It’s time to throw back the curtains on the present-day eMTB scene and dispel the myth that ebikers lack style. It’s time for a revolution. Right now, we’re the technological avant-garde at the forefront of the industry. We’re the ones pushing the natural limits of physics with our eMTBs. So, why don’t we do the same when it comes to fashion too?
Leonardo da Vinci, Voltaire, Immanuel Kant or Coco Chanel – the world has always needed radical ideas from radical thinkers. What might seem unthinkable now, often steps up to become the solution for the future. This is the ethos behind our forward-thinking fashion special, where we’ve framed the sport of eMTBing into a whole new context.
As eMTBs are much more than just electro-powered mountain bikes, it goes without saying that eMTBers are not restricted to mountain bike style. Depending on your ride, you can combine different styles and create your very own individual look.
From surfing the singletracks, taking in back roads and forests for an unconventional commute, riding through town doing errands, or having a family ride – the boundaries between functional apparel and leisurewear have almost ceased to exist. It isn’t about simply looking good on the bike. The same clothes have to work at the beach, at the ice cream parlour and out on the streets.
This fashion special is less about the rider and more about the individual. You. What are your passions? What engages you? How can you unite that with an outfit? From design aficionados, gourmet connoisseurs, fans of classic cars or motocross, yogis, surfers, or old school rock’n’rollers, there’s no one single way to define an eMTBer. Only you can determine which outfit suits your character. So go be inspired and pull on some new threads. ¡Viva la revolución!
Surfer’s Club
Santa Cruz, California, 27°C, hot and humid. Your hair ripples in the sea breeze. Everything’s going to plan. You rode the singletrack on your eMTB earlier that morning, cruising downhill with sublime flow. Now the Pacific heaves in front of you, with a power that lifts your heart. The forecast was right. You’d grinned all morning in turbo mode, now the surf will give you more of the same. Can weekends get any better than this?
Helmet: Giro Montaro MIPS
Jersey: ION TEE LS SCRUB AMP LS
Shorts: ION BIKESHORTS SCRUB AMP LONG
Shoes: ION RAID AMP II
Dolce Vita
The richness of the red wine is enhanced by the candlelight and the fruity tones of wild berries rise up to greet you. The damp autumnal weather stayed firmly behind the closed door. The only thing that matters here is the full-bodied wine and the sensation of being in the right place, with the right company, at the right time. The minutes stretch out into hours and another wine is proffered for tasting. The sommelier is visibly pleased. So are we. This is how Tuscany is meant to be experienced. Pushing your eMTB home might be wise.
Watch: OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch
Helmet: Bell Spark MIPS
Jacket: GORE C3 GORE WINDSTOPPER Urban Camo
Backpack: ORTLIEB Velocity High Visibility
All the good things
Humans have a sense for the good things in life. A frisson of excitement at the sight of a mid-engine V8-powered Ferrari Mondial in the piazza of Massa Marittima, and that sense of joy when you see the motorbike gangs in ‘On Any Sunday’. Classics don’t just imbue us with nostalgia, they remind us of what counts: quality, craft, and freedom. So why not don a retro woollen jersey instead of polyester? Why not pull on second-hand denim to ride your eMTB or cruise in your Ferrari? There’s a lot to be said for the classics.
Watch: Garmin Fenix 5 Plus
Helmet: Bell Sixer
Jersey: Deus ex Machina Moto X Knit
Shorts: second hand Levi’s jeans from Herbert’s Second Hand Shop
Shoes: SCOTT MTB AR Lace
Rock ‘n’ Roll
For the past 20 years you’ve been celebrating with 40 candles on your cake. Yet, old age still seems like a lifetime away. Go ahead and wear the most achingly hip brands, go build trails and raise your hand with the sign of the horns. We love it. Rock’n’roll is more than just a music genre, it’s a lifestyle. Take Manne, our part-time pensioner – 61 years old and still going strong.
Helmet: Fox Flux MIPS
Jersey: Fox Ranger Foxhead
Shorts: Fox Ranger Camo Cargo
Watch: G-SHOCK Mudmaster
Find balance
Your breathing slows significantly and the world around you comes to a halt. Thoughts stop circling in your head. In that small, elusive gap between work and more work, you have found time for yourself under the canopy of trees. Your bike brought you here, with your dog hot on your rear wheel. All he demands is a stroke to reward his efforts. Switching off and slowing down didn’t use to be so easy, but now you’ve found the key.
Helmet: SCOTT Vivo Plus
Jacket: SCOTT Trail MTN Dryo 20
Jersey: SCOTT Trail Vertic
#outsideisfree
With the fire crackling and the coffee beginning boil, you’re close to reaching peak cosiness in the pine forest. Making coffee on an open fire demonstrates real survival skills. A strong image that goes hand in hand with a versatile outfit for riding, campfires and trail building. Who said you needed to be male to get your hands dirty?
Helmet: POC Tectal
Jersey: Fjällräven Canada Shirt W
Shoes: Five Ten Freerider Womens
Swedish beautyt
The trend of Scandi minimalism doesn’t have to be exclusive to your home – why not take it to the trails too? Stripped-back, slick designs that give off a modest air of elegance, understated cool and that sort of I-haven’t-tried-too-hard vibe. It’s the sort of style that lends itself like a blank canvas to the addition of great accessories.
Helmet: POC Tectal
Jersey: POC Essential Enduro Light Tee / Resistance Enduro Light Women’s Tee
Shorts: POC Resistance Pro DH
This article is from E-MOUNTAINBIKE issue #017
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Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: Robin Schmitt, Trevor Worsey
