Which Mountain E-Bike (MTB) should I choose?

Summer is here! The days are getting longer, the temperatures are getting warmer, and nature is starting to come alive. It's the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the season. This is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors! Whether you're into hiking, traveling, or training on your e-bike, there's nothing better than spending time in nature, breathing in that fresh air, and listening to the birds sing. Mountain e-bikes are a great way to enjoy all these activities, so don't be shy — hop on your e-bike and go for it! 

Have you ever wondered what a mountain e-bike is?

Let's start with the basics, shall we? Have you ever wondered what it's like to go mountain biking? At first glance, you'll notice that mountain bikes have wide tires and treads compared to other types of bikes. They're great for giving you a confident and safe ride on forest trails! In the forest, we may encounter all kinds of obstacles, like roots, rocks, dirt, sand, or puddles after a rain shower. That's why it's so important to have tires that can handle the terrain well!

Let's explore the different types of mountain e-bikes!

It's so exciting to see how the sport of mountain e-biking has transformed in recent years! There are so many different types of mountain bikes! Each one is designed in a completely different way. I’ll just mention a few of them because there are so many types of mountain biking that I could write a whole other article about them!

The largest category of mountain bikes is the touring e-bike. These are great for weekend trips with the whole family! They have a comfortable geometry (like sport bikes), a comfortable position behind the handlebars, and space for mounting fenders, stands, or luggage racks. These e-bikes are all about having fun and enjoying the ride while exploring forest trails together.

If you're looking for an off-road (XC) e-bike, you're in the right place! These bikes are perfect for training and racing, and they're all about performance, stiffness, and handling confidence. The technology is designed to help you overcome obstacles quickly and confidently. And even though the e-bikes are on the heavier side (25-37 kilograms), they can climb hills with greater ease. XC routes are full of climbs and steep descents, so many participants choose fully shock-absorbing e-bikes to make the descents and increasingly difficult XC routes safer and easier to handle. E-bikes with just a front shock absorber (hardtail) are lighter, which is great for climbing, but it does require a bit more skill when descending.

All-mountain e-bikes (AM) are perfect for tackling downhill technical routes or mountain riding. They're great fun and a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors! These bikes are all about giving you a smoother ride. They usually have full shock absorbers, a geometry that allows for a more aggressive ride, and a lifting seatpost that has become standard. This nifty feature lets you lower the seat height on descents with just a lever on the handlebars. This lets you lean back against the seat, which lowers your center of gravity and makes it super easy to safely cruise down even the steepest trails!

Women's mountain bikes are designed with shorter handlebars, women's saddles, brake levers close to the handlebars, and softer springs in the shock absorbers to make your ride as comfortable as possible! These features are designed with the female body in mind, making the ride more comfortable for you.

Mountain bikes with electric support are also becoming more and more popular! They're great for traveling longer distances, conquering more hills, and keeping up with more experienced cyclists. But most importantly, they're just plain fun to ride! I'd highly recommend renting an electric bike from Decathlon Rentals! You might find riding such a bike on forest trails a bit tiring, and an electric bike would be a great solution.