Swinley packed with electric bikes today
Discussion
I've seen the occasional electric bike around in the past, but Swinley today was absolutely bloody plagued with them today!
In a loop of the blue and most of the red trails with my boys this morning, we must've seen a good dozen of the things, and only one of the riders even came close to looking like they were old or infirm enough to actually need one, especially somewhere like Swinley, which is frequently praised for how much it manages to do with such little vertical gradient to play with!
The two utter cock sockets joking with each other about how far they were going to jump up the Strava rankings on one of the few climbs were prime examples of why these things should be held in utter contempt when ridden by the fit and able!
In a loop of the blue and most of the red trails with my boys this morning, we must've seen a good dozen of the things, and only one of the riders even came close to looking like they were old or infirm enough to actually need one, especially somewhere like Swinley, which is frequently praised for how much it manages to do with such little vertical gradient to play with!
The two utter cock sockets joking with each other about how far they were going to jump up the Strava rankings on one of the few climbs were prime examples of why these things should be held in utter contempt when ridden by the fit and able!
rex said:
I was at Swinley last week riding with a chap who was on his new ebike. He reasonably fit middle aged bloke but doesn't ride a great deal. It takes the edge off the climbs and he felt like he could do the red and the blue again. It has rekindled his desire to get out on the bike which surely us a good thing with increased spending in the local bike shops and destinations. Not quite sure of the contempt. Live and let live.
The contempt part is mainly reserved for the ones who can press a little button to overtake is going uphill, but then aren't even quick enough to stay ahead of my 11 yr old going down. 
Razor O Rourke said:
Kermit power said:
The contempt part is mainly reserved for the ones who can press a little button to overtake is going uphill, but then aren't even quick enough to stay ahead of my 11 yr old going down.
So what, how does that effect you? You're not in a race with them.I couldn't care less what other people ride, it's none of my business.
If someone holds you up in a downhill section, that's life, and you just get past when you can.
If, in the other hand, that someone gets past you again every time there's a climb and then slows you down again on the next downhill section, it really starts to ruin your ride.
daddy cool said:
Kermit power said:
I've seen the occasional electric bike around in the past, but Swinley today was absolutely bloody plagued with them today!
Off topic, but I was out today and it was only when I checked strava flyby afterwards I see I overtook you and yours! So a belated "hello"!I was using my weedy legs for power, natch.
Whereabouts did you go past us?
daddy cool said:
At the start of The Whole 9 Yards I think. I caught up with another guy, but we both held back while your little lad (I assume- on a blue bike?) did the downhill bit.
Sounds like youngest. He's on a 24" blue and white Sky colours Frog bike. I also had his older brother on a Black Inbred and me on my blue Stumpjumper.spyder dryver said:
The bike being linked to is of the "crank drive" type. The motor is built into the bottom bracket, near to the c. of g. of the bike. The battery is just above it. Haibike have been making ebikes for ages and will have equipped the bike with suitable springing/damping to suit the extra weight.
It won't be as bad as you might imagine.
I built my own ebike to mitigate the effects of a heart problem. It features a two speed rear hub motor of similar power to the Haibike and a 640wH battery. I tend to set the assistance to 50% and use the throttle for more of a "push" on ascents.
I can do a 40 mile off-road/trail ride at a fair pace, something which I would find impossible without the assist. My fellow riders (unlike some on here, it would seem) think its great as they aren't waiting for me to catch up anymore!
I think its great too!
I took it to Scotland last summer and had some great rides up the Glens. The only problem was cooking the brakes on long steep descents. The extra weight won't have helped. The Haibike looks to have brakes specced to suit the weight.
I'll be taking spare pads to Scotland this year.
I can agree with the OP regarding the Strava issue. I know how serious some cyclists regard the stats.
You're the sort of person I'd say ebikes are made for though. My problem with the people riding them on Saturday was that with one exception, they were all fit-looking youngish (certainly 40s or younger) blokes who really didn't look as though they had the slightest possible need for them.It won't be as bad as you might imagine.
I built my own ebike to mitigate the effects of a heart problem. It features a two speed rear hub motor of similar power to the Haibike and a 640wH battery. I tend to set the assistance to 50% and use the throttle for more of a "push" on ascents.
I can do a 40 mile off-road/trail ride at a fair pace, something which I would find impossible without the assist. My fellow riders (unlike some on here, it would seem) think its great as they aren't waiting for me to catch up anymore!
I think its great too!
I took it to Scotland last summer and had some great rides up the Glens. The only problem was cooking the brakes on long steep descents. The extra weight won't have helped. The Haibike looks to have brakes specced to suit the weight.
