E-bikes are fantastic because they open up way more of the trail network to you and your ride. What you lose in climb, you gain in downhill fitness. Allowing you to lap features over and over again to really dial in technique or just allow more laps of a trail you know already. Mountain Biking has so many subcategories now that, as I’ve said prior, there’s a place in the sandbox for all. XC, Freeride, Enduro, Downhill, etc. E-bikes allow you to unlock more of the ride, but if you want a good pedal you can ride XC or just pedal up if you want. I also enjoy e-bikes allowing seniors to continue to ride Mtb. Rode with a 71 year old guy at Trexler who wouldn’t stop talking how much he loved his e-bike and how valuable it was to allow him to be able to keep moving. All in all, the e-bike is just another tool in the arsenal. I work for a railroad and don’t get a lot of time to ride. So, if I can have my ebike get me 10 laps as opposed to 4-5, I’m all about it.
Love that Dennis! Fantastic insights too. It really does come down to what you want to get out of your ride. Can't wait for you to come over to Mt Penn, although you will have to go analog pace for me ;) Sage
The progression unlocked by e-mtb's is undeniable! But is the peak fitness and fitness benefits the same? Either way... mtb's are a blast to ride!!! - Dan
@@viperdemonz-jenkins Lazy is one playing golf riding in a cart. Wrestling a 50 lb. bike thru single track is not lazy Oh! when you get old and are playing golf think about the fit old buzzards riding e mtn. bikes. Yea and go to the mtns. and check out the bikers on ski lifts.
Thanks for the shout out guys! I am in the best shape of my life and ride e-bike only. I feel that it helps me to ride faster and take less breaks. I am pretty limited on how long I can be out. An e-bikes lets me get in the miles and gives me a great workout in a short period of time. It also forced me to started lifting weights to help with my bunny hops and loading it on the bike rack😆.
Rob you were incredible on that bike... so impressive. I can also see how it benefits you with the time limitations. If you ever want to try and analog bike let me know. I think you would be a beast on that too. Sage
You're an impressive rider Rob!! (and a good dude!) It was really great riding with you. And your progression in 4 years of exclusively e-biking is compelling! Really interesting that you started lifting weights b/c of ebiking too. I do that for my analog bikes and was wondering if that motivation moved to ebikes as well. Thanks for listening & commenting!! - Dan
I am in the fortunate position to be able to ride 7 days a week. I purchased an e bike because I got a great deal. I thought that I would use it for progression, but it is now the bike I grab two days a week when I need a more chill, “easy” day on the trails. The e bike allows me to go hard when I need to on my analog bikes and get to the gym two days a week. I have several bikes that I ride other than the e bike (enduro, short travel, fat, and gravel). They are all tools and I pick the right tool for the ride I want that day. They are all fun for what they are. If the e bike “replaced” any of the bikes, it is my gravel bike. I used to use that for my easier days. It will now just sit on my trainer for winter training.
Love that Brandon!!! Picking the right bike for the right situation makes a lot of sense. Here's a question, if you could only keep one of those bikes, which would it be and why? Sage
@ that is a tough question. Probably my short travel bike. It is an Ibis RipleyAF forked out to 140mm. I can ride just about anything on that bike. I am running some lighter xc tires now, but I would probably mount a little more aggressive trail tire and be more than happy.
Great feedback Brandon! You're a perfect e-bike case study. You ride all your bikes and the e-bike has its role. But you're probably still hitting peak fitness since you ride your other bikes so much. Thanks for listening & commenting!! Much appreciated! - Dan
@@RideLaughPodcast I got to listen to your most recent podcast and thanks for the recognition of my comment. Just wanted to give you a little background on my situation. This year I moved to a new residence in Marquette County in Upper MI. After traveling here to bike for several years, I now have the ease of riding out of my backyard, directly onto the RAMBA MTB system which consists of approximately 80 miles of trails. That doesn’t include the miles of trails in the NTN, Harlow Lake, Marquette Mountain DH park and Copper Harbor networks. The ease and nuance of my situation is what allows me to ride everyday. Also, prior to getting my “eeb,” I was having some strange heart palpitations that after doctor visits, I considered where the result of over training. About three weeks after adding the e bike in, the palpitations have ceased and have not returned. That all being said, I have lost some balance in my fitness and need to prioritize two days in the gym. It will be nice to be able to hit some squats in the morning and still be able to put the eeb in turbo for an afternoon rip. Keep doing what you guys are doing. I listen every week while cleaning at the local ice rink. If you guys are ever looking for a mountain bike adventure, come check out Marquette County and the Keweenaw peninsula for some amazing riding. *edit reposted under ridelaughpodcast.
