I love my ebike. I'm 48 years old got back into mountain biking at 44. I was unhealthy for years. I was addicted to cocaine smoked like a chimney ate horribly. I was depressed. I hit a wall and decided I didn't want to die and got clean. well... the part they don't tell you about addiction is quitting is just the first of many steps. for a few years after getting clean I had two emotions nothing at all or pure blinding rage. I had no idea how to deal with my emotions anymore. I ruined my first marriage because of it. at the end when it was too late I realized I had to figure out how to deal with them. I met someone new and she made me fall in love with her and being alive again. but I still had my emotional control issues. I started hiking. it was great it felt incredible. I was happy but still lacking something. then a friend told me to get a mountain bike. I bought a regular bike and worked and worked getting more fit and trying so hard to get up that hill. I finally quit smoking! why? not because I loved my now wife not because I didn't want cancer but because I wanted to climb mountains better. that worked for a bit. I was riding constantly. I thought yeah without smoking I'll get better. well it worked for a while but I hit a wall. I was back to dreading the climbs and not going to places with big climbs because, 1 id be left behind by my friends, 2 id be so exhausted by the end of the climb the downhill became not much of a pay off for the suffering I endured. I was diagnosed with asthma it was my fault yes from the drug abuse and heavy smoking. I was ready to give up. I loved riding some much and it had done wonders for my mental health. I was finally happy and feeling better but my body was now fighting me my mental health was again starting suffer. then a friend let me borrow his ebike. that day I rode 19 miles easily. I wasn't exhausted I felt happy and amazed with how I was able to pedal all of the ride! ive always been bigger Than I'm supposed to be. my parents are big their parents are big its the way my family is. I'm strong as hell but I'm a big dude. I bought a new 2021 Rocky Mountain instinct powerplay ebike. I rode and rode and rode that bike!! I ran it in eco mode most of the time. just enough to help me get up the mountain. my mental health became better than it ever had been! I was incredibly happy! I wasn't using the bike to "cheat" I was using to get me through the climbs that my body by itself was not able to handle anymore. I'm now 48 almost 49 and ive ridden my bike in 15 states. I live in Colorado and my life revolves around my bikes and the happiness they bring me. Ive lost 40 lbs I eat better I'm in the best shape of my life but I'm still a chubby dude. My legs are nothing but muscle. I'll ride 30 miles pretty much any time I go out. The workout I get from that bike is twice what I got from my regular bike. On my regular bike id just go slow and grind out a terrible climb stopping 10 times or more catching my breath. On the ebike ill still stop but its once or twice. This ebike has given me back my life. I don't understand the hate on ebikes. maybe it's an ego thing. I know they don't do much if any damage to the trails. the most I could see is that id ride the trail more than one time that day and others would do the same. whatever it is its dumb to ban them. it helps people more then it hurts trails. thanks for being an advocate and voice for ebikes. your videos are great! I love them! mountain biking has saved my life.

Well done, I am 60 yrs old, everyone said to me no dont get one until you really need to.....I now find myself going way further on any given ride, but its not because of that small engine in the back wheel, I only ever use it when going up long tough hills or into strong winds, but now instead of a 12 mile round trip I do 20 to 30 miles round. Just knowing the power is there to get home if i over stretch myself is a confidence booster. If you're toying with the idea, go for it, you will smile on your first ride.

For me, an e-bike means my heart rate has dropped out of the red zone when climbing and into the cardio zone. It’s far healthier and has built up my endurance. Since I enjoy technical downhill the most, now my rides only end when my shoulders are on fire. Yup gotta work on that, but it’s a great problem to have. 😊

I love my e-bike. I am 57 years old and at 51 I had a widowmaker heart attack and was one of the lucky 3% to survive. My wife and I both purchase our e-bikes in 2020 and have been riding ever since. You are absolutely right about how an e-bike will allow you to ride more often and still gives you a great workout. I think the reason why some trails do not allow e-bikes is that there are some riders that just go too fast on the trails and do not respect other riders, walkers, and so on. I believe trail etiquette is even more important for someone riding an e-bike. Great video and thanks for sharing!!

Adding an Ebike improved my standard bike riding 100%. Going faster uphill allowed me more corners to work. Plus, like you said, I started doubling my ride miles, so I was getting much more time on a bike. I love switching back and forth between the bikes for different types of rides. I got my wife and oldest son one as well. Now they can join me on longer rides where the climb would have knocked them out, but they can enjoy and we have more family time since they can keep up better. Great video and glad I started following you, keep up the awesome content!

