casey-as

Cost is a high priority for me. You can buy e*Thirteen camposite pedals for $13 periodically and I just pick up a set every so often. They are super wide, much wider than I need but you cant get narrow or normal width pedals for anything close in price. Also to note is that those e*Thirteen composite pedals are great for traction/grip and reasonable durability. I feel like all the factors given in the survey are things that my pedals are above a certain threshold than that so being great isn't important at a certain point. Cheap and quality is definitely a thing in pedals even if the price of some pedals doesn't seem like it.

I think you make the point really well. The risk is what makes it exhilarating and fun but what isn't exhilarating is being sidelined during peak riding season. There is a balance and if you want no injuries you have to be very willing to use the tree root to jump 2' instead of the big gap. In my experience there are plenty of perfectly placed rollers and roots to make riding fun without getting an injury. For the record, 8 years and only one injury requiring the doctor. Plus another 5 that I remember pretty vividly but was somehow OK.

This is a great thought experiment and I appreciate the topic. It's a good point. Some commenters insist you arent a real rider unless you do jump lines and ride park, using the fullest extent of your travel. But it turns out being outdoors is nice, getting cardio is nice, being in shape is nice, and feeling like you are pushing limits and taking risks is nice, - and those are the things mtb is about. Just my 0.02

Im not sure why getting more people on bikes is an end goal unless you are selling product. Bikes and what they are, arent for everyone and that's been hard for me to conceptualize because it is so great for me. If mtb isn't for someone then something else is (like emtb or moto, or road, or literally any hobby). If emtb is for you great but "getting more people on bikes" is straight sales marketing and might not be helping someone who is a better fit for a different hobby.

@mikekazimer: I recall years ago someone telling me that real mountain bike companies get it and stay within the rules because the product they are selling is not moto and it doesn't make sense to even approach 750 watts or exceed 20 mph. I was surprised and impressed but the industry spoke with its actions and trek is re-establishing that now (or trying to). Before, all of the bikes from companies that made normal bikes were less than 750w and had software blocks in code for speed, even when it was easy to find 2000w "pedal" ebikes. That was pre-covid so maybe the industry is more corporate and more dollar driven now but i just don't get who is a mountain biker or moto rider (or both) who thinks 1500w ebikes with 28mph speed limits or easy to sidestep speed limits is mtb. It's simply something different. A good different perhaps but still something different. Kudos to Trek for trying to differentiate those things.

I appreciate the article but it kind of proves the point. E-assist is evolving to something different than riding a bike and is getting closer to moto. Moto isn't bad and neither is e assist but we should be honest with ourselves and each other. It isn't just riding a bike anymore. If you prefer mopeds that are more similar to bicycles than motorcycles that is OK but its still a moped. If you prefer a dirtbike with the throttle in the pedals and a lighter weight that is OK but it is still a dirtbike.

@rrolly: the problem with that is that it's not not moto anymore. Moto is fun and I dont mean to disparage it but there are separate areas and separate trails for moto. Mtb is not moto and we shouldnt be blurring those lines because sooner or later the lines will be reset and we might only be allowed in moto areas.

Im fine with terminology changes but let's keep highly biased unbalanced F/R on option.

Does this mean slx stuff is back? Or maybe oem only?

Yes i was looking for this answer. Each spring arm pump is somewhat of an issue but by mid July it isn't. Getting more powerful brakes, better fork, better skills all defintely help but getting time on the bike is what gets me over the limit each summer.