Here's what it's REALLY like owning an E-Bike

An ebike allowed me to continue with some light cycling while undergoing chemotherapy. It improved my mental health and kept me motivated. Allowed me to get back cycling with my friends much sooner.

I’m 75 ( Geezus can’t believe that number SO BIG ) and I still am very active and can still do all I did before but it takes more TIME.. that’s the key. We’ve all got so much of it before the last ride is on the horizon! I have prostate cancer and hopefully with all the treatments I’ll be able to make it but I want it all… I want to do all I can but I don’t want to be gone as long as it takes because TIME is important. I want to get back home and hang with my 0:16 family. The ebike allows me to get out and do some riding … and get back home. I’m an early riser and can now get out at sunrise and pound out 20-30 miles and get back home to have coffee with my wife when she’s getting up. Make good use of your time folks.. there’s no redo!!!

most of my peaceful pedal only climbs are often interrupted by me barfing.

I like your comment about the benefit of a meditative climb. I feel like there is a lot of disregard for this part of mountain biking, but the contrast of a serene, quiet, rhythmic, haul up a woodsy switchback, listening to your breathing, followed by an adrenaline-filled downhill, with a different type of intense focus, is why I mountain bike.

I get all your points, ebikes are a game changer for many people. But for me, the turn off about ebiking is that I don't like being one click away from not putting any effort. I don't like having all this choice. What I like about regular mtb is its simplicity, it's turning off my brain knowing that I'll get as far as my legs and my breath can go. I like not having to choose how much to struggle, I like the satisfaction of reaching the top relying only on my own strength and I like backing home exhausted. and the day I don't feel that way, I simply take my enduro motorbike ;)

Start with my background… life-long roadie, but started enjoying it less as I aged (over 65). Also, moved to gravel a few years ago and LOVED riding forest roads and backcountry instead of mixing it up with big rigs on roads. The combo of age and love of being off-road (I’d never been a mountain bike rider) pointed me towards an eMtb. And my mind was blown. First, I learned the obvious—which is spectacularly difficult for analog riders to accept—I can decide how much assist to use. Duh. If I want a good workout, I use Eco, which basically offsets the weight of the bike to make it ride more like an analog bike (except for the extra weight). But, here’s the thing that I love the most about riding an ebike: I can ride with almost anyone. And if we all have ebikes, almost any group can ride together regardless of each person’s fitness and strength. Now, I ride more because it’s more fun and I ride with others more, because I can. Biking has always been social for me and my ebike allows me to keep it that way, no matter what the effects of advancing age throws at me. Thanks for the great video. Keep ‘em coming.

I loved hearing from Beth regarding accessibility, my wife doesn't mountain bike, but her health issues prevented her from even biking with the family. We got her an e-bike for around town and gentle trails and she is now always willing to join us, which is the point to me.

Coming back to biking from a long term injury, the e bike has given me the ability to explore new trails knowing if I start struggling or get lost I can use boost to get me back home. Doing the same safe short rides before this was uninspiring. Now I can’t wait to get out and my mood swings have improved no end.

I remember my first ride on an E-Bike. It took me back to when I was 4yrs old and my dad took my training wheels off my first bike. It was such a great feeling and I feel that way every time I get on my new e-bike. Great video with a very accurate assessment of Pro's and Con's.

Nailed it. I sold my first e-bike because the ride felt too hectic. surprisingly, it was the climbs on my traditional bike that I was missing I returned to an acoustic bike for a few years until a friend lent me their SL e-bike for a weekend. This is the perfect fit for me. It provides just enough assistance on the hills to keep my heart rate in zones 2-3 and is light enough to handle like a regular bike on the downhills. With my busy schedule and shift work, the ebike also allows me to fit in a ride despite limited time, so I’m riding more. Anyway, good video!

Im 53 and ride my 15kg hardtail 30km -100km spins on local gravel canal pathways a few times a week and for me its keeping me fit. Maybe someday when i cannot do these rides ill go the e bike route :)

This is so well done. It explains my nuanced feelings on eMTBs in ways I haven’t heard anywhere else. I started completely out of shape and too embarrassed to say yes to friends who wanted to ride. Started a year ago on.a Levo blasting up hills in Turbo full time, and now riding my Fuel EXe in eco most of the time to get that peaceful sense of effort & cadence you describe. I’m in the best biking shape of my life (not that this is saying a ton), riding every day that I can. Thanks for this thoughtful take (as usual)!

It is satisfaction and sense of achievement you're missing on emtb rides.Have same feeling.

Great video! I own an SL and a full power. I spend a lot of time in eco on the full power and the SL if riding with friends on non-ebikes. As me and my brother who are both in our late 60’s say, “It makes you feel like you are 40 years old again”. What you said about being able to choose how you want to ride them is spot on.

My biggest concern is when things go wrong. For influences and pro's, there is always some level of support, or a new bike to ride / review. For regular folk who will own just one bike, when the eeeb throws up an error and its not easily fixable, or its out of warranty - that's a massive issue. Considering the price point of these bikes, the reliability, weather proofing, length of warranty as well as warranty support should be much better. Personally I would like to see these problems discussed more so, making manufactures held accountable, but in the land of sponsorship its just not happening.

This is a very helpful and well done video. You nailed it at the end with the comments about the unsung value of that slow, strenuous climb, time where you dig deep to earn your downs. In fact that's my fave part of the ride.. I even hunt down MTB areas that have those long, steady well-aligned climb trails followed by smooth flowy down trails. At my advanced age, with years of riding + injuries from minor to serious, I'm 100% wheels on the ground now and if it weren't for that glorious physical-mental focus that comes from the climb, I wouldn't ride anymore. Thanks to you and Beth for the very helpful insights

Wow! I found this video to be extremely helpful and motivating. As 58 year old in decent shape I rode on a Canmore trail with friends last week who ride those trails regularly. I was on my FS bike and suffered on the hills. My Heart Rate was driven up into the Red Zone early and it was difficult to recover during the ride. The upside is I crave the hard work while riding so it did not deter me. The vistas were fantastic and companionship on the trails was second to none. Now! I have since picked up an E-MTB and cant wait to ride it on my home tracks and love the idea of setting it up to ensure my heart rate gets to where I want it for the Cardiovascular fitness I want to keep improving and maintaining. As you noted in the video it will be great to ride for longer during the outings and not gas out. Cant wait. Keep up the great content. Cheers. A fan from Manitoba.

I love the slow, quiet climb. That said, in another 5 to 10 years, when I can’t justify another rebuild on my SC Tallboy, I’m definitely going E.

The worst thing about my Ebike is the fact that I've constant severe muscle soreness in my face....from grinning the whole time!

My ebike got me off the couch. In a year and a half I've done 2500kms on it and ride in all conditions. Initially bought it for fitness and seeing different parts of my city. Then came the lads that dh and I now love the dh!! New shocks and upgrades make this bike unreal to ride!