@@brandonschopf1642 Wow, a lot to unpack here, but amazing stuff Brandon! That is awesome that you live so close to a cool trail network. It was also interesting to find out how the e-bike helped with your heart condition. You sound like a very motivated and driven person so I'm sure you will get the fitness dialed in. Lastly, thank you for the support! We might have to put MI on the list. Sage
You hit the nail on the head about uphill tech riding. It's a blast, very rewarding. Nothing more boring and tedious than a fire road climb...or an elevator. Bummer for me that I'm nursing a sore hamstring, stuck with fire roads and elevators. Hoping to be back in the tech come springtime, this semi sedentary lifestyle is driving me completely out of my mind. Watching you guys helps, so thanks for the show.
Guysssssssss fitness is relative! Some people might only be able to access MTB with the help of a battery and motor but with that assistance they can build and get stronger. I got to “enjoy” this perspective after my 12 week hiatus and the only way I could get to the top of a climb without feeling like I was gonna die was on the eeb. My goal was to return to Amish bike capability as fast as possible so I used the e-bike on days I needed help finding fun and used the regular bike when I felt mentally strong enough to handle how discouraging it is to struggle with the process of returning to fitness and guess what: IM BACK BABY! Took a few weeks and still not 100% but the e-bike made it so much faster and more enjoyable to feel like a capable rider again. Recovery struggles aside, my e-bike is 170/170 and it’s perfect for smashing up transfers to get more DH runs in but it’s overkill on XC trails which I also love. Plus I love not listening to the motor and I love the light, nimble feel of my short travel trail bike. Someone else mentioned different tools for the tool box and that’s absolutely what it is. As for your thought that an e-bike takes the fun out of getting to the top of a technical climb you’re right and wrong because it might make current challenges too easy but I guarantee that it will unlock other sections of trail that look un-rideable. You two would be a menace on e-bikes in tech climbs! If I could only have one bike, I don’t think it would be my eeb. It would be the short travel trail bike or the Slash. Very grateful for all the bikes ❤and the podcast 🤗
OMG your recovery has been tremendous Shelly!!! I love how you used the e-bike to get back into shape mentally and physically. Excellent points all-around!!! We appreciate you and all your insights. Sage
Great feedback as always Shelly! Thank you!! Your recovery story is awesome and FAST! No doubt the e-bike is a fantastic tool for recovery rides. So many great reasons to own an e-bike. So cool that you still have the love of your analog bike as well though. You definitely LOVE mtbing!!! Oh and I thought the comment about finding more challenging lines on technical e-bike climbs was really interesting! - Dan
I have a cargo bike that is an ebike. I use it instead of my car because i am in town and i have solar panels that i charge it with. So i have my own gas station. Which i highly recommend it works great. That said i have been riding my mountain in the pacific northwest half my life and i dont want a ebike for mountain biking. For reasons part fitness but mostly i like the simple easy ready to ride analog bike. There are things on the ecargo bike i dont want to deal with when i go mountain biking. Great podcast guys
I would also like to add another reason to get an E-bike. Time. I have 3 young kids and when I go for a ride, I do not have an E-Bike and that sometimes means I can only do one lap with my limited time to ride. With and E-bike, an hour bike ride could easily mean more than one lap vs one for me.
