6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
I recently spent a few days in Moab Utah which is mecca for almost all forms of outdoor recreation. While literally every other vehicle I passed had at least one MTB on the back, I saw no ebikes at all. I didn't bring my ebike on the trip but did spend a good deal of time on the 4WD vehicle trails. Again, I saw plenty of MTB's but no ebikes. There were many bicycles on the city streets but, you guessed it, no ebikes.
I was quite surprised by this since Moab has several hundred miles of single track, packed gravel and paved trails available in the area. Except for the hottest Summer months, the weather is ideal for biking. The trailheads I checked out had no signage prohibiting ebikes. My curiosity led me to Rim Cyclery, one of the major LBS in town. They carry Blix and Scott ebikes but had only one Scott bike in stock. The store had several hundred conventional MTB's on the floor for sale or rent.
I spoke to the proprietor who told me that even though the local laws are liberal concerning their use, there is very little demand for ebikes. I asked about anti ebike sentiment among the hard core MTB er's and was relieved to hear him say that there really isn't any in Moab. He attributes the lack of ebike interest to demographics. Most bikers attracted to the area are relatively young and into physical fitness. In his opinion, ebikes are something of a crutch and are more suited for older, less fit riders. He thinks ebikes will catch on eventually though and that's why he does carry the Blix and Scott brands.
Anyway, it was an experience I thought others might find interesting.
I was quite surprised by this since Moab has several hundred miles of single track, packed gravel and paved trails available in the area. Except for the hottest Summer months, the weather is ideal for biking. The trailheads I checked out had no signage prohibiting ebikes. My curiosity led me to Rim Cyclery, one of the major LBS in town. They carry Blix and Scott ebikes but had only one Scott bike in stock. The store had several hundred conventional MTB's on the floor for sale or rent.
I spoke to the proprietor who told me that even though the local laws are liberal concerning their use, there is very little demand for ebikes. I asked about anti ebike sentiment among the hard core MTB er's and was relieved to hear him say that there really isn't any in Moab. He attributes the lack of ebike interest to demographics. Most bikers attracted to the area are relatively young and into physical fitness. In his opinion, ebikes are something of a crutch and are more suited for older, less fit riders. He thinks ebikes will catch on eventually though and that's why he does carry the Blix and Scott brands.
Anyway, it was an experience I thought others might find interesting.