"The e-bike made it far easier to keep riding through a winter of bad weather." This is not necessarily a good thing.
I have always considered this to be one of the potential problems with ebikes- that people will reach for them in bad weather, especially when fenders and raingear may weigh you down. Add the increased bike weight, and this only adds to trail impacts.
I tend to avoid riding my ebike in bad weather as it reduces potential damage to the mechanisms from water ingress. If I'm that desperate to ride, I'll probably hit something easy or gravelly. I think the majority of riders avoid hitting loamers during the atmospheric river, and perhaps the few riders who are swayed to ride in the slop amounts to a limited impact. However, I still don't think this is a great mentality to promote.
Like you, hoping for a positive outcome to this Rocky Mountain thing. Long time love affair with this brand.
March 10, 2025, 2:10 p.m. - jdt
"The e-bike made it far easier to keep riding through a winter of bad weather." This is not necessarily a good thing. I have always considered this to be one of the potential problems with ebikes- that people will reach for them in bad weather, especially when fenders and raingear may weigh you down. Add the increased bike weight, and this only adds to trail impacts. I tend to avoid riding my ebike in bad weather as it reduces potential damage to the mechanisms from water ingress. If I'm that desperate to ride, I'll probably hit something easy or gravelly. I think the majority of riders avoid hitting loamers during the atmospheric river, and perhaps the few riders who are swayed to ride in the slop amounts to a limited impact. However, I still don't think this is a great mentality to promote. Like you, hoping for a positive outcome to this Rocky Mountain thing. Long time love affair with this brand.