*The following is more of my personal opinion than our typical, science-based posts. Feel free to disagree with me!
E-biking in Colorado Springs, like most of the country, has greatly gained popularity over the last few years. Technology has greatly improved the features and user experience of these bikes and, while still expensive, they are not as outrageous as they used to be. However, as with many other technological advancements, the arrival of e-bikes has not been without controversy. As the owner of an amazing e-mountain bike and standard hardtail, I am hoping to convince you to think twice before you judge someone for choosing an e-bike over a traditional one. Maybe you’ll consider buying one yourself!
At least I got a nice picture for all my pain!
Not all bikes are equal
There are a huge number of e-bikes near Colorado Springs on the market, so for the purposes of this article I will be focusing on class-1 e-mountain bikes. We are an outdoor athlete focused business first and foremost, so these bikes align with our treatment and sport philosophy most closely. That’s not to say there is no value in other types of bikes, but those will generally be useful for commuting rather than fitness. In addition, class 1 e-bikes avoid many of the legitimate criticisms that arise when discussing the trail damage and safety concerns associated with their more powerful counterparts.
What are these classes you keep mentioning?
E-bikes in Colorado Springs have defined classes that determine the level of assistance they provide and certain features they are allowed to have.
Class 1: These bikes have a max speed of 20mph and the motor only activates when you are actively pedaling. These bikes are the most similar to traditional ones due to the pedal-assist requirement.
Class 2: These bikes also have a 20mph limit but allow for the inclusion of a throttle, meaning you can generate power without pedaling at all. These are sort of the worst of both worlds, because they are not likely to be fitness/performance focused bikes and also have a lower top speed compared to class 3 bikes.
Class 3: These bikes have a 28mph limit and also include a throttle. For commuter bikes, these are likely your best choice since you can cover ground much faster while still employing a throttle when you choose. I personally used one of these bikes to ride to work, and can confirm they are quite fun.
Class 3*?: For those who are unaware, there are also “class 3” bikes that are shipped with the legal limitations applied, but those restrictions can be removed if you ask the manufacturer nicely. These bikes can then be unlocked to go well over 40mph, and can even be modified to go 80-90 miles an hour. These are essentially electric motorcycles that one can buy without a motorcycle license or registration with the DMV. Part of the agreement to have your bike unlocked is signing a waiver stating that you will only use this product on private property, but unfortunately that is not often how they are used.
Why choose a class 1 e-bike?
Class 1 bikes near Colorado Springs offer the most flexibility for outdoor athletes while still preserving the overall experience of riding a mountain bike. There are numerous reasons to choose this style of bike over any other, and I’ll detail my personal reasons below.
You can control your workout intensity
First and foremost, the best reason to buy an e-bike is the ability to choose what kind of workout and experience you’d like to have. If we are trying to manage our fatigue and injury risk as athletes, some days will have to be lower intensity than others. E-bikes are incredible tools for fitness minded riders because we can immediately increase or decrease the assistance depending on our personal goals. This allows the rider to successfully maintain a specific zone of cardio, use a mountain bike ride as a form of active recovery, or provide a rest interval without needing to pull over on a trail.
Conversely, the heavier weight of e-bikes allows one to turn the power all the way off to make a regular ride even harder if you really wanted to. People often forget you can choose any level of assistance you want with an e-bike, so don’t assume everyone is using maxed out assistance at all times!
Vastly improved skill acquisition
This is my personal #1 reason for getting my own e-bike. The year I got mine was the year I decided I was going to really get good at biking around Colorado Springs, and I would say I succeeded in large part due to my bike.
E-bikes are the king of practice, and practice is ultimately what makes you better at skill sports. This is because they allow for an enormous increase in exposure to any and all terrain that you want to improve at riding on.
This happens for three reasons.
-First, e-bikes near Colorado Springs allow you to cover far more ground in less time, meaning you can easily lap your favorite trail over and over. More reps, better skills.
-Second, less energy is wasted on uphill climbing, resulting in higher quality practice on the downhill. If you are tired, your practice will be sloppy and you will learn slower or not at all.
-Third, e-bikes simply allow for far more time in the saddle. When you can control when and where you expend energy, you can ride harder and longer in each session, AND ride just as hard the next day. E-bikes significantly reduce the number of rest days you need, resulting in a better rider and more time in nature.
