New riding group or get an ebike ?

rowdyflat

chez le médecin
So 66yo old , mtbiking since 1990, way past my prime in all respects .
Our mtbiking group is male and female 40-66 yo, a few have ebikes , I can keep up but am like a zombie afterwards .
Before 60 yo I felt as strong as at 30 yo but male menopause has set in.
Reached a fork in my life , recently whether to abandon them and start a splinter group or buy an ebike ?
So built a 26 inch hard tail into an ebike last week using a small hub motor.
Some opinions from the over 60s please ?
 

moorey

call me Mia
FWIW, I’m going through this at 50.
I choose to ride with a non e-group, mature gentlemen. If an e-mate wants to come, they’re most welcome. At our pace.
 

downunderdallas

Likes Bikes and Dirt
You've got a couple of decades on me but I've been mountain biking since '92, I bought an e-bike and kept the regular bike for a while, but it wasn't getting much use so I sold it with a view to getting something new but I haven't yet, maybe when I have some spare cash, but I'm still not sure it'll get nearly as much use as the emtb. The emtb is more work in some ways going down but definitely getting up the hill faster. If I could justify the cash for a new Orbea Rise I'd be all over it. You could try and ebike, borrow a friends or rent one, not everyone's cup of tea but for me removes a lot of the boring slow bit and more of the fun bit!
 

Daniel Hale

She fid, he fid, I fidn't
local gisborne club pres has finally given in to getting one as he hasn’t been able keep up last 3 yrs, he left it so late he now can’t buy one, none around.
 

rowdyflat

chez le médecin
You've got a couple of decades on me but I've been mountain biking since '92, I bought an e-bike and kept the regular bike for a while, but it wasn't getting much use so I sold it with a view to getting something new but I haven't yet, maybe when I have some spare cash, but I'm still not sure it'll get nearly as much use as the emtb. The emtb is more work in some ways going down but definitely getting up the hill faster. If I could justify the cash for a new Orbea Rise I'd be all over it. You could try and ebike, borrow a friends or rent one, not everyone's cup of tea but for me removes a lot of the boring slow bit and more of the fun bit!
You lot are youngsters.
Yeah I have ridden several ,and did a conversion I enjoy it , seems like fun to me I always hated the boring shit going up roads to get to the start of the tracks , feeling tired trying to keep up .
The main down side is they feel so dead riding downhill with all that weight.
I said to a fishing friend its like catching small whiting with a surfrod.
 

rextheute

Likes Bikes and Dirt
E-Bike .
Im over 50 , and know exactly how you feel .
Like @downunderdallas , I've kept my standard bikes , but they don't really see as much use
A good E-mtb will descend well, but will never feel like a standard 'lively , playful' or whatever term you want .
Due to the weight , they feel solid and can descend like monsters - i suppose you could jump em - I'm not gonna test the theory - old and fragile !

Ride a few different ones , the brand name models have all come back to longer travel , longer swing arms slack heads - like where the market has gone anyway .
Perversley all the reviews gave E-mtbs stick when they went to long slack frames ( flow Mountain Bike I'm looking at you ) and now gush when a new model of Trail /Enduro bike comes out with the same numbers - can't fight maths .

Specialised do the Levo SL - smaller battery , less powerful motor approx 17kg - worth a ride if it appeals

A standard E will be approx 22kg plus - something to think about - hard to lift on the roof .....
All will be relatively pricey - but no more than a well specced standard bike - as in up to inc $6k - Merida 160 may be cheaper - 99 bikes had some for $3500 ?

If mine died /broke / stolen etc , id buy another as fast as i could .
But id buy from an actual shop , that stocks and services - online is still a little sketchy for me on an E-mtb .
Have a chat to Cycle Station in Albury they do demos and is an agent for a couple of brands - Norco , Giant , Specialised Albury is around the corner as well
Pushys are now the agent for YT if you want to push the envelope .
The new Cannonade is a cracker bike also .

I am a convert , if you ever come down to Central Vic / Macedon Ranges have a go , it may sway your decision .
 

