Do you ride all out?

[RickBullotta]

So some background - I used to do a good bit of dirt biking, and I've been "regular" MTBing for a really long time. Done a good bit of racing too - mostly XC and endurance but also some enduro, and eMTB race and even a DH (ok, even some cyclocross and ultracross). 90% or more of my miles are on the regular MTB.

I find that when I get on the eMTB I want to ride "moto style", pretty much at the limit of traction and control and go as fast as I can. Not coincidentally, many of the people I ride eMTB with are dirt bikers.

On a "casual" eMTB ride I'll average 12 MPH (on trails where 9 MPH on the he-bike is a decent effort), but on a hammerfest I can be north of 15 MPH for the same loops.

How about you? Anyone else like to just put the hammer down and go all out?

 

[steve_sordy]

I used to do that when I first started riding an mtb. It wasn't fast per se, but it was as fast as I could go. My reasoning was two-fold. 1) I 'd get fitter more quickly, and 2) I was sure to make errors and I would learn faster.

Not really sure that the second one worked. It was skills courses that had the biggest impact.

But then I started to ride with riders much faster than me, and a lot younger (and mostly fitter) than me. That had a big impact. I was still riding as fast as I could, just to keep up, but at least I had someone to chase and who was choosing better lines than me.

But then my knees started to suffer from arthritris and my speed and distance dropped off alarmingly. Eventually I bought an emtb in Jan'19 and I was reborn. But I no longer go "all out" because it just shortens my ride and increases the interval before my next ride. Time for a new bike with more than 85Nm!

 

[hctagalong]

The way I read your post was would I ride at my limit because I'm on the eMTB... In that context, the immediate thought that came to mind was "well, yeah I'm going to ride in my upper limit regardless of eMTB or non-assisted". While on the eMTB I can simply go faster.

Personally, this is at the heart of my annoyance when others parrot the nonsense that one can't get a decent workout on an E. You get out of the ride what you put into it. I prefer to push the pace, and my skill, as that is how I improve. This doesn't mean that every ride is a hammer fest, but the majority are especially when riding with my friends. It's what brings me joy on the trail.

Cool question, @RickBullotta!

 

[Pizzman]

If I’m genuinely frightened, I’ve ridden properly.
My adrenal gland is composed of bison hide. Hard to milk.

 

[skizzian]

going fast is fun

 

[RustyIron]

How about you? Anyone else like to just put the hammer down and go all out?

"Faster" is my default mode, and it requires a lot of discipline to not be that way all the time. There are other limiting factors, as well:

1. Physical fitness. I can't give it 100% for very long before my heart and lungs are ready to explode. I need to dial it back.

2. Skill. Sometimes there are warnings. When the front end starts pushing too frequently or my precision starts declining, I know it's time to dial it back before blood is spilled.

3. Battery Range. Even on an Amish bike, if you ride too fast you're going to run out of juice before the ride is over. Conserve energy and ride further.

4. Overall enjoyment. It's not all about the ride. There's also the scenery, the bugs, the snakes, the flowers, your friends, and others you might encounter. There is so much to enjoy out there. Those who only ride fast are missing out.

 

[Powerslider]

My inclination is to ride all out, however reality often gets in the way. At 55 I find my biggest physical limitation is managing fatigue, so I’ll have to budget my exertion if I want to ride 4x a week. I’ll often use these budgetary moments to work on line selection, technique, or even just practice keeping my heart rate low. I’ve found them to very beneficial for when I do turn the wick up.

 

[pagheca]

Unfortunately I started very late to enjoy dirt bicycle, mtb and downhil and I envy you guys. After a certain age you do not have anymore the balance and agility to do that unless you are an emergency hospital official tester...

 

[MeatBike]

Well, those Strava PRs aren't going to break themselves

Nah, I like to mix it up. Some trails I go full beans and some I just take in the sights and sounds. I do like to challenge myself on at least one trail or feature per ride though.

Now I have an ebike I do find myself doing a lot more technical climbing than I would on my analogue bikes. Always hated climbs prior to going electric.

 

[Mario Antony]

Pedal machines won't ever deliver what a proper Motorcycle delivers (power/capability/range/etc).
I ride a mix of Hardenduro/Enduro, on a 300cc 2t, over 50hp, and never try to replicate the ridding to an ebike.

Ebikes are in middle ground, between a Bike and a Motorbike and because of this:
I don't use the same climbs as I do with my bike, and climb very steep/technical climbs - some are DH trails.
DH, any burly bike will be more fun than any ebike (weight, and lifting the front wheel).
I like to explore using the ebike. It allows me to explore solo, and quickly I can get out of stressful situations, where if I was with a Moto, I would have to deal with +100kg, and using the Bike, I wouldn't cover so much ground.
Also use ebike to clean trails, carrying a chainsaw and some other tools, and reaching difficult access trails or far from the road/parking.

Presently, I tend to derate the motor, to have less battery consumption, and use the big power for thos step climbs.

So, hammering down? sometimes, when time is not enough.