Oh yeah, I love that perspective. They did not have e-bikes when my boys were little, and your right I could have gotten more miles out of my ride if that was a possibility. Good call Mark. Sage
Great point! Though if you take an analog bike out for an hour... can you get yourself a better workout? Then again, if time is tight and you're out further than you like... an e-bike is great for hitting turbo back to the car! Nothing worse than being late when the family is waiting for you! - Dan
Another great show guys! I haven’t ridden e-bikes enough to know if you lose fitness riding them full-time. I’ve heard some anecdotal reports saying yes & others saying no. That said, I do know of at least 4 riders that have lost weight and gained endurance & they ride eebs full-time. The little I have ridden them, I was pinning it & my HR was definitely spiking. Depending on how you ride them (mode, terrain etc) I don’t doubt you can get a killer workout. You were talking about folks getting e-mtbs & not riding their analogs. I know about 7 riders that have all given up their analog bikes. A few said they would ride them from time to time & eventually sold ‘em all, lol! The e-bike is just too fun. For me, I’m still a little on the fence… I have really fallen in love with Gran Fondo’s & pushing myself to the absolute limit (physically & mentally) on a ride that I’m not sure I can finish. Granted, that’s road biking…but I’m looking at a 100mi MTB event as well & will need to train on an analog bike for that. Anyway, the sense of satisfaction and the mental toughness you build from using your fitness to accomplish something incredibly difficult is hard to describe and quantify. I know you guys get it & that’s why you love the fitness aspect of riding. All that said, I do see an eeb in my future…but more of a N+1 situation. I would like one so I can ride trails & not take away from my road bike training. An e-bike would allow me to stay Z2 & be fresh for my road workouts. Also, I frankly hate pedaling a long travel trail bike around. For where I live & ride most, a short travel trail bike is just more fun for most rides. If I have to pedal around a big travel bike…I want it to have a motor. Anyway, at the end of the day, it’s all just fun on two wheels…
Oh man, so much good stuff here Mark. I like how you broke it down too. Yes, a lot of how you use an e-bike will depend on mode and terrain, but also how hard you want to push yourself. I know how much time you put into training and fitness, and I can see the value in Z2 training, as well as getting a long travel e-MTB for progression and fun. Who knows, you may need to pull the trigger on one sooner than later to rest that shoulder ;) Thanks for the awesome comment and feedback. Sage
Fantastic feedback Mark! 7 riders who bought e-bikes and ditched their analog bikes is a pretty big sample size! I love your drive to be fit and push your endurance limits. There is something very cool in accomplishing big miles! I'm guessing personalities like us would be OK getting and e-bike and keeping our fitness. Only one way to find out! N+1! :) - Dan
Oh! No kidding. Kinda nuts we both saw that video! I see you're soaking up the mtb youtube same as me! LOL! But it's a really great technique so thanks again for bringing it up! - Dan
I don't think the analog will ever be dead. My parents both just got e bikes they want to be doing the same stuff on analog bike but don't have the fitness. I decided to get one as well I haven't done a trail on it yet but it's cut my ride to work down to 1/2 the time. It's fun but I think I still prefer my regular Enduro it's way more light and playful I am also one that has fun on the climbs on my analog
Love it Kendal, and I'm glad your parents are still getting out there on the bike, kudos to them! As for the climbs, I totally agree, I love that feeling of clearing a super challenging tech climb. Thanks for watching and commenting. Sage
Your parents are a great example of e-bikes just getting more people out on bikes (which I'm all for!). There's still fitness to be had as well as the other benefits of just being outside and having fun! Curious what you think when you start taking your e-bike on trails! Keep us posted! - Dan
I live in the uk and our bikes are limited in power and speed. Max speed is 15mph and a lot of the time I ride over 15 so an ebike is a handicap because of the extra weight. I regularly turn the power off and run my bike as a heavy weight regular bike (It makes it feel like I have done a lot of miles without going very far) with the advantage that I know if needed I can power up and take a rest without having to stop. its amazing how powerful eco feels after running with no power. I cycle regular with a group that is mostly analogue so I run my analogue with them and because my regular bike is so light weight it feels like I'm on my ebike. I am 62 years young and went through cancer treatment a few years ago. My ebike has giver me back 20years and helped me recover the fitness I lost.
Fantastic insights John! I did not know that about the speed restrictions in the UK, does that apply to trail riding too? I love how you use the e-bike to maximize your time, and effort, on your rides. Congrats on getting through the cancer treatment, here's to another 20 yrs of great riding. Cheers, Sage
@@RideLaughPodcast Yes the speed limit does apply on trails. there are other more powerful bikes but they are not classed as push bikes and are treated as mopeds or motor bikes. The motor power we are restricted to is 250watts. I believe it is the same restriction over the whole off Europe.
Thanks for commenting John! This is great perspective. Tuning the e-bike off and on is really interesting and then switching to analog feels light and snappy! So glad you're doing well & riding after cancer treatments. I know how hard that can be on the body. Another perfect usage case for e-bikes! - Dan
I can only imagine how chilly it must get in CO. I also like a good hard start to get the body warmed up when it's cold. Thanks for watching and commenting. Sage
Totally agree and great point! We always want to park at the bottom of a climb on cold days to warm up. Nothing like wasting a good downhill when you're too cold to enjoy it! Also... Sage and I totally need to get to Colorado for some riding! Looks awesome! Thanks for listening/watching and commenting! - Dan
Fine work guys, from old geo to ebikes, plenty to mull over,I rode an 80's stumpy till a modern hardtail,a year ago the difference is night and day Less dynamism needed now, suspension and dropper does a lot of the work,,,as for ebikes, they are here to stay,it's just a matter of when ?? I have a few years before my 70 th birthday ,,god willing 😂
Awesome to hear this one resonated with you Rohan! I'm all for e-bikes if it means I can extend my riding career even longer. Thanks for feedback and comment brotha. Sage
A lot of my friends have Eebs, they know if they're riding with a crew, they'll bring out the amish bike to make sure they're not storming the climbs, after all it's all about riding together. I don't think an Eeb is anywhere near my future, but you're right it's extremely commonplace these days. At the end of the day, I think it's just want people want out of the sport.
