eBike Things I've learned quickly as a noob eMTBer

[Andy Mink]

Yep, I'm all in. My last bike was an early 1990s Specialized Rock Hopper with a few mods that really never got used much to begin with. I hadn't been on a bike for probably 15 years, longer than I hadn't been on skis before getting (thankfully) sucked back into the sport. Road riding around Reno just seems suicidal. Mountain biking made more sense since there's a ton of fantastic riding in and around the Reno/Tahoe/Truckee area. Ah, but being lazy, the though of pedaling was unattractive. Then they did it: @Philpug and @Tricia let me use Tricia's eMTB. Game over. I can do this! So I'm in a massive learning curve but enjoying it. A few things I've found in the first hundred or so miles:

-You bleed more when falling while riding than skiing. I have fallen/tipped over more in 6 or 7 rides than I did in 85 days of skiing this season.
-It's not the tires, it's the operator. Don't blame the equipment until you figure out how to make good use of it.
-Just like on a motorcycle, a little too much front brake is too much front brake.
-5 miles is a long way to push a 50# bike with a flat tire.
-Don't dry out your hydration bladder outside with the big lid open when the maple trees are shedding their seeds.
-You have a small pack, put useful stuff in it.
-Padded shorts liners are awesome.
-The e on an eMTB times out after sitting for a while and the next hill feels like you're pedaling a 50# bike up a hill...because you are.
-No matter what anyone says you still have to work for your ride. Sweat is sweat.
-There's an unending aftermarket for bikes. More so than skis. I want orange pedals and grips to match my helmet!
-Stay at the bottom of the track in a banked/bermed turn; the inside slopes to the outside and down and that's the way you'll slide. Especially with a little too much front brake.
-Dropper posts are the schizz.
-Why didn't I do this sooner?

 

[scott43]

Welcome back.

 

[AmyPJ]

Dropper posts are the best thing ever! I seriously don't know how I navigated downhill switchbacks, or downhill rock gardens, without one.

 

[Tricia]

I have no idea how you rode the first few times without padded shorts. My sitbones were sore with padded shorts!

Now to go with your orange pedals and grips....

Bling it like I did.
Heck, you can even bling the rear shock.

 

[Andy Mink]

I have no idea how you rode the first few times without padded shorts. My sitbones were sore with padded shorts!

Now to go with your orange pedals and grips....

View attachment 135474
Bling it like I did.
Heck, you can even bling the rear shock.
View attachment 135475

I can't help but think THEY should pay US to advertise for THEM!

 

[Tricia]

I can't help but think THEY should pay US to advertise for THEM!

The custom color stickers weren't too bad but the shipping was a bit stupid

 

[Rod9301]

I thought by padded shorts you meant the ones that protect you from falls

 

[scott43]

I thought by padded shorts you meant the ones that protect you from falls

I guess it depends where you fall....

 

[Andy Mink]

I thought by padded shorts you meant the ones that protect you from falls

Nope. Bike diapers.

 

[Tony S]

The custom color stickers weren't too bad but the shipping was a bit stupid

Wait til you start with the little bits like valve stems and chainring bolts.

 

[scott43]

Wait til you start with the little bits like valve stems and chainring bolts.

Purple Ti bolts...

 

[Philpug]

Purple Ti bolts...

Spoke nipples.

 

[Tom K.]

I will add: speed is always your friend....right up until it becomes your enemy.

-Stay at the bottom of the track in a banked/bermed turn; the inside slopes to the outside and down and that's the way you'll slide. Especially with a little too much front brake.

Your view on this will change markedly, once your speed increases.

Also, all your braking will be complete once you enter the actual bermed corner, starting NOW!

 

[Andy Mink]

I will add: speed is always your friend....right up until it becomes your enemy.



Your view on this will change markedly, once your speed increases.

Also, all your braking will be complete once you enter the actual bermed corner, starting NOW!

I should qualify that: if your not up on the berm don't be on the inside.

 

[Tony S]

Your view on this will change markedly, once your speed increases.

Yeah, the way I think about the braking thing is: front for speed control; rear for line control. Another angle is: Front is coarse tuning (left of the decimal); rear is fine tuning (right of the decimal).

Edit: But MUCH more importantly: let the bike roll.

 

[Tony S]

Yet another angle: "Too much front brake" usually just means "too late front brake." Tom K was onto this with his comment.

 

[scott43]

Yeah, the way I think about the braking thing is: front for speed control; rear for line control. Another angle is: Front is coarse tuning (left of the decimal); rear is fine tuning (right of the decimal).

Edit: But MUCH more importantly: let the bike roll.

I remember practicing rolling stoppies on motorcycles back in the day..so we approached this group of people and my buddy decided we should do rolling stoppies like the heroes we were.. I couldn't manage it so I decided to do a regular stoppie..my buddy did the rolling stoppie that became a regular stoppie but he went just a bitttttt too far..and...Superman! So yes, let the bike roll!!

 

[wooglin]

You forgot rule number 1: look where you want to go.

 

[AmyPJ]

Yeah, the way I think about the braking thing is: front for speed control; rear for line control. Another angle is: Front is coarse tuning (left of the decimal); rear is fine tuning (right of the decimal).

Edit: But MUCH more importantly: let the bike roll.

I wish most would let the bike roll/brake more smoothly and well in advance of a corner. Brake bumps suck!

 

[Andy Mink]

You forgot rule number 1: look where you want to go.

I learned that years ago while riding motorcycles. It's amazing how much better things go when you do that instead of looking at what you want to miss.