Nothing splits opinion in the mountain bike world quite like e-bikes. Wheel size, travel and geometry are pretty close contenders, but particular vitriol seems to be reserved for this debate.
Talk of them can often elicit a response something like what you may have seen in movies when the villagers find out the local aristocracy has been feasting on the blood of their young virgins… before you know it, your shredding compadres will be taking to the (virtual) street with flaming torches and pitchforks.
Regardless of whether you think sharing mountain bike trails with something that uses a battery is a sign of the end times or just the beginning of a new era, we reckon you shouldn’t dismiss them as the black work of Baphomet himself until you’ve tried one. Here are our (slightly tongue in cheek) reasons why you should put prejudice aside and give one a go...
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They can make tame trails more entertaining
All that extra power means that mild or uphill trails quickly becomes a fast and furious test of skills. Instead of huffing, puffing and dripping with sweat, you’ll now be going fast enough to have to spot berms and catch drifts even on uphill trails. Basically it’s like descending all the time, and who could hate that? You can also reset your expectation about what a technical climb really is, which can open your eyes as to what's actually possible when you have to get back to leg power alone.
They give you a serious upper body workout
Strapping a motor and a battery on adds a serious chunk of weight to a bicycle, but that means that wrestling it down the trail gives your upper half more of a workout, which will pay dividends when you get back to you normal bike. Of course, that assumes that your weak, T Rex-like cyclist arms aren’t pulled out of their sockets when you misjudge a drop.
You’ll ride even harder
Days out can be even longer
You can uplift yourself – and your mates
You can stop counting grams
They mean you can keep riding for years longer
You can feel what it's like to be a pro
They put a massive grin on your face
You can hate them with confidence
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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