Mark has been riding mountain bikes for over 30 years and co-owns Singletrack, where he's been publisher for 25 years. While his official title might be Managing Director, his actual job description is "whatever needs doing" – from wrangling finances and keeping the lights on to occasionally remembering to ride bikes for fun rather than just work. He's seen the sport evolve from rigid forks to whatever madness the industry dreams up next, and he's still not entirely sure what "gravel" is. When he's not buried in spreadsheets or chasing late invoices, he's probably thinking about his next ride.
More posts from Mark
Out with a mate yesterday who rides the base model with added dropper. Great bike and great fun to ride BUT what struck me watching him struggle to push it up a particularly steep section of natural trail is that it misses the “push assist” function I have seen on other E-bikes. Seems to be a serious oversight on a 25 kg bike to be used in big mountains. Not every feature is always able to be riden, despite a motor.
Walk more IS included in this 2018 upgrade.
That is a good move from Specialized in that case. Thanks for the clarification. Worth adding to the review?
As far as I understand it Specialized source their motor from Brose rather than build them in house.
Has the issue with the app being unable to do the auto control of power when out of mobile phone reception been resolved?
Ebikes, I really don’t get them? Are they for the fat and lazy, or for the rich and stupid? I can bet my life on it that I could still whip anyone’s ass up hill on my Cotic.
Ebikes are for people who are infirm or have mobility issues. I saw a 70 odd year old using one in the South Downs a few weeks ago and was pleased to see the bike making fun accessible for him still.
This magazine is afraid to harm their ad revenue and covers these bikes like they are real bikes. I call bullsh*t. The truth is, in the US, ebikes are prohibited on multiuse trails in many areas and unless you and the manufacturer make that clear, it is up to use normal cyclists to enforce the rules. I’m cancelling my subscription and will always wonder what happened to the mountain biking world. Ebikes don’t belong on our trails. Full stop.