Yup, my thoughts exactly Zane! If I had the budget I would def get one for my quiver, but it's not at the top of my list... well, it's pretty close to the top, lol. Sage
That's very cool that you're friends will ride the Amish bikes to be in synch with the group. I'm surprised you don't want an e-bike though... some of those jump trail networks in your area look like they'd be 'free' bike parks w/ an e-bike! - Dan
Oh yeah! That clip is when we rode UP Cactus Garden to Sunset Ridge. I have since learned much better ways to get to the good tech trails. That one was a brutal climb. Though I did feel pretty good that day 😉 - Dan
I am 37 I ride my e bike when I want to go fast like going to work or grabbing breakfast but I enjoy my analog more and get a sense of accomplishment riding it that I don't on my e bike. I have a xc and Enduro analog I guess my e bike is somewhere in-between suspension is closer to Xc but has Enduro tires and Geo
I just got an E and plan on keeping the analog cuz I do like the “Fitness” part even though I’ve never been fit. But I’m an old man and I just wanna get out and have fun. More fun less suck I like to say. In another note, love, LOVE these pods!! You two are the best!!! You kids crack me up!
Congrats on the new eMTB Johnny, you are worthy!!! If anyone knows how to have fun on, and off the bike, it's you brotha. Glad you are enjoying the pod, we are having a blast making them. So now that you have an eMTB can we expect to see you in PA for some shreddy goodness? Sage
I don't ride for hours and hours, my long rides are two hours at Blue Marsh. I ride every day in the months when it's possible, many times I only have a spare 30-45 minutes so I do a quick lap around the top of Mt Penn of I go up Wizard of Oz and down Twisted Sister at a very quick pace and I like to ride my leisure bike in Zone 2 for nice long gravel rides...I would absolutely lose fitness if I had an e-bike. We all have a love/hate relationship with climbing but your comments on climbing are spot on!
We def need to hook up for a ride Pat. WOO and Twisted Sister are some of my fav trails. Analog bikes unite!!! lol. Thank you for the insights and feedback. Sage
You definitely love mtbing! And it sounds like you love the fitness aspect as much as anything. Getting out for a quick hour spin to move the legs, break a sweat and feel good! Awesome stuff Pat!! - Dan
Right on Marty. Kids seem to adapt so much faster, and their ability to quickly learn a skill and apply it is something I wish I still had. But we got this brotha! Just takes a little more time and practice right?!?! Sage
Its sad when you think that other people may never know the pleasure from clearing the climbs. What happens in your head it is just chemicals reaction. So if you never accomplish anythings else and only thing that you do biking then good on you 👍. I have e bike so i can get drunk at night and hit the trails in the morning then still got more time doing other things. Thanks for wasting my time. I won’t be watching this channel from mow on.
Not sure I understand how you got to this conclusion but that's ok. I hope you find the message and encouragement you are looking for, and I'm sorry you felt we wasted your time. Thank you for the feedback. Sage
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E-bikes are fantastic because they open up way more of the trail network to you and your ride. What you lose in climb, you gain in downhill fitness.
Allowing you to lap features over and over again to really dial in technique or just allow more laps of a trail you know already.
Mountain Biking has so many subcategories now that, as I’ve said prior, there’s a place in the sandbox for all. XC, Freeride, Enduro, Downhill, etc. E-bikes allow you to unlock more of the ride, but if you want a good pedal you can ride XC or just pedal up if you want.
I also enjoy e-bikes allowing seniors to continue to ride Mtb. Rode with a 71 year old guy at Trexler who wouldn’t stop talking how much he loved his e-bike and how valuable it was to allow him to be able to keep moving.
All in all, the e-bike is just another tool in the arsenal. I work for a railroad and don’t get a lot of time to ride. So, if I can have my ebike get me 10 laps as opposed to 4-5, I’m all about it.
