E-bikes; the Marmite of the mountain bike scene.
They may have divided MTB into e-converts and e-sceptics, but whether you love ‘em or loathe ‘em they’re certainly worth your attention…
E-converts are all for e-MTBs because of the accessibility they add to the sport. Before the emergence of this electronic alternative, many people discounted mountain biking. Whether they were worried about their fitness or their skill level, making the jump into MTB can be daunting for the average Joe.
But e-bikes break down some of these barriers; with their help, riders can go faster and further without running out of steam! So, for e-converts, this new trend is going to build a bigger, stronger MTB community. And what’s not to love about that?
So what about e-sceptics? Well, for them, e-bikes sap all the enjoyment of the sport. Considered heavy and less nimble, haters accuse this new technology of taking the essence out of the sport they love. They want and enjoy the punishment of a self-propelled ascent, cresting the peak and a well-deserved downhill run.
But are they all that bad?
Find out as we pedal through all the benefits of e-bikes!
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The evolution of mountain bikes
First, let’s look at how they came about.
Arguably, everything advances with technology. So are e-bikes just an evolutionary step in mountain biking?
We’re on an endeavour to roll further and faster and over even more punishing terrain. And the evolution of the mountain bike reflects this…
For instance, brakes have moved on from questionable cable-pull cantilevers to infinitely more capable hydraulic disc brakes – similar to those you would find on motorbikes. And with every product launch, we see a new standard in wheel sizes!
Take the evolution of pedals; each transformation from flat pedals to clipless was designed to harness more energy out of each rotation.
The point? To help you become the best rider you can be…
- For maximum comfort during the prevailing circumstances and improved efficiency, modern mountain bikes now have multiple gear ratios
- Osymetric chainrings are becoming commonplace, for consistent power throughout your ride and the most efficient use of muscle power
- Tune your groupsets via your smartphone and enhance your biking performance with Shimano’s off-the-shelf electronic Di2 groupsets
So there you go – mountain bikes are continually evolving with time. Tweaks and fine tuning help us push our performance to the next level, and get the most out of our ride every time we don on our kit and jump in the saddle. And e-bikes are just another step in the right direction…
E-bikes: the best bits
There are plenty of benefits that come with the emergence of e-bikes, and we could spend all day looking at them. But instead, we’ve picked out the best. The ones that really matter…
Growing a community
As with every sport, the more people who are involved with mountain biking, and the more popular it becomes, the better!
From weekend warriors to the ‘was once a lot fitter’ parents out with the family, e-bikes open the sport up to a wider audience. Which, inevitably, helps build a strong and growing community…
Accessible for anyone
E-bikes help ease anyone and everyone into this testing sport, no matter what level they’re at.
Take Martyn Ashton’s story for instance – an inspiration for any mountain biker out there and an – albeit extreme – example of how accessible MTB is with the emergence of e-bikes…
The British World Champion – who was once amongst the world’s best trials riders – made an epic comeback to the MTB community in 2015 following a tragic accident two years prior.
In 2013, Asthon broke his back for the second time in his MTB career during a bike trials demo at the British Moto GP. But this didn’t stop him from doing what he loved. He returned in 2015, flying through the Downhill World Cup course in Fort William on a one-off Canyon Sender.
While heavily modified and powered by a 3400-watt pedal assist motor, this e-bike enabled Ashton to pilot the bike on one of the most famous race tracks in mountain biking.
If nothing else, this surely has to convince e-sceptics to rethink?
Enhancing your performance
Even for the seasoned pro, a little extra power is always welcomed with open arms. Especially on those long and epic weekend adventures.
As you reach the base of that final steep climb on your trail, and look up at the summit that looks so far out of your reach, you’ll be glad of the help of your e-bike. They can easily boost an average pace encumbered by grinding climbs, and take your riding ability to the next level…
Being able to hit the highest points of the trails faster, while expending less energy only leaves more in the tank for bombing down exciting descents.
Increasing riding time
One of the fundamental benefits is the increased riding time!
You can clock-up more miles and spend longer on the trail, pushing yourself and racking up PBs left, right and center.
They allow you to do more, push yourself in new ways, and train different skills.
Will the trend last?
They divide opinion in the MTB world. But as controversial as they might be, are they a trend worthy of your attention?
Like any transformation to mountain bikes, they have their pros and their cons. But ultimately, it’s about what suits you. What is going to help you be the best rider you can be?
If that is an e-bike, then great! They certainly have the potential to complement your training and drive results like never before.
And while they might not provide the same grit and raw adrenaline-fuelled excitement as the real deal, they make the sport far more inviting! So let’s hope they stick around…