revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:05 pm

weeksy wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 8:17 pm

Mr Moofo wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 8:13 pm But you can tune the power assist on the more modern bosch motors, on Crust and mine it is set as it is set … But you can always dial in power uphills and turn it off elsewhere (bosch drag is not that great)

Of course, but we're human. So we'd just push less hard

When you get to 50 plus you just can’t push as hard. even if you want to

I fully get where Weeksy is on this, I'm over 50, over 100kg, live and ride in the FoD and I have the choice of manual or eeb - I've had eebs since 2018.

My eeb hasn't turned a wheel in months where my manual has been out regularly. I like the effort of riding and I absolutely do not put the same effort on on the eeb, it just doesn't happen.

Taff wrote: Mon Mar 30, 2026 9:29 pm I absolutely do not put the same effort on on the eeb, it just doesn't happen.

This is the bit I don't understand...

I know it happens, I see it happening, but as someone who's inclined to put effort in whatever I'm on, I just use an eBike to go further/faster and get more trails in, and go home after a ride on one equally as knackered as I would on a regular bike... My response to those with eBikes who complain it makes it too easy... Go further... Go faster... Turn the bloody assistance levels down... All of these options are as equally in your control as the decision just to be lazy!

I do decide to turn the assistance down, right down, by riding a bike with no motor!
You say go faster on the eeb, one of the things that I don't like about it is that everything is done at a wild pace, riding is my calm place, the place for my brain to zone out of the day's shit and trivia, and grinding up a hill is great for that. Whizzing up at 15mph not so much.

I only ride the eeb when I intend on doing up down up down type riding to get more laps in, and the focus there is not on fitness it's about scaring the shit out of myself on the downs.

I'm 100% with you Taff. Riding is my sanctuary and the Eeb detracts from that.

There's not always time for further, not always the want for faster, faster is a finite thing anyway, designated by the trails you're on, i can't suddenly double my speed just because the motor will allow that, my speed is designated by my skills.

One of my most common away days is the long red in FoD, there's 3-4 little sections of that that are 'testers' for me. First one being the last switchback onto the fire-road just before Boneyard, there's a tight switchback which is steep... getting up that is a "Yay" in my head.... there's a few more that Clearing them makes the ride just as much as nailing a particular drop.

You've also got the who you ride with to factor into this. If i'm out with Crust, he's ready to go as soon as we crest a hill, so my rest time is minimal. If we're on equal bike, my rest time is longer so the effort is lower.

I guess it's the Trackday/Pootle side of things at times isn't it... I don't always want full intensity. Whilst you CAN cruise on an ebike, you don't... and even when you DO, it's still not a cruise as even in Eco you're getting a chunk of power.

I'm not a purist.... it's not me gatekeeping MTBing, i just really enjoy the way MTBs give what i want and need, physically and psychologically.

Anyway. I was thinking and discussing when out with @crust yesterday for my 2nd ride of the day.

Using Geometry geeks one of the big things of a Hightower or Megatower is the 'stack' and i also worked out that due to me running 3x10mm spacers between my stem and headset, i've already added 30mm to my stack. So that negates the difference between a MEgatower and the Fuel in many ways (unless i ran 30mm of spacers on a Tower of course). But there's also the fact is REALLY can't fault the Fuel, so the only real option of the bikes to choose is a carbon Fuel as it's exactly the same, but slightly better. Whether or not that comes off, i don't really know yet though.

Bloody luddites

According to google AI for my generation of motor:

ECO mode adds 50% to your effort, so if I'm putting in 100 watts it adds 50 watts. What we don't know is how many extra watts is required to move the extra weight of the ebike.

I vary the support level depending on circumstances, sometimes just because I want a harder workout, othertimes because I want to extend range.

At the moment most trail centre trails are focused on manual bikes,in particular a fairly simple climb with all the 'features' on the descent, however with the increasing adoption of ebikes hopefully they'll build ebike specific trails with challenging climbs as well as descents.

The climb up Cawfell the other sat was interesting in places because the ebike allowed my to pick tricky lines and wheelie off things, a steeper, trickier climb would have given more rewards on the up as well as the down other than - "I made it without having a heart attack".

Those days are coming as the luddites die off.

crust wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:57 pm According to google AI for my generation of motor:

ECO mode adds 50% to your effort, so if I'm putting in 100 watts it adds 50 watts. What we don't know is how many extra watts is required to move the extra weight of the ebike.

I vary the support level depending on circumstances, sometimes just because I want a harder workout, othertimes because I want to extend range.

At the moment most trail centre trails are focused on manual bikes,in particular a fairly simple climb with all the 'features' on the descent, however with the increasing adoption of ebikes hopefully they'll build ebike specific trails with challenging climbs as well as descents.

The climb up Cawfell the other sat was interesting in places because the ebike allowed my to pick tricky lines and wheelie off things, a steeper, trickier climb would have given more rewards on the up as well as the down other than - "I made it without having a heart attack".

