You guys are the best. No doubt about it – and it needs to be said!
Work or vacation? Responsibility or fun? Professionalism or play mode? What might seem like antithetic concepts to others are just part of our daily routine. We love what we do, what we create, what we move. Even when it gets tough – and it does. And that’s exactly where you come in.
This year was wild. We’ve already done more than most expected from us all year: The biggest eMTB group test in our magazine’s history, packed with deep insights and hard-hitting results. An international think tank that brought the most important decision-makers in the eMTB world together at one table. And a whole series of trend and tech stories that show where the e-mountain bike journey is headed.
The latest issue is available now in our free magazine app. If you haven’t installed our app yet, now’s your chance to download it for free in the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or in the Play Store (Android smartphones & tablets).
Along the way, we pulled all-nighters, argued our way to better ideas, pulled off a photo shoot under police protection (yep, that happened), and spent three full weeks in Pietra Ligure testing the hottest bikes of 2025 – with ice cream, Aperol, and pizza to top it all off. Told you: work or vacation? Responsibility or fun? We don’t pick one – we do both. Always and uncompromisingly.
With the right team backing you – and the right community around you – anything’s possible. So first off, a huge thank you to the 17,000 readers who took part in our latest trend and reader surveys – your input is actively shaping the future of eMTBs. And to the 60+ CEOs and industry experts from across the globe who joined our E-MOUNTAINBIKE Think Tank – setting egos and brand interests aside to find common ground for a reboot and a new direction.
Sound familiar? You wake up, check your phone – twenty unread emails, ten Slack messages, two new tasks on your project board. You haven’t even had your first coffee yet, and you’re already in full-blown alert mode. No focus, just reaction. Hectic becomes the default setting. Work turns into firefighting – and hype turns into hysteria.
For many of us, e-mountainbiking means hitting reset: getting outside, breathing deep, clearing your head – and maybe seeing the bigger picture again. Ironically, the bike world itself should’ve taken a few more rides lately. Because let’s face it: we’ve thrown ourselves into full-on alert mode, lost our focus, and let the hype do the steering. Just like grabbing your phone first thing in the morning and diving into chaos before even taking a breath. It’s time to break that cycle. The good news? It’s not too late – in fact, the timing couldn’t be better.
DJI has shaken up the eMTB market, sparking real innovation pressure, and scoring some truly impressive results in our latest reader survey. And despite the 750W-regulation, we’re convinced that they’ll continue to be very successful. Why? read it in our in-depth company visit we did in Shenzhen.
Let’s be clear: we don’t support a pointless numbers game – driven by specs, superlatives, and the mindless pursuit of “faster, bigger, more.”
Yes, DJI achieved impressive traction control in relation to their motor’s power output and that’s great. But let’s be honest – the maximum power goes far beyond what most riders actually need, and beyond what’s healthy for the market, as discussed in our Think Tank report.
And they’re not alone. Specialized, for example, introduced a Class-3 option on the new Levo for the U.S. market – a move that raises serious questions about trail access and brand responsibility. It might be a selling point for some riders, but at the cost of risking trail access for the US community. Just because something’s legal, it doesn’t mean we should do it.
Ultimately, it’s on all of us – riders and brands alike – to protect what makes this sport so great. That means dialing back our obsession with superlatives and focusing on finding the right balance. Because anyone who’s ever held a wrench in their hands knows: After “tight” comes “stripped.”
That’s exactly what sparked our Think Tank 2025 – an initiative that didn’t aim to give answers, but to ask the right questions.
And the feedback? Overwhelming. Brands, manufacturers, and readers from around the world reached out – with meaningful discussions, fresh ideas, and a shared drive to find common ground. The result? A clear trend is emerging: The community is ready for a reboot. This is also backed by the results of our follow-up survey on the 750-watt regulation, both qualitative and quantitative: only 5.96% are against self-regulation – the rest actively support it or understand and accept the approach.
Think big, act bold, no time for complaining – that’s our way. When the right people come together and the fire gets lit, big things happen. That’s what we stand for: ideas that move. Change that doesn’t scare, but excites. People with backbone – who focus less on the problem and more on the solution. We believe in speed, in clarity – and in the fact that any topic can be fun if you approach it with passion. That’s how we roll, every day. What feels dull or exhausting to many can be better than the best holiday – if you show up with the right mindset. You’ve just got to do it. And that’s exactly what we’re doing with DOWNTOWN Magazine: new energy, new ideas, and all the stuff that excites us. What does that look like in real life? Find out in our story: A Sunday at the Office.
The world is spinning. And that’s exactly why it needs people with direction – on the big stage and in the small moments. In the community. On the trail. In the office. Let’s show the world that biking isn’t just about movement – it’s about purpose. Direction. Responsibility.
Now’s the time to rethink. Together. With you. For the future of our sport.
Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: diverse