I’m 56 yrs old 6 ft and 4 months ago I was 336 lbs. in 2018 I had a small stroke and my main symptom is my right side is numb all the time and I have bad stenosis in my lower back. I have a 3rd gen Levo alloy comp and have been riding 14 miles/day and eating keto. This morning I weighted 282. I couldn’t have done it without the Levo and I’ll never apologize for riding one. If someone has an issue that’s their problem. I’ve been following you for about 6 months and you have giving me some help with motivation so thanks

100% agree. I've been falling further and further behind my friends and resisted getting an e-bike. I'm > 50 and 240lbs and it has been a game changer for my enjoyment of riding. I don't ride any faster, but it allows me to keep up with my friends. E-bikes should be allowed everwhere.

I'm the Calirado Kid and I like E-Bikes. I just don't own one. 😂

I love the style of this video! I have all the same feelings for my e-bike. There's something to be said about being able to session a jump line over and over again without burning yourself out on the climb back up. It's definitely sped up my progression! Also riding a Levo🤘

Great video. I am a traditional cyclist and admittedly a bit of an e-bike snob. I watched your video merely out of curiosity but I have learned a lot. I’ve always thought of e-bikes as a lazy person’s way to get up the hill and never considered an e-bike to be so beneficial to those who otherwise can’t get out to enjoy a ride. Thanks for pointing this out. Love him or hate him Lance Armstrong also motivated many people to start riding the bike. While watching the first 2/3 of the video I noticed the course as one of my favorites…UCSC/Wilder Ranch S.P. Nice trail choice. I’ll watch for you next time I’m out there. -Cheers.

I've always been a biker and always struggled on hills. I've just got an eBike, but I should have got one sooner. Your definitely right by saying that, when you come to a hill you attack it more on an eBike. I've noticed that on the eBike when coming to a hill I'm dropping the power down a level as I'm getting fitter.

Exactly the same reasons I upgraded from my hardtail. Was tired of getting left behind by my buddies. Always been a big guy as well. I also, had the same psychological impact being left behind had on you. My ebike has had such a positive impact on my riding and my life. Zero regrets adding one to the stable.

Your honesty is an inspiration. Using the E bike to get excited about riding and climbs, and then improving your mtb is amazing. I will always want my standard bike. I hope E bikes keep me riding when I’m 75 years old….

Yeah, that was my experience as well. I'm a former marathoner who has led tours across multiple countries, and an e-bike is the game changer that got me into riding more. I still have my road bike and a couple basic mountain bikes, but I put 7,000 miles on my e-bike in two years, and I never rode my other bikes that much. What makes a big difference is the versatility. I can set it so it's easier, the same, or harder to pedal than my other bikes, and I can put more into it because I don't have to worry about wearing myself out and not getting home!

Good stuff man! The way I look at it, anything that gets people outside instead of sitting on the couch is a good thing.

Well said that mam, I'm 60 years old, and totally re-living my 20 years mountain biking ( after 17 years away from Them ) , and it's all down to E-Biking

Our group alternates between e-bike and normal bike and the difference is longer rides on the e-bike and doing climbs that with the normal bike are simply nor possible. Most of the days I end up more tired when we go out on the e-bike than on the normal bike. We even do more technical descends with the e-bike because our lower body still have energy. Also, it is a more rounded up workout, both lower and upper body are used.

I've had my ebike for over 3 years now and its a game changer climbing hills and getting to trails often miles away from train stations I use. More energy, more trail riding, more fun! Thanks for sharing! 😁🤙

Cheating what? It’s not a competition it’s about enjoying yourself.

Your comments are encouraging. I'm 63, used to ride a lot as a kid so bought a regular bike a few years back as a means to get more exercise. We have lots of interesting trails around here I wanted to explore but it tired me out so badly it wasn't enjoyable so I quit riding. I bought an ebike this week, waiting for it to arrive and plan on getting back into riding. I've had people call me out saying I won't get much exercise with an ebike, but I feel with just that little bit of assistance (and safety net to be able to get back home if I wander off too far) that a little exercise is better than none at all. By the way, I'm a big guy too, and due to the squared-cubed law, the bigger you get, your effort goes up exponentially. You've heard how strong ant's are, but if they were as big as us, they would collapse under their own weight? Same principle. your effort is disproportionally greater to propel yourself on your bike, than your smaller friends, so if their effort for their size is 100 percent, for your proportional size you will have to expend 120 to 130 percent. I hope that all makes sense. Cheers!