Love that Dennis! Fantastic insights too. It really does come down to what you want to get out of your ride. Can't wait for you to come over to Mt Penn, although you will have to go analog pace for me ;) Sage
The progression unlocked by e-mtb's is undeniable! But is the peak fitness and fitness benefits the same? Either way... mtb's are a blast to ride!!! - Dan
excuses to be lazy is all I hear.
@@viperdemonz-jenkins Lazy is one playing golf riding in a cart. Wrestling a 50 lb. bike thru single track is not lazy Oh! when you get old and are playing golf think about the fit old buzzards riding e mtn. bikes. Yea and go to the mtns. and check out the bikers on ski lifts.
Thanks for the shout out guys! I am in the best shape of my life and ride e-bike only. I feel that it helps me to ride faster and take less breaks. I am pretty limited on how long I can be out. An e-bikes lets me get in the miles and gives me a great workout in a short period of time. It also forced me to started lifting weights to help with my bunny hops and loading it on the bike rack😆.
Rob you were incredible on that bike... so impressive. I can also see how it benefits you with the time limitations. If you ever want to try and analog bike let me know. I think you would be a beast on that too. Sage
You're an impressive rider Rob!! (and a good dude!) It was really great riding with you. And your progression in 4 years of exclusively e-biking is compelling! Really interesting that you started lifting weights b/c of ebiking too. I do that for my analog bikes and was wondering if that motivation moved to ebikes as well. Thanks for listening & commenting!! - Dan
I am in the fortunate position to be able to ride 7 days a week. I purchased an e bike because I got a great deal. I thought that I would use it for progression, but it is now the bike I grab two days a week when I need a more chill, “easy” day on the trails. The e bike allows me to go hard when I need to on my analog bikes and get to the gym two days a week. I have several bikes that I ride other than the e bike (enduro, short travel, fat, and gravel). They are all tools and I pick the right tool for the ride I want that day. They are all fun for what they are. If the e bike “replaced” any of the bikes, it is my gravel bike. I used to use that for my easier days. It will now just sit on my trainer for winter training.
Love that Brandon!!! Picking the right bike for the right situation makes a lot of sense. Here's a question, if you could only keep one of those bikes, which would it be and why? Sage
@ that is a tough question. Probably my short travel bike. It is an Ibis RipleyAF forked out to 140mm. I can ride just about anything on that bike. I am running some lighter xc tires now, but I would probably mount a little more aggressive trail tire and be more than happy.
Great feedback Brandon! You're a perfect e-bike case study. You ride all your bikes and the e-bike has its role. But you're probably still hitting peak fitness since you ride your other bikes so much. Thanks for listening & commenting!! Much appreciated! - Dan
@@RideLaughPodcast I got to listen to your most recent podcast and thanks for the recognition of my comment. Just wanted to give you a little background on my situation. This year I moved to a new residence in Marquette County in Upper MI. After traveling here to bike for several years, I now have the ease of riding out of my backyard, directly onto the RAMBA MTB system which consists of approximately 80 miles of trails. That doesn’t include the miles of trails in the NTN, Harlow Lake, Marquette Mountain DH park and Copper Harbor networks. The ease and nuance of my situation is what allows me to ride everyday. Also, prior to getting my “eeb,” I was having some strange heart palpitations that after doctor visits, I considered where the result of over training. About three weeks after adding the e bike in, the palpitations have ceased and have not returned. That all being said, I have lost some balance in my fitness and need to prioritize two days in the gym. It will be nice to be able to hit some squats in the morning and still be able to put the eeb in turbo for an afternoon rip.
Keep doing what you guys are doing. I listen every week while cleaning at the local ice rink. If you guys are ever looking for a mountain bike adventure, come check out Marquette County and the Keweenaw peninsula for some amazing riding. *edit reposted under ridelaughpodcast.
@@brandonschopf1642 Wow, a lot to unpack here, but amazing stuff Brandon! That is awesome that you live so close to a cool trail network. It was also interesting to find out how the e-bike helped with your heart condition. You sound like a very motivated and driven person so I'm sure you will get the fitness dialed in. Lastly, thank you for the support! We might have to put MI on the list. Sage
You hit the nail on the head about uphill tech riding. It's a blast, very rewarding. Nothing more boring and tedious than a fire road climb...or an elevator. Bummer for me that I'm nursing a sore hamstring, stuck with fire roads and elevators. Hoping to be back in the tech come springtime, this semi sedentary lifestyle is driving me completely out of my mind. Watching you guys helps, so thanks for the show.
