EUROBIKE 2018 confirmed that the potential for innovation within the eMTB segment is still massive, and we wholeheartedly agree. We’re still basically in the starting blocks, so these new trends and developments that are bringing forth a new generation of riders are crying out for a radical overhaul of attitudes. In this issue we have a deep look on the next big thing.
SUV-eMTBs – all you need to know
Canyon vs Commencal – the duel!
Factory visit: Fazua in Munich
14 disc brakes in comparison
Riding skills – the most important tips!
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Are you the sort of person who identifies with a tribe? Perhaps you’ve even given a label to yourself – are you a rider, or more of a car lover? More into family time, gambling, or the gourmet scene? How far are you willing to go to find your identity? “Hybrid technology” is en vogue right now; it is breaking boundaries and opening up new opportunities. But does hybrid technology have any room in the biking world? Can it be relevant for a bike weekend? We threw all our chips onto one card and headed out on a weekend full of contradictions but without any compromises: Konnichiwa Baden-Baden!
“The road is the goal” reads your average, tacky motivational poster with an orange sunset lurking in the background. But as corny as it might sound, this is actually very true sometimes — and the brand-new SCOTT Axis eRIDE Evo is proof of it.
We know that modern eBikes can do pretty much everything. But how well can they do it? And how would an eMTB suit everyday city life? How big are the differences between eMTBs and urban eBikes? Do we still need city eBikes in a time when SUV eMTBs are taking over the world?
While cargo bikes are slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in cities, the situation in the countryside just isn’t the same. Cars still dominate as the convenient vehicle of choice, but perhaps we’ve just mixed that up with a combination of laziness and habit. To find out if it can be done differently, we’ve switched out a small car for a cargo bike, stashed our stand-up-paddle board in and headed straight to the waterways, much to the envy of trendy inner city dwellers.
For eMTBers, the choice is obvious: apart from being more affordable, there is no reason to buy a hardtail – a full-suspension eMTB offers more traction, comfort, and stability. Fully bikes are still a rarity on urban ebikes… but wouldn’t commuters and city riders benefit from rear suspension too?
Canyon and COMMENCAL are both known for building innovative, great handling bikes, and both recently added eMTBs to their portfolio. To find out which brand built the better bike, we invited them to a duel: Canyon Spectral:ON 9.0 vs. COMMENCAL META POWER 29.
The market for e-bike motors is in virtual lockdown by the industry giants: companies like Bosch, Shimano, and Brose have taken control, flexing their corporate muscles and channelling millions, if not billions, into R&D and production. However, this market dominance is now being challenged by the emergence of exciting new startup companies, like Munich-based FAZUA, who are relishing the chance to revolutionize the eMTB as we know it.
The fastest car won’t get you far if you don’t know how to drive it. It’s the same with an eMTB: only once you’ve mastered the correct riding technique can you ride with confidence and really enjoy the trials. Our guide is here to teach you the most important basics for beginners and advanced riders.
Disc brakes now have it harder than ever before: we’re riding higher modern tires bite harder, and the trails we ride are getting tougher. To be confident in challenging terrain we need to be able to control our speed, so which disc brake is best?
Pivot has garnered itself a large fan base as a boutique mountain bike brand. Up until now, however, the American brand has hardly registered as a blip on the eMTB radar. We reviewed their debut Pivot Shuttle to find out if the bike is worth its staggering € 9,999 price tag.
Chic, high alpine après-ski each winter and an idyllic mountain retreat come summer. We headed to Ischgl to see first-hand how this ski resort is catering for e-mountain bikers once the snow has retreated.
It does not matter how far you ride, how fast you ride, or how nice your bike is. If you want your fellow riders to be impressed with your riding prowess there is only one arena to show your skills – the car park. We show you 16 useless skills to impress your mates before you even hit the trails.
Have bike, will travel. But where to? And how? Even your best intentions are doomed to failure if you don’t plan your trip meticulously. Because planning means more than just connecting dots on a map. This guide will help you to approach, prepare and tackle any kind of tour and have fun while doing it.
As of right now, all the exciting articles can be downloaded from our interactive tablet or smartphone app, and they’ll make their way onto the website over the next few weeks. Have fun reading!
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