I have had e-bikes for about eight years and they helped a lot with giant hills and long commutes, so they saved me lots of money in gas and kept me in better health overall. I used to ride a lot anyway, but I moved into an area with great hills in all directions, so no distance riding was possible anymore without great strain.

As a fellow 330lb dude, your videos are exactly what I was looking for. I was 200 post COVID and commuted by bike, fell into some seriously neglectful habits and am trying to get back on the horse. One of the things I enjoyed most about biking has been lost along the way, I can't do distance and I can't do speed. It also puts massive wear on my bikes components. I have been looking into ebikes to help get myself in the zone, and stay there longer, while also being able to get some distance rides in at the same time. Thank you for your content!

After slogging up a fire road at the weekend an ebike seems really appealing right now!

Brother, this was s suggested video. I am so proud and happy for you . Your story is truly inspirational and thank you so much for taking the time to share this with others. On the trails, I so agree, what about our disable vets etc who could enjoy a trial like that. I think the more folks hear stories like yours, the more you will see them open those trials up for e-bikes down the road. Thanks agian and keep up the fun videos. dale

Right on! I couldn't agree more. Ebikes actually got me back into mountain biking. I feel like I'm 25 again!

I hate this 'cheating'. You're cheating yourself if you don't make use of things available to you to give you more enjoyment and better quality of life. Using a motor to help with pedalling, isn't cheating. You're not in a competition, you're out with your mates :)

This video was so well done my man. Whenever I'm online I see a lot of people say YOU motivate them, as bigger dudes, to get out and rip. No joke, whatever gets you up so you can continue to rip down. 🤙🏽

Thank you for this video!! I have been following you from the recommendation of my daughter and son in law!! I used to race motocross and always used bicycle riding as cross training. Raising my daughters, we always rode bicycles. It was something that was put away at a certain point and lost until a few years ago when my oldest daughter came to me and said she wanted her children to ride because she had so many awesome memories!! So, both my daughters and their husbands and my grandkids all started riding mountain bikes again. We have been having a blast. I found myself on an ebike because it helps me go farther and ride longer!! I am getting great fun workouts!! Keep up your great videos!! Love them!!

At the end of the day you do you and don’t worry about anyone else’s opinions. You can’t please everyone so please yourself. Great video and content. Ride on bro!!!

Truth in words of wisdom! Glad you are enjoying riding a lot more after riding e-bikes. Had the very same experience as you. Riding a Kenevo SL the mastermind is awesome. My cadence was horrible before but the SL changed that. Even caught up to my old PR times on the up & downhills. Like you said it makes you push harder working for that speed. Can’t wait for the next video! Cheers🍺

Yo i TOTALLY get what you mean about youre experience of fitness of ebike to standard bike. This past weekend, i rode a climb with my standard bike, felt discouraged on the climbs, next day i rented an ebike. Felt amazing on the climbs going fast. Was able to ride longer. Next day went back to my standard bike and it made me want to try harder on the climbs knowing how fast i was going with the ebike. Its crazy how you made my thoughts into words ❤

Everything you’ve said is true and spot on. I just bought a turbo levo expert in March. I have a stumpjumper evo for trail riding and a s-works enduro for dh. I find myself riding way more, farther distances and not losing out on the workout aspect. When I get on the stumpjumper I feel stronger and want to push harder.

Just recently got an E-bike in addition to my enduro bike. I alternate weekly between them. I would say that the Ebike has progressed my skills so much just in a couple of months. I guess i am riding more distance , importantly more downhill and the weight of the ebike has given me confidence with grip especially in flat corners. I have then been able to transfer the skills across to my enduro bike. Pedaling on the Enduro bike hasn't been the biggest difference either, i just ride at my normal pedaling cadence. The main difference i have noticed is differnet brake levers , Dropper post position. So in summary would i recommend an E-bike - Absolutely!!

I don't own an ebike but had the curiosity to demo a Turbo Levo and it was simply just hella fun! Uphills, flats, flows, downhills... the reliability on consistency at a speed being slightly (understatement) faster than my mountain bike pace plastered joy all over my face. I was t h a t person who thought if you're riding an ebike on the trails, you're not really mountain biking but boy did I quickly snuff that thinking post demo. The experience actually made me a better mountain biker. I think the best thing to come out of ebikes is the opportunity afforded to those who otherwise can not be on the trails. Happy riding ya'll!