Right on Stan. I like that you are taking your recovery carefully and going the right thing. You will be back smashing those trails in no time. Sage
No to fire roads and no to elevators! LOL! Heal up and you'll be back stronger than ever for that sweet spring riding! - Dan
Guysssssssss fitness is relative! Some people might only be able to access MTB with the help of a battery and motor but with that assistance they can build and get stronger. I got to “enjoy” this perspective after my 12 week hiatus and the only way I could get to the top of a climb without feeling like I was gonna die was on the eeb. My goal was to return to Amish bike capability as fast as possible so I used the e-bike on days I needed help finding fun and used the regular bike when I felt mentally strong enough to handle how discouraging it is to struggle with the process of returning to fitness and guess what: IM BACK BABY! Took a few weeks and still not 100% but the e-bike made it so much faster and more enjoyable to feel like a capable rider again. Recovery struggles aside, my e-bike is 170/170 and it’s perfect for smashing up transfers to get more DH runs in but it’s overkill on XC trails which I also love. Plus I love not listening to the motor and I love the light, nimble feel of my short travel trail bike. Someone else mentioned different tools for the tool box and that’s absolutely what it is. As for your thought that an e-bike takes the fun out of getting to the top of a technical climb you’re right and wrong because it might make current challenges too easy but I guarantee that it will unlock other sections of trail that look un-rideable. You two would be a menace on e-bikes in tech climbs! If I could only have one bike, I don’t think it would be my eeb. It would be the short travel trail bike or the Slash. Very grateful for all the bikes ❤and the podcast 🤗
OMG your recovery has been tremendous Shelly!!! I love how you used the e-bike to get back into shape mentally and physically. Excellent points all-around!!! We appreciate you and all your insights. Sage
Great feedback as always Shelly! Thank you!! Your recovery story is awesome and FAST! No doubt the e-bike is a fantastic tool for recovery rides. So many great reasons to own an e-bike. So cool that you still have the love of your analog bike as well though. You definitely LOVE mtbing!!! Oh and I thought the comment about finding more challenging lines on technical e-bike climbs was really interesting! - Dan
I have a cargo bike that is an ebike. I use it instead of my car because i am in town and i have solar panels that i charge it with. So i have my own gas station. Which i highly recommend it works great. That said i have been riding my mountain in the pacific northwest half my life and i dont want a ebike for mountain biking. For reasons part fitness but mostly i like the simple easy ready to ride analog bike. There are things on the ecargo bike i dont want to deal with when i go mountain biking. Great podcast guys
Right on Erin!!! Also the e-cargo bike makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the comment and feedback as usual. Sage
E-cargo bike sounds awesome!! Save so much gas!! Interesting that you prefer analog. Something to be said for simplicity! (single speed!? :) - Dan
I would also like to add another reason to get an E-bike. Time. I have 3 young kids and when I go for a ride, I do not have an E-Bike and that sometimes means I can only do one lap with my limited time to ride. With and E-bike, an hour bike ride could easily mean more than one lap vs one for me.
Oh yeah, I love that perspective. They did not have e-bikes when my boys were little, and your right I could have gotten more miles out of my ride if that was a possibility. Good call Mark. Sage
Great point! Though if you take an analog bike out for an hour... can you get yourself a better workout? Then again, if time is tight and you're out further than you like... an e-bike is great for hitting turbo back to the car! Nothing worse than being late when the family is waiting for you! - Dan
Another great show guys!
I haven’t ridden e-bikes enough to know if you lose fitness riding them full-time. I’ve heard some anecdotal reports saying yes & others saying no. That said, I do know of at least 4 riders that have lost weight and gained endurance & they ride eebs full-time. The little I have ridden them, I was pinning it & my HR was definitely spiking. Depending on how you ride them (mode, terrain etc) I don’t doubt you can get a killer workout.
You were talking about folks getting e-mtbs & not riding their analogs. I know about 7 riders that have all given up their analog bikes. A few said they would ride them from time to time & eventually sold ‘em all, lol! The e-bike is just too fun.
For me, I’m still a little on the fence… I have really fallen in love with Gran Fondo’s & pushing myself to the absolute limit (physically & mentally) on a ride that I’m not sure I can finish. Granted, that’s road biking…but I’m looking at a 100mi MTB event as well & will need to train on an analog bike for that. Anyway, the sense of satisfaction and the mental toughness you build from using your fitness to accomplish something incredibly difficult is hard to describe and quantify. I know you guys get it & that’s why you love the fitness aspect of riding.
