Taiwan Pipe Death: 1 Worker dead after sucked into water pipe in Taiwan
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Taiwan Pipe Death: 1 Worker dead after sucked into water pipe in Taiwan: There is a man who was working on a pipeline project in Taichung City and he has lost his life after he got sucked into the hole that he had just made in a water pipe on Monday dating to 30th November, the 50-year-old man, named Zeng who was working on Taiwan Water Corporation pipeline replacement project in Tanzi District when the accident occurred at around 11:30 am. Follow More Update On GetIndiaNews.com
Taiwan Pipe Death
The incident got recorded on video by someone who was standing above the trench, the video footage showed that Zeng atop the steel pipe by using a lump of the hammer in order to knock out a 60 x 40-centimetre square piece that had been cut by a co-worker. It was seen that the steel plate finally gave away and Zeng lost his balance at the time by falling forward, Zeng momentarily caught himself but the problem was that the force of the suction which was happening because of the vacuum in the pipe, sucked him feet-first into the pipe.
The co-workers of Zeng pulled Zeng out of the pipe but he had lost his vital signs by the time paramedics arrived and he was later declared dead at the hospital, the Ministry of labour and other relevant agencies seems to be currently investigating the incident, the incident has been a fatal industrial accident which got reported in Taiwan’s news media today.
A welder has died in Yilan while working in an enclosed space due to a build-up of argon gas and in Kaohsiung, a backhoe driver was buried alive after a chimney collapsed on a demolition site, it seems like the cases of labour accidents have been seen a few times now and the authorities are on their toes.
The labour corporation is looking into the matter and they are going to be coming up with better and safe ways for the labours to perform their work, it is unlikely that there are going to be any further details on the story in the coming days and weeks, we are going to be on our toes to provide you with further details as soon as something comes under our radar. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the deceased, may his soul rest in peace.
Comprehensive Post-AT Gear Review
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When I was researching, I only trusted the gear reviews from hikers who had finished the trail. I completed my SOBO thru-hike of the AT on November 26 so here’s my comprehensive review of all the gear I brought along. For the most part, I had followed The Trek’s very own gearlist and it turned out pretty well. The only thing I did not really prepare for was how COLD it gets in the South, but I was so close to the end I just grit my teeth and did not do anything too dramatic, gear-wise. My base weight was around ~17 lbs, which if you spend too much time looking at gear lists on the internet will seem heavy. I got very used to the weight over the course of the hike and did not want to toss any of my luxury items.
Since I was a SOBO, I would almost immediately traverse the White Mountains in New Hampshire so I geared up for cold weather even though it was summer. This turned out to be a good move. It got down to the low 40’s in the exposed alpine zones. Right after New Hampshire, the summer heat hit in full force so I sent a lot of cold weather stuff home. Around mid-way through Virginia, the Fall nip started to settle in. By the time we hit the Roan Mountains in Tennessee we started getting some freezing nights, so I had all my cold weather stuff back. I’m not certain what NOBOs do, but the lesson is that a lot of your kit can get shipped back and forth.
I also got very into making my own gear (MYOG) and you’ll notice some custom items in the photos made of DCF. This was a really fun challenge and allowed me to fully design my packing setup. If you are interested but have no experience in sewing try getting a kit from Ripstopbytheroll.
Big Three – Sleep/Shelter/Pack
Sleeping Bag – Feathered Friends Flicker YF Wide 20 – 29.1 oz
Was warm enough until the nights started dropping to freezing in the mountains. I really liked the flexibility of this quilt/bag hybrid – it could completely zip and cinch up when it got to the 30s and 40s. When it was warm I turned it into a blanket so I did not sweat right into it. It does not have a hood so make sure you have a warm puffy hood for your head (my hat always fell off). The down got wet many times but I was always able to dry it out soon after. The worry of wet down is a tradeoff since I noticed how much smaller I could pack my down bag compared to synthetic bags. Also, a mouse chewed a hole in the bottom and a lot of down got out…definitely not the fault of the product. 9/10
Sleeping Bag Liner #1 – Sea to Summit Premium Silk Travel Liner – 6 oz
When the nights were very warm I just slept in this without my sleeping bag. Definitely kept my bag from getting horribly stinky too since I could toss this in the laundry. Also feels much better against your skin than sleeping bag synthetic material. To be honest a bit of a luxury item, but I would bring it again. 8/10
Sleeping Bag Liner #2 – Sea to Summit THERMOLITE® Reactor™ Compact
Bought this after I suffered some freezing nights. It ended being too small – I would get the regular size instead. It definitely adds some warmth, but not the 10-15 degrees it advertises. I should have upgraded my puffer instead. I also already had a silk liner and trying to stay in two liners overnight is just not possible or comfortable. 5/10 (mostly user error)
Sleeping Pad – Therm a Rest Neo Air XLite – Regular – 12 oz
Great sleeping pad, really not as loud as people complain (thru-hikers know snoring is the real issue) and just warm enough. I got very used to blowing this up after 100+ times. I kept mine under-inflated otherwise it felt too “hard”. You should experiment with how much air you put in it. Mine never got a leak, but I was somewhat careful with mine. If I was picky, I would get the wide version since my knee tends to hang off when I sleep on my side/front. 10/10
Pillow – Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight – 2.1 oz
Good balance of comfort and weight. I’ve done the whole stuff sack as pillow thing, but the issue is at some point you’re wearing everything that would be in your stuff sack. It’s definitely more comfortable than a lumpy bag too. 8/10
Tent – Gossamer Gear The One (sil-nylon version) – ~24 oz with 6 stakes
Terrific tent – high quality, lightweight, and just waterproof enough. I’ve never had a non-freestanding tent before, so I did not get good at setting it up until maybe the 30th time I used it. There are a lot of nuances to balancing the tension – but I’m glad to have this skill now. Additionally, it is a single wall tent so understanding how to deal with condensation was also something to learn. The biggest avoidable product problem was the quality of the seam taping. After 2-3 months in, the seam taping at the roof lines was becoming brittle and falling off. I had to do some field seam sealing to prevent too much water from leaking in. On that note, in heavy rain on a cold day, almost every lightweight backpacking shelter system will not keep you fully dry either from leakage, wind-blown rain, overwhelming condensation, or backsplash. This is why the AT has shelters! Overall 8/10 – just prepare to replace the seam taping and learn some skills along the way.