Thank you!! I am currently in the situation you were in. I LOVE riding park with my friends because I can keep up. I have some health issues and riding is the one thing that keeps me moving but I end up riding alone. My friends, of course, always tell me it's no big deal when we put in some miles but I KNOW I'm holding them back. I've been seriously thinking about a lightweight ebike, and I think I'll pull the trigger on it! I identified so much with everything you pointed out and I'm looking forward to spending quality time with my riding buddies!! THANK YOU!!

Thanks for sharing your story. It's great that you found that solution. Making it work for ourselves is so important to continuing positive changes.

Such a great vid, and 100% agree that e-bikes are wonderful! I used to commute to work on an e-bike, but also train on a conventional bike during the weekends. Improving on one did translate to improving on the other, which really surprised me. However, since I had to get rid of the e-bike several years ago, I hardly ride anymore and am in very poor shape. Maybe I'll get another e-bike soon and get back in the saddle.

Sometimes I just want to go out and enjoy a ride without having to push really hard. I rented a power assist mtn bike for the first time the other day. I covered WAY more terrain than I would have if I was 100% under my own power. I found myself really enjoying the ride AND I still got a workout. I was actually a little sore the next day, much to my surprise. It's NOT "cheating", it's being hop a trail and enjoy the outdoors while moving.

I'm in my 40's and my riding group ranges from guys in their 20's to 50's and we all ride e-bikes and absolutely love them! I've been riding a full power Levo for 2-3 years and I just got a new Kenevo SL. They're both tons of fun!

Dude I’m proud of you. I know I might not mean much but I really mean it. Things you addressed would have made any normal person quit. You’re still doing what you love and that’s awesome!

Good for you Seb. E-bikes are there for those of us who need a bit of extra support. As we get older, how many of us will be thinking about buying an e-bike? If getting on an e-bike, gets you out more often. Then surely e-bikes have proved their worth.

Hey this really hit home. I am 6 ft around 280-290 lbs. I was a coach on a mountain bike team and had a group that I'd ride with. They were all fit and very in shape. As such on my Enduro bike I was always last. Eventually I just quit going to the group rides. I still solo but I miss group rides. I also have less time so an ebike makes more sense.

I completely agree! My only problem with some ebikers is that they rarely stop for a chat or even nod hello at the trailhead!

Im the same , im big but shorter. Always have been. Just turned 40 and i live in the actual mountains with gorgeous scenery that i knew im not in shape enough to be able to ride , even though i want to. Very encouraged by this and is the reason i found your video

as long as ebikes arent motorcycles and remain a reasonable weight, they arent gonna damage the trail any differently than a heavier/stronger rider would normally. Very interesting points about it increasing your mindset! thanks for sharing. I am trying to hold off on a getting an ebb cuz I think it would make *me* lazy....but maybe id be more motivated than I think.

My son got me MTB 7 years ago on a standard bike at 69. I fell in love with the sport but after 3yrs I couldn't keep up with my kids of grandkids and I bought a Track Rail e-bike. (Love it) . My skills have improved, more fun, longer rides, see more country, and getting stronger. I ride blue and some black tails I'm still last on the down hills but I lead on the up hills. That gives me some bragging rights. Knowing your limit is important at my age when riding. Walk a feature if your uncomfortable .People think I'm crazy to bike at 76 however I'm not a couch potato setting around getting fat and lazy waiting to die LOL ( Enjoying life )

Nice getting your input on e-bikes I'm 65 and just got back into it last year after 30 years off. I have for the most part stayed in shape but age has a way of changing your physical ability, anyway I'm now thinking e-bike. I catch your short videos and they're always entertaining, thanks.

I'm glad to see you getting laps on SC trails!! It's such an awesome place to ride. As a 50+, I just ordered my first e-trail bike but hanging on to my "analog" bikes. I'm looking forward to additional laps. Keep up the great content!

My dad bought a levo for himself and I will say that most of the things you said I agree with. I have gotten to ride it a few times legitimately and had it mostly in eco mode and honestly if your pushing yourself it pretty much feels like pedaling a regular bike cuz of the weight😂. But that weight also helps you stay more composed on the downhills, you feel like you can smash through literally anything. However I don’t wanna say it’s just outright better. I have a stumpy evo that I love and it’s obviously way lighter and more flickable. You see when you ride an e-bike, I feel you get a more upper body workout while riding a regular bike, you get a more lower body workout. However being able to press a button and just shoot up a hill without working is pretty great😭. Not to mention I have the best of both worlds now because I bought a tow strap so if there’s any fire roads or crazy steep hills my dad can just put er in turbo and haul my ass up the hill and not even break a sweat himself. I love em.

