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Rest if the globe tolerate ebikes just fine, it is only North America bitching about them; they are pedals assist bikes first of all; You cannot ride them uphill without spinning the pedals! They do allow to ride more after-all and have more fun Voted - yes finally, since ebikes are absolutely ok in EU and people take advantage of them

I am 100% on board with the SBTS view of eBikes. Getting more people on trails is always a good thing. People get passionate about recreational opportunities once they experience them. All of the old time riders bitching about eBikes are no different than the Sierra Club being upset about regular bikes. Their argument is "you are different than me so you don't belong" . Basically elitist and exclusionary.

The National Park question is an interesting one as much of the areas that traditional mountain bikes are allowed are basically fire roads or double-track. I hear the "access for more," discussion, I could argue with myself in the basement and get nowhere. Here is something that readers may find themselves more...passionate about? Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, the keepers of Downieville and the Lost Sierras, have taken a stance on e-bikes, they are for them. The first article is their take on e-bikes and how they feel about them with regard to access. This is an area where a number...

I voted Yes! Finally! only because the older I get the more I believe we should be more open with trail access to all forms of fun. Smart local regulations are key, but just because I believe a pedal bike is the bees knees doesn't mean I shouldn't respect hikers, equestrian, moto (okay, I ride moto too) e-bikes etc. What I really want to see is more trials. Demand is higher than ever. What we need is a plethora of trails and we could all quit our bitching and whining. BTW, I'm not sure how this will really effect thinhgs...

My second paragraph: I compared cyclocross bikes and mountain bikes to drive home the point that I am not discounting e-bikes as a form of bicycle. Just like I compared telemarking and traditional downhill skiing. They are all bikes, they are all skis, they are just different forms of them. I never said e-bikes should have limited access, rather it is a complicated issue. What I said is that everybody is entitled to have fun however they want. The question that I have, to your point of land access and teaching new user groups about trail etiquette is this: Who...

To me this your piece was about reclassifying ebikes as a different sport, as read in the title. On that we don’t agree at all. A bicycle with a tiny motor is still a bicycle in my opinion. To me your piece feels more like a skier back in the day not likening snowboards on the mountain, and advocating for keeping the mountains for skiers only. I’m not just an ebike fan boy, and I definitely would like to see more trails or groups teach trail etiquette, especially for ebikes, but that wasn’t in this thread. Im also all for...

Feels like a rant that was a long time coming. I am not going for popularity on Vital here, any pro ebike comments gets knocked pretty quickly online. I believe pedal assist ebikes are simply not a problem. Sure they are not as fun, most days I agree with that, and that’s why mine hasn’t been ridden even once in months. Occasionally like when I’m sick, injured, or just super lazy I would say ebikes are way more fun, at least more fun than not riding. They aren’t real MTBs? They sure aren’t motorcycles, at least not class 1 pedal...

You presuppose that the only fitness activity on the planet is MTB.. and that the only fitness activity ALL Ebikers do is Ebike..and, that it is impossible to create fitness or "earn your turns" thru Ebiking-NewsFlash!-You can make most activities difficult. I'm just as tired Ebiking as I've been on a mechanical/traditional mtbike. I've been lucky (Aunt and Uncle both passed from cancer) enough to have been healthy and fit my entire life. I've done many different things to stay fit over the years-the gym, martial arts, parkour, climbing, etc...And YES, every year I get into good climbing shape until...

I've been mountain biking for quite awhile now (1988). I've owned many different bikes over the years, DH, Freeride, Enduro, trai, etc. I recently bought an Ebike and I will never go back to a mechanical/traditional mtb. I've found climbing to actually be creative and FUN now!-having the ability to pop off of everything on the way up is amazing. Other than occasionally enjoying a random, easy-ish climb when your mind wanders and blends with the meandering undulations of the climb, Climbing SUCKS! (for me at least) Ebikes have turned this SUCKS into FUN!. Additionally, I've found descending, jumping etc...

People that ride these bikes like to ride. I bet many people that ride ebikes could crush you on an acoustic antique bike. Variety is good. I own an ebike, gravel bike and acoustic hardtail.

Seems to me that the whole thing will always be debated, and that's the end of the story. There will ever be consensus, and that's fine. Just because there are cranks, some people will believe ebikes are mountian bikes. Some people, on the other hand, believe any addition of power will make it a motorcycle. Do there have to be pegs for people to really believe they are different? Of course they are different. But I think the focus should be on the purpose. The author seems to rather sit on a thumb tack and climb for hours than rocket...

Disagree with the stance of this article from an opinion basis, but there is also numerous incorrect pieces of info, I also do not appreciate Vital's choice of image for the lead (Racer guy hammering, and some dude bobbling on a roach emtb with no helmet, no proper attire, etc....that misleads the reader that all people on an eMTB are this guy). It is not a different sport and its as much as a different tool as a hardtail XC bike is to a 160mm trail bike. You are a test rider, and all you came away with is "heavy...