Editorial Issue #012 – The Trendsetters
Just a few years ago it was unimaginable to think that the profile of eMTBers would be elevated to that of trendsetters… and I wouldn’t bet on many of our readers having subscribed to that chain of thought. But time has proven over and over again that courage, a pioneering spirit, and an openness towards new things pays dividends. That’s why pedal-assist bikes have forged a whole new lifestyle in recent years. For many of us, they’ve become our biggest source of excitement and our recreational go-to.
Fat-fighters, relationship-savers, playstation-crushers, good-time-generators, time-machines, adrenaline-activators, fun-factories – call them what you want, eMTBs regale you with unexpected, astonishing, and (even more importantly) inspiring tales. These are stories that needed pluck before pen was put to paper, but now they’re the embodiment of courage for future.
The same story applies to our magazine; when we founded E-MOUNTAINBIKE back in 2013, it was the world’s first magazine dedicated to this topic, and there was a fair amount of ridicule that met our efforts. Today, we unite eMTB enthusiasts from around the world and our group tests are held up as the benchmark within the industry. But despite this positive feedback from the past years, we won’t rest on our laurels. Over the winter we’ve done everything but take a break. Feedback from more than 8,000 participants in the E-MOUNTAINBIKE reader survey has been ingested and well digested. Our test team and editorial staff have been expanded, and the year ahead is already shaping up to be an exciting one with myriad stories and projects planned. The E-MOUNTAINBIKE Think Tank will appear in an even bigger format this year, reinforcing its aim to sustainably develop eMTBing in collaboration with the industry’s most important players.
In this current issue we don’t shy away from putting in the graft to deliver yet another exciting and entertaining mix of stories. We headed to the hinterland of Monaco where the sun shone fiercely as we tested the hottest bikes of the new season on the trails around Sospel. This was a mammoth task with twenty-five bikes on test, so we’ve split the contenders by price category: the twelve high end, money-no-object bikes are included in this issue, while the more budget-conscious bikes for € 4,600 and under will be rated in the next issue.
Bike manufacturer and e-Pioneer Nicolai invited us to their HQ, where we got to fawn over the finest German craftsmanship. The Dolomites gave a war cry as we found out how Tesla and Haibike are ushering in new forms of status symbols which go way beyond the materialistic.
Adventure seekers among you will revel in our overnighter story, while travel enthusiasts should flock to our list of the finest eMTB hotels. Cycling is great, but a real holiday is built on more than that, right?
As you see, E-MOUNTAINBIKE never gets boring. If it isn’t the technology that gets us talking, then it’s the unbelievable number of opportunities that you get with an eMTB. There are new worlds to be explored at your will. Sounds good, right?
Have a brilliant season!
Pioneeringly yours,
Robin Schmitt
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