Better time management for busy adults
I want to start by saying I am jealous of anyone who has 3+ hours to ride every time they want to get out. However, most of us will have to shorten our time on the trails for one life conflict or another. E-bikes help here as well because you can get a really fun, full-length ride done in a fraction of the time. I can personally make it from the bottom of Stratton to the top of Captain Jack’s in 45 min on my bike, which gives me plenty of time to spend the rest of my day accomplishing something else.
Downhill both ways
I’m sorry, but I have to say it. E-bikes are just more fun (for me). Now, if you really love a miserable climb up a fire road, you might feel differently. But I got into mountain biking to go fast downhill, and preferably off a dirt jump. E-bikes give me the sense of speed I love while going uphill, and allow me to repeat downhill sections 2-5 times more than I would on my analog bike. I spend far more time with a smile plastered to my face and never dread those boring uphills.
If you have pain or otherwise cannot tolerate a traditional bike
Everyone has their own health history and, for some, e-bikes allow the sport to be safe and less painful due to the ability to control intensity.
This is usually the only reason people give to defend E-bikes, which is why I put it at the bottom. It’s a good reason, but I resent the idea that e-bikes in Colorado Springs are only for people with health concerns.
What about the downsides? Surely there are some
There are certainly a number of criticisms given to e-bikes, some more valid than others. I will break this section into what I believe are unfair and fair criticisms.
Unfair criticisms
E-bikes cause increased trail damage:
This is the most common complaint I’ve heard and I don’t think it is valid for Class 1 e-bikes. For the more powerful, dirtbike-style bikes I will absolutely agree with you. But class 1 bikes don’t go any faster downhill than any other bike, and the tires on most are identical to what are used on other mountain bikes in Colorado Springs. If they are not, I am for requiring e-bikes to utilize the same tires that standard bikes use.
People also state that these bikes are heavier, therefore create more damage. While in theory that is true, we don’t put weight limits on riders for a reason. A heavier rider on a lighter bike and a lighter rider on a heavier bike can weigh the same amount. Both should be allowed to participate in the sport.
E-bikes are more dangerous:
While a heavier bike carries more momentum with all else being equal, it is hardly a reason to ban them outright. Safety will ultimately come down to the decision making of the rider, other trail users, and the city in general. Being respectful of other trail users, riding within your limits, and using a bell are all simple ways to mitigate risk. The city providing more downhill only trails would also help reduce conflict.
It’s cheating!!!:
Please. People said the same about having a rear suspension. I can ride anything on my hardtail, but my full suspension e-bike is simply a better experience.
Fair Criticisms
They really are expensive:
While I got my bike half off and used, it is still a substantial investment.
It is harder to brake:
E-bikes are heavier, which changes how you approach braking. You have to brake earlier and harder, which can result in surprises if you are not used to it. Poor braking can lead to locking up the back wheel, which does increase trail damage if you are sliding around every turn. Avoid this!
It’s hard to get a good workout… if you ride with traditional bike riders
This one does kind of suck. It is absolutely possible to get your heart rate up and to have a great workout on an e-bike, but only if you are going as fast as you can and pushing yourself. If you are riding with other riders at their speed, you can find yourself at the top of a climb and not even be warmed up.
People will be rude to you
You do need thick skin at times. I try to be as polite as possible, but that won’t stop some people’s need to be mean to strangers.
Turbo temptation is real
While I mentioned you can choose your experience by dialing up or down the assistance, I will admit that I rarely lower it aside from technical climbs or if I’m saving battery. My workouts may be a bit worse, but it’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make for the fun factor.
Final thoughts
Outdoor sports should be as inclusive as possible since there is so much joy to be had in nature. Unfortunately, there are gatekeepers in every hobby who will tell you that the way you participate is wrong. This attitude is problematic and only serves to turn people away from enjoying the outdoors. E-bikes are simply a new technology that should be regulated reasonably and treated the same.
I hope my thoughts have convinced you that there is at least some reason to choose an e-bike if you care about performance or fun on the trails. At the very least, try one! You won’t regret it.
If you would like help with training for mountain biking or fixing a biking related injury, consider scheduling a Physical Therapy appointment in Colorado Springs with a therapist who loves your sport like you do!
*Again, these opinions are my own, and are formed through my years of experience on both an e-bike and a standard hardtail.
We proudly serve active individuals in Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Briargate, Falcon, Rockrimmon, and surrounding areas.
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