One more thing to add. I believe class 1 (you got to pedal to get power and it cuts at 20 mph) electric bikes should be allowed on most trails. I'd be good with a limit on torque/power too. I think the current Levo with the 90 Nm of torque and 565 watts of power is approaching the limit before the e-bike is harder on the trail than a regular bike.

100% Agree on the uphill, I find myself pushing it to keep the motor working less, but its not nearly as hard as i would push without it. Keep the work up and enjoy :)

Great video, I’m new to e-bikes, just got one a month ago but I am feeling the same way about it as you do!

I'd have to agree with your great video. I'm 75 yrs and purchased a full suspension ebike a couple of years ago. For me, it was too heavy and large. But, I'll probably get a lightweight one in a few years as my condition degrades. It's all about getting out and riding. Ebikes facilitate that for a lot of people that otherwise couldn't. What could be wrong with that?

Thanks for sharing; the more people advocating, the more understanding/accepting is possible. Unless people stand up, more unjust legislation will come down. ❤

@NRML, fantastic video dude, at 51 and circa 300lbs (i'm down close to 40lbs from my max when I started riding again) I know dam well first hand how hard it is when you are literally twice the size of other riders (@ only 5'10" in old money, I'm just fat.). I've been fortunate to do some pre-production testing on an E-bike a friend was looking to build, and I get EVERYTHING you said about them actually giving you a harder workout than i get on my analogue bike, there is never a truer word spoken there. Still keep up with the videos, your humor and honesty are bloody enjoyable to watch, and also inspirational to older large riders like me, so thanks!

I was dreading climbs last year I was pretty much over it. Switching to ebikes renewed the passion and fun to ride. I love it.

I am with you 100% on the fitness part. I bike way more with my emtb. I am in way better shape now. It seems counterintuitive but I think I push it way harder now like you said. With regard to trail wear I guess I could see more wear on climbs. I spin my tire more uphill if I put my weight too far forward. That goes along with improving technique though. Weight distribution on an e-bike is a little different and I’m adapting to it. It’s probably minimal if any though. On flat ground or downhill a level one e-bike isn’t faster than I can pedal an acoustic bike.

Great video. You expressed the way I feel about ebikes. Being a big guy my self and loving mountain biking L have always been frustrated by my weight. Most of my riding was by myself because I didn't want to have everyone waiting on me. I love my ebikes life changer. Thanks for the video.

About to take delivery of my first ever e-bike a Trek exe at 43 and you confirm all the reasons why I’m getting one, great video 👏👏

Hey enjoyed your video and commentary, I’m 61, i started riding Mtb back in 2001, stopped in 2009 for awhile, I’m 6’ and currently 250lbs, I love downhill and hated hills! I got back into riding last year when out in Reno, NV on a project, I bought a Levo Comp EBike, I love it, my fitness level was so low, but getting on this bike allowed me to ride far and long, to be able to keep up with my 38 year old fit son, hills are no problem, I road MOAB alone on my way back home from Reno. I totally understand and agree with all your positives about the eBike. Ride On.

This was motivating and inspiring! You never see big guys on videos. I’m 6’2”. and 280 lbs. I’ve pretty much have stopped riding my mtb and therefore quit riding with my friends because I couldn’t keep up. I still ride my hybrid on the road. I’m ready to buy a new bike and I think I want to go E-mtb to have those fun times again. Thank you! 👍🍻

I can't agree more with everything you shared. I've been riding the same 2010 Specialized Epic for 13 years now. I got a Specialized Levo just 4 weeks ago. The two bikes compliment each other so well. I still enjoying riding both of them. But, the Levo has opened up so many new opportunities for me. First off, I live in the mountains west of Boulder Colorado. I have a ton of trail to ride nearby. So, I don't even own a bike carrier for my Jeep. I never haul my bikes. I just ride them right out the front door. On the 2010 Epic, there's only so much elevation I can climb before I am wiped out. So, it limits my access to all the trails near me. With the Levo, I can make the 2,500' climb to the best trails and still have energy to ride them. Also, I don't have to take the flat boring forest road up the mountain. I can climb the gnarly Jeep trails and social trails to the top. I take on so much more than I could on the Epic. I agree with you that those who think e-bike riders are lazy are wrong. Just about any mountain biker is going to ride the toughest trail they can manage whether they have an e-bike or regular bike. So, e-bikes aren't for the lazy. BTW, I rarely use turbo mode and I detuned my trail mode. The torque my 55 yr old legs plus the motor generates at any time isn't more than some of the stronger mountain bikers generate on their regular bikes. So, I am no harder on the trail than other riders. The only thing I see the e-bikes impacting is many of the trails that have been traditionally downhill only will be ridden up hill too. So, it might be good for busy trails to be marked one way. However, this isn't new. I've ridden plenty of trail on my Epic that should have been marked one way.

