e-biker ticketed at Whiting (pic inside)!

kazlx said:
If you really think about it, at the time, that was completely new territory. Hikers didn't really have any competition until 'mountain biking' started to become a thing. I think at this point, most people probably don't really know or care about the difference and they wouldn't really be opposed to them unless they had some direct interaction with an e-bike specifically that caused them to be pissed off. Regardless of people's views on bikes, bikes are a pretty normal/common thing on trails now. Even if you hate them, most people concede they are allowed most places. That's my guess.
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Motos?

We share trails like Cannell with them and they were out there “spooking” hikers before us.
 
kazlx said:
True, but I don't think there's *as much* competition for the same types of trails, for the most part. I'd say in general, that biking and hiking compete for/share more of the same trails.
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I can agree with this. I don’t think most family outings are out hiking on off road trails. Bicycles are that “stuck in the middle “ sport that “could better fit on hiking trails as oppose to off road. I could not imagine taking my bike to Hungry Valley Off-road Park and getting in the way of the Moto’s, quads, and 4 wheel drive trails.
 
kazlx said:
Not sure if you've been to Santa's but it's like a damn freeway haha. This is where I'm sort of torn about it. I don't really mind, but man, so many of those guys are just dicks about it. I'm sorry you had to slow down 1-2mph and wait 5 seconds to find a place to pass because I can't pedal uphill at 25mph.
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I have zero issues if Santa says ebikes are ok at his village. But Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl have their own rules in their village.
 
tick said:
I have zero issues if Santa says ebikes are ok at his village. But Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl have their own rules in their village.
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We keep circling back to the same argument which is: follow the trail rules. Those of us who bike in CNF love it when it rains, and Maple Springs Road is closed to truck traffic. However when the road is open, trucks and motos are allowed, and we have to share the trail.

Same thing that is happening right now when this community recognizes mountain bikers who are poaching the closed trails south of Santiago Peak. As @Faust29 commented - Trabuco Canyon happens to be my favorite trail in CNF. I am chomping at the bit to first get out there, repair as much damage as possible, and then ride the trail. But I will wait until the rangers give the "all clear".

Same issue with mountain bikers riding wilderness trails where they aren't allowed. It always seems to be a small minority who can't follow the rules - but the vast majority have to pay the consequences.
 
kazlx said:
Not sure if you've been to Santa's but it's like a damn freeway haha. This is where I'm sort of torn about it. I don't really mind, but man, so many of those guys are just dicks about it. I'm sorry you had to slow down 1-2mph and wait 5 seconds to find a place to pass because I can't pedal uphill at 25mph.
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i went to Santa on a demo day.. everyone goes up the same way.. 50/50 mix of considerate and inconsiderate ebikers passing... wow that place was a zoo..
 
konakc said:
i went to Santa on a demo day.. everyone goes up the same way.. 50/50 mix of considerate and inconsiderate ebikers passing... wow that place was a zoo..
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I’m sure it’s probably even busier on a demo day, but yea that place is packed with e-bikes. And a big percentage of them are d-bags getting all uppity that you’re slowing them down on the climb up. I think the fact that they are fully allowed there adds a bit of entitlement. Ultimately for me, it just boils down to the same as everything else. It’s not the arrow it’s the Indian. I’m honestly pretty indifferent to them as a whole. It’s not really for me at this point, but to each their own. I haven’t ridden a e-mtb, but my wife’s parents got some beach cruiser types and I rode one. It’s not hard to do 20mph uphill. Gave me a little more perspective.
 
kazlx said:
I’m sure it’s probably even busier on a demo day, but yea that place is packed with e-bikes. And a big percentage of them are d-bags getting all uppity that you’re slowing them down on the climb up. I think the fact that they are fully allowed there adds a bit of entitlement. Ultimately for me, it just boils down to the same as everything else. It’s not the arrow it’s the Indian. I’m honestly pretty indifferent to them as a whole. It’s not really for me at this point, but to each their own. I haven’t ridden a e-mtb, but my wife’s parents got some beach cruiser types and I rode one. It’s not hard to do 20mph uphill. Gave me a little more perspective.
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It's been mentioned that Santa should have a motorized lane and a muscle-powered lane. Separate but equal!
 
The same percentage of the populous is assholes no matter what the slice of pie we're viewing is. The same qty of people that drive cars are a-holes and drive like it, the same qty of hikers are a-holes and act like it, the same qty of human powered bike riders are a-holes and ride like it and lastly, the same qty of e-bikers are aholes and act like it.

