Enjoying the outdoors under your own steam is, for me, the point of going cycling. Technical climbs and my own physical limitations are as much a part of it as anything else. That’s why I ride a rigid bike, often singlespeed, I take tools and first-aid too such that I can be as self-reliant as possible.
I’m very happy to acknowledge e-bikes as a great tool for making that accessible to the old/injured/infirm and an increase in trail wear and tear is a price we pay. The proliferation amongst particular kinds of rider however is worrying.
One issue for me is shared by many long-travel full-suspension bikes, the technology allows people to get far enough out of their depth that the consequences are much more serious than they are prepared to accept. Speeds are higher so we are more intimidating and crashes are more violent. The unfit and inexperienced are further from help/home without the navigational, mechanical and physical resource to self-rescue.
The second issue is the creep toward lightweight motorbikes and the inevitable access difficulties that may cause the rest of us. Arguments pointing toward the damage that motorbikes cause on trails are already common in these debates.
If you need one, buy it and use responsibly. enjoy.
If you are new, please take time to develop skills/fitness, why not stick to the trail centres? They’re fun and there’re usually people around to peel you off trees/call the ambulance/fix your chain
If your interest is in de-restricted ragging around then please, please, go do it in a private woodland or stick to the green lanes/rupps. Don’t ruin it for all.