I'll be taking spare pads to Scotland this year.
I can agree with the OP regarding the Strava issue. I know how serious some cyclists regard the stats.
The annoying thing is that it potentially completely changes the way they interact with other riders, as normally, someone who goes past me on the climb will tend to stay ahead of me on the descent as well, so they only have to pass me once, whereas on e-bikes, it's perfectly possible to have someone slow downhill able to power past you uphill.
The closest two parallels that spring to mind for me are...
1. The cyclists on my commute who jump red lights and then pootle along at such a slow pace that everyone has to pull out to overtake them, only for them to then jump the next red light as well and force us all to repeat the process.
2. Tossers who hold you up by driving at 40 on a twisty B-road, only to then drive through 30mph villages still doing 40, so that by the time you get out the other side of the village, you've got to catch them up and sit on their arse again.
yellowjack said:
paul789 said:
Swinley just ALWAYS seems to absolutely *rammed*. Amazed you get any opportunity to enjoy it there.
I've seldom found Swinley even 'busy'. The only time I can recall was a PH group ride but that was on a weekend, so hardly surprising.Some of my trips up I've barely seen a single soul the whole way around the trails. It's glorious when it's like that too. Peace, tranquility, solitude, and great trails. You could probably put three hundred people into a forest that size and only actually see or meet a handful of them. I usually ride up too, and join Red Trail direct from the Devil's Highway. If I do that, and don't bother going up to The Lookout, then it can feel like I have the entire place to myself for hours. I'd go more often, but there's a lot of good single-track (natural, rooty stuff) closer to home. It sometimes feels as though the 8 miles or so of riding to get there is wasted if I set out wanting a 'proper' MTB ride. The last three times I've schlepped up there have been to meet other riders, and once I got a lift because a riding partner insisted on driving me up.
The key for me is to ride during the week, during 'normal' working hours. It's OK for me as I don't have a job, working folks would need to take a day off in the week. But it's worth it for some clear runs at the trails, and the thinking space that isolation in the woods can bring with it.
A lot of the 'gnarly dudes' seem to spend most of their time sat on their behinds at the top of climbs too. They talk about "sessioning" and chomp on energy bars, but seem to do little actual riding, preferring to form little groups to talk about riding...
The only exception to this is the Labyrinth, which I really didn't like the first time I rode it, but which is now probably my favourite trail there, unless I get stuck behind people slower than me!
yellowjack said:
The Labyrinth? It's a hellish torture device. It's gotten steadily worse with pot-holes and braking bumps over the years, and I still don't "know" it's twists and turns. I come out of there sometimes feeling seasick, and not knowing which way is up, as it's quite disorientating with all of it's changes of direction. Great fun when you get it right, but yes, I can imagine it's especially frustrating to get stuck behind someone through there.
At the moment, most of the time I'm stuck behind my 9yr old! 
Any impact on my enjoyment of my own riding is more than outweighed by getting to be a proud dad when he clears the whole thing without putting a foot down! 
piecost76 said:
OK, head above the parapet time here & probably not the right forum for this type of discussion given you're all hard core
I have 2 bikes, a Canondae 29er hardtail AND a Scott 29er FS ebike!
Being totally honest, the Canondale gets used most regularly but that's just me & the kids. I do try to get out as much as possible on the ebike (was in Peaslake on Sunday) and I totally LOVE IT!
The ebike makes cycling just even more fun and therefore I do it most weekends. When was the last time I took the Canondale out on my own - can't remember and I only bought the ebike in February.
For the record, I'm 43, in OK shape and enjoy MTB trails (Bedgebury, Peaslake, Swinley etc) but I don't do Strava at all, not even on the hardtail. The ebike just makes it more enjoyable and yes I do go further on it.
Let the abuse roll in!
You ride 29ers????I have 2 bikes, a Canondae 29er hardtail AND a Scott 29er FS ebike!
Being totally honest, the Canondale gets used most regularly but that's just me & the kids. I do try to get out as much as possible on the ebike (was in Peaslake on Sunday
) and I totally LOVE IT!The ebike makes cycling just even more fun and therefore I do it most weekends. When was the last time I took the Canondale out on my own - can't remember and I only bought the ebike in February.
For the record, I'm 43, in OK shape and enjoy MTB trails (Bedgebury, Peaslake, Swinley etc) but I don't do Strava at all, not even on the hardtail. The ebike just makes it more enjoyable and yes I do go further on it.
Let the abuse roll in!
You absolute bloody pervert!!!
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff