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I get all of the arguments for the various use cases that make good sense for eMTB, but show me one ad where the manufacturer is actually targeting the old and decrepit. No, instead they are appealing to the masses simply to increase profits - not to extend MTBing to those who otherwise couldn't enjoy it. They don't give two shits about those people. To me personally, eMTB is an insult to the sport itself, coming directly from the same bike builders who helped make the sport so enjoyable for those of us who like to keep pushing harder to advance our game (even at 63). Advancements in equipment over the years have lifted the limits in MTB just like they have in other sports. Deploying a motor to make a sport easier though has crossed a line IMO. What's next, an escalator to the top of Mt. Everest?

I agree completely. I'd just be happy with some education to the buyer. "Here's a list of all of the places that you can and cannot ride them" and then let the buyer decide. The problem today is that there is a huge disconnect. My gut says eBike buyers are unaware of the limitations on usage. They believe they can ride the bikes anywhere that other bikes are being used. This is a functional problem of both the manufacturers and the shops.

eBike this eBike that! What have you guys got against unchecked capitalism? Geez you all sound like a bunch of commies🤣.

Wife and I are mid/late 40s gen-Xrs raised by boomers. Both came from poor white trash backgrounds, with nothing passed on to us by parents but debt. Our generation is responsible for the zoomers and they are light-years worse than the millennials. Now, I think I need to put on my thunder vest and find a safe space on my e-bike🤣

I'm a boomer and can't disagree. When I was a kid, we only got to go to Dairy Queen if we won the damn game. Nowadays, everybody goes, and they get parfaits and banana splits instead of an f'n cone. Geez!

The same generation that gave out all those "participation trophies" to today's youger adults are now running bicycle companies. Boomers ruin everything.

IMHO: The issue with e-bikes (or more bikes of any kind) in places like tejas is the lack of available public land. The trails in CTX are already being used to death, and we spend so much time and energy just trying to hang on to what is left much less adding additional space. Adding more people, particularly riders on motorized bicycles, who in my observation tend to ride at a faster pace than traditional riders, is just going to be another thorn in the side of joe pedestrian. best luck

Sliders like the IRD, Paragon Machine Works, and the ones Kona uses are generally trouble-free. I've seen a lot of those older On One frames with track ends, so those particular sliders are new to me. Friction paste can never hurt. You could also ask On One of they have a particular torque in mind. The rather large bolts on Paragon machine works are 17 to 19 ft pounds. Peddling and braking forces can both throw the wheel out of alignment.

I had two different Redline Monocogs that used that type of Chain Tensioner. Worked great with Rim Brakes but not with Disc. I hard rear brake would shift the tire against the frame every time.

I doubt the bolts on the sliders are coming loose if you're putting any reasonable amount of torque on them. Remove the wheel and measure the space between the dropouts as it should be nearly exactly 135 mm. This assumes you're also using a 135 mm rear hub. If there's a discrepancy between the space between the dropouts and the width of the hub, it cuz could cause things to "want" to shift. What's the condition of the interface between the frame and the dropout insert? Is it smooth or is it rough? If it's smooth it could stand to be sanded down or have friction paste but between those two parts. I have experimented with putting gears on a bike but I think it's safe to say that I've dealt with every single speed option on the planet.

Have you tried a couple of lock washers under those bolts?

This 100% Initially ebikes were marketed as a way for people with limited mobility to enjoy the outdoors. I also remember when Kona introduced their first emtb, they made a promo about using it for trail maintenance duties. Even had pack to carry work tools. I can see someone out west buying one and doing all day rides with a lot of elevation. Here in flatlandia? Nope.

Yep. Same here. I just tried flats for the first time for a few rides and things just never clicked. First thing I noticed was loss of power and control in the technical stuff. Went to flats thinking I would feel more comfortable on jumps. Turned out that wasn't a gain either. Switched back to clipless yesterday and all is right with the world again. Anybody interested in buying these very lightly used OneUp composites off of me?

The trail will currently end at the Walnut Bluffs Trailhead, as we cannot find a way across the creek from there. I'm working hard on it, but connecting to ih35 is many years away. Shortly the city will be adding a bike/ped lane on the Lamar bridge that will get you over to Walnut Park Crossing and TCEQ/Girl Scouts/Park35. It's happening. Slowly.

