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Yeah I don't get it. People used to YELL the same things at me when I was an early adopter of e-mountain bikes (now they are everywhere). What people don't real

Yeah I don't get it. People used to YELL the same things at me when I was an early adopter of e-mountain bikes (now they are everywhere). What people don't realize, I find, is you get the same amount of exercise but over much greater distances. On my e-bike I routinely travel 60 miles in a day -- that's just not possible for me without being a full-time professional biker or whatever. I would totally use something like this just to go farther for the same amount of effort (and safety, I'm 47 etc etc) but while hiking. It would be awesome!

theragra 2y ago
I agree. I am still bitter from the time when I asked my buddy from the tourist club if I can join their ride on a road bikes on my emtb. And he barely said that he is against it. He had no honesty and bravery to tell me he thinks this is "cheating" or smth. And he knows I am overweight and chronically ill, but he still thinks it is just a matter of training more etc.
jaxtracks 2y ago
We ban e-bikes on many trails in Colorado, and I'm really glad we do: 1) MTB trails are high-maintenance. People riding more miles on heavier bikes means more wear and tear. 2) Their higher speed messes with the flow of traffic. In Colorado, I don't have to step off the trail much to let folks pass from behind. When I ride in other places that allow ebikes, it's pretty obnoxious to be letting them by. 3) They allow inexperienced folks deeper in the back-country. I had to go on a rescue with my S&R crew to assist a dehydrated e-bike rider with a dead battery 25 miles back to the trailhead. It was a very long day. People who go that far out are usually in far better shape and better prepared than the average rider. 4) They let less skilled riders on more difficult trails. This means brake bumps before the berms, trail widening, and ride-arounds appearing next to intimidating features. No attack on you personally, I've ridden them extensively to train for downhill races and completely understand they can make the sport a lot more fun without having to grind the fitness aspect. However, myself and most other folks I come across in MTB, rescue, and trail building communities see some major systemic issues with their increased adoption. I'm providing this perspective here because I think it's very relevant to the discussion on exoskeletons' potential impact on outdoor recreation. More hikers putting in more miles when they could get the same level of exercise staying on more beginner-friendly trails causes problems. I do love the aspect of letting folks who would otherwise be unable to participate in these pursuits enjoy them, but I think Colorado's policy of limiting electrical assist to high-traffic beginner trails for bikes would be well adapted to hiking if these become a thing.
- flippyhead 2y ago
  Thank you for this!

theragra 2y ago

I agree. I am still bitter from the time when I asked my buddy from the tourist club if I can join their ride on a road bikes on my emtb. And he barely said that he is against it. He had no honesty and bravery to tell me he thinks this is "cheating" or smth. And he knows I am overweight and chronically ill, but he still thinks it is just a matter of training more etc.

jaxtracks 2y ago

We ban e-bikes on many trails in Colorado, and I'm really glad we do: 1) MTB trails are high-maintenance. People riding more miles on heavier bikes means more wear and tear. 2) Their higher speed messes with the flow of traffic. In Colorado, I don't have to step off the trail much to let folks pass from behind. When I ride in other places that allow ebikes, it's pretty obnoxious to be letting them by. 3) They allow inexperienced folks deeper in the back-country. I had to go on a rescue with my S&R crew to assist a dehydrated e-bike rider with a dead battery 25 miles back to the trailhead. It was a very long day. People who go that far out are usually in far better shape and better prepared than the average rider. 4) They let less skilled riders on more difficult trails. This means brake bumps before the berms, trail widening, and ride-arounds appearing next to intimidating features. No attack on you personally, I've ridden them extensively to train for downhill races and completely understand they can make the sport a lot more fun without having to grind the fitness aspect. However, myself and most other folks I come across in MTB, rescue, and trail building communities see some major systemic issues with their increased adoption. I'm providing this perspective here because I think it's very relevant to the discussion on exoskeletons' potential impact on outdoor recreation. More hikers putting in more miles when they could get the same level of exercise staying on more beginner-friendly trails causes problems. I do love the aspect of letting folks who would otherwise be unable to participate in these pursuits enjoy them, but I think Colorado's policy of limiting electrical assist to high-traffic beginner trails for bikes would be well adapted to hiking if these become a thing.

flippyhead 2y ago
Thank you for this!