backcountry00
New Member
Hi all. Great to be part of the group. First post here.
I did it. I took the plunge and went analogue to digital. My Trek Rail 9.8 XT is arriving tomorrow and I can’t wait.
I started riding MTB 15 years ago, but an accident resulting in a separated shoulder put a kybosh on my riding for 10 years before I finally got back into the sport. In that 10-year period I got married, got a mortgage and had 3 children but when I hit my mid-30’s I knew it was time to get back into the sport. Frankly I needed something outside of work and family to keep the equilibrium – and my sanity…
I’ve had some nice bikes; Nukeproof Mega, YT Capra, Intense Tracer, YT Tues etc. and picked up a 2019 Santa Cruz Hightower LT when they first came out. It’s an incredible bike, 150mm travel and rolling on 29’s has proven to be a really versatile combo, for me a ‘one-bike-does-it-all’ and that’s proven by the fact I’ve kept it longer than any of my other bikes. It’s handled the reds at Bike Park Wales right through to 25-mile road rides with my roadie mate over lockdown and never let me down – really can’t fault it. I swore I’d never get another bike, why would I – does everything I need, right?!
Here’s the thing. I like fast descents, faster the better. Throw some technical stuff in there, a few (little!) gaps, some not-huge drops and some flow and I’ll do that over and over again, with a smile on my face every time. I’m a reasonably fit bloke I guess and enjoy exercise, but my legs have limits. I went to Rogate earlier this year and managed about 10 full runs – but I was smoked by the end of it and my legs were in pieces. The guys on e-bikes were climbing to the top and descending by the time I’d finished my climb. It was a bit demoralising....
I keep seeing e-mtb’s about and kept saying, ‘I’m not ready for one yet’, and was totally set on holding out with my SC Hightower. But then I was introduced to my mates 2020 Specialized Kenevo and it blew my mind. An hour riding that beast completely changed my mind about e-bikes.
It’s simple maths really. I can get twice the descents in on an e-mtb than I would on an analogue. I can cover more ground and explore further to find the good trails, covering distances in half the time of an analogue. For me it’s not about Strava or being the fastest, I just want to do more of the riding I love – and I can do more of that on an e-mtb.
I know there is a bit of e-bike hate out there, I guess there are ‘purists’ that believe it’s cheating. But frankly, that’s b0llocks. Why on earth wouldn’t you want to make not-so-fun parts a bit easier (climbing up a hill) to do more of the fun stuff we all love (back down the hill!!) Or if you are recovering from injury, older or just starting out and need a bit of pedal-assistance, if an e-bikes gives you that ability then it’s a genius invention.
My mate with the Kenevo reckons I’ll sell my Santa Cruz within a month. The purist within me thinks I may still enjoy an occasional analogue jaunt, but we’ll have to see what happens!
P.S I live in North Kent/SE London. I ride Swinley, Surrey Hills (Redlands more so), occasionally Rogate, very occasionally Bedgebury and whenever I can Bike Park Wales. Would be great to get some meets going over the summer.
Al.
I did it. I took the plunge and went analogue to digital. My Trek Rail 9.8 XT is arriving tomorrow and I can’t wait.
I started riding MTB 15 years ago, but an accident resulting in a separated shoulder put a kybosh on my riding for 10 years before I finally got back into the sport. In that 10-year period I got married, got a mortgage and had 3 children but when I hit my mid-30’s I knew it was time to get back into the sport. Frankly I needed something outside of work and family to keep the equilibrium – and my sanity…
I’ve had some nice bikes; Nukeproof Mega, YT Capra, Intense Tracer, YT Tues etc. and picked up a 2019 Santa Cruz Hightower LT when they first came out. It’s an incredible bike, 150mm travel and rolling on 29’s has proven to be a really versatile combo, for me a ‘one-bike-does-it-all’ and that’s proven by the fact I’ve kept it longer than any of my other bikes. It’s handled the reds at Bike Park Wales right through to 25-mile road rides with my roadie mate over lockdown and never let me down – really can’t fault it. I swore I’d never get another bike, why would I – does everything I need, right?!
Here’s the thing. I like fast descents, faster the better. Throw some technical stuff in there, a few (little!) gaps, some not-huge drops and some flow and I’ll do that over and over again, with a smile on my face every time. I’m a reasonably fit bloke I guess and enjoy exercise, but my legs have limits. I went to Rogate earlier this year and managed about 10 full runs – but I was smoked by the end of it and my legs were in pieces. The guys on e-bikes were climbing to the top and descending by the time I’d finished my climb. It was a bit demoralising....
I keep seeing e-mtb’s about and kept saying, ‘I’m not ready for one yet’, and was totally set on holding out with my SC Hightower. But then I was introduced to my mates 2020 Specialized Kenevo and it blew my mind. An hour riding that beast completely changed my mind about e-bikes.
It’s simple maths really. I can get twice the descents in on an e-mtb than I would on an analogue. I can cover more ground and explore further to find the good trails, covering distances in half the time of an analogue. For me it’s not about Strava or being the fastest, I just want to do more of the riding I love – and I can do more of that on an e-mtb.
I know there is a bit of e-bike hate out there, I guess there are ‘purists’ that believe it’s cheating. But frankly, that’s b0llocks. Why on earth wouldn’t you want to make not-so-fun parts a bit easier (climbing up a hill) to do more of the fun stuff we all love (back down the hill!!) Or if you are recovering from injury, older or just starting out and need a bit of pedal-assistance, if an e-bikes gives you that ability then it’s a genius invention.
My mate with the Kenevo reckons I’ll sell my Santa Cruz within a month. The purist within me thinks I may still enjoy an occasional analogue jaunt, but we’ll have to see what happens!
P.S I live in North Kent/SE London. I ride Swinley, Surrey Hills (Redlands more so), occasionally Rogate, very occasionally Bedgebury and whenever I can Bike Park Wales. Would be great to get some meets going over the summer.
Al.
.
