Things We Wish We Knew Before We Started Riding E-Bikes

E-Bikes are amazing! Here’s our first ride video, taking you through our honest initial thoughts on the bikes, how they ride, and who they are for. Feel free to ask questions about E-bikes or the E-Sommet in the comments and we’ll try and answer them!

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[caldoyle]

I am in my 70's. I was riding a Specialized Stump Jumper 29er. Was getting to a point where I could not ride it anymore. Just too difficult on the up hills and rocks. Then someone did me a favor and stole it. My insurance paid me replacement value. So I went out and bought a Motobecane 29er e bike. I love riding it. It has given me the confidence that I had been losing. Once again I can attack the rocks and grades with the extra power from the bike. I keep up with my sons. Riding is fun again.

[sketchy]

Money can't buy you happiness; however, money can buy you an and I've never met someone riding one unhappy.

[mrruaridhblack]

I got an e bike recently and is honestly the best thing I've bought. Getting out twice as much with twice the distance and twice the fun! Once you learn the bike and braking points it's bloody awesome!

[Robinso]

*I purchased the **Latest.Bike** for my friend for Father’s Day and he loves it! He put it together in no time and says it rides great.*

[JubeProductions]

He nails it in the first 30 seconds of this video, "going uphill is now fun". I've been riding for well over 30 years and last weekend I had my first E-MTB ride. I was literally blown away and couldn't believe how much fun it was. I said to my wife that climbing was fun, and I was looking forward to the climbs on our ride. We have been riding together for 20 years and we both rode these bikes for double our normal miles and had twice as much fun. Now I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to come up with the $20k I need for two Specialized Turbo Levo Expert E-MTBs

[jeffriley]

62 and loving my e-bike. Whole new world opens up with these bikes. Riding long ride and lots of elevation. Could have never done on conventional bike.
Lastly they are just plain fun... period.

[AlfUckhamHall]

I took to mountain biking in 1990 after a motorcycle accident left me with a permanent disability and lack of power in my legs, I could have bought a road bike, but the gearing was too high for me and I cannot get out of the saddle to pedal. Following a few more accidents and age catching up with me, I decided to try an e-MTB, it was a game changer. This was 3 years ago and I was just getting into my stride, when I had a nasty fall outside my home, so less than a month of owning my new bike, I was given another devastating medical diagnosis, that has kept me off the bike until recently.

I couldn't bend my right leg, due to nerve damage and ligaments that weren't in the correct place and my doctors could/would not help. A few days ago and by some strange twist of fate, I turned over in bed and heard a "click", a split second later the pain that went through my leg was excrutiating to say the least, but it was very short lived and my leg felt odd and somehow "freer" than it had been for a long time. I got out of bed and got dressed, then walked through the house, noticing that my leg was now how it used to be and no longer "tight". After breakfast I got to wondering if I could try and pedal the e-bike, I nervously wheeled the bike to the front of the hour and did my first tentative pedal strokes in 3 years, I was stoked to find I had no issues, my leg wasn't tight and even without the "assist" on, I could pedal freely and without any pain or restriction. The euphoria and joy I felt was enough to put tears in my eyes.

Today, I will be going out on my bike for my first proper ride in a very long time and although it won't be very long or technical ride, I'm going to enjoy every second and at the age of 62, I feel like a young kid again.

If you rode a bike years ago and want to do so again, try and an e-bike, you won't regret it and it will give you a new lease of life.

[knightstemplar]

I bought an e bike after my knackered knees have eventually started to affect my riding sad to see my orange P7 go but the (e bike ) is keeping me mountain biking 🚵‍♀️ love it

[niallwildwoode]

I'm an 'oldie' and only just come across this vid. I've got to say the two of you have serious balls doing those trails at such speed. I tried doing mountain biking at Winlatter 15 years ago and it freaked the crap out of me....but then it was the hardest trail and I've no experience. Well done you two!

[aimlessimages]

I came off analog MTB’s, and tried my first e during the pandemic. First ride, I said nope. I rode again, and figured out the power settings. Ended up buying one last year. I run 98% eco with 25%-35% power. At 51 lbs, I dare anyone to try my bike and say it’s not a workout. But it is easier than an analog for sure. As for weight, I got used to it fairly quickly, as I also ride dirt bikes. I feel better on a solid footing, vs a wirey feel. Bottom line I’m liking it now, and I see a lot of older people riding now. I’m no longer a hater.

[NH-iluc]

For me, I have both. I have a Pivot Switchblade “regular bike” and a Yeti 160E electric bike. I’ll ride the “regular bike, but now that I’m in my 50s I need two or three recovery days. Now, with the e-bike I can ride on my recovery days. That means MORE DAYS OF RIDING!! I don’t allow myself more than 3 e-bike rides in a row so I still have to put in the work on many rides, and get that sense of accomplishment of tackling a mountain. Then go out and enjoy active recovery rides. You are right that it’s a completely different sport, but in a very complimentary way to riding “Acoustic.”

[genXcripple]

i enormously appreciate the time and effort you put into this video! Have watched 50 hours of shoot outs, and somehow never caught the info I needed. Your video is perfect, told me everything I need to know. liked and subbed! Thank you for all your hard work. Sending peace and love from my corner of the universe

[dukeloo]

One of the best reviews of ebikes that I have seen on Youtube. This isn't my genre of bicycles, but I enjoyed it.

[davidhakimoglu]

I love my e-bike, and have rediscovered mountain biking. I wish I had realized that excessive power & wattage are unnecessary all you need is a good quality 250-watt or so motor and your set!

[latonbuzzard]

I bought a Cube 160 Action team back in October 2020. What to consider when riding in my experience.
You do get drawn into Turbo mode to get up those hills, however consider using all your gears in Eco, tour, or MTB mode. Reason being I recently took my bike back to Tredz for a service to be told some bad news. Basically because of my over use of gears 6-12 in Turbo mode, my chain is worn, along with gears 6-12 and main sprocket. . With some additional bearing wear the estimate is £400. This is only after 1800 miles. The tech guy basically indicated that I would probably get another winters use out of the bike before the drivetrain will be shot. That will be roughly 18 months old with around 3000 miles use. It's a little like the advice I gave my son when he bought a fast car, I said speed costs money, tyres, petrol, insurance, clutch, brakes. Just though I'd give you guys the heads up, ride safe all.

[vman]

Ebikes have doubled the fun for me. I now love a good technical ascent as well as the decent. Also after a while you get used to the weight and no longer notice it.

[carl_thunder]

I have a 2020 Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Alloy and absolutely love it. It's amazing how light the bike compared for a full powered ebike and it feels similar to riding a stump jumper.

[apatriotofhopedanjohn]

YEA Another One.... Eats the Dirt
So Cool to see everyone finally realizing how much MORE Fun you can have on a Ebike
LOVE ♥️IT

[ianross]

For me an e-bike takes the sting out of hills and makes climbing fun into the bargain. I still get a lot of exercise despite the myth that you don’t do any work. Being less tired on downhills my skill levels have improved although, as you say, the e-bike feels more planted. I did Bike Park Wales recently on my Capra which was a very big change but in a good way being more nimble than my Trek Rail 9. Horses for courses so not selling the “acoustic”. Another bonus is that my partner will come out or rides that would have beaten her. She laughed the first time she used “Turbo” on her Cube Stereo having initially felt she was betraying her Lapierre Zesty. No such qualms now.

[ZRVgaming]

This has helped seal the deal on what bike i'm going to buy. I've not MTB'd for about 20 years+ (i'm 44 this year), but watching this and listening to you guys talk about it, i think it's made my mind up! Now to wait another 2 weeks until pay day before i can buy lol