I can't say that the % (of the total) of ebikers that are being idiots is any different then the same % (of the total) of strava addicted aholes riding regular mtb's like douches. Entitlement and american cultural breakdowns know no categories and definitions. We're all in same fishbowl lamenting at how low the common denominator can be. I'm not at all commenting on if/where/when ebikers should have access, however I think projecting that an ebike instantly means ahole and inconsiderate is a bit of a cop out to simplify the issue and entrench ourselves in our own confirmation biases.

All that being said, yeah, being informed by a park ranger that you're doing something wrong and then just doing it despite that, makes you an ahole. Climbing the luge on an ebike makes you dumb, and likely also an ahole in most circles. The real shame in this is that there is no way for us to integrate, educate and take advantage of the influx of people this technology is bringing into the sport, that is, other then santa's village and maple springs.

While Santa's Village seems to be ground zero for ebike and normal bike integration and it's with a mixed degree of success, I can't say that the ebikes are the straw that breaks the camels back in terms of congestion and people being inconsiderate and mindless up there.

Me personally? I think the number is somewhere around 30%. Seems like every where I go, 30% of the people are a waste of my time, and Aholes.
 
Ebruner said:
Me personally? I think the number is somewhere around 30%. Seems like every where I go, 30% of the people are a waste of my time, and Aholes.
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Wow I hope not! I would have put the number much lower... 10% or less for me.

Then again, if I had to quantify the % of households with dogs who can't accept that you aren't allowed to leave a barking dog in your backyard... the number would be more like 80% :) Don't get me started on the people who feel the need to bring their dog with them into restaurants...
 
Mikie said:
I can agree with this. I don’t think most family outings are out hiking on off road trails. Bicycles are that “stuck in the middle “ sport that “could better fit on hiking trails as oppose to off road. I could not imagine taking my bike to Hungry Valley Off-road Park and getting in the way of the Moto’s, quads, and 4 wheel drive trails.
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Yeah, my response was admittedly apples to oranges. Sometimes I just like to hear my self talk (see myself post?).
 
Cornholio said:
They can ride those mostly paved paths as much as they want! We brought beach cruisers to Yosemite years ago to get around the valley and it was way better than taking the shuttles around.
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Rather than granting access to e-bikes, this just puts the final nail in the coffin lid for granting mountain bike trail access to backwood trails in national parks. Now they will NEVER be allowed.

If you have seen the current trails in the National Parks that allow bike traffic, it makes CNF truck trails seem like deep wilderness. I just checked Joshua Tree NP, and their longest mountain bike trail in the park is .7 miles with 100 feet of elevation change. Wow. Quote "one of the best technical trails in the area" LOL.

Also... I know I have mentioned this before, but they just banned those motorized rental scooters from State Universities. Too many accidents.
 
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Hey! Have you seen the newest e-bike?

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/motorcycles/electric.html

And if you thing I am just trolling, check this out:

harley.jpg


Quote: "The first electric-powered balance bikes for kids with parents who want to share their love for riding" That's right - if your kid is too young and unstable to ride a regular balance bike... just motorize it!
 
I'm a little torn on the kids stuff. A) it's stupid. B) It has a little merit since the hardest part about riding with kids is they have zero endurance. I know that comes with age, but it could be a possible way to get them some distance and learn handling skills until they start to get older and have more endurance. But C) it is kind of stupid and kids should just ride bikes.

I'm sure I'm not as old and codgery as some, but it does get annoying that there always seems to be this need to technoligify everything. Just more tech and junk and waste for the sake of it. I'm sure there's people that would buy their kids electric balance bikes, but it ain't me.
 
A friend that has ridden mtbs, sort of, and I know has tried and liked the ebike asked me today what I thought about them. Unfortunately, for him or me, I unloaded on him. I said if he lost both legs to diabetes I'd be ok with him riding down Colima, but if i saw him in "my" hills I'd hip check him off the steep side of the trail. Maybe a bit of too much?
 
Robbie said:
E-surf boards, wonder if these will proliferate in the water like e-bikes have on the trails: https://www.onean.com/ And would surfers be even more mean and angry than mountain bikers if one of these were to cut in front.
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I certainly hope so. SUPs are already the e-bikes of the surf lineup. Surfers frown on anything perceived as cheating - even webbed gloves. Not endorsing violence, but I understand the "enforcer" role of a hockey team. I'm OK with applying that to any motors in the surf lineup.

And that kid's motorized balance bike? F@ck me - we truly have reached the world depicted in Wall-E.
 
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