eMTB vs. MTB
Oh, such a contentious topic in the world of mountain biking. Or, is it not at all? It probably depends where you ride and who you ride with. Afterall, it’s just bikes, right?
Key takeaways
MTB Advantages: Traditional mountain bikes (MTBs) offer a fitness advantage, requiring more physical effort, especially on uphill terrains. They are lighter, more agile, and suitable for a variety of trails, from climbing dirt roads to technical singletrack.
eMTB Benefits: Electric Mountain Bikes (eMTBs) level the playing field for riders of different strengths and fitness levels. They are excellent for multi-day adventures, allowing riders to cover more ground with less fatigue.
Terrain and Usage: While MTBs excel in fitness-oriented rides and technical trails, eMTBs are ideal for long climbs, family outings, and trail building, offering an assistive boost for challenging terrains.
Cultural Aspect: Traditional MTBs have a deep-rooted culture in biking communities, often preferred for community events and races. eMTBs, however, are gaining popularity for their inclusivity and ability to extend the riding years for many enthusiasts.
First Up, The MTB
What more can be said about the mountain bike or acoustic bike, or musculaire as the Swiss call it? There’s no question that the latest and greatest mountain bikes are engineering marvels and the list of new tech advancements doesn’t seem to be slowing down. They’re like F1 cars on two wheels that corner like highly-tuned race skis railing perfect snow…light, tight, agile and extremely capable.
The toughest call is to choose the bike that suits…from 26” to 29” to 27.5” wheels and mullet set ups; steel, carbon or aluminum frames with the spectrum of angles; hardtails, enduro and DH bikes. Land on the right acoustic bike and you’ll be happy no matter what your riding style is, or preferred trail type, from climbing dirt roads or tech singletrack to riding up and down enduro-style or pure descending on machine-built bike park flow trails to rowdy tech-gnar in the gamut of conditions and landscapes from the Andes to the Alps to the Appalachians.
One clear domain that the regular mountain bike leaves the eMTB in the dust is fitness. You know what im talking about. Some would argue but it’s clear that if you only ride eMTB you won’t have the depth of fitness or grit that a pedal bike provides. Go from your eMTB to your acoustic bike and you’ll feel like the brakes are rubbing, or you are towing a brick.
The dreaded hike-a-bike, a common scenario in the Alps or Dolomites on route to the goods. Always worth it.
And then there’s the exploring of big terrain and backcountry landscapes in remote places. You can carry a regular bike on your shoulder if needed and there’s no battery that could run out, right? Good luck throwing your eMTB over your shoulder. And if your battery dies, you’ll probably end up on the side of the trail along with it.
Then there’s the culture of mountain bikes that runs so deep. In most bike towns there are regular gatherings of all things MTB that bring out the finest in any community: fun races, skills camps, beer-drinking social clubs, costume wearing fire-jumping parties – you know the ones.
Sorry e-bikes, you’re not invited to these rad bike culture parties, yet.
Culture wars. Hands down, the MTB wins. Captured at Chromag Bikes’ legendary annual Show n’ Shine event, Whistler, BC.
This Brings Us To The EMTB
Today’s eMTB’s are impressive and without a doubt the latest technology is only just beginning of what’s to come; bigger batteries and extend-packs that provides 900wh and more, or smaller battery options that make e-bikes lighter and perfect for after-work laps. And new quick chargers allow you to get back out faster than ever, and super-efficient motors from Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Brose, Panasonic and even some proprietary versions. Then there are the apps connected by blue-tooth and on-board displays and computers that show you the gamut of info from calories burned, distance, elevation and much more…
Hiking, dragging, willing eMTB’s up the fiesty Col de Malatra in the Aosta region of northern Italy. Not advised.
The equalizer. The days of separate rides for less-strong or less-fit riders is no longer, hop on an eMTB and zoom your way to the front of the pack. And the low center of mass on the eMTB make ‘em stable like a moto on the downhills. Of course getting used to muscling a 45-pound bike down the trail takes time.
Our personal favourite, there’s no question that eMTB’s are absolute stars when on a multi-day eMTB mountain bike holiday and riding four to six hours a day for five or six days in a row. No longer do you have to be glassy-eyed around the dinner table on our Dolomites or Swiss trips after Day 4 in a row, e-bikes allow you to ride more and not be completely gassed. Perfect for that dream mtb holiday…
Long road climbs? No problem. Day 8 in a row? No problem. Flowers, sunshine and thumbs up? All the time! As seen on our Alps Traverse eMTB adventure!
Towing kids to trailheads has to be one of the best uses of the eMTB for families with small kids. Trail building? Nothing better than an eMTB to get you and your tools up to where you need to be, fast.
Towing the kids to the top of a sweet descent, a clear benefit to having a eMTB.
Another favourite use of the eMTB is for end of the season when you might be a bit tired of riding and are close to putting the bike away for the season but alas, a last window of late-autumn summer-like weather rolls in. What to do? Grab the eMTB and hit an alpine epic. These rides are good, really good.
Casual early morning spin in the alpine, thanks to the e-assist. Be home for that important Zoom call by 9:00AM.
Conclusion
The obvious, but it’s true: we’re all getting older. Instead of hanging up the chamois and calling it, you can fire up the eMTB and extend your riding by a decade, easy. Many a rider who was done has returned to our beloved sport and has rekindled the love of shredding singletrack. And some out there are recovering from injury or not running on all cylinders. This is where you win.
Interested in exploring more about the diverse types of mountain biking trips? Revisit our comprehensive guide to see how your choice between MTB and eMTB influences your adventure. Click here to return to our story and find your perfect ride!
And there you have it. Not convinced? That’s OK! Now get out and ride your bike!
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