Escrito por So you’ve recently bought yourself an eMTB? Brilliant! Welcome to the easy-going and occasionally wild party that is eMTBing! Let us open the door for you, buy you a drink, show you around and tell you how things work around here. With that out of the way, the party can get started, providing you with a lifetime of fun. Let’s kick it off!
Like the music at a party, there is no good or bad, just different preferences and tastes. The music playing at this party is the music of eMTBs! We celebrate bikes that put smiles on our faces as we enjoy the outdoors, allowing us to have a good time together out on the trails! We’re all about sociability, togetherness, challenging ourselves and each other – preferably in Turbo mode. If that sounds good to you, then you’ll feel right at home at our bike party! Come on in and have a look around!
In case you don’t yet own an ebike, we’ll assume that you do for the purposes of this article, just looking at what the future could hold if you did. Don’t worry, we’ve also put together a comprehensive buyer’s guide that will help you find your perfect eMTB, working hand in hand with our big group test of the 25 most exciting and best eMTBs of 2022. If you want to make your life easier, we recommend checking out our personal buyer’s guide. By answering a few questions, we can give you some bike recommendations that you’re sure to like. We’ll also give you a few select tips, just for you, based on your answers.
We wrote this ultimate ebike guide to give the newbies amongst you some valuable tips to get started on your eMTB journey. Our scene is full of interesting characters who would love to welcome you! We want to make sure that you quickly find your feet, avoid unnecessary mistakes and have a good time from the get-go. Even experienced ebikers who make a regular appearance and think they know the playlist by heart will find some fresh food for thought. Amongst other things, we’ll look at your bike setup, protective gear, the style of your outfit and, of course, trail etiquette. So, get yourself a drink and turn up the music – let’s get the bike party started!
eMTB Setup 101
Have you found the right eMTB? Great! You’ve got that first delicious plate of food and snacks from the buffet. But how do you get that food into your mouth without making a fool of yourself? If you imagine your bike as a plate of food, the basic setup is like the knife and fork. You can only really enjoy it when you’ve found the correct settings for the most crucial adjustments – just as you’ll enjoy your food to the fullest when you’ve got a sharp knife and the food stays on your fork.
You’ll find all the knowledge that we’re sharing with you here in our know-how section
for later reference. It’s your gateway to the ebike masterclass! But don’t worry, you don’t have to be on a first-name basis with all the party guests and know all their birthdays by heart. You’ll find the most important things you need to know to find your bearings at the ebike party in this guide. Let’s get started!
The basic setup of your bike includes…
Suspension
You feel your suspension setup all the time when you ride, so make sure that it’s right! That said, the setup is very subjective, so it’s up to you to figure out how you like it. Only once you’ve dialled that in will you realise what your ebike is capable of, unleashing its full potential. It all starts with a good beat and then comes the solo. And the beat is called sag… Click here to find out how to set the sag on your eMTB
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Tire pressure
On the trail, your tires are equivalent to the non-slip rubber soles of your sneakers on the dance floor. They only work if you use them correctly. Shoelaces untied or overly tight? Neither of these scenarios is ideal when dancing… Click here for everything you need to know about finding the right tire pressure on your eMTB.
Since we’re on the topic of tire pressure, we must mention tubeless setups. If you want to find out why and when tubeless tires are better than those with tubes and how you can convert your mountain bike, then check out the ultimate tubeless guide in our sister magazine, ENDURO.
Cockpit
The position and arrangement of the cockpit have a huge impact on the amount of fun you can have on your bike. It determines your centre of gravity and confidence on the trail, and whether you can easily reach all the levers and buttons. The following applies to the cockpit: there isn’t one right setting, only what’s right for you. It’s up to you to figure it out! Click here to find out how to set up your eMTB cockpit perfectly.
Saddle height
With some riders, you can see that there is something wrong with their position on the bike. But why is it so difficult to find the ideal saddle height? It’s not! With our tips, you can protect yourself from aching joints, have as much fun as possible when you ride and look good doing so. Click here to learn how to find the ideal saddle height on your eMTB.
Drivetrain
If you hear things creak and crunch for no apparent reason, that isn’t a good thing. At the party, it might be because of all the food you ate but, on your eMTB, it’s more likely to be the drivetrain that isn’t working properly, needing a few tweaks. We’ll show you how you can get your drivetrain running smoothly and quietly in no time at all. Click here to learn how to adjust the drivetrain on your eMTB.
The accessories
What accessories do you need to be properly outfitted on your eMTB? How do you differentiate between the essentials and pointless gadgets? Do you need that high-end fold-and-slide plug-in chain-cleaning brush to be allowed into the inner circle? No! Good bike accessories are similar to what you’ll need at a barbecue: it takes just a few of the right ingredients. With that sorted, you’ll be in for a good time without any frills! Fancy details aside, we’ll tell you what essentials you need to pack.
Of course, we’ll keep you up to date on the most exciting and hottest products. Click here for our Parts & Equipment reviews page.
Safety and protection
Have you already worked out your basic setup? Nice! You no longer have to eat with your hands and can socialise like a civilised person. But you’ve got to be careful because the bike party can get wild, which is why we love it so much. With drinks getting knocked over, flames shooting up at the grill and dancing party animals, you’ll want to take some precautionary measures. We’ll tell you which protectors to wear on the bike and the skills and knowledge everyone should have to help a fellow rider in case of an emergency.
