“Lazy! Weak… Way too slow downhill…” As an eMTBer you’re bound to run into mountain bikers and these accusations sooner or later, so we tested putting a mountain biker together with an eMTBer. We can all learn from the result
“Don’t you feel a little silly?” I hear someone comment. Without really knowing what the guy who unexpectedly stopped beside me is trying to say, I ask him what he means. He points accusingly at my eMTB. “I see those stood in front of old age homes!” he says and adds, “I’m 50 and much too young for that!” Without waiting for a response, he rides off. I’m left behind, my confidence having taken a knock and – to be honest – also a little angry. What’s with this presumption? Why this hatred and for what reason do mountain bikers insult eMTBers who just want to have fun outdoors like everyone else?
You have to justify yourself for riding an eMTB over and over again. “Really? eMTB? I thought we just wanted to go ride our bikes,” is the constant refrain from my friends. The fun stops before you even get going. And at the end of the day, the bike shouldn’t make any difference, should it?
I’m reassured two days later in the office: opening my notebook to check my emails and tasks for the day, I hear the enthusiastic voice of my colleague Cari down the hallway. She tells the others about her ride with Sarah last weekend and judging by her mood it must have been a lot of fun. What’s really exciting about it is that Cari has an eMTB, and Sarah doesn’t. “So it can work!” I think to myself and immediately arrange to go riding with Cari and Sarah.
Instead of moaning and groaning I see Sarah beaming as Cari takes her FOCUS out of the trunk. The reason becomes clear to me 20 minutes later on the first climb. Following a familiar routine, Sarah’s hand grabs Cari’s shoulder and together they shoot up the mountain. So when you go riding with friends that have an eMTB, you can shuttle up the climbs instead of pedalling. “Not only do you arrive at the top wonderfully relaxed, but you’re also better able to talk to each other because you ride closer together,” the two explain.
When they reach the top, both of them still have enough energy to talk incessantly about last weekend’s events. I’m gobsmacked. It’s a completely foreign sight to see a mountain biker smile after a climb like that, and also a mystery to me how anyone can talk that much. Mountain biking and eMTBing do go well together on the climbs – really well!
After a 10-minute break they head towards the trail, riding the short transfer comfortably at 25 km/h. A pleasant speed for both, with no considerable difference here either! “Things will get exciting on the trail,” I think. The additional 10 kilograms on the ebike just have to slow Cari down, I ponder, as the two slip away into the woods. I know Cari and Sarah and I know that their riding is on a similar level. I see it on the trail too, as they surf down the single track at exactly the same speed. Corners, jumps and small rock gardens are no problem for either of them. The gap between them doesn’t extend on the two-kilometre descent and they overtake each other repeatedly, taking turns at the front. Once we arrive at the edge of the forest they high-five and start over again from the bottom – with their arrangement, no problem.
It becomes increasingly clear on our ride that the type of bike doesn’t really make a difference to the two of them. All that counts is the joy of riding and this is completely independent of the type of bike, whether with leg power or motor. “What’s really important to you when riding?” They don’t think long about my question. The weather has to be right, they don’t go out in rain or bad weather. And why should they? It’s much easier to watch Netflix then. They also both appreciate a group or partner that is on the same riding level. Of course, you learn a lot more about riding technique when you ride with people who are more experienced and faster than you are. But you also feel bad when the others have to wait for you at the end. Besides, it’s pretty demotivating when you’re much slower than everyone else. But is all this really relevant? The most important thing is to ride with friends or groups that you can have fun with without overthinking it!
There doesn’t seem to be a difference between mountain biking and eMTBing, at least with regard to the fun factor. So let’s stop spewing hatred and cynicism and start enjoying our hobby – whatever way you want! Because unequal friends are better than no friends at all.
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