 

[RustyMTB]

Nah, it's so pretty here you want to take it in as you go by. We do chase the KOM's for fun here & there though. I'm down to one but I don't think it will fall any time soon. This one we race constantly. The KOM is 1:01. which works out to an average speed of 36mph. I'm at 1:11. We call it the Green mile, on Strava it's called Rogers Lane descent (safe ending). Boys will be boys I suppose.

 

[Bman]

When I got my first e-bike, I was sorta scared to push it. Then I realized that I COuLD ride it balls to the wall and handle it ok. After a year or so of chasing e-KOM’s and riding at the limit, I’ve dialed it back to just going a bit faster and having some fun while not at the limit. At 65, the reflexes probably aren’t getting any faster so there’s that, too.

 

[E-MAD MALC]

Nah, it's so pretty here you want to take it in as you go by. We do chase the KOM's for fun here & there though. I'm down to one but I don't think it will fall any time soon. This one we race constantly. The KOM is 1:01. which works out to an average speed of 36mph. I'm at 1:11. We call it the Green mile, on Strava it's called Rogers Lane descent (safe ending). Boys will be boys I suppose.

View attachment 180656

I take thats the Findon north of worthing
I have great trails on the south downs between Firle to Polgate
Come close to wrecking myself on a few of them

 

[Gnarly Bailout]

I'm a 63 year old. This stuff keeps me young. I have several different ride types I do on different days. There are many options. Sharing in case these might be of interest: 1). Moto style as you say, (sometimes with someone, sometimes solo), riding fast, carving corners and popping off every root and rock - these can be a lot of intense fun. 2). Fitness loops (usually solo). Riding fast and pushing myself with a lot of up and downs - goal is to hit 1,000 calories. If I catch myself coasting, I have to start pedaling! 3). Timed downhill self races. Try to beat my own time on a course I make out of several trails. Great experience for finding new lines and trying different methods (example, gapping over a small rock garden, keeping speed but going wide, taking the narrow inside line between two trees, etc.) to save time. 4). Drills. Ride and re-ride several feature filled sections of trail in both directions in order to improve, trying different lines, and taking video of what I'm doing to evaluate my effectiveness (or lack of) 5). Adventure rides, often with friends, just out exploring and getting miles in. Photo from one of the "moto rides".

 

[Suns_PSD]

I used to ride by myself mostly and I'd gotten to where I would just kind of meander along.
Then I made a local riding buddy on this very forum actually. He's a guy that battles for KOMs on the regular and chasing him and trying to keep up it's just full out mostly all the time.
I really like it as it broke me out of my pattern.

 

[Halmond6]

Yes, I’m pretty much pushing the 15mph limiter for most of my rides on the eeb. It drops slightly for some climbs but I’m still hammering it.

Take last night. 55km max HR 180, 2hr30.

Feeling it today!

Edit - we really do need an increase to the max permitted power assistance speed. 20mph would be ideal. I sometime struggle to keep up with my analogue mates on the flat.

 

[zaskarmark]

Newbie to this forum...

History: 68y/o male been riding two wheeled for 63 years. Road & MTB raced when I was younger. A drunk tried to kill me one winter night in my truck, partially severing the nerve root to my right leg. I bought a fat tire ebike when the surgeon told me I will not ride a bike again. I still can't feel much of that leg, 25% muscle loss, but I still work it hard.Three years later I have built up another ebike for strictly off road use.

My first ebike is a Juiced RCS fat tire built for fast road rides, 22-25mph over a 30-50mi road course with over 35% grades, in the mountain roads where I live. After a 20-25min initial warm up, my legs go into race mode & want to go max effort my entire ride. 100-120bpm is my comfort zone, with max still over 150-160bpm. It's nice to know that even after a life changing experience, I still have my race legs.

My off road ebike is a Superhuman Trail T5. I like the frame & geometry allot. I bought it & pretty much rebuilt it out of the box, replacing everything but the frame, motor & wheelset. I don't know how it handles or rides, as winter is still hanging on in the mountains where I live, & the snow mobilers don't share trails. I look forward to shredding every trail I ride past on my road bike!

 

[Natch]

I almost always ride at my limit on descents. The exceptions would be when I’m fatigued and know I’m making sloppy errors, or when I’m riding with someone else who is slower.

 

[2cool2fool]

I'm 75. About 80% for my riding is relatively flat trails through the woods. The rest is single track when by usual trails are flooded. I wear a heart monitor and keep my heart rate between 125-135 for about 90 minutes. My hear rate determines the pedal assist level I use. I've put over 7,000 miles on my Turbo Evo Comp over the last 4 years. I can't think of a better workout than riding. Without an EMTB - I'd probably be dead by now.

 

[jetskier973]

With my friends, I have to wait. But I'm out there to have fun with them, so that comes first.
Otherwise, when I'm by myself I pretend there is a mountain lion chasing me. It's life or death all the way back to the trail head.

 

[dezzracer]

As a 67 year old life long off-road moto rider, the title of this post caught my eye. One thing I learned in off-road moto (when trail riding) is riding above OR below your comfort pace can create more risk. Racing on a marked course is a different matter.

