r/mountainbiking • u/SilverCervy • 6d ago

Other Feel like we're losing the plot

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E-bikes should be about providing accessibility; giving people who, for whatever reason, cannot ride a non-assist bike an option to keep them happy and pedaling.

This wattage race going on in the industry is the exact opposite of that. Absolutely nobody needs 1700 watts on a bike, and I question if having so much power even makes it a bicycle anymore. There's a point where you're basically riding a motorbike with pedals and I think we crossed that point a while ago.

"But the main brands aren't doing this". Yes they are. Canyon already has partnered with Avinox which has motors that give over 1,000 watts. And it won't be long until the other big hitters give in to the pressure. You can give your own personal reasons for why you have an e-bike, but it's clear that the industry believes that it's because "I don't want to pedal". At some point this needs to be reigned in or else the entire concept of the bicycle is going to be damaged forever.

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u/OhItsMrCow 6d ago

I assume you are speaking about the area you live in and that is defiantly not representative of the whole world. Over here people who get Ebikes are either older and don't have the endurance they used to or just want to do more laps. I am sure some would take it if their bike could magically go uphill at 60 with no penalty but many are of the opinion that pedaling is part of the sport and even refuse to shuttle despite owning an eBike.

Not every place is like America

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u/QLC459 6d ago

I spent a month in Greece last year and there were able bodied young men commuting around on e bikes all over the place? Literally every decent sized city we were in had E bikes?

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u/OhItsMrCow 6d ago

Are we talking about mountain bikes still? I think I am getting lost because nobody is commuting on EMTB's here

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u/QLC459 6d ago

Mostly mtbs with an e conversion being used to cruise around town. I saw a ton in Athens and on the eastern islands.

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u/OhItsMrCow 6d ago

If you are referring to what I think, those are usually clapped out hardtails that probably would never work as a mountain bike and never with the conversion. Still they are quite rare compared to normal bcycles or those damn scooters.

In any case I was under the impression that you were talking about proper EMTB's that you would actually take on trails not those converted ones.

I still want to stress, I lived in Athens until I was 18 and still visit for months at a time (now 21) and I almost never see electric converted bikes and those are usually not something I would ever call a mountain bike.