When is the “right” age/time to go to the dark side (eeb)?

I'm 52...above-average fitness and ability on a bike.  If you don't want an e-bike, don't ride one.  And by that, I mean DO NOT.  Because the appeal is immediate once you do.

I'm lucky, because I (now) live close to a pump track and some very fun trails with easier climbs.  To get 5 "rides" in a week, I don't have to slog up 1000' of rock and decaying granite for 5 minutes of downhill fun. However, if I lived in the Rockies (still), I'd already own an ebike. 

I love to see people with health problems--of any age--using the ebike to get outside.  I honestly don't like to see kids on these things, but when you see a family all on ebikes, it obviously makes that work in a way that regular bikes can't. 

All that said, healthy 30 yr. old guys on e-bikes still look kind of soft to me.  Put in a little more time pedaling, bucko.  Save some of that lithium for the next couple of decades when the shit hits the fan.  Over 50?  You're free to embarrass yourself for as much time as you have left.

"some bigger hills providing around 4-5 mins descent" - I'm sorry.

Have you considered a progressive hard tail? Fun and more efficient on the ups, fun and challenging on the downs, and much cheaper than an e-bike. At 40+ w/ full desk job, 2 kids, blah blah blah, that's where I go for my "quick" climbs/descents and wanting to optimize efficiency : fun. The 160/170 full suspension comes out for the big days, ~3k+ descent/climbing, climb switch on the rear shock for sure.

An e-bike interests me for runs to the grocery store and into town, as it's about a 500' climb at ~20° average grade over ~3 miles on paved road to get home from the nearest grocery store. I'd consider one of the "lighter" weight e-mtb options (Spec, Orbea, Tranny, etc.) for some of the really big climbs/descents around here the get you near/into the alpine (~10k - 12k' above sea level) where climbing/breathing is a challenge. Or for training, like how racers use them as a tool (but racing e-bikes just seems silly).

For me, most times the journey is the destination and the descent is just the cherry on top. I enjoy climbs and having that time to "slow down" from life most of the time, and none of my regular ride mates have e-mtb (yet) so that's also a factor.

It sounds like many people are riding ebikes because of the lack of fitness or times or because they don't like to pedal. I ride one because I want to improve my fitness and want to pedal more. I'm racing XC and my ebike is one of the best tool I have for training.
It's not secret that to improve fitness, you need to follow a structured training and ride at some specific intensity. Where I live it's impossible on a mountain bike. climbs are steep and my heart immediatly goes thru the roof. The only solution do do a zone 2 or recovery ride is to ride on an indoor training or on the road...I dislike both.. On an ebike, i can use the assistance to ride exactly at the desired intensity and I can even spend more time working on my skills by spending more time on the down..
I have a light ebike which even allow me to ride without assistance comfortably if i want a more intense workout..

Yer never too young to go class one.

First rode one in my mid forties on a guided holiday, and thought I'm buying one when I get home. They are brilliant fun but cost a lot to maintain. Great if all your mates have ebikes with the same range (you still all give it everything you have in the tank, just like a normal bike), but if you are waiting for someone in your group on a normal bike, it doesn't feel like a workout. For that reason and the running costs, I (and my ebike owning friends) have gone back to normal bikes for our local flatter rides, and only bring out the ebikes for trips to Peaslake and Wales (so basically self-shuttling).

Added benefits with an ebike:

- commuting on roads around town, leave the car at home.

- towing young kids up hills that would otherwise knacker them.

- trail building, carrying/fetching tools and scouting lines.

- we have one friend whose lack of fitness means he basically would not be riding at all without one. So we get his company, and he gets some fitness he wouldn't otherwise have.

I don't think you'll regret buying one now, and I don't think age needs to be relevant.

Will be 50 this year.  I'll keep riding manually as long as I can.  Biking is the source of 95% of my fitness and to give any of that up would just make me less healthy....and the older you get, it really gets hard to keep the fitness up.  Not only that, but my time available to ride is limited.  I don't have time for epic full day rides, so in the time that I do have, I have to work hard to keep fit.

