Ok, I'll bite. You do already adress most of things that could be criticized about your article. One thing that always irks me: The shuttle/chairlift comparison. Trails near chairlifts are professionally maintained, shuttle trails are built with shuttling in mind. An eMTB does not have the limits of a shuttle truck. So areas/trails that were hard to access (and therefore sustainable) will cease to be so. And yes, I'm being egoistical here. I want to keep riding those areas.
Some of your views seem rather too idealistic. Yes, an eMTB would theoretically be better than a shuttle truck. But most people will be to lazy/want to carry additional gear etc. and still ride their Tacomas as far up as possible. Heck, I've recently seen guys with eMTBs take the bus to the top of our local hill (a leisurely 20min climb on an eMTB). (I mean, if they weren't lazy, would they be riding eMTBs? ;) Yes, I know, I generalize.).
Yeah, I think it's great that older/less healthy people still get to enjoy riding. Met a couple of nice eMTB oldtimers on my recent rides. But still, eMTBs for me smack of a culture of entitlement. "I want to ride there, therefore I get to ride there, even if I don't have the fitness level to get there." Doesn't that remind you of a three-year-old? Aren't sports about challenging yourself?
What you do adress but what can't be stressed enough: Just because it may work out in some places, in a lot of places eMTBs pose a great danger to trail access and the relationsip with other trail users. My town will never be on the map as a great riding destination, but there are trails, I can start a climb 5mins from my backdoor (and end a descent there, if i choose to do so). But let's face it, most of what we ride is illegal, and we're tolerated at best (Yes, there have been oranizations fighting for more access. Resulted in 2(!) legal trails in 22 years. Yes, I'm a member.). Still, I'm depending on these trails to be there. I usually don't have the time to travel somewhere where MTBing is encouraged, and not everyone can (or is willing to) just uproot and move somewhere where MTBs haven't been banned (yet).
I probably come across as more aggressive than intended. I'll smile politely at eMTBers, have helped some of them fix their bikes (too lazy to carry tools.....) and have even ridden with people with eMTBs. Still, my next bike will come from a brand that doesn't produce eMTBs, and I would consider buying a Bold Unplugged just for the sake of the name.
So, heigh-ho, back to work I go. Have fun riding, whatever your choice of steed may be.
Sept. 19, 2018, 5:40 a.m. - Bagheera
Ok, I'll bite. You do already adress most of things that could be criticized about your article. One thing that always irks me: The shuttle/chairlift comparison. Trails near chairlifts are professionally maintained, shuttle trails are built with shuttling in mind. An eMTB does not have the limits of a shuttle truck. So areas/trails that were hard to access (and therefore sustainable) will cease to be so. And yes, I'm being egoistical here. I want to keep riding those areas. Some of your views seem rather too idealistic. Yes, an eMTB would theoretically be better than a shuttle truck. But most people will be to lazy/want to carry additional gear etc. and still ride their Tacomas as far up as possible. Heck, I've recently seen guys with eMTBs take the bus to the top of our local hill (a leisurely 20min climb on an eMTB). (I mean, if they weren't lazy, would they be riding eMTBs? ;) Yes, I know, I generalize.). Yeah, I think it's great that older/less healthy people still get to enjoy riding. Met a couple of nice eMTB oldtimers on my recent rides. But still, eMTBs for me smack of a culture of entitlement. "I want to ride there, therefore I get to ride there, even if I don't have the fitness level to get there." Doesn't that remind you of a three-year-old? Aren't sports about challenging yourself? What you do adress but what can't be stressed enough: Just because it may work out in some places, in a lot of places eMTBs pose a great danger to trail access and the relationsip with other trail users. My town will never be on the map as a great riding destination, but there are trails, I can start a climb 5mins from my backdoor (and end a descent there, if i choose to do so). But let's face it, most of what we ride is illegal, and we're tolerated at best (Yes, there have been oranizations fighting for more access. Resulted in 2(!) legal trails in 22 years. Yes, I'm a member.). Still, I'm depending on these trails to be there. I usually don't have the time to travel somewhere where MTBing is encouraged, and not everyone can (or is willing to) just uproot and move somewhere where MTBs haven't been banned (yet). I probably come across as more aggressive than intended. I'll smile politely at eMTBers, have helped some of them fix their bikes (too lazy to carry tools.....) and have even ridden with people with eMTBs. Still, my next bike will come from a brand that doesn't produce eMTBs, and I would consider buying a Bold Unplugged just for the sake of the name. So, heigh-ho, back to work I go. Have fun riding, whatever your choice of steed may be.