There. I'm out of the closet. I didn't even realize I was this way until a week ago.
Backstory: I'm 58 and have been mountain bike riding for years. I'm not at all bad--not as good as some, but better than most. In recent years on the trails, I've seen lazy people, fat people, and old people, far into the wilderness where they shouldn't be. They didn't earn the right to be there. I wanted no part of their ebike world.
Recently: A couple friends have been borrowing ebikes and telling me how fun they are. Then another buddy bought an Orbea Rise. Then a friend who is a former rider for one of the big brands bought a Rise. What is the world coming to?
I got curious, and last weekend I started studying bikes and shopping around. No one makes an ebike the exact specs that I thought would make the perfect ride, but within a day I found a Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 RSV. Hmmm... That build checks about as many boxes as one could reasonably expect, so I threw down a pile of Benjamins on the counter, and drove off with my new bike.
Today was my third ride, and I've got to say I'm REALLY enjoying it. The bike handles better than my Ibis Mojo HD3, doesn't soak up hits as well, but carves like crazy and goes where I want it. Of course the big thing is the motor.
First ride was an easy one, just getting used to how the bike runs. Second ride was with more assistance than necessary--because I could and it's really funny to ride UP the rugged downhills. Today was more sensible. Climbing up super-steep sections with obstacles that were formerly difficult are now easy. On some familiar technical downhills, I clocked some excellent times. As of right now, I'm seeing no down side. These eBike contraptions just might be here to stay.
Backstory: I'm 58 and have been mountain bike riding for years. I'm not at all bad--not as good as some, but better than most. In recent years on the trails, I've seen lazy people, fat people, and old people, far into the wilderness where they shouldn't be. They didn't earn the right to be there. I wanted no part of their ebike world.
Recently: A couple friends have been borrowing ebikes and telling me how fun they are. Then another buddy bought an Orbea Rise. Then a friend who is a former rider for one of the big brands bought a Rise. What is the world coming to?
I got curious, and last weekend I started studying bikes and shopping around. No one makes an ebike the exact specs that I thought would make the perfect ride, but within a day I found a Santa Cruz Heckler MX X01 RSV. Hmmm... That build checks about as many boxes as one could reasonably expect, so I threw down a pile of Benjamins on the counter, and drove off with my new bike.
Today was my third ride, and I've got to say I'm REALLY enjoying it. The bike handles better than my Ibis Mojo HD3, doesn't soak up hits as well, but carves like crazy and goes where I want it. Of course the big thing is the motor.
First ride was an easy one, just getting used to how the bike runs. Second ride was with more assistance than necessary--because I could and it's really funny to ride UP the rugged downhills. Today was more sensible. Climbing up super-steep sections with obstacles that were formerly difficult are now easy. On some familiar technical downhills, I clocked some excellent times. As of right now, I'm seeing no down side. These eBike contraptions just might be here to stay.