My neighbor just got an emtb in 2023, but he's 68 or so.  It has allowed him to get back out and ride more, which is a huge positive for him.

I know my time will come when either my knee won't be able to push hard enough anymore or I'll just get old enough that I can't ride the way I want.  I will get an ebike then.  Until then, I'll keep putting in the work.

All that said, if I had a lot more money I might just get one anyway to use twice a year when I actually get a full day to ride as much as I want.

E Bikes are FUN. If it is in your budget, go for it. It won't replace your regular ride. A full size ebike rides differently than a regular non powered bike, not better, not worse. They are a great tool to have in the arsenal. 40 year old with two kids. I ride with my kids and wife, I ride shuttles, I ride regular bikes up the hill and down the hill, some park, and my Ebike. Where I live, we have a lot of access to trails that are off the beaten path, but they are far up the hill. If you want to hit all of them in a less than 2 hour ride window, the ebike is the answer. Self shuttle time saver is the name of the game for me. Never not happy after any ride unless I am in the hospital, no matter what bike I ride. 

Rad original post, and cool to see everyone's feedback.

If you can wait, e-bikes will surely drop in weight, and reliability will increase a lot in the next few years. There are still great bikes out right now, but I like the idea of giving yourself time to save money (and not sell a current bike you enjoy) and e-bikes time to improve. 

If you do decide to get a bike sooner than later, don't underestimate how damn fun they are. A lot of your 'pros' are logistical-based (and are the reasons I give myself about needing to buy an e-bike), but they are super fun up/downhill. The same way that a DJ bike has its place in your quiver of bikes that is different than your DH bike, an e-bike will add new ways to have fun on two wheels. F**k the haters, you can't hate on fun.

And if/when you do get a bike, convince your main riding friends to do the same (if they haven't already). None of my friends have e-bikes, so when I test e-bikes, it's a lonely endeavor haha And riding an e-bike with non-assist bikes just feels like you're doing it wrong. 

Yeah I did the same thing in terms of trying to set up the bike/ebike as similar as possible to go back and forth between them seamlessly.  (Nomad 6 and a Levo with 170 fork & Cascade link.  Same forks, brakes, tires, cockpit.  Geometry is very close between the 2.)

I've always loved trying to dial in my suspension, but man, having the same components between the 2 really helps tuning.  We don't have any good shuttle options close by, so the ebike let me essentially self-shuttle to do A/B testing on the suspension, and really get a good sense of what each adjustment does in isolation.  Then I transfer that knowledge over to the regular bike and speed up the setup process.  My Nomad feels incredibly well set up for me right now, more than any bike I've had prior (including bikes with "custom" suspension bits from Push or EXT), and I directly credit doing a few days on the ebike doing 8 or more laps on the same trail truly dialing in my suspension.

...re:  loneliness.  ...there's always the tow rope!