A helmet is the absolute minimum of protective equipment on an eMTB. To find the right one for you, take a look at our sister magazine ENDURO, where we compared the best mountain bike helmets. To complete the look, full-finger bike gloves are a good idea too – a no-brainer for us. If you take biking seriously, want to improve and step out of your comfort zone, you should add some additional protection. Since crashing is part of progressing, knee pads are part of the standard protective gear, at least when riding downhill. Want to add a little more spice? Our eMTB protection guide shows you how to find the right protective gear for your terrain and riding style.
Despite all these precautions, something is bound to break at a wild party, glasses shattering on the floor just as riders will crash. If you don’t just want to be there for your buddies to give them high-fives after mastering a line but also to help them in an emergency, you should familiarise yourself with the most important emergency tips and bush up on your first aid skills.
Riding is the most fun with… a bike! A different type of protective equipment is that which protects your ebike from theft. We also have some hot tips for you regarding anti-theft.
Outfit and style
Who’s that guy over there at the bar wearing pyjamas? Hopefully not you! In all honesty, you don’t have to wear expensive branded clothing to be cool. But even if it isn’t the latest designer piece, you’re not going to wear your pyjamas to a party either, are you? There are various popular eMTB styles to choose from, from Scandinavian minimalism to Italo-disco. We show you the most common and popular styles so that you can choose the right eMTB outfit to make the statement that you want to make. Believe us – no one likes being the pyjama victim!
Gadgets, mods and tuning
What accessories do you wear to parties? Casio on your wrist and pure understatement? Or a Rolex and LV bag? And where do you stow your expensive mobile phone when the heavens open up? In contrast to the dignified after-hours cocktail, you can guarantee that things will get out of hand at our bike party. Pro tip: the fewer distractions there are, the more you can enjoy the experience! Anything that rattles, wobbles and isn’t absolutely necessary has no place on your eMTB.
There are special mounts to attach your smartphone securely to your bike. Do you prefer a dedicated navigation device? We put the 5 most exciting devices head to head in our navigation systems group test, telling you which is the best and for whom. We’ll show you stylish solutions for your eMTB that will stay right where you put them, no matter how wild the bike party gets! With your smartphone or navigation device securely in place, you’re almost ready to go. All you need now is a few good eMTB route planning tips
Something a little different – Our City Escapes
Ever been at a party where vibes are good, the charcoal is smouldering, but your bratwurst somehow tastes bland? It might be time to dish up something different – or ride somewhere new! Experience riding in a completely different way by immersing yourself in new cities, areas and ebike worlds with our E-MOUNTAINBIKE City Escapes! We’ll take you to some of the world’s most exciting places and give you everything you need for an entirely new experience on your bike. There’s nothing more exciting than getting a taste of something new!
Interacting with others – Good vibes only
We’ve taken a detailed look at the cutlery, outfits and accessories, but the most important thing at the bike party is all the fun and exciting encounters you’ll have with others! It is full of crazy characters, new friends and wise stories that will enrich your life. The key to all of this is respect and tolerance. Simple courtesy goes just as far on an eMTB in the outdoors as it does at a party!
After the ride – Care and service
Do you know that person who you always see at the party but never when it’s time to clean up? If you never chip in and let the others do all the hard work, you’ll soon become unpopular. Those who like to save themselves the trouble of servicing their bike are just as annoying, calling on the help and patience of their buddies before every ride to adjust or oil something on their filthy bike to stop it from squeaking or creaking. A well-maintained bike rides better, longer and is simply more fun! There are a few simple things you should learn to do after every ride to keep your eMTB running smoothly. In addition to properly lubricating the chain, this includes storing the battery. Doing so doesn’t just avoid stress, unnecessary wear and tear, and sarcastic comments from others, but it can also save you money. With the help of an example calculation, we show you how much money you really have to budget for equipment, maintenance and spare parts.
What if your ebike stops working?
Let’s face it: you can’t win every battle. Even if you take all our tips to heart, any party has the potential to go wrong. You notice far too late that the person you’re flirting with is the host’s better half, you spill your drink on the high-end sound system or you just have one drink too many – to err is human! How you deal with inappropriate flirting is up to you. However, if something goes wrong on your eMTB out on the trail, then there’s a good chance we can help you troubleshoot the error code. We’ve compiled a list of common problems along with tips to get everything back up and running. Learning to distinguish between friendliness and flirtation… unfortunately, that’s more complicated than working out a software issue!
That said, it’s only in the rarest of cases that it’s the electronics that bring your ebike ride to a halt. Despite tubeless tires and sealant, you will have a puncture from time to time. Check out our article on how to fix a tubeless puncture on the trail and at home and 8 trail side repairs to get you home!
Newsletter
Has this made you just as eager to get the party started as it’s made us? Then join us in the front row seats! Our newsletter will regularly provide you with the hottest news, the most exciting reviews and lots of inspiration. We promise not to annoy you
Conclusion
Riding eMTBs is heaps of fun! We’re glad you’ve joined the party! You can contribute to the scene by getting to know your equipment, sharing your knowledge with others and treating the people you encounter with respect. Doing so makes eMTBing a lot more fun for everyone involved! Your actions decide how good the bike party will be – today, tomorrow and all the days to follow! Be aware of your responsibilities, rock the trails and have fun out there!
PS: We also love helping you get your daily dose of the most beautiful hobby in its most beautiful form when you’re offline. You can choose the convenience of your smartphone or tablet to read your favourite articles in our free app. For the purists and connoisseurs among you, we also put our best images and texts into print on the highest-quality paper. Our annual print edition is best enjoyed with a cold beer and is easiest to order in our online shop. Enjoy!
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Words: Moritz Geisreiter, Jonas Müssig, Valentin Rühl Photos: Various