All that said, I do see an eeb in my future…but more of a N+1 situation. I would like one so I can ride trails & not take away from my road bike training. An e-bike would allow me to stay Z2 & be fresh for my road workouts. Also, I frankly hate pedaling a long travel trail bike around. For where I live & ride most, a short travel trail bike is just more fun for most rides. If I have to pedal around a big travel bike…I want it to have a motor.
Anyway, at the end of the day, it’s all just fun on two wheels…
Oh man, so much good stuff here Mark. I like how you broke it down too. Yes, a lot of how you use an e-bike will depend on mode and terrain, but also how hard you want to push yourself. I know how much time you put into training and fitness, and I can see the value in Z2 training, as well as getting a long travel e-MTB for progression and fun. Who knows, you may need to pull the trigger on one sooner than later to rest that shoulder ;) Thanks for the awesome comment and feedback. Sage
@ With the money I spent so far on this stupid shoulder I could've had one already 😂😂
Fantastic feedback Mark! 7 riders who bought e-bikes and ditched their analog bikes is a pretty big sample size! I love your drive to be fit and push your endurance limits. There is something very cool in accomplishing big miles! I'm guessing personalities like us would be OK getting and e-bike and keeping our fitness. Only one way to find out! N+1! :) - Dan
Mountain Bike Academy is exactly where I got it. Should have given credit. Thanks for doing so!
Ah! Right on. Sage
Oh! No kidding. Kinda nuts we both saw that video! I see you're soaking up the mtb youtube same as me! LOL! But it's a really great technique so thanks again for bringing it up! - Dan
I don't think the analog will ever be dead. My parents both just got e bikes they want to be doing the same stuff on analog bike but don't have the fitness. I decided to get one as well I haven't done a trail on it yet but it's cut my ride to work down to 1/2 the time. It's fun but I think I still prefer my regular Enduro it's way more light and playful I am also one that has fun on the climbs on my analog
Love it Kendal, and I'm glad your parents are still getting out there on the bike, kudos to them! As for the climbs, I totally agree, I love that feeling of clearing a super challenging tech climb. Thanks for watching and commenting. Sage
Your parents are a great example of e-bikes just getting more people out on bikes (which I'm all for!). There's still fitness to be had as well as the other benefits of just being outside and having fun! Curious what you think when you start taking your e-bike on trails! Keep us posted! - Dan
I live in the uk and our bikes are limited in power and speed. Max speed is 15mph and a lot of the time I ride over 15 so an ebike is a handicap because of the extra weight. I regularly turn the power off and run my bike as a heavy weight regular bike (It makes it feel like I have done a lot of miles without going very far) with the advantage that I know if needed I can power up and take a rest without having to stop. its amazing how powerful eco feels after running with no power. I cycle regular with a group that is mostly analogue so I run my analogue with them and because my regular bike is so light weight it feels like I'm on my ebike. I am 62 years young and went through cancer treatment a few years ago. My ebike has giver me back 20years and helped me recover the fitness I lost.
Fantastic insights John! I did not know that about the speed restrictions in the UK, does that apply to trail riding too? I love how you use the e-bike to maximize your time, and effort, on your rides. Congrats on getting through the cancer treatment, here's to another 20 yrs of great riding. Cheers, Sage
@@RideLaughPodcast Yes the speed limit does apply on trails. there are other more powerful bikes but they are not classed as push bikes and are treated as mopeds or motor bikes. The motor power we are restricted to is 250watts. I believe it is the same restriction over the whole off Europe.
@@johnmorris-qt3gz Wow, that is so strict. Thank you for the insight John. Sage
Thanks for commenting John! This is great perspective. Tuning the e-bike off and on is really interesting and then switching to analog feels light and snappy! So glad you're doing well & riding after cancer treatments. I know how hard that can be on the body. Another perfect usage case for e-bikes! - Dan
I have an Ebike but I live in Colorado, so when it's Cold I prefer to pedal to keep warm.
I can only imagine how chilly it must get in CO. I also like a good hard start to get the body warmed up when it's cold. Thanks for watching and commenting. Sage
Totally agree and great point! We always want to park at the bottom of a climb on cold days to warm up. Nothing like wasting a good downhill when you're too cold to enjoy it! Also... Sage and I totally need to get to Colorado for some riding! Looks awesome! Thanks for listening/watching and commenting! - Dan
Fine work guys, from old geo to ebikes, plenty to mull over,I rode an 80's stumpy till a modern hardtail,a year ago the difference is night and day
Less dynamism needed now,
suspension and dropper does a lot of the work,,,as for ebikes, they are here to stay,it's just a matter of when ??