yep, what is important is the enjoyment u have with your friends. ebike allows this. great job dude!!

Dude I’m stoked on your honesty. I’m an overweight guy myself and I almost lost my life from COVID a few years ago. I just got of oxygen 3 months ago after a year and a half. I tried riding my old Cannodale MTB but my lungs could not keep up with the hill climbs. So I bought an e-bike from Specialize and it has changed my life. I wanted a full suspension but the guy at the bike shop told me I was to heavy for it and I figured he was right. I have now do a deep dive and learning different. There’s even a company in California the does big boy tunes on suspension. I’m now up to 60 miles a week and I’m trying to do Ragbri next year. What has been your experience with full suspension. Keep it real bud your awesome

Great story and great example. I love that you keep going, too many people quit because of “size” or any number of reasons. Also , there is no problem with e bikes going anywhere. The only reason there may be a problem is that they are new and people riding them don’t have basic etiquette yet so people not on them blaming the bike. This is the same idea of snowboarding, 30 years ago when skiers got offended ( I know I have snowboarded since 1989).

At 72 I have been riding since my late teens in college and, of course a little on a very old 26” wheeled kid’s bike before. I was a subscriber to “Fat Tire Flier”, the original mountain bike publication while the term was being coined. I lost a lot of balance and fitness during the Covid plandemic just to realize later I had already had Covid and could have been riding. I just bought a cargo e-bike, partially to get my mail from a box about three tenths of a mile away and partially to try to reclaim my old sport. This video and comments from old guys like me are very encouraging!

Great video I’m gonna try this method out. Thank you for sharing this with us all. All we are saying is give peace ☮️ a chance. love and light, Chris ☮️❤️😃

Before buying an eBike never thought I would ride as much as I do now! Every moment I can spare I go riding or dream about it!

So cool man! I’m a regular dude about 170 pounds recently bought a yeti 160e and let me tell you: It’s unlikely for me to go back to a regular bike. Climbing becomes fun, where you look forward to climbs and descents. Regardless of weight, I think e-bikes is a game changer. I ride 7x more at least in my e-bike than my regular, far much more fun and wayyy more stability on downhill. Not sure why people hate on e-bikes? I think is jealousy unfortunately Anyways Since I bought my e-bike, I haven’t once ridden my regular bike 🤣🤣. By the way, I am a good friend of Justin Niemi and I biked with you briefly at N* once ! Love the videos and keep it up Man! 🤘🏽

Honestly I do not think that e-bikes itself damage the trails more than non-ebikes. But because of the help of the e-motor, suddenly a lot more people are able to get access to trails and areas they would not be able to ride before. Also like you said in your video: People ride on average much more miles on e-bikes.... all this could be a reason why trails get more damaged, because there is more traffic on them. While I don't ride an e-bike (yet), I think it is great that those bikes are available. I have some friends who are out of shape, but now thanks I can go riding with them. Also it is great for older people: My mom (e-bike) can ride finally ride together with my dad (non-ebike) instead of staying at home or only doing super short tours.

Chunky guy here. I've been riding for years but finally tested out a Turbo Vado ... after a 7 mile test run, I realized the modern e-bike from Specialized is a natural feeling pedal assist beast. Instead of red lining my heart rate constantly and having to stop for 90 seconds to get shit back down to 130s I can keep a consistent pace. Most rides I run 130s to 150s HR whereas prior I was 150s to 180s and if I was being dumb a bit higher. For a late 40s chunky guy not a great idea. Picked up a Specialized Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH a few months back and have ridden nearly 4x what I used to ride. Today I finally pulled the trigger on a S4 Specialized Turbo Levo Comp with a SRAM GX Eagle AXS Wireless shifter. Worth it. First test run I managed a full 12 mile all hills trail. In the past I'd do maybe 3 to 4 and it would take me a solid 90s minutes with all the breaks and while fulfilling was less fun. I won't go back. Don't get me wrong, like you I have a Specialized Stumpy Comp regular pedal and I have Specialized Roll Elite (my original old man with a big ass bike) and I still will intermix all the bikes for the fun of it but the e-bike has helped me unlock fun and honestly far more workout over time than I was doing prior. Just now each ride doesn't feel like an intense HIIT / Crossfit exercise.