Mattyp

Cows go boing
Im usually pretty anti e-bike so this is going to be weird for me to say... but just buy the ebike and keep enjoying getting out for a ride. If trying to keepup with your mates leaves you feeling like shit afterwards eventually you'll give it up all together. E bike will let you stay out there longer and enjoy the ride more. Max respect to anyone still riding MTB in their 60s. For the record im 35 so will have to keep pedalling the analog bike for a while yet.
 

downunderdallas

Likes Bikes and Dirt
You lot are youngsters.
Yeah I have ridden several ,and did a conversion I enjoy it , seems like fun to me I always hated the boring shit going up roads to get to the start of the tracks , feeling tired trying to keep up .
The main down side is they feel so dead riding downhill with all that weight.
I said to a fishing friend its like catching small whiting with a surfrod.
Have you tried a variety of bikes? Obviously, if you have the funds for something like the Orbea or a Spec Levo SL you are sub 17-18kg and really close to a trail bike with a magic button. Even my 22kg Norco feels pretty good I think, I ride it on all the same trails I ride the regular bike and now even on a downhill section I reckon I'd pick the Norco, I'm used to how it feels, actually easier to jump than a regular bike I think, however I am a rubbish jumper on anything. Having good people to ride with is important though, if you enjoy riding with those people keep riding. I lost a riding group at one stage when I had kids in early 2000's and stopped riding almost completely for 5 years or so. As Mattyp says anything that keeps the wheels turning is a good thing!
 

Slowman

Likes Dirt
if an ebike gets you out there and keeps you happy...why not? A mate of mine who is what I'd consider one of the best technical riders around and is about 10 years younger (BTW I'm 62) has bought one, which kind of surprised me but when you can't get out as much to maintain the fitness level you want it's a good tool to use to bridge the gap until you get there again. I don't think age is really the barrier but time and responsibilities can conspire to rob you of that recreation time, at times and they all come with age. Like now because I have a grand child I've been on the roster for child minding duties... and I still work and seem to keep getting more responsibility there too.
 

Patio

Likes Bikes
I'm less than 10 years younger and still happy with pure pedal power when riding with my mates but I do miss a couple of guys who just don't get out much any more due to age, injuries or medical conditions. I miss the chat, free advice and general commentary. I think an e-bike would be a great solution for these guys. If an e-bike helps you keep in touch with a great bunch of riders then why not?
 

rowdyflat

chez le médecin
Now 68 yo I went to ebike for commuting because it is tedious after the first 1000 times but non electric for mtbiking.
Most others have ebikes and for a while they went on their own but came back when they missed our ideas and company !!
 

doihoi

Likes Dirt
I am 39 and for some time I refused to get an e-bike, always thought it was cheating.
I tried so hard to get fitter, but felt I wasn't gaining.

I bought a YT Decoy last year and have enjoyed riding again - I also get to ride with my bro who is far fitter than I am. I get to do more runs, more sessions.
 

damo666

Likes Dirt
I am 39 and for some time I refused to get an e-bike, always thought it was cheating.
I tried so hard to get fitter, but felt I wasn't gaining.

I bought a YT Decoy last year and have enjoyed riding again - I also get to ride with my bro who is far fitter than I am. I get to do more runs, more sessions.
I am 50 and pretty much this exactly - resisted cheater bikes for many years, was still riding often but just going through the motions, not exactly enjoying it. Bought e-bike, now riding AT LEAST twice as much as I was over recent years, having a ball and looking forward to rides just like I was a grom again!
 
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Stredda

Runs naked through virgin scrub
I am 50 and pretty much this exactly - resisted cheater bikes for many years, was still riding often but just going through the motions, not exactly enjoying it. Bought e-bike, now riding AT LEAST twice as much as I was over recent years, having a ball and looking forward to rides just like I was a grom again!
I'm 49 and only just got an Ebike. Not so much to keep up with friends but to be able to ride further and longer as our local trail networks are bloody huge these days. Still have my trusty old 2015 Norco Sight and it just depends on who I'm riding with to which bike I choose.
Usually if I'm riding with normal bikes I'll take the Sight, if it's with Ebikes I'll take the Ebike and usually if it's by myself I'll take the Ebike.
My Levo SL is proving pretty versatile. I've raced it in gravity enduros, XC races, gravel races, I commute to work on it, I've ridden it on group social rides with normal bike with the assistance to zero or busting my butt chasing full powered bikes. Certainly, don't regret buying it.
 
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