Are E-Bikes Good or Bad?

December 1, 2020

E-bikes are a huge area of growth, with some trail centres in the UK already seeing around 50% of their traffic coming from e-bikes. Therefore, whether you like them or not, they are here to stay, and I wanted to find out more. I was lucky enough to be lent a brand new Marin Alpine Trail E2 for a month, so I could get some experience for myself first hand. I then sat down to chat all things e-bike with strength coach and bike tester, Ben Plenge, and elite DH racer and coach, Olly Morris. We talk about the positives that e-bikes bring and the challenges that come along with that. So tune in and have a listen. I’d love to know what you think about e-bikes too…

Supporting Partners

Marin Bikes

Marin Bikes have just launched their brand new full-suspension e-bike, the Alpine Trail. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one for a month to research this episode, and I loved it. With a fairly long reach, 63-degree head angle and mullet set-up, this bike just loves to go downhill fast. The bonus is that it likes to go uphill just as quickly too!

The Alpine Trail put a big smile on my face every time I rode it, and my riding progressed more than ever. This was because I was able to get so much more time riding on the challenging parts of the trails, and was less fatigued from the climbing.

To find out more, just head to marinbikes.com.

We Are One Composites

This episode is supported by We Are One Composites. We Are One have been big supporters of what I’m doing from the start, and for that I’m really grateful. They also make amazing carbon fibre wheels which are hand made in Canada, and have recently added their DaPackage bar and stem to their line up. I’m running their Faction 29er rims on my bike, and they look and feel amazing. They’ve managed to find the sweet spot between stiffness and compliance, making a wheel that tracks, but doesn’t feel harsh to ride.

They’ve got a whole line up of wheels, so there is always something to suit your needs. Head to weareonecomposites.com and check out what they have to offer. If you’re tempted, then as a Downtime listener, and because it’s nearly Christmas, they are offering you 20% off during December. All you need to do is enter the code ‘santagives20‘ at the checkout.

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Photo – Marin Bikes