Are eBikes The Future Of Bike Parks?

Are ebikes the future of bike parks? Bike parks around the world are a great place to ride! They are purpose-built legal riding spots with a lot of fun condensed into a small area, some even have chair lifts and uplift trucks, but could the modern day ebike be a better answer?

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[frankiez]

In the demographics you never mentioned age and mental health. I’m 58 and now can’t do what I used to and have stopped riding long distances and can’t ride a hard tail due to prostate aggravation. Full suss and a cut out saddle doesn’t seem to cause problems down there An e-bike is really a no brainier for me now getting out and having more easy days in the saddle but I find they are way too expensive. So mental health and age are a yes to an e-bike and costs are a no.

[CutePoisonEU]

Anything that gets you out there to enjoy outdoor life and be active is good. Even if you do not have any "medical reasons" or "you are not old enough to need one".

[jonnymorrisuk]

The things I notice at my local trails are that the emtb crowd tend to be those same people who had full suspension before, and these are the kind of riders the trail builders tend to want to cater for, but it becomes a bit of a nonsense as even a small obstacle is really nothing to these heavy monster emtbs with full suspension and chunky tyres that are almost like a scramble bike, they'll just plough straight over it, whereas an average rider on a nimble hard tail increasingly fears for their life on the same obstacles. I say, if the trail builders want to cater to emtb then please just build new sections, a small diversion off the main route or a different section altogether, and let the original trail and riders enjoy the trail as it was built for normal mtbs. I understand that people want and enjoy that extra buzz and maybe they spin the pedals more times on an emtb, but when I'm putting in real effort the last thing I need is someone barely breaking a sweat breathing down my neck expecting to zoom past up a tricky single track section, or the next time I come down a slope to find it all destroyed by heavy bikes that the riders have clearly just dragged their rear tyre all the way down.

I do see an increasing number of older people on emtb and I think that's good if they otherwise wouldn't be capable of enjoying the sport, but these people will also have the same problem of the big strong younger guys bombing past them on emtbs.

Nobody seems to mention the environmental impact of emtbs though - from manufacture to their ultimate recycling they will have a far greater environmental impact than a non-emtb, not to mention the increased dangers of a faulty charger or the battery burning your house down during the night (it does happen, and with e-cars too). Even a small crash could be enough to weaken a battery, leaving it susceptible to sudden fire or explosion. Personally I wouldn't take that risk, and I wouldn't like to think of one going up in my local forest and causing an unstoppable fire.

[RidgeRidersMTB-e]

Suggestion - what if gmbn did a tour of different countries mountain biking - for example in England and wales they could hit multiple different bike parks e.g. Haldon forest, Bike Park Wales, FlyUp 417, Windhill bike park and also do some free ride in the English and Welsh countryside and urban areas which could allow them to produce content for all the mtb demographics and reach out into the wider areas and maybe it would make them reach 2 million subs now. Any other thoughts?

[LaurentiusTriarius]

I am in my forties, every dude I was riding with got an ebike so I did, I didn't keep it but I kept my will to pedal and go out.

I WON'T BE CORRUPTED AGAIN! 😂

[bambaramba]

Neil is such a great presenter! I enjoy his explanations, way of describing things and general poise.
Keep up the good work N! 💪🏻

[noyoudontgettoknowmyname]

I entirely understand why people love ebikes and why people ride them, at the same time I adamantly refuse to get one. I think it’s kind of cheating. We’ve seen prototypes of automatic brakes and automatic shifting, we’ve seen canyons kis system and rockshox flight attendant and I think all of it is designed to make everything easier and it takes the fun out of it. You’re welcome to call me a purist asshole who’s stuck in the past (you’d be quite correct) but I think bikes should stay analogue for the most part, or at least unassisted, I think electric/wireless shifting and droppers are cool.

[AHappyZeebra]

Went with a mid weight ebike and it’s game changer for me. More laps, more experience, more confidence, and it rides like it was made for bike parks. Never going back.

[ridinreiners]

Why can’t the type of bike you ride just be a personal choice without all the judgement?

[dougie]

I honestly think emtb is the future. I don't think normal bikes will disappear, but I can see at least 60% of the market becoming emtbs within 5-10 years, and even higher among commuters. I'm 29 and fit, just got an ebike and it's the most fun I've ever had on a MTB. My average heart is actually higher on the ebike, because every flat section and hill becomes a downhill, the whole thing is just excitement from start to finish, I go faster and further that the only difference. I still ride my normal bike but not as often and it feels like a different sport, but I still enjoy it.

[xcx]

I recently hired one in the Alps for the day. For distance and less technical climbing it was great. On traverses and downhills it sucked. Far too heavy to lift over obstacles and use much body English. You just pick a line, point, and let the bike plough through and do the work. Not much fun at all. I thought I'd coming away planning to buy one, but I don't want one.

[maximumschwa]

My view is that e-bikes should not replace traditional bikes. They should replace other types of vehicles. In this case, the other vehicle is the shuttle truck or ski lift. Makes sense to me in this case.

[ivanjednobiegowiec]

Last point that Neil raised is very important. Charging infrastructure at the trail head/parking area. Also, my little wish is to have unified batteries systems. So you can swap them between bikes or even people. Arriving into your destination, popping battery out and pulling fresh, already full from the charging station. And off you go...
Used to be very negative about ebikes, but I mellowed with age 😂
Not planning on buying one as yet, I'm only 50, but in 10-15 years time? C'mon Elon. We really need that battery technological leap happening PDQ 😊

[boydanderson]

The park I go to does not allow E-bikes.

[AK-ContentCreatIon]

In Austria we have just an entry fee about 10-12 € and uphill trails and a lot of analog bikers especially xc are using them A LOT.. You'd be surprised ... There's no different fee for eMtb, because the only difference is weight ... and should you charge a 90 kg analog biker the same as an 70 kg ebiker? Or a 70 kg ebiker more than a 120 kg analog? How stupid is that? The uplift in Austria is for the most part not the same company, so the bike park doesnt loose if you not choose to use lift service....

[Marinos]

I think that e-mtb has his place between motocross and normal moutainbikes. It's a whole new division. For me, they are too expensive and fragile. I mean, one pedalstrike can mess up the motor. Forgot a warranty if you mess it up yourself. Then you have moisture and the battery. I will get one when I'm a lot older. In the next 20 years, I will keep pedaling on my own power.

[johngreason]

Given the choice, I absolutely choose to pedal back up(EMTB). Not so much the time or effort, it is the experience of the climb back up. Relax. Chill out. Take in the view, feel the surroundings. It balances out the thrill of the downhill.

[danielcullen]

Parents on Ebikes using tow ropes for their children is what I've noticed more and more.
I now want one for this reason.
Great idea and I can imagine stops a lot of moaning and keeps the child interested in riding.

[kingflynxi]

Not until full powers are sub 20kg with dual crowns and DH casing tyres, love the pink DH bike though.

[paradox]

There is also the economics of it, I work in a shop and the price difference between the emtb and a regular mtb is getting smaller, especially when you factor in that most people don't want to pedal around a heavy bike, and it's all those lightweight parts that really add to the cost, weight is much less of an issue on an emtb. Also for many people the emtb can replace multiple bikes, instead of having a big bike for the bike parks and a smaller bike that is better pedalling for more local trails you get one bigger travel emtb and if you want more of a workout on your local trails you can dial the power down to where it just basically hides the weight of the bike.