I have a few years before my 70 th birthday ,,god willing 😂
Awesome to hear this one resonated with you Rohan! I'm all for e-bikes if it means I can extend my riding career even longer. Thanks for feedback and comment brotha. Sage
You're unlimited Rohan!! Still crushing on analog bikes which is awesome. If an e-bike brings you more joy and more riding... then bring it on! - Dan
A lot of my friends have Eebs, they know if they're riding with a crew, they'll bring out the amish bike to make sure they're not storming the climbs, after all it's all about riding together. I don't think an Eeb is anywhere near my future, but you're right it's extremely commonplace these days. At the end of the day, I think it's just want people want out of the sport.
Yup, my thoughts exactly Zane! If I had the budget I would def get one for my quiver, but it's not at the top of my list... well, it's pretty close to the top, lol. Sage
That's very cool that you're friends will ride the Amish bikes to be in synch with the group. I'm surprised you don't want an e-bike though... some of those jump trail networks in your area look like they'd be 'free' bike parks w/ an e-bike! - Dan
@TheRideAbides i think that's exactly why I don't😂 if I get one I know I'll just be lapping the shed jump lines.
@splooshmtb Sounds so tempting!!! 🤣
My home trails!!! 47:15
Hawes for the win!!!
Oh yeah! That clip is when we rode UP Cactus Garden to Sunset Ridge. I have since learned much better ways to get to the good tech trails. That one was a brutal climb. Though I did feel pretty good that day 😉 - Dan
I am 37 I ride my e bike when I want to go fast like going to work or grabbing breakfast but I enjoy my analog more and get a sense of accomplishment riding it that I don't on my e bike. I have a xc and Enduro analog I guess my e bike is somewhere in-between suspension is closer to Xc but has Enduro tires and Geo
Right on Kendal. I would totally get an e-bike for commuting as well, that makes a lot of sense. Sage
So the analog bike has more accomplishment... that's one of the things we were wondering about! Sounds like a nice bike stable too!! Good job! 😁 - Dan
I just got an E and plan on keeping the analog cuz I do like the “Fitness” part even though I’ve never been fit. But I’m an old man and I just wanna get out and have fun. More fun less suck I like to say. In another note, love, LOVE these pods!! You two are the best!!! You kids crack me up!
Congrats on the new eMTB Johnny, you are worthy!!! If anyone knows how to have fun on, and off the bike, it's you brotha. Glad you are enjoying the pod, we are having a blast making them. So now that you have an eMTB can we expect to see you in PA for some shreddy goodness? Sage
I don't ride for hours and hours, my long rides are two hours at Blue Marsh. I ride every day in the months when it's possible, many times I only have a spare 30-45 minutes so I do a quick lap around the top of Mt Penn of I go up Wizard of Oz and down Twisted Sister at a very quick pace and I like to ride my leisure bike in Zone 2 for nice long gravel rides...I would absolutely lose fitness if I had an e-bike. We all have a love/hate relationship with climbing but your comments on climbing are spot on!
We def need to hook up for a ride Pat. WOO and Twisted Sister are some of my fav trails. Analog bikes unite!!! lol. Thank you for the insights and feedback. Sage
You definitely love mtbing! And it sounds like you love the fitness aspect as much as anything. Getting out for a quick hour spin to move the legs, break a sweat and feel good! Awesome stuff Pat!! - Dan
Love the dynamic torso idea Pump track racing is pushing up and down fast 💨. I can’t do it well but my kids can 😂
Right on Marty. Kids seem to adapt so much faster, and their ability to quickly learn a skill and apply it is something I wish I still had. But we got this brotha! Just takes a little more time and practice right?!?! Sage
Lucky for you guys, I only suggest podcasts to my friends based on how handsome they are.
lol!!!! Thanks Dennis
Haha!! Thanks Dennis. Did my wife tell you to say that? LOL! - Dan
Its sad when you think that other people may never know the pleasure from clearing the climbs. What happens in your head it is just chemicals reaction. So if you never accomplish anythings else and only thing that you do biking then good on you 👍. I have e bike so i can get drunk at night and hit the trails in the morning then still got more time doing other things. Thanks for wasting my time. I won’t be watching this channel from mow on.
Not sure I understand how you got to this conclusion but that's ok. I hope you find the message and encouragement you are looking for, and I'm sorry you felt we wasted your time. Thank you for the feedback. Sage