This week the city will finalize a contract with a design firm to design the trail from SWCT up to across 35 from tceq/Girl Scouts. We are hoping to go to construction on a large swath within the next two years. I'm the city PM for the project so i've got all the inside baseball. We will do a lot of new stuff (trail in the MoKan corridor, and along the west edge of pioneer farms), but there is a route that would parallel our route on existing roads. Not generally safe for the all ages all abilities crowd, but it's all ridable now for an experienced rider.

That's the problem right there. How would you navigate from the end of the SWCT over to north WC?

You're probably right on this. But, at the same time, the authorities are generally not that savvy and will use the blunt force of "no mountain bikes" instead of trying to thread the needle around which ones are and are not allowed.

FWIW, I'm loving my Levo, but I just ride it like any other mountain bike I've owned. Only now, despite being old and decrepit, I can ride more often and further that I could otherwise. I keep pace with whoever I'm with, unless they are riding too fast for the conditions (pedestrians, etc.) and then I'll choose a more appropriate pace. Since buying the e-mtb I've been riding much, much more often than I have in years, and I've lost weight, gotten back into trail building, and am in overall better shape now than before owning it. Sure, there are going to be those folks who will make e-MTBs look bad and this will paint all MTBs in a poor light, but, we've had the same issues with people riding on non-e bikes who do that as well. People are a problem. That's not going to change. Blaming the bike for a person's behavioral choices is really missing the root of the issue, isn't it?

Would that make one bipedal? I'm having a lot of trouble keeping up with all these classifications.

Ah the memories of "Rat Trap" Pedals.... Lots of bloody shins from those.

@AntonioGG & @cxagent and others... Sounds to me like you're 'doing it all wrong' 😉 Seriously, you're basically seeing a plumber when you may have an electrical problem. Instead of a cardiologist (aka plumber), you should see an electrophysiologist (aka electrician). At the risk of being both offensive and an alarmist, many, many cardiologists are too arrogant or ignorant to refer someone to an electrophysiologist, even though they may treat someone together. It's like going to see a surgeon when you may not need surgery - they're far more likely to recommend surgery over therapy, because that's what they know and what they do and how they approach 'problems'. Some are dishonest about their biases, but most are just ignorant about the alternatives (in terms of breadth and depth of options). I endured A-Fib for 10 years and while ymmv, my lifetime of experience with specialty docs has confirmed this time and again. A-fib and flutter risks are primarily associated with strokes, while various tachycardias just straight up kill you. So, may be low probability, but worth checking out in my opinion. FWIW, in 10 yrs of treatment, I never had a stress test and I think I had just one CT scan before a procedure. In other words, it's gotta be the right test. There's a whole helluva a lot even EP's don't understand about arrhythmia, so a Cardiologist will be of little help unless you're elderly with typical persistent a-fib. They don't have a complete grasp on triggers or risk factors. My EP would tell me it's nothing that I'm doing that was causing my episodes, but that was bullshit. Dehydration was the main factor for me. Stress/lack of sleep was another and what led to my first recognized episode (going for a run the day a really late nighter). Briefly, I was diagnosed with A-Fib 2002 at 35, by an electrophysiologist (EP). I went on a medication, fleccainide, initially bc it had virtually no side-effects and the pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedure that was recommended was only about 2/3 effective, though it was new and they were improving their techniques (on others!). However, by 2008 I had passed out 2x and was ready to fix it and be done. It's a progressive condition since the heart basically re-models when it's in arrhythmia - 'arrhythmia begets arrhythmia'. After 6 years, fleccainide just wasn't as effective. Had a PVI in June 2008 (and a hernia repair, since I was outta commission anyway), but by Oct-Nov I was recovered but still having episodes. Squeezed another PVI in just before EOY (a freebie!). That one worked only well enough to effectively reset the clock some and I went back on the med since it was effective again. But by 2011 I was having more frequent episodes again and cardioversions can really cramp your style. This time I had the #1 EP in world for a-fib do the procedure and have been asymptomatic (still hard to say "cured") for 7 years! This doc, Andrea Natale, had just come to Austin when I had my 1st two in 2008 and I would've had to wait many months. I was already at the same practice, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia, he joined so he was involved. It may have cost me some heart function, but it's good to have back pocket excuses. Hope this helps. I know getting diagnosed im/properly is at the very least a PIA, but certainty is an awesome thing. You may not have any actual heart problems and the occasional skipped beats and/or palpitations are fairly common and innocuous; however, you may also be nagged by the fear that something could still be wrong and, of course, much worse. Also, Charlie Rioux is also another resource, as he dealt with arrhythmia too. -Scott