Great video and what an amazing trail, just flowing!

totally agree with you that they should be allowed on any trail that normal bikes are. More people enjoying bikes the better!

Santa Cruz trails, like the one you’re on, have been under threat of closure for as long as I can remember. Technically, the UCSC trails are illegal to ride (private property) and some have even been ticketed over the years. Unfortunately e-bikes and e-motorcycles (like Surrons) are becoming more common on these/ my local trails. Trust me the impact has been immense in just the last few years. Before that it was just status quo and really no change from year to year.. I think e-bikes are great for unique scenarios, such as yours, but they do in-fact threaten trail access to the OG actual non-motor cyclists that built and fought for these trails from the beginning.

I have been mountain bikeing for 5 years and don't own a bike worth more than 500 dollars.i working on being able to buy a real bike, but that's not the worst thing. The worst thing is I don't have anyone to ride with because apparently I'm too fast and too good😢 I'm gust getting out there and having a good time like everyone else. Love the videos. Keep up the hard work.

Exactly! More fun means more motivation to do it again. More small victories motivates me to chase more victories. It has been like having a training partner in the gym that helps me get that last rep when I may not have had it on my own. I love that my Class 1 emtb takes me out further, faster, and better. That's right, better. There is no substitute for time in the saddle. The more you do it, the better you get at it. Class 1 emtbs feel so natural that you can deliver the power in a controlled way. When on the trail with my emtb friends, you don't see people doing burn outs. That is not how Class 1 EMTBs work. I think that the Class 1 EMTBs suffer from "Guilt by association" with the other classes or types of E bikes with throttles and greater power, enabling burnouts. Let's face it, a good burnout is fun to do and watch. But it is a nightmare to trail maintainers. Burn out ruts and braking bumps create countless hours of maintenance in order to deliver the ride intended by the trail builder. In order to get class 1 emtbs accepted into the same trails as the mtbs, we are going to need to learn what it is that motivates that opposition.

incredible story but everyone I know who got an ebike only got fatter and more lazy, including myself. Although most people on ebikes wont admit it, even to themselves. The only reason I think ebikes aren't alowed some places is becuase they are lumped together with e-motos like surrons and so on.

Ebikes are also great for recovering from injuries. I tore my ACL and lateral meniscus in a gnarly crash, and haven't been able to ride the same since. After finally deciding to get an ebike after over a year of struggling to get back on my unassisted bike, the ebike has brought back the ability to ride the full length my favorite trails without my knee wanting to explode, and the joy is back.

Hey there, just watched your video on the "ebike" and I must say, I'm super impressed with what I saw! You really highlighted all the outstanding features of the bike, especially the freebeat Morph 2-in-1 e-Bike. The fact that it can be charged while in indoor mode is an absolute game-changer. And that brushless 750W motor with 80Nm torque and top speed of 20mph? Incredible! Also, the 80mm front suspension and puncture-resistant fat tires make it perfect for any terrain. Can't wait to support the crowdfunding project and get my hands on this innovative e-bike! Keep up the great work!

Dude so much in this video speaks to me! Thanks dude! I love my e-bike!

Great video. i'm 64 and 6'4" 350 have been debating on getting a used levo turbo expert since i dont ride my regular bike anymore, your video convinced me to go for it, Thanks

Thank you for this. I ride a high end MTB and plan to buy an e-MTB and this video answered my questions! I’m a Clydesdale too.

Bro I am so happy that you can just enjoy yourself. Don't listen to the haters, if you're happy that is all that matters. Love bro 💯

I have an E bike for one year now. 57yr, 6'1" 200lbs and absolutely love it. It gives me much more bike time and better workout. Don't have to go into the red zone during my ride. Exactly like your experience.

As someone whose 7', 350# (though I was only 7' and 175# at the age of 18,) this was a solid discussion worth to hear. I've currently kept the mindset that 'being in the far far rear' gave me a scenery view and nature experience independent, and I'd catch up with my friends about the time they were breaking their rest and returning to the trail...