Groundsheet – Polycryo – 2 oz
Cheap, very light, held up just enough.
Backpack – Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400 in White – 32 oz
Perhaps one of my favorite pieces of gear – it’s nearly indestructible and looks cool enough for non-hiking uses. I would definitely recommend the 3400 over 2400. You will have trouble fitting in more than 3 days of food without the additional roll-top space. It is MOSTLY waterproof in the beginning. The seam tape failed in a few spots after a month on the trail, so definitely use a waterproof liner or do the trash bag thing like everyone else. Definitely do not need a pack cover. It is just comfortable enough when I didn’t have too much food but would start digging in my hips and shoulders if the pack got above 30 lbs. Make sure you DO NOT store your DEET in the hip belt pockets as I did – it melts the fabric’s PU coating. 10/10!
Sitpad – EVA 1/8″ Foam Pad – Cut to Torso Length – 2 oz
This IS my favorite piece of gear, thanks Darwin. Here are its many uses:
Folded up as a small sit pad on rocks and logs 2 person sharable sit pad on wet benches Yoga mat Beach mat – yes there are sand beaches on the AT Shoe changing mat Under sleeping pad mat – for additional insulation, puncture prevention, and keeps it in place on slick shelter floors Extra hip belt or shoulder padding – I wore it around my waist when the chaffing got really bad Passive extra water protection since I stored it on the top of my pack.
Clothes
Hiking Shirt – Long sleeve synthetic shirt – Lululemon
Lululemon makes terrific hiking clothes. They don’t smell as bad as Patagonia “stink resistant” shirts and seem indestructible. I like the long sleeves since I can fully roll them up to short sleeves when it’s hot or roll them down if it’s chilly or the bugs are out.
Hiking Shorts – Patagonia Baggies – Liner cut out
I did not wear underwear with these so I could just jump in and out of lakes in the summer. No liner and no underwear means these shorts are bone dry after 1-2 hours of hiking.
Boxers – Patagonia Boxers
I sent these home after I found I don’t like hiking with them. I had then sent back in the fall for more warmth (isn’t that what underwear is really for…?).
Camp Shirt – Smartwool 150 Longsleeve for the Summer / Smartwool 250 for the cold
The 150 was a little itchy since it was 100% wool. The 250 was a blend that made it much less itchy.
Tights – Lululemon Surge Tights
I wore these as camp pants after a day of sweaty summer hiking. I started hiking in just these or with shorts over them when it got cold. Good multi-purpose item.
Buff x 2 – Added a blaze orange one so I didn’t get shot.
Beanie – Arc Teryx Wool Blend Beanie – Cold Weather Gear
Baseball Cap
Liner Gloves – Black Diamond – Cold Weather Gear
In my opinion gloves of some kind are a must-have. I liked these liners since I could still use my phone.
Fingerless Gloves
I picked these up in a hiker box. I think next time I’ll use these instead of the liners. In the Smokies, it got so cold I wore these over my liners.
Rain Mittens – REI Minimalist GTX Mittens
Rain mittens are really nice to have when it’s very cold and rainy. These are lightweight and durable. 9/10
Outerwear
Rainshell – Montbell Storm Cruiser – 10.3 oz
I thought of getting the UL version from Montbell but decided I wanted something more durable that did not rely on just a surface DWR. This thing never “wetted out” and I was always dry in it even during the hurricanes. The massive pit zips and up-high pockets were great features. When the weather was ~40 during the day and windy I wore this jacket almost all day long. 10/10!
Puffy – Patagonia Nanopuff
I had this with me the whole trail since it was pretty light and packed down small. A lot of hikers did not have their puffy in summer and early fall and most told me they wish they did for the mountains. If I did this again, I would have switched this out for a warmer down puffy when it got really cold.
