Fun on the Bike Trail

[gchappel]

I finally got an ebike.
I am a road cyclist for years, but I ran into a group of guys that ride deep sand trails in central FL.
Sand is 5"+ deep. I can barely walk up some of the hills. (Yes there are hills in central Florida- the ridge.) I tried this on a regular mountain bike with 2.25" tires- couldn't go 20feet. These bikes have 5" wide tires, 1200 watts- and we use every watt available. I got a Rambo Venom2. The group has tried other brands, and they did not hold up to the abuse.
It is a blast- but definitely different than a regular bike.
gary

[stevej37]

^^^ That sounds like fun...there are lots of sand dunes around here on the shores of Lake Michigan.
I might look into that.
Sand drags are also common here. A guy I worked with has a sand rail with a huge engine and turbo. He runs it every weekend at Silver Lake Dragway.

[stevej37]

Nice looking e-bike Gary!

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

I can only see 3 cases for a bicycle powered by a motor:

1. you're physically disabled and can't pedal without a motor.
2. you use it in place of a moped for basic transportation to work, etc., not fitness.
3. you're a racer and want to cheat.

The beauty of an actual bicycle is you can pedal at your own pace and level of fitness. If you lack balance, get a 3-wheel version. Not that fit? Fine, just pedal slower in an easier gear and you'll still improve fitness. Why the need to go fast?

I maintain a couple of e-bikes for some elderly neighbors so I've ridden them many times. They are poor-handling, ungodly heavy and faster than the skill level of 95% of their riders. Every time they break down, somebody has to go get them because they're too unwieldly with a dead battery. Ridiculous for an able person.

< rant mode off >

I'll just add one: You live in an area with some elevation changes and you could use an assist just to go up hill.

Per other posts, I would not want any drag due to electrics when pedaling normally. I ride willy nilly in the neighborhoods with no destination. I can poke along for an hour stopping to look at the sidewalk mini libraries (sometimes 3 per a couple blocks. Do people really read all that trash?) I never hit high gear, I'm thinking I should get a smaller drive gear on my old 10-speed. I'm at 10-12 MPH. 18 if I'm hauling ass. I am 80, you know.

I like my one owner 1974 Nishiki Semi-Pro. Restored 2wice now. Original factory paint.

[stevej37]

This is the bike I use for the trails...an 8 speed belt driven Vilano.
I really like it because it can be shifted up or down without pedaling. If you roll up to a stop sign in high gear...just thumb it down to first while stopped.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I'll just add one: You live in an area with some elevation changes and you could use an assist just to go up hill.

And one more reason;

a very good friend of mine is an avid cyclist/outdoorsman, he rides at a very high level (translation, he's fast as hell), all disciplines, gravel, road, and mountain, he gets out multiple times a week, often driving many miles to explore new roads, tracks and trails.
He's a a true natural athlete; excellent balance, vision, and overall fitness. He's also in his mid 70's.

He just bought a new top-of-the-line e-Mtn Bike, and he says it's so much fun being able to climb the steep stuff that he thought was long behind him, because like all of us he's aging out. His first ride on the new bike was a 30 mile, 6000 foot singletrack ride, (think about that for a minute), something he hasn't been able to do in years, and I could tell by the twinkle in his eye that it has absolutely renewed his enthusiasm and desire to get out in the woods and enjoy something that has been part of his life his entire life.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Steve, you ever get back out to the trail to make sure the dude you were writing about made it back in?

[stevej37]

^^^ Lol

The next time I was on it...was this morning....same route.
I left early to beat the rain predicted for 10am. The weatherman was right on.
No sign of Trike Man and his wife...they must have made it back ok.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Ok- just checking.
I'd feel bad if his carcass was out there getting eaten by buzzards while everyone was blabbing on about ebikes for a week or so....

EDit- no scratch that. I've seen coyotes haul off an entire carcass in a matter of hours. Ebike included.

[stevej37]

^^^ He could have fed a flock of buzzards.

[stevej37]

This is what their trikes looked like....except the rear end was heavier than these. And the color was gold and it said 'Tornado' on the side.