- Deven McCoy
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- bikemag.com
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- November 30, 2025
E-mountain bikes are an absolute blast, unlocking extra mileage, extra elevation, and quicker rides when the light begins to fade, but riding them too much has left me feeling guilty. Is the growing popularity of eMTBs killing the culture, or are they a tool to be harnessed and accepted?
Over the last year, I’ve been riding more and more e-bikes, with my 6-7 weekly rides split between eMTB and pedal-powered rides, but as the sun tucks itself into bed earlier and earlier each night, the eMTB has been the preferred option for these short rides. I’ve found myself struggling to balance the two so I can maintain my fitness and sanity.
Deven McCoy
Thanks to the progress made with e-mountain bikes, I end up riding more consistently on the e-bike, and I think the added weight and the ability to ride more have actually made me a better rider overall, making me hate myself less for choosing assisted methods of riding, and LOVE self-powered bikes that much more. But it has also made me really look into why so many riders feel so strongly about eMTBs, and why the stigma is shifting.
Should You Feel Guilty About Riding eMTB?
While the guilt of riding an eMTB is something that I struggle with, it’s also something that I am slowly learning to ignore - partially because e-bikes are so damn popular, but also because the whole reason I ride bikes is to have fun, and get outside - with an eMTB I’m able to do this even more, especially during the time of year when the sun is setting so early. The stigma around eMTBs is slowly fading, and I think that's a great thing, because they are super fun to ride and let more people access trails. Unfortunately, this is both a good and a bad thing.
Deven McCoy
The popularity of eMTBs on the trails is something that you’ll hear about from both e-bike haters and riders, and both sides of the argument make good points. It’s beneficial to recognize both sides of the debate as we navigate the shifting climate of eMTB use on trail networks. More areas are giving in to the popularity of eMTBs and allowing them access to trails that previously prohibited them (Moab, UT, for example), a sign of growth, awareness, and an understanding that they don’t actually contribute to trail wear as much as we’ve been led to believe.
Trail Access Vs. Electric Bikes
That is not to say that they should be allowed everywhere, because eMTB access isn’t without issue on specific trails. E-bikes allow for more laps, which is awesome. You can shuttle yourself. Awesome. But depending on what you’re riding, this can really blow up trails, especially those hidden gems that don't exist and nobody knows about *wink, wink. There’s nothing quite like seeing your local loamer get bombed out by strangers on e-bikes, banging out lap after lap without ever touching a tool or filling a bucket.
Deven McCoy
The culture of trail building and maintenance can both benefit from and be harmed by eMTB use. E-bikes are great for hauling gear, water, and tools to the dig spot, making trail work that much less grueling. But on the other side, if the delicious turns on the local hidden trail are earned through sweat, a brutal pedal, and time on the tools, then seeing someone who has never helped maintain the trail take lap after lap on an eMTB with ease can plant a seed of resentment - and rightfully so.
Deven McCoy
A lot of hard work and even risk go into keeping pirate trails secret, maintained, and open to a select few. Call it gatekeeping, or whatever you want, but it’s a critical part of MTB culture that (I hope) will never die. Even if a motor and battery assist your laps, turns still need to be earned somehow. Maybe this is just an old way of thinking instilled in me growing up and riding/digging the trails I love, but it’s still an aspect of the sport that is strong and contributes to the sport's mythical ethos. It’s not all commercialized and corporate, and there are still people doing the thankless work late at night. There are still outlaw trails, built by no one and enjoyed by the lucky few who stumble across them.
RVMBA
Ride What You Want. Don't Be An Asshole
At the end of the day, you can be an asshole on any type of bike, but eMTBs have a bad reputation as the segment grows and bike brands continue to pile eggs into this electronic basket. It’s not all bad. Riding bikes should be fun, and eMTBs are a TON of fun. There is also the school of thought that riding an e-bike is always cheating and is infinitely easier than a flesh-powered mountain bike. This idea is also not entirely true. E-mountain bikes are heavy, which requires more rider input on descents, and depending on the assist mode, they aren’t always that much easier to ride uphill (though they usually are).
Deven McCoy
E-bikes unlock more riding, for better or worse, and make trail work easier for those lucky enough to have access to them. Many factors fog the lenses of both sides of the argument, making neither side right nor wrong, just different. Even the most powerful eMTBs on the market are still less powerful than the e-motos and Surrons that are really damaging to the trails, and riding with a little extra umph on most trails is pretty harmless depending on how you’re riding, how respectful you are to other trail users, and whether or not you bring a tow strap to winch someone up the hill.
Learn, Grow, Educate. Have Fun.
You can hate them as much as you want, and you can love and swear by them until you’re blue in the face, but convincing someone who feels so strongly in opposition to your perspective is nearly impossible. The best course of action is just accepting that they are a massive part of the industry, and you’re entitled to dig your heels in to your opinion on them, just as the other side of the argument is. Just don’t let the seed of hate for what is essentially the same sport be planted and change how much fun you're having on your rides, and always feel free to call people out for being dumb, enlighten them on trail etiquette, and engage in constructive discourse on the topic.