Rainpants – Arc Teryx Zeta – 8.4 oz – Cold Weather Gear
These were really good pants for heavy rain but mostly just for cold weather. Good streamlined fit, lightweight, and the leg zips were long enough to get these on and off without taking your shoes off. The only issue was the ridiculous “innovative” belt hardware placed right where the hip belt sits, leaving deep marks after a day of hiking. 8/10
Footwear + Poles
Shoes – Altra Lone Peak 5 – 3 Pairs – Wide
There seems to be some controversy over these shoes on the internet. I really like them mostly because they actually fit my foot in the wide sizing. After Maine and New Hampshire, my feet got very used to the amount of cushioning. They are very durable too, I went through 3 pairs as opposed to some hikers who went through 4 or 5. 8/10
Insoles – Sof Sole Athlete Insole
I found some in a hiker box and tried them out. There’s no fancy stuff to these, it’s just a resilient slab of polyurethane which is great since I have no arch and rigid support is the death of me. I ended up buying new ones when I ordered new shoes. In retrospect, I should’ve tried out stiffer insoles beforehand and used them just in the rockier sections like PA. 8/10
Gaiters – Altra Trail Gaiters
Picked these up while on trail. I really really hate rocks in my shoes so these worked great for me. 9/10
Sandals – Xero Z-Trail
These were…not great. They are very light but that’s really the only good thing. The velcro does not stick when wet. They are too thin to do any serious hiking in unless you are capable of hiking barefoot already. And they are annoying to put on. Next time I would get Bedrocks since I discovered I like hiking in sandals. 5/10
Hiking Socks – Darntough Midweight / Injini Toesocks Midweight
I experimented with the toe socks and found them unnecessary after I had developed all my callusses. For 75% of my hike, I kept thinking I only needed one pair of hiking socks. But when it rains for a few days in row having a dry pair in reserve is well worth the weight.
Camp Socks – REI Wool Socks Midweight for Summer / REI Wool Socks Heavyweight for Fall
Trekking Poles – Black Diamond Ergo Cork Aluminum
Really nice lightweight poles. I’ve heard of carbon poles shattering under stress, whereas aluminum poles would just bend. I replaced the tips about 2/3 the way through. The cork grips are really nice on the skin, but they eventually started coming off. Nothing a bit of leukotape could not fix.
Cookware and Water
Pot – Snow Peak ~1L Aluminum Pot
I’m really glad I had a 1L pot. I ended needing to use the entire pot for two ramens or 1.5 portions of Annie’s mac and cheese. Having to cook twice is a chore and wastes time.
Coozie – MYOG with Reflectix and Foil Tape
This thing ended up shrinking a lot over time. Next time I would oversize it.
Stove – MSR Pocket Rocket
Worked great.
Spoon – Plastic Long Handle
My original titanium spork would scratch my pot so I switched to plastic. Also trying to clean a metal pot with a metal utensil sounds awful.
Chopsticks – A pair I had at home
Because breaking up ramen to eat with a spoon just feels wrong as a Taiwanese person.
Clean Water Bottle – 750ml Smart Water Bottle with Sport Cap
I had this thing the whole ride. Just try to clean it from time to time with a stick since all those electrolyte and drink powders leave some nasty-looking residue over time.
Dirty Water Bottle – 1.5l Essentia Water Bottle
The extra big size was nice to have when I was filling up for camp. Protip: the Essentia bottle labels come off clean!
Extra Water Storage – 1l Sawyer Squeeze Bag
For those dry days or when the water source is very far from the shelter. I picked this up in the hiker box, maybe used it 5-10 times. 50/50 on whether I would pack it again.
Filter – Sawyer Squeeze
Almost everyone on the trail had this filter for good reason. Just make sure you knock and tap this thing when you backflush it, otherwise, nothing really gets flushed out. Also, do not over-tighten it and force the o-ring into the water bottle. When it starts getting to 35-40 degrees get into the habit of keeping it in your pocket and storing it in your sleeping bag. I tossed mine in the trash when I got home because the filter was likely compromised when I lazily forgot to put it in my sleeping bag one night.
Clean Water Only Water Bottle with Straw Attachment
I thought this was a good solution in the beginning so I didn’t need to reach back to grab my water bottle. My arm became more flexible and got used to the motion of reaching behind so this thing became obsolete.
Electronics
Wall Plug – Anker PowerPort PD 2
This thing had a USB 3 and a Lightning Port. My iPhone charges much faster with the Lightning Port vs a standard USB. Would definitely recommend it so you don’t have to dilly-dally too much at outlets.
Battery – Anker 10,000
Just enough power to last me through the 100-mile wilderness with battery discipline. Next time I’d be tempted to get the 20,000 just so I don’t have to worry about power. Also, when it gets very cold do not bother trying to charge unless you can keep this thing warm. I discovered the cold will suck the charge out of anything.
Kindle – Sent home
Ended up just reading books on my phone.
Headlamp – Princeton Tec Sync 200 – Replaced
Headlamp – Petzl Actik Core with Rechargeable and Replaceable Battery
I ended up doing a lot of night hiking. Sometimes we would hike for 3-4 hours in the darkness, especially during the Fall. Either you keep buying batteries every week or you get a decent rechargeable lamp. This one is really nice since it