Great video! Love my Ebike and it really gets me out more than my analogue bike. Great to have the option to switch between the two.

My husband loves cycling and has done for years but has recently over the last couple of years suffered with his knees and gets a lot of pain from them as most do at his age and doing manual work. He recently bought an ebike after trying a friend's for a while and he doesn't suffer as much now and we are now both ebike riders 😊😊

I have had a specialized turbo levo SL expert for a couple of years. As a flatlander Texan, when I go to Colorado and ride at 10 to 12,000 feet of altitude, it makes the riding great fun, a two hour ride can be accomplished in 20 minutes and I find that I do lots more riding and enjoy it more, my son is 34 years old and just bought his. I am 69. And loving it. They are great for commuting also.

4:00 - same!...The motivation you get from feeling like Superman makes you enjoy working harder than you normally would, and results in an increase in overall effort.

Great video awesome trails, keep it up!

Im glad u pointed out the fact tht riding an ebike has allowed you to become more efficient on a regular bike. The bike shop i work at we are also a specialized dealer. My coworkers and I got e-bikes. I had the levo expert carbon. It was amazing how fast I was able to go and I developed sort of a muscle memory once I got comfortable on the ebike that translated very well once id go back to riding a regular bike. My coworker and I actually discuss this often comparing the effects riding the ebikes gives to pur riding as a whole. And definitely riding a 50lb bike trying to be as fast and nimble as you would on a normal bike is a serious workout! I wouldnt be as exhausted but my whole body after riding enough would be sore and in a way becuz I was able to go so fast so effortlessly I develop better riding techniques and control as well. Id def recommend anyone that can get an ebike to try it. Its definitely worth it!

I test rode my first ebike on Saturday and I was impressed. I got a good little work out on it.

Yeah bro, totally agree with you! I got into mountain biking almost 3 years ago customised my bike to an E-MTB, and now I ride all the time for way longer, just like you were saying. Love you content mate!! 🫶🫶 All the way from New Zealand 🇳🇿

I agree with your comments entirely. I got an e bike at 68 years old. I wanted to do more exercise , and it has helped me enjoy getting out much further. I even use it with the power off a lot of the time and challenge myself to get faster and further. It is also good fun! No short car journeys any more, and health benefits too.

Thank you 🙏🏻for this well made video! Some of those trees seemed a little too close together and that last section looked a bit gnarly but you handled it with ease!

I ride all styles of bikes and my turbo Levo comp is soooo much fun!!! I ride trails faster than when generally on my Stumpjumper and get more miles when at a mtb trail network. Because of this I have moved my skill set way ahead of when I only rode my standard MTB’s. I totally agree with your EBike story, even though I’m a normal sized dude, who by the way did drop 40lbs after riding my Levo for one year.

I've been riding mtb for over 30 years now. I'm 52, and I just bought my first ebike last week a sentinel repeater, and it's flipping awesome. Everything that you said about them is true even when you said they are the best thing since the dropper seatpost was invented. But what I like the best is that I no longer have to depend on others, such as shuttling up and down the mountain in our own private vehicles. My buddies are so jealous. And yes, I still have my regular bike👍🏿👍🏿

I've been riding mountain bikes all my life, over 30 years. My first mountain bike was a fully rigid Cannondale. I've seen every piece of technology that modern mountain bikes use today be introduced. I've even seen things come and go. The 3 most important technological advancements were suspension, geometry and wheel size and I feel the electric pedal assist is just as important. I have worked in the bike industry for years and I got to try a lot of bikes and a lot of technology. I loved Specialized bikes when I worked for them, but grew to dislike them and swore I'd never buy another Specialized. But then I was in the market for an E-MTB and to me, the Specialized Turbo Levo was the best option. Now my wife and I both ride the Turbo Levo Expert. I had a full knee replacement 2 years ago, and about 8 months ago I got my new Levo. It has helped me ride like I did 20 years ago. I can ride longer and farther now, and I ride more often. I think my skills have sharpened because I ride everything much faster now. You really have to be up on your handling skills when you ride faster. I'm so grateful that E-MTB have come about at this time in my life. I look forward to to the technology improving and for me to continue to ride for as long as I can with the help of E-bikes.

You give me inspiration I’m new to mountain biking and I’m 270 lbs I love riding my bike and I get to to enjoy it with my family 😊

I'm 68 with two recent knee replacements. Recently got my first full suspension Mountain ebike. Wow! I use just enough help to get over that ridge, it's wonderful!