Santa Cruz Heckler E-Bike

I Rode an E-Bike

by Robb Sutton

Yesterday…I rode an e-bike.

Well let’s back up a second. It was also the first time since December of 2018 that I had been on a bike at all…and I was pretty sure riding was done for the rest of my life. It was bad enough that I was considering selling this site or even just deleting it completely. I was never going to ride a bike again.

I’m not going to go into details right now (possibly later) but I did have a serious injury to my left leg/hip that changed my life for forever. The possibility of riding my bikes was over due to the damage. A friend of mine and a local bike shop (Free Flite if you are ever in the Atlanta area) pushed for me to try an e-bike as a way to get back on the trails. The ultimate goal was not to get back to doing road gaps and riding like I used to…it was to be able to ride with my 8 year old son who is really starting to get into riding. I had been putting off the thought of even trying as the uncertainty of whether or not I could do it in the future was better than just knowing I couldn’t from trying. Thanks to the pressure from my wife, my son and my friends…I tried and the results were even better than expected.

Back in 2016, I posted an article on e-bikes and what I thought about them. Little did I know that the #1 reason I thought e-bikes would be great for the industry would be me several years later. After I rode both a Trek Rail and a Santa Cruz Heckler…here are my thoughts.

E-Bike Reactions

My injuries are pretty unique. The valves in my veins are broken due to loss of blood flow so my left leg does not pump out blood from my foot to my heart correctly. Added to that there is vein and artery damage that slows down the blood flow even further. Two of the hamstring muscles are disconnected at my hip…and my hip also happens to be fractured right at the sit bone. Long story short…my left leg is jacked up. The part that really surprised me was what the motor in the e-bikes allowed me to do that altered my riding so that I could pedal pain free…so let’s get into it.

“Turbo Mode”

One of the biggest fears I remember hearing about e-bikes is the fact that they should be considered a motorcycle and people would modify them to go faster and faster. This would damage trails…restrict land access…and make it so that we basically had dirt bikes on trails.

I hated turbo mode.

I know I am a test case of one but turbo mode had zero interest to me. I found that I wanted to still feel like I was riding a bike. I wanted the least amount of input available that still provided the aid I needed. If I wanted to be on a dirt bike…I would be on one. Riding an e-bike is not about doing something different than mountain biking. It was using the aid of technology to further enhance the experience (or in my case, allow me to do it at all). When the bike wants to take off on its own, the experience is lessened and not the same. For me it seemed like “turbo mode” is more about marketing than actually riding. In my personal riding…I see zero need for it.

What was great for me was having multiple modes to switch between. It allowed me to keep riding and try to bring the experience as close as I could to just riding a regular mountain bike.

What did the motor allow me to do?

The part that surprised me the most was what the motor allowed me to do. It basically gave me a functioning left leg. I was able to time uphill pitches so my right leg was forward to take the power stroke and my left leg would just follow with the aid of the motor. When my leg started to give out or have pain, I could just click the motor up one setting to provide more aid. It also allowed me to sit on the saddle more right biased to keep my sit bone from putting pressure where the fracture would start hurting. Normally…this would not be possible as it would make it so that the power out of my left leg during climbing would be decreased.

Overall…the motor took over for the parts of my body that didn’t want to work or could cause pain. I was really blown away. We did a little over 11 miles and I didn’t feel like I was going to get stuck on the trail or that I was holding back the friend of mine that I was riding with. The assist gave me a complete functioning body. This was life changing for me. I was able to ride a bike again.

Final Thoughts

We have seen a lot of different technologies hit mountain biking since the days I started riding back in the 80’s. Some of them stuck…some of them were horrible. Overall, the experience of riding a mountain bike has greatly improved with geometry, suspension, components and other aspects of riding that allow us to ride trails in ways we never thought were even possible. Can you imagine trying to ride the original Stumpjumper today?

This is the next evolution that will allow riders to hit more remote trails, ride longer rides and in the case of some…even just ride a mountain bike at all. I get the reservations. I get the old school mentality of the only power you have is from your body. But if you really want to be a purest…you better be on a 1981 Specialized Stumpjumper because ever innovation since that time has aided in your ability to ride rougher terrain and ride longer. Riding an e-bike for me was much like driving a Tesla for the first time. Without experiencing it first hand…you just don’t get it.

I really can’t put into words what it felt like to be on a trail again when you think that part of your life is over. It’s emotional. There are going to be a lot of firsts again. The first trail ride with my son. The first group ride with my friends. The first riding trip.

I texted my wife on the drive home “it worked” and my son me in the driveway so excited I thought he was going to jump out of his shoes. That is the excitement I remember about riding. Thanks to e-bikes…I get that part of my life back…and it’s amazing. Time to start shopping…

34 comments

Charlie July 30, 2020 - 3:16 am

Robb, I’m speechless. Well done! You have made such brave choices for you and for your wife and son – and I just read your blog about how the injury happened.

E-bikes…. I’m in the UK, 64 with severe arthritis of my spine. I’m 3 inches shorter due to intervertebral disc loss, have a scoliosis as a result and have had surgery to my neck to relieve pressure from a disk on my spinal cord. I have muscle wasting and numbness here and there and have almost constant pain requiring nsaid pain relief.

I’d got off the MTB one last time 5 years ago.

I’d ridden most of my life and my son started with me on the trails aged 8 too. We rode together for years. He rescued me aged 16 out in the woods when I smashed my ribs and shoulder all needing surgery etc etc. He’s 25 now and we hadn’t ridden together for the 5 years I was off my bike….

8 months ago, my wife bought me an e-bike and told me to go riding again. Well, what can I say? My Turbo Levo has me riding all the old trails again. That part of my life has been returned. The e-bike debate is less caustic over here. There has always been people who could whizz up and down hills faster than the rest of us. We’ve always given way to them and gladly so. Why should I interrupt their joy if simply moving out the way for a moment is the price? When I caught up somebody, when the opportunity arose, they’d let me psss. This is normal over here. Is pride really more of an issue over there, or do the prideful post more often? Here vast majority of walkers, horse riders and MTB riders are polite and of course some are not. A few damage the trails in all the various ways, but that is not an e-MTB thing. It’s a personality thing. E-bikes have had no impact on that over in the UK at least, although there are some – not many – who dearly want a different incorrect message to get out and their views are disproportionately represented sometimes.

So, my point is, I’ve been out with my lad on the trails again too! What a pleasure. We’ve visited our favourite old trail and tried something new together. And, you know what? We’re still quite closely matched over the ride.

I don’t harm the trails. I don’t meet people who do. I can still ride with my son.

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Robb Sutton July 30, 2020 - 7:23 am

Charlie that is an awesome story! It sounds like we are married to very similar women!

Unfortunately, it is different over here for some reason. They keep on saying “ride motorcycle trails because it is a motorcycle”. I don’t know if it is because our society is so polarized right now or what. My guess…is that the loudest people are the small percentage. It just seems like they are the majority because they are the loudest. There are people that would think I should never ride MTB trails again…I hope that is really the minority that talks the loudest/most.

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Gary Kovarik July 27, 2020 - 4:54 pm

So you bought a bike with a motor go e ride with the other motorized vehicles. Mountain biking is a great sport, it will be ruined by e bikes. The power on e bikes is going to go up every year until there is no need for peddles. Keep motors off the mountain bike trails go ride on motorcycle trails.

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Robb Sutton July 27, 2020 - 5:36 pm

Did you read any of the article? That is a very closed minded view on things.

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Gary Kovarik October 24, 2020 - 11:01 am

E bikes will be just like atvs faster and more powerful each year .If one of the friends you ride with gets an e bike you will want one to keep up. The e bike will turn a green sport into another power hungry motor activity.He can ride all he wants but why does he have to ride mountain bike trails. In Missouri we have shared trails with hikers and horses faster e bikes will kill that deal with other users.

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Walt Bready July 26, 2020 - 7:14 pm

Woo Hoo! Great to hear you are back on a bike. Love the story. Roll forward Rob!

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Robb Sutton July 26, 2020 - 8:10 pm

Walt!!! Thanks and I hope to see you soon. It’s been awhile.

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Ricardo Resnik July 25, 2020 - 3:41 am

I didn’t have an accident, but I am getting old, and the e-Bike gave me the power to enjoy again !!!!!

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Robb Sutton July 25, 2020 - 7:43 am

I love the possibilities with e-bikes to help people ride longer as we get older. They really do open up new possibilities.

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Paula July 25, 2020 - 2:02 pm

I’m 68 and still riding hard without any assist, but know that in a handful of years, I may be looking into an ebike. My partner is 75 and is still riding strong as well. What bothers us most in our area is that a few new downhill gnarly trails have been built. So in order to get multiple laps, the young guys are riding ebikes to get back up the mountain. It’s frustrating to be asked to sludf over so they can motor on by. Another problem we’ve encountered is with older folks who were not Mtn bikers before getting an e Mtn bike. They’ve gone and removed every rock, smoothed out most every trail so they don’t have to deal with technical riding. I totally agree that they’re a viable option for riders who have physical limitations and wish they came without turbo mode…..

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Robb Sutton July 25, 2020 - 5:02 pm

We have been dealing with people removing rocks for the past 10+ years in our area. It has been incredibly frustrating before I was even dealing with what I am now. Don’t get me wrong…I like a flow trail every now and then but I was an old school, backwoods tech guy at heart. An e-bike should help with that! Not make you want to remove it!

