On 2017-10-19 08:33, wrote:
On Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 3:18:00 AM UTC-7, Ned Mantei wrote:
On 19-10-17 01:31, Joerg wrote:
Folks,

There was a story in the Wall Street Journal where a Californian
rider said that people 70 and older are now allowed to use
E-bikes on MTB trails. I could not find anything about it
elsewhere and a LBS owner also couldn't. Does anyone know?

It's not for me, I will stay pedal-only. However, some older
folks around here might be helped by it.

This was the story but it likely can only be read by people with
a Wall Street Journals subscription:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/instead...ike-1507374019




Quote "When teenagers tease Bruce Austin for powering up a mountain
trail on his electric mountain bike, his comeback is: "Didn't you
hear California passed a law that people 70 or older can ride an
e-bike?""



Not relevant to California, but I have been seeing a lot of E-MTBs
here in Switzerland--on one day 5 of 6 other mountain bikes were
E-bikes.

Even though I'm over 70, I would avoid a E-MTB because of the
weight. The motor only helps when you are pedaling, so when lifting
it over a rock, stairway, or fence**, or even just pushing up a
steep trail, you have more weight than I could deal with.

**Lifting over a fence doesn't mean that I'm trespassing. Sometimes
on a mountain road or trail there will be a fence around a pasture,
and a narrow turnstile or V-shaped gate for hikers that isn't wide
enough to let a bike roll through.

The weight problem with a normal full suspension bike is why I
returned to cyclocross bikes. Though the super-light weight and no
suspension has its own set of problems.


It also depends on whether the rider has chronic lower back issues. I
do, so full-suspension is the only option when using gnarlier trails
like the one yesterday. If my road bike frame ever croaks I'd also get a
cyclocross frame but more for being able to use dirt roads with better
peace of mind and better traction than now with those 25mm tires (frame
can't take more width).

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/