Those days are coming as the luddites die off.

Yeah that makes sense that if i was putting in 280 on some climb bits you'd be putting in about 180... I can get my head around that.

crust wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:57 pm According to google AI for my generation of motor:

ECO mode adds 50% to your effort, so if I'm putting in 100 watts it adds 50 watts. What we don't know is how many extra watts is required to move the extra weight of the ebike.

I vary the support level depending on circumstances, sometimes just because I want a harder workout, othertimes because I want to extend range.

At the moment most trail centre trails are focused on manual bikes,in particular a fairly simple climb with all the 'features' on the descent, however with the increasing adoption of ebikes hopefully they'll build ebike specific trails with challenging climbs as well as descents.

The climb up Cawfell the other sat was interesting in places because the ebike allowed my to pick tricky lines and wheelie off things, a steeper, trickier climb would have given more rewards on the up as well as the down other than - "I made it without having a heart attack".

Those days are coming as the luddites die off.

Rough calculation - full sus manual bike 15 KG
Trek Rail 25 Kg
So 60% more so 50% assistance is round about equaling thing out …. When you go up hill

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:12 pm

crust wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:57 pm According to google AI for my generation of motor:

ECO mode adds 50% to your effort, so if I'm putting in 100 watts it adds 50 watts. What we don't know is how many extra watts is required to move the extra weight of the ebike.

I vary the support level depending on circumstances, sometimes just because I want a harder workout, othertimes because I want to extend range.

At the moment most trail centre trails are focused on manual bikes,in particular a fairly simple climb with all the 'features' on the descent, however with the increasing adoption of ebikes hopefully they'll build ebike specific trails with challenging climbs as well as descents.

The climb up Cawfell the other sat was interesting in places because the ebike allowed my to pick tricky lines and wheelie off things, a steeper, trickier climb would have given more rewards on the up as well as the down other than - "I made it without having a heart attack".

Those days are coming as the luddites die off.

Rough calculation - full sus manual bike 15 KG
Trek Rail 25 Kg
So 60% more so 50% assistance is round about equaling thing out …. When you go up hill

HAhahahaha. so fucking not.... not even close.

weeksy wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 4:50 pm

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:12 pm

crust wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 1:57 pm According to google AI for my generation of motor:

ECO mode adds 50% to your effort, so if I'm putting in 100 watts it adds 50 watts. What we don't know is how many extra watts is required to move the extra weight of the ebike.

I vary the support level depending on circumstances, sometimes just because I want a harder workout, othertimes because I want to extend range.

At the moment most trail centre trails are focused on manual bikes,in particular a fairly simple climb with all the 'features' on the descent, however with the increasing adoption of ebikes hopefully they'll build ebike specific trails with challenging climbs as well as descents.

The climb up Cawfell the other sat was interesting in places because the ebike allowed my to pick tricky lines and wheelie off things, a steeper, trickier climb would have given more rewards on the up as well as the down other than - "I made it without having a heart attack".

Those days are coming as the luddites die off.

Rough calculation - full sus manual bike 15 KG
Trek Rail 25 Kg
So 60% more so 50% assistance is round about equaling thing out …. When you go up hill

HAhahahaha. so fucking not.... not even close.

When you are the waiting list for replacement knees, you will remember back to this discussion ...

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 5:31 pm

weeksy wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 4:50 pm

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Mar 31, 2026 3:12 pm

Rough calculation - full sus manual bike 15 KG
Trek Rail 25 Kg
So 60% more so 50% assistance is round about equaling thing out …. When you go up hill

HAhahahaha. so fucking not.... not even close.

When you are the waiting list for replacement knees, you will remember back to this discussion ...

My knee is the main thing that will decide this debate already, however, it's still not equalling out.

I'll go anywhere with anyone and test this out on a hill comparing speed and HR to see, it's really easy to test

I'll stick with manual for now. When we move to FoD that may change my mind, but i'm hoping for another year or 3 before that change kicks in.

https://propercycling.co.uk/products/20 ... egatower-6

Must admit, i like this Megatower at £1750. Seems great value

I bought my T130 from them, they were really good to deal with.

Bike looks pretty good too...

Numnut wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 12:10 pm I bought my T130 from them, they were really good to deal with.

Bike looks pretty good too...

Yeah their reviews are excellent. Seems a great company for sure.

Looks very cheap …

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 5:12 pm Looks very cheap …

You'd be amazed at what you can get for sub £2000 these days

weeksy wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:22 pm

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 5:12 pm Looks very cheap …

You'd be amazed at what you can get for sub £2000 these days

That’s because the cool kids want motors …

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 10:52 pm

weeksy wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 6:22 pm

Mr Moofo wrote: Tue Apr 28, 2026 5:12 pm Looks very cheap …

You'd be amazed at what you can get for sub £2000 these days

That’s because the cool kids want motors …

Yeah this is pretty much it in a lot of ways i think