When I first heard about e-bikes, I didn't really understand their purpose. I even went so far as to think they didn't appeal to me--why would I want or need motor assistance? Like many voices in the forums, I figured e-bikes were something I'd wait to ride until I was old or unhealthy. Thankfully, I occasionally rode with some local bike shop guys who convinced me to give the emtb a try. Now I'm fully hooked. I am not the old, injured, unhealthy, or inexperienced rider so many believe the "typical" emtb rider should be--I'm in my mid-thirties and in shape. Riding emtbs has been a renaissance in my riding experience--it has reinvigorated my passion for bike riding and allowed me to explore new zones and look at riding in new ways. I say reinvigorated despite being fully engrossed in riding pre-E. It's just that much fun. I have developed new skills and had more fun in the last two seasons than I even knew I could have. The staunch traditionalists who stand firm against ebikes either have never ridden one or have very different priorities than me--I prioritize having a blast up and downhill with my friends while enjoying a healthy activity. As others here have said, getting on an ebike has nothing to do with age or physical ability; it's about the kind of experience you want to have outside. If you're curious about riding e-bikes, do whatever you can to ride one with someone who knows what they're doing on an e-bike. I suggest going with someone in the know because they'll give you tips on how to set your power and how to utilize that power in different situations. (I almost never ride in full turbo the whole time--this leaves juice in the battery to make for huge rides.) What's more, they'll likely take you somewhere that is better suited to riding e-bikes than the regular trails you've ridden a million times. E-bikes want to be ridden in steep and wild terrain, up and down. Horses for courses, as they say. Finally, like someone else mentioned, riding e-bikes with other e-bikes is most fun, but don't be afraid to be the trendsetter in your group. None of the guys I rode with owned e-bikes before me. Once I got one, I started riding with the shop guys way more, and as my other friends saw how much fun I was having, some of them have since jumped on board. Not only have I gotten out and had more fun in new ways, but I've also made new friends and expanded the horizons of friends I already had.  

40 year old, converted ebike hater here.

One day my wife told me, that she thought about getting an ebike to enable us to ride together, but smart as she was she let me choose the bike. Got an 19kg 170mm Enduro light ebike and never looked back. Rides amazingly similar to my regular bikes plus I can do quick trailrides on my way to and from work.

One thing I didn't look for but really stands out to me, is the ability to cut off that peak power you need to ride a regular bike. As a consequence the time my heart rate is redlining is greatly reduced, and this greatly reduces the exhaustion felt afterward, compared to a similar bike ride. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good sufferfest and pride myself to be in rather good shape. But having 3 kids and a business, I'm a happy man if I get to ride my bike once a week. So my fitness isn't where It once was, and I have to sneak bikerides in whenever I can.

So while I can tick off my needs with a quick loop on the weekends I still have energy left to fool around with the kids. And it's probably healthier too.

On a personal note - it's good to give up the hatred and be happy for anyone to swing a leg over a bike, be it with an added e- or not. Owning one myself helped to realize I'm not so different.

Besides that - ebike-racing is a joke.

I got one when I was 34. Main reason was that I needed a ride for quick laps after job. Raising a baby and getting out for a ride was a challenge ). I must say that I always wanted an ebike but I found the first generations of ebikes ugly AF. My fitness was good before I bought the ebike but now I think it’s even better and my technical skills are way more improved than before. I usually do 3 rides with my ebike Monday to Friday and for weekends 1 trip to the local bike park. But still…my first love is the pedal bike. The only thing that I changed on ebike are the brakes, the pedal bike on the other side is custom made. For all those haters try one before hating them 

Now. Whatever age you are right now. Now is the time. E-bikes are sick. Haters in the community are always going to hate on something. 27.5->29. Superboost. Internal vs external cable routing. Electronic shifting. It’s always going to be something. 
 

(riders when passed by an e-bike on the climbs….me included). 

I have been an E bike convert for the past year, I own an Orbea Rise H10, I prefer the feel of the lighter e bikes, full fat is amazing on climbs but never felt at home with them on the downhills.

my main reasons for getting an ebike were.

- working shift work & short notice overtime (time poor)

- my local bike park never maintained its trails so didn't want to purchase another lift pass.

I'm able to ride most days on my ebike, I'm not limited to a bike park with a lift or the anxiety of a massive climb that will drain all my energy for the downhill & the following day.

I ride more, have got fitter, ride different trails most rides and more importantly, I'm having more fun!

People who hate on ebikes are bell ends, good on them for having something to feel strongly about, but its just making them even more negative & cynical!

If I get some sassy comments I usually slow down and ask them how their day is going, I don't care how their day is going to be honest, but I know me asking pisses them off even more!

Ride on team.