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EDWARD RAMONAS July 24, 2020 - 7:49 pm

Excellent article, having had my L Hip replaced as well as my L shoulder within the last year, it does look like an e bike is in the cards.
Will look forward to an article on your decision process on how you chose your new e bike.

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Robb Sutton July 25, 2020 - 7:41 am

Thanks Edward. I’ll go through all of it on the site. It is like I am starting from scratch with the decision making process again. Good luck with the healing process!

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Peter July 24, 2020 - 6:42 pm

Totally sympathise with your and Eric’s comments. Thanks for writing a great article!

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Robb Sutton July 25, 2020 - 7:43 am

Thanks Peter!

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Cris July 24, 2020 - 3:39 pm

That is awesome to hear, Robb! Can‘t wait to the read the posts about the trail adventures with your son!

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 3:42 pm

Thanks Cris! Hope everything is going well with you.

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Larry A Young July 24, 2020 - 12:01 pm

Fantastic! Spend as much time with your 8 year old son as possible. He’ll be stoked to ride with you.

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 12:12 pm

That’s the plan Larry! I can’t wait for the day when he just starts riding away from me. I’m just glad I’ve found a way to share riding with him again.

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Joey Gilkey July 25, 2020 - 8:19 am

Great article and eye opening. Free Flite is a first class operation with great people running it from the salesman to the owner, Sixes Pit has the same culture as well. I’m glad that they kickstarted you’re passion again..
I’m interested to learn what bike you settled on.

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Robb Sutton July 25, 2020 - 5:03 pm

The bike industry is tough and they have proven to stay around. I have a lot of friends that now work there that have worked other places previously. They seem really happy. I am thankful for the push for sure.

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Robert Toledano July 24, 2020 - 11:27 am

Cant wait to hear the ride report from when you get to ride with your son again!

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 11:30 am

Should be Sunday. I’m pretty excited about it. Thanks for letting me borrow the Trek for a little bit!

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Eric Johnson July 24, 2020 - 11:14 am

Let me be the first to say, THANK YOU for this article. I have often wondered about the exact same things you wrote about in this article. Let me also express my condolences for your current physical situation. I am sure it was more than frustrating to have something you are so passionate about ripped from your life at such a young age. People don’t realize how much riding does for the body and the mind so I’m sure you were glad to have an option to get out again. I am getting older (54) and I try to ride 3 times a week during the summer but it is getting more and more difficult to climb as much as I do. I rode 13.5 miles and 2100 vertical feet last night and I am wasted. If I were riding by myself I wouldn’t care as much because I could ride slower but the guys I ride with are always faster than me up the hills. I don’t have to be first up but I don’t like slowing them down and holding them back. It would be nice to have a little boost to at least be able to stay closer to where they are. I completely get your point about turbo mode. I don’t ride to be able to blast up hills because climbing is part of the fun in riding for me but a little help now and again would be nice. It frustrates me when I see someone young, on and ebike in turbo mode going so fast up a hill I can hear them coming from 40 yards away. I like to feel like I earned it. I know, not all ailments are visible and maybe it is just me wishing I could go a little faster but come on, slow down a little and enjoy the ride. Anyway, welcome back. A friend told me about a t-shirt last night that said, “Mountain biking dad, like a regular dad but cooler”. I hope you have lots of great memories with your son!

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 11:18 am

Thanks Eric! I used to have the same issue with the friends that I rode with. It wasn’t a speed thing…more distance. No matter how good of shape I was in…they could always do long, epic days and my body just wasn’t setup for that. E-bikes would be able to help with that as well. The hope is that people use them to ride more and not just faster. They can really open up opportunities that might not have been there otherwise.

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Daniel Gardener July 24, 2020 - 11:09 am

This is fantastic news. Glad to see you revive the site if not just for a check-in. I hope to read more from you soon, man!

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 11:15 am

Thanks Daniel! It was great to have something to update. I have really missed riding and writing.

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Neil July 24, 2020 - 10:46 am

Bittersweet story, but glad to hear you enjoyed the ride. There are some sinners like me who have all disciplines of bike, even road and find them entirely complimentary. Glad it gave you a buzz and let you enjoy the trails once again.

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 10:56 am

Thanks Neil! It is great to be able to enjoy all forms of riding. Things would be pretty boring if there was only one way to do things.

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Paul Botto July 24, 2020 - 10:27 am

Great story, Robb. Sorry about your injury but welcome back, best of luck here on out!

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 10:36 am

Thanks Paul!

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Ken July 24, 2020 - 10:10 am

I was wondering what happened to your blog. It’s nice to have you back and I’m really happy that you’re riding again. Happy trails.

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Ken July 24, 2020 - 10:09 am

I was wondering what happened to your blog. It’s nice to have you back and I’m really happy that your riding again. Happy trails.

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Robb Sutton July 24, 2020 - 10:16 am

Thanks Ken! It’s great to be able to get back out there.

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