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The Impact Of eMTB Tuning: My Personal Story
When I got my first eMTB a few years ago, I felt like the speed limiter was holding me back from using my bike the way I want. Removing the speed limiter was an option, but that doesn’t come without consequences. Would it damage my motor and battery? Although many advised against tuning, I decided to go for it. Three years and 10.000 km or 6200 miles later, I decided to document my experience for anyone that’s curious to find out about the impact of eMTB tuning. Maybe you can learn from my mistakes! Reasons For Me To Tune My eMTB As mentioned in the intro, the speed limiter prevented…
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Should You Buy A Second-Hand eMTB?
There’s no way around it; electric mountain bikes are expensive. To save some money, you could consider buying one second-hand. But with the risk of buying a bike with a faulty motor or battery, is that even a good idea? I’ve worked in the used-car market for almost ten years and with this background, I’ve done a lot of research into the ins and outs of buying a used eMTB. This article is for riders who are still in doubt about whether to buy new or used. We will talk about risks, warranty, prices and what’s the safest way to purchase a second-hand bike. Motor And Battery Lifespan The biggest…
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Should You Convert Your eMTB To Mullet?
In the world of mountain biking, ‘mullet’ means a mixed-wheel bike. Other than that, mullet is also a hairstyle (look it up), but that’s not really why we are here. Although many new eMTBs are fitted with 29-inch wheels for the front and rear, you can get a mixed-wheel eMTB from factory like the Canyon Spectral Mullet CF 8. This bike has a 29-inch wheel in the front, and a 27.5-inch wheel in the back. A smaller rear wheel can make your bike feel more lively as the lighter rear end makes it easier to change direction quickly on a tight set of corners. If you like the sound of…
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How To Regain Motivation For Mountain Biking
Every mountain biker has experienced it at least once: lack of motivation. No matter how much you enjoyed this sport in the past, you just can’t get on that bike. Perhaps you’re even considering selling your bike. But fear not; based on my own experience I know that you can regain that motivation for mountain biking! Through this article I would like to help you retrieve the love for this sport. I’ll share my personal story and give you some tips that have helped me a lot. Let’s start with the first step: find out why you’re lacking motivation. Find Out Why You’re Lacking Motivation From my own experience, I’ve…
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Do Wheelies Damage Your Mountain Bike?
Wheelies are just for showing off right? Well, yeah, but there’s more to it. Being able to perform a wheelie will actually make you a better mountain biker. But practicing wheelies isn’t easy and will take some effort. Do wheelies damage your mountain bike? Whether a wheelie does damage to your mountain bike, depends on the experience of the rider and the quality level of the bike. It’s often the practicing process that can cause damage to the drivetrain, suspension or wheels. Doing it properly with a soft landing, will not harm your mountain bike. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how you can prevent your mountain…
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Do Mountain Bikes Have Kickstands?
Mountain bikes are quite versatile as they can be ridden off-road as well as on road. Especially if you want to use your mountain bike for commuting or urban cycling, a kickstand would come in quite handy. Do mountain bikes have kickstands? No, a genuine mountain bike that’s designed for off-road use, does not come with a kickstand nor has mounting points for it. A kickstand doesn’t suit a mountain bike’s purpose, adds weight, and is also a safety hazard, as it can get caught on obstacles along the trail. When I started mountain biking myself, I first thought I really needed a kickstand on my bike. A couple years…
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Do Mountain Bikes Have Gears?
Mountain bikes might be quite slow on pavement, but are very fast off-road. If you are new to mountain biking, you might wonder how pedaling power is transferred to the rear wheel. In this article, we’ll have a closer look at the drivetrain of a mountain bike. Do mountain bikes have gears? All mountain bikes nowadays are equipped with gears. Being able to switch to a lower or higher gear, makes it easier for the rider to climb a steep slope or to travel at a high speed. Mountain bikes without gears (single-speed) do exist, but are unusual and require great strength. The drivetrain of a mountain bike has gone…
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Rigid MTB Vs Gravel Bike: Everything You Need To Know
Gravel bikes have become very popular over the last few years. They bridge the gap between a road bike and a modern day mountain bike. But with the possibility to fit tires up to 50 mm on a gravel bike, isn’t a gravel bike and a rigid mountain bike the same thing? Rigid MTBs and gravel bike are quite similar, but there are a few key differences. Gravel bikes lean more towards road bikes, but are also capable of riding on country roads. Rigid mountain bikes don’t feel at home on pavement, but are setup for more technical and challenging off-road cycling. In this article, we’ll look at the differences…
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Can You Put Mountain Bike Tires On A Road Bike?
A lot of people all over the world use their road bike off-road. But the first change you have to make, is to fit more grippy tires. Since mountain bike tires offer a lot of grip on loose surfaces, you might wonder: can you put mountain bike tires on a road bike? You can’t put mountain bike tires on a road bike. There is not enough tire clearance and the rims are not compatible with the wide mountain bike tires. However, if you are in need of more grip for using your road bike off-road, you can convert your bike into a gravel bike and fit gravel bike tires. In…
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The Disadvantages Of Mountain Biking
Whether you are an adrenaline seeker or someone that wants to enjoy the peacefulness of nature by bike, mountain biking is a great outdoor activity. But above all, this sport has some great mental and physical health benefits. However, there are a few things that might grind your gears; what are the disadvantages of mountain biking? There are a few disadvantages to mountain biking. First, it is an expensive and time consuming sport that is not allowed everywhere. Second, you need some technical skill to be able to perform repairs and maintain the bike. And finally, there’s a good chance of getting injured at some point. In this article, we’ll…