At my age pushing the limits on a MTB is risky (when they go away they go away quick) so I tend to back off and focus on riding clean and smooth and picking good lines. I’ll do a burner in certain sections occasionally but they are generally far and few in between nowadays.

 

[Canyon Shawn]

Same here as the OP. I raced pro motocross and when I ride a MTB or E-MTB I give the same effort. Which is a lot. I get the same work out regardless of what I ride. If I’m on a E-MTB I ride faster, harder and longer.

 

[Natch]

With my friends, I have to wait. But I'm out there to have fun with them, so that comes first.
Otherwise, when I'm by myself I pretend there is a mountain lion chasing me. It's life or death all the way back to the trail head.

I was initially going to add something like that in my post above but left it out. I usually ride solo so when I do ride with other people I prefer not to be up in front all the time because then I may as well have ridden by myself. In the middle of a group is where the most fun is.

 

[RickBullotta]

As a 67 year old life long off-road moto rider, the title of this post caught my eye. One thing I learned in off-road moto (when trail riding) is riding above OR below your comfort pace can create more risk. Racing on a marked course is a different matter.

At my age pushing the limits on a MTB is risky (when they go away they go away quick) so I tend to back off and focus on riding clean and smooth and picking good lines. I’ll do a burner in certain sections occasionally but they are generally far and few in between nowadays.

There's an old axiom that you should "Do one thing every day that scares you..." - riding at the limit can certainly check that box, even (and maybe even more so) on trails and terrain you know well.

 

[Canyon Shawn]

As a 67 year old life long off-road moto rider, the title of this post caught my eye. One thing I learned in off-road moto (when trail riding) is riding above OR below your comfort pace can create more risk. Racing on a marked course is a different matter.

At my age pushing the limits on a MTB is risky (when they go away they go away quick) so I tend to back off and focus on riding clean and smooth and picking good lines. I’ll do a burner in certain sections occasionally but they are generally far and few in between nowadays.

Riding below my comfort pace has never created more risk for me.

 

[flyingjack]

At 70++ wife and I ride together and after doing many adrenaline sports; skydiving (3 decades), skiing, scuba, hanggliding, flying, mtb in the 70-80s; we have slowed down. We try to work out 3Xs/week and take our e cruisers or emtbs with us every RV trip which usually take a couple of months 2-3 Xs/yr. Our emtb fun is now slower flowing single track riding that puts a smile on our face. Left a fair amount of blood in AR last fall and recently same in AZ over the winter so we're backing off a little as we don't heal as well anymore. Now, I drive RV, wife flies backcountry plane and ebikes go everywhere with us. We mostly fly backcountry plane (two tandem seats with 31" tires) but also still ride a lot. All good and still puts a smile on our faces.

 

[pagheca]

At my age pushing the limits on a MTB is risky (when they go away they go away quick) so I tend to back off and focus on riding clean and smooth and picking good lines. I’ll do a burner in certain sections occasionally but they are generally far and few in between nowadays.

I’m exactly your age. I’m healthy and still run long distances, but I completely agree with you. Another important point is that, in the event of an accident, the consequences can be far more serious. And the likelihood of an accident tends to increase with age.

That’s actually the main reason I don’t race anymore, especially downhill off-road. Reaction times slow down, and my balance isn’t what it was when I was 30, back when I used to climb, go caving, and take on all kinds of wild activities.

 

[Halmond6]

I was initially going to add something like that in my post above but left it out. I usually ride solo so when I do ride with other people I prefer not to be up in front all the time because then I may as well have ridden by myself. In the middle of a group is where the most fun is.

Agreed I’m usually tail end Charlie for our group rides. Apart from the hills when I want a blast

 

[Mario Antony]

At 70++ wife and I ride together and after doing many adrenaline sports; skydiving (3 decades), skiing, scuba, hanggliding, flying, mtb in the 70-80s; we have slowed down. We try to work out 3Xs/week and take our e cruisers or emtbs with us every RV trip which usually take a couple of months 2-3 Xs/yr. Our emtb fun is now slower flowing single track riding that puts a smile on our face. Left a fair amount of blood in AR last fall and recently same in AZ over the winter so we're backing off a little as we don't heal as well anymore. Now, I drive RV, wife flies backcountry plane and ebikes go everywhere with us. We mostly fly backcountry plane (two tandem seats with 31" tires) but also still ride a lot. All good and still puts a smile on our faces.

You sir, you're living my dream!
Airplane/backcountry/ebikes/life partner-wife.
Only missing a pet... eheheheh

 

[E-NUB]

Of course I like to ride all out.. and heck yeah emtb all out is super fun limits with the added speed everywhere you go!

But I cannot ride all out pedal wise everywhere I go though or this will cut down on the fun.. so:

All out downhill all the time, then try to conserve energy to keep my rides in the 25-30 mile range at 15 mph averages and 2.5-3k elevation.

Oh yeah, and all out hammer time anytime I see someone on the trail in front of me!!

"Never been dropped since 1989."