Chris Smith takes us on a ‘cross-country ride on steroids’ around some of his local spots
Words Chris Smith Pics Steve Behr
I’m lucky enough to have some amazing riding right on my doorstep, which has kept me entertained for 25 years of two-wheeled fun. I have cross-country trails, bike parks, freeride spots, dirt jumps, trials riding and street locations just minutes from my front door. The one thing I don’t have is actual mountains, although the hills here are plenty big enough.
In those 25 years, bikes have changed drastically. Back then, I had a downhill bike, a freeride bike, two XC bikes (one hardtail, one full-sus), a short-travel slopestyle bike, a dirt jump bike, a 24in-wheeled street trials bike and a 26in comp trials bike. Yep, my garage was rammed, and pretty much every ride involved loading bikes into my van. Riding a 7in-travel rig with big gearing and sticky rubber the eight miles to the local quarry never really appealed, not to mention having to pedal back home again with blood dripping from my body or mild whiplash from a jump or drop gone wrong.
Now, I still have the garage and van, but the empty hooks on the garage wall are the only reminder of the number of bikes I used to have. That’s not a problem, though, because I have one bike now that I think can do it all – my Haibike AllMtn 3 e-MTB. Can it really, though? There’s only one way to find out! To put it to the test, I’ve plotted a route incorporating every single discipline I used to ride, all in one epic loop from my front door. This is an XC ride, but on steroids – I’m going to call it ‘XXXc’!
EEB DOESN’T EQUAL EASY
The route I’m heading out on is 27 miles long and takes in street spots, trails, freeride features, downhill tracks and a bike park. You might jump to the assumption that using an e-MTB will make it a piece of cake, but trust me, the only thing my Haibike will make any easier today will be the climbing – something that’s never really excited me anyway. Elsewhere, there’s its extra weight to contend with, plus the need to balance power with battery life – although, with a whopping 720Wh of juice on tap, I can’t see myself running out.
I’m looking forward to hitting up some of my old haunts with a bit of e-power – especially one particular climb, which I’ve previously only ridden up on a moto-trials bike. The weather couldn’t be better, I’ve got a fully-charged battery and I’m feeling good – let’s go!
STREET LIFE
Straight out of my front
