motorsport3]

Anyone got any experience with these, we are introducing the cycle to work scheme so I am going to take advantage of the tax break and buy myself one.

Any views of which brands to look at?

Will spend up to £2.5k

I'm toying w the idea of getting the Thok Mig HT, which is about your budget.

Thok MIG-HT | Thok E-bikes

E-bike Spec: Thok MIG-HT, the Urban Warrior city e-bike with an off-road soul.

www.thokbikes.com

Thok is an interesting company. They make the electric bikes for Ducati but also have their own series which is better value. The Mig HT is the cheapest bike they make so it is more on the value proposition but honestly more than well specced for riding to the office if i can't use the tube.
I never had one so I'm not talking from experience.

 

[Chrisb2015]

Rimac has a sister company who do e bikes. Rimac have done a lot with the battery technology on it. As a result it goes like a scalded cat..... www.greyp.com/

Ex colleague of mine has one and raves about it, apparently it will do 40mph+ where conditions allow.

 

[philw696]

Hired one for an afternoon in 2018 when living in Laval it was enjoyable but not done it since or ridden a bicycle.
Definitely a big smile when I used to get on and off of my BMW G450 X Enduro Bike.

 

[mjheathcote]

I still do a bit on my 20 year old MB, never really considered changing it, was top spec at the time alloy frame, full suspension with disc brakes etc.
However for me in my 50's now, a couple of hours max and I've had it, it's very hilly around here, an assisted bike does appeal!

 

[rs48635]

it's all horses for courses.
Why don't you lot get a sensible Honda instead of those ridiculous V8 noise monsters? Get all your bargains from Aldi, pick up the prescription pile cream and go to the allotment to tweak the tomatoes. Using less fuel than starting one maserati with subsequent gratuitous reviving.

Electric bikes allow access to more distant pleasures. Is it okay for the fitter crowd to "pull up the ladder"? Maybe tolerate those who were fit but got injured or disabled? In England at least the mountains are not a free for all, most are owned by ancient money.

 

[dickygrace]

I still do a bit on my 20 year old MB, never really considered changing it, was top spec at the time alloy frame, full suspension with disc brakes etc.
However for me in my 50's now, a couple of hours max and I've had it, it's very hilly around here, an assisted bike does appeal!

I’ve ridden up your road so many times as an 18-19 year old. Wouldn’t fancy it now, electric assistance all the way.

 

[Mr K]

I appreciate that if you work hard and put in the time a good level of fitness can be achieved at almost any age. But like so many I work long hours and have huge extended family commitments so I have to be realistic.
We shall see

I understand the time thing, though slightly puzzled that you want an electric bike so that you can extend your 1 hour unassisted rides to 4 hours with a motor and battery, if time's such an issue! I used to cycle a lot, but it takes so much time. I would lose a whole Saturday. I now run twice a week in the local park and it costs me about 2 hours per week in total with warm-up and cool-down jogs and a sit-down afterwards. I also mix cycle-commuting with using cars during normal times as it's such a time-efficient way of getting exercise.

I've tried commuting on an e-bike, but the weight, low speed, high cost, the faff of charging it and unecessary complexity makes them unattractive. I would rather use a £100 2nd hand bargain. My favourite bike is my 8kg carbon Specialized Roubaix - I've been up mountains in France and done > 100 miles in a day on it

 

[Scaf]

I understand the time thing, though slightly puzzled that you want an electric bike so that you can extend your 1 hour unassisted rides to 4 hours with a motor and battery

It’s the time it takes to get a level of fitness. With the electric bike I hope to be able to jump on it once a month every other week or so with little or nothing in between, whereas to ride a normal bike I would have to spend months getting to a decent level of fitness and then hours weekly keeping it up.

Anyway, we are all different and have different reasons for doing different things, who knows I might even have health issues that impact my decision.

My wife keeps asking me why I need three cars, my neighbours ask me why two of them are V8’s and one of them is as noisy as **** and I haven’t been able to answer those questions satisfactorily either but I still have the three cars though and remind my neighbours regularly how noisy they can be

 

[mjheathcote]

I’ve ridden up your road so many times as an 18-19 year old. Wouldn’t fancy it now, electric assistance all the way.

It's amazing how many MBers pass our house and I think by the speed they must be very fit 20 something but are now usually 50 something with a little (or a lot!) of assistance!!

 

[BennyD]

I understand. But try one. There are two types: 1. the lazy a55 one that you just push a button and go, 2. the not quite so lazy a55 that multiplies your input (peddling) by some %. The later are the dogs danglies because you do actually get some burn riding them.

With 10% torque add you just get over the rolling resistance of the bigger tires and weight of the bike, in that it feels like a regular mountain bike. With 50% torque add you pump the thing along. With 100% torque add, well, I've never seen anyone get off without a stupid grin.

Also, the "torque add" bikes in general don't have buttons, cables, switches all over them - they look like real bikes.

They are so inviting to peddle, and you can go that much further and faster, the resulting workout is great. Honest.

A nice try at selling it however, I’m not buying into this ‘electric everything‘ fad. Cars, bikes, tools, mowers, hedge trimmers, etc,etc,etc. If you want to feel ’the burn’ on a bike, pedal the bloody thing and if you want to go fast and get off with a grin, buy a motorbike. These days, if it hasn’t got a f*cking battery it’s ‘not cool’ or ‘hip’ or whatever else the snowflakes say. Btw, you are not saving the planet with these things - dirty power stations still power them - all you are doing is helping to overload the infrastructure. If you listen carefully, you can hear the bleating of all the sheep running out to buy the latest electric gadget which will, in time, become just more garage clutter.

 

[Mr K]

It’s the time it takes to get a level of fitness. With the electric bike I hope to be able to jump on it once a month every other week or so with little or nothing in between, whereas to ride a normal bike I would have to spend months getting to a decent level of fitness and then hours weekly keeping it up.

Anyway, we are all different and have different reasons for doing different things, who knows I might even have health issues that impact my decision.

My wife keeps asking me why I need three cars, my neighbours ask me why two of them are V8’s and one of them is as noisy as **** and I haven’t been able to answer those questions satisfactorily either but I still have the three cars though and remind my neighbours regularly how noisy they can be

No worries, just trying to inspire people with what's possible for us non-athletes in our late 50s - others will read this. It's not a time thing, high intensity is the key. It is hard, though. Every time I run it's hard. But it feels great - endorphins...

 

[Scaf]

No worries, just trying to inspire people with what's possible for us non-athletes in our late 50s - others will read this. It's not a time thing, high intensity is the key. It is hard, though. Every time I run it's hard. But it feels great - endorphins...

I get it and the inspiration is welcome, I bought a bow flex cross trainer to help with the HIT and have never been fitter, I am just not yet fit

 

[Scaf]

Well after months of deliberation I have acquired a Thaibike Hardnine 4. Got a good price from a friend who ordered and paid for it during lockdown but now has other plans.
Not been on a bike for 18months and even then I struggled to cycle more that 15miles, yesterday I rode 20miles straight off - still had to work but with assist up the hills it was enjoyable rather than hard work.
I accept they are not for everyone but I get the feeling I will get some good use from it.