One of the ways that I see this playing out is this:
\- industry markets these as mountain bikes
\- people use them as mountain bikes
\- other people object to motorized vehicles on trails where they're not allowed, and "mountain bikes", motorized and real ones alike, are banned
\- mountain biking as a sport splits: one group goes back "underground", one group continues riding the "official" areas and at resorts (who expand to pick up the slack), and one group gives up the sport. I'm conflicted about how I feel about this scenario, but none of it sounds like "increased sales" to me.
This tech is good, and has a place, but it may just not be in mountain biking. They could be trading long-term sales for a short-term bump, and costing their customer base official access in the process. Some of us have already chosen to not spend our dollars supporting companies (LBS's included; personally I already refer to my LBS a scooter shop to their staff) that are selling them, our numbers will only grow if the above scenario starts to play out.
Sept. 26, 2018, 9:14 a.m. - tashi
One of the ways that I see this playing out is this: \- industry markets these as mountain bikes \- people use them as mountain bikes \- other people object to motorized vehicles on trails where they're not allowed, and "mountain bikes", motorized and real ones alike, are banned \- mountain biking as a sport splits: one group goes back "underground", one group continues riding the "official" areas and at resorts (who expand to pick up the slack), and one group gives up the sport. I'm conflicted about how I feel about this scenario, but none of it sounds like "increased sales" to me. This tech is good, and has a place, but it may just not be in mountain biking. They could be trading long-term sales for a short-term bump, and costing their customer base official access in the process. Some of us have already chosen to not spend our dollars supporting companies (LBS's included; personally I already refer to my LBS a scooter shop to their staff) that are selling them, our numbers will only grow if the above scenario starts to play out.