I made myself wait till I was 60 to get an emtb. At 64, I can't for the life of me realize why I waited so damn long. I'm fit enough to do well in Cat XC racing but the e-bike just lets me go even faster at any effort level, manage my efforts when I want or need to, and save time on boring-ass climbs for more fun. 

I reckon if this thread was 3 years ago, there would have been pitchforks and anger, particularly the USA members where it was almost taboo. The tide is shifting a bit in relation to acceptance of their use/purpose and the enjoyment they bring.

Was there any correlation between E-mtb and trail damage? That argument sort of fell silent.

Your question about trail damage was always a concern I had with the added traffic of eBikes and the fact that one person alone can now hit the same trail 4x what they could on a regular bike in a single day. But what I have seen (as recently as this past weekend) is the outpouring of support from the eMTB community to pitch in and do trail work. All of these guys and gals were riders before they got eBikes, but very few did any trail work simply because of the time it takes to hike up trail or ride up to get to remote locations to then dig for hours at a time. But because of eBikes there were approx 40+ people out digging on a single trail this weekend because it's that much easier to get out there and dig with pedal assist. So yes, I do believe the added traffic is deteriorating the trails, but I also have never seen so many people pitching in to do trail work as I've seen in the past 2-3 years. Not to mention our local network of trails is the best it's ever been with all of the upkeep, new trails and features being added... all by guys on eBikes. It's an awesome thing to see.

Yup. 
 

the anti- arguments have fizzled at every turn, and it’s much more pleasant now!

"They still seem unreliable AF in the long run if they are ridden in anger - my mate’s Kenevo SL seems to be breaking at least once per month, once the motor warranty runs out you’re essentially left with a ticking time bomb?"

I'm not too much in this camp. Yes, specialized's blow up on the regular, but their warranty is bullet proof.

I'm on a Bosch in my scott ransom. I did a motor at the end of a big wet day and the knee deep river crossing was one step too far . Had a new motor in 3days and the 2 year warranty starts again from then. (I think the bb seals were slightly worn, and the submersed motor rapidly cooled and pulled in some water)

As to your question, the only thing you'll regret with an ebike is not get one earlier.

If you're a time-poor 30 something they are a gamechanger. Especially if you're already reasonably fit. Riding to the same effort as a regular bike, you'll do rides twice as long in the same time. I fully mix my riding and riding groups with those on eebs and acoustic.

I'm on a full powered steamer, the sl's seem stuck in a no mans land for riding. They're too slow to ride with ebikers and too easy to ride with acoustic mates. If you're going for only one bike, they can be good. But if you're keeping the acoustic, then I'd suggest a full power.

My Ransom is 180mm front and rear, cushcore, dh tyres, big brakes and 24kg. It rides differently but very capable to acoustic. But makes the enduro bike all the more rewarding to ride. Like a super light toy.

Firstly let me state I'm saying this as the owner of an ebike.

I know it's anecdotal, but my local trail centre has been there for over 20 years. In the last 3 I have seen a massive deterioration of the trail surface compared to the previous 17+. I ride there pretty often and there are always new rocks that have come up out of the trail and in some of the steeper climbing spots are now almost unrideable on a normal bike as there's so much loose stone and rock on the surface.

This is a trail centre that's seen a drop off in rider numbers (it's not far from Bike Park Wales, which has taken a lot of it's custom), so the deterioration isn't due to increased traffic. To my mind there's only one reason it's happened. 

This is not to say that it's ebikes per se that cause the problem, more it's people who don't know how to ride them, putting down heaps of power in the wrong gear and tearing up the surface.

Very interesting, thanks for the insight. We don't have any sanctioned trails nearby to base an opinion off. We just get insane weather events (like a month of flat out rain) that destroys trails. No bike could do what mother nature has done

New e-bike owner here. Putting cost aside, the right time IMO is whenever your desire to ride outpaces your fitness, ability to recover, or time (and maybe wanting to ride with friends who have them). I'm 53 and try to ride five days per week. Before getting an e-bike, three of my rides would typically be enduro/trail rides, and two would be relatively flat road rides (five MTB rides a week would wreck me). For perspective, Strava says I climbed 388k feet last year. Since I got an e-bike a few weeks ago, those easy road rides are being replaced with e-bike rides. I can do 5k feet in a couple hours, have lots of fun descents, and still feel fresh the next day. So far, no downside for me.

Never. While it's perfectly allowable to own an E-bike, to ride it, and even to enjoy yourself while doing it, the main rule to follow is that it should never ever become your primary two wheeled machine unless you want to become and E-biker. This transition is insidious in the fact that is rarely perceived by the person to whom it has sunk its fangs into. A good indicator that is has occurred is that their mountain bike has been hanging from a hook in the corner of the shed for months covered in a layer of dust, yet their E-bike is getting flogged on the daily, This is a sure sign that they have undergone the Metamorphosis. No longer a Mountain Biker they are reborn and have re-emerged into the world as an E-biker.

Hmm so what you ask? Well the answer lies at the top of the next climb when these two types of bikers lock eyes. You see one is true and virtuous, earns their vert, and can you look you in the eye with a grin of accomplishment at the top of the climb, while the other is lazy and full of delusion, and avoids eye contact at the top of the climb for fear of judgement. Don't be an E-biker.

ok, boomer

Still better to be an antiquated Boomer than an E-biker. Don't get me wrong you can own a E-bike, and if you are lucky enough to have a shed full of toys, besides the one that defines you, (your Mountain Bike in case you forgot) then good on you, you are doing mighty fine in life. My advice is simply that once you taste the sweet nectar of pedal assist, be aware that the transition is very had to resist and you may not like what it produces. 

I hope everyone is avoiding eye contact when they use a shuttle or a chairlift. Could turn nasty.

Good topic!

I'd love to have one now, but currently the mountain bike specific trails near me don't allow E-bikes. When the trails inevitably are legalized for ebikes, I'll probably get one. 

Respectfully, here's my (maybe unpopular) opinion. 

I've seen and known many people who are comfortable ignoring trail regulations regarding e-bikes (I'm in the US). I will and have actively lobbied for the inclusion of ebikes into our local mountain bike trails, but until they are allowed I won't get one. Throwing moral stones regarding mtb. issues is very silly and often hypocritical, but this issue is in my own mountain bike code; and I'll even cop to judging the folks flaunting the ebike regulations even though I know it's petty. The area I'm in has some positive relational momentum between land managers and the mountain bike community and I don't want to see that relationship jeopardized by anything. 

If you live in an area with bountiful ebike legal singletrack, I'm super jealous. Ride on!

Hopefully that all comes across as my respectful perspective surrounding the issue of when is the right time to go eeb. 


  




 

It is so funny that people are worried about their fitness when it comes to ebikes.  Did you not try alcohol for fear of addiction? (might be true for some, sorry)  I ride about 5-6 days a week in prime season.  When I first got one I was riding about 4 days a week, would just get tired and need a rest day.  I still ride my mtb (yes, they are mtb's, not acoustic bikes or regular bikes, just mtb) about 4 days a week, the other 2 days a week are on the eeb.  I am fitter and lighter than I have been in about 15 years (I turn 55 this weekend).  Days I am tired I ride the ebike.  I have had a few stretches where I have ridden over 10 days in a row since getting one (on my 2nd, anyone want to buy an Intense Tazer? LOL)  You don't miss a day if you don't really want to.  They are time savers for short days too.  I can also say I pedal more, the "boring" sections of trails become more fun, you work harder because they just ride so different when you push on the eeb.  

I really thought I would be a 50/50 guy but according to my year in review on Strava I rode the eeb 22% of the time.  In 2022 I had 261 days of riding, 2023 I had 202 (damn work).  Winters in the northeast slow down my days of riding but I make up for them from April to November thanks to the eeb.

To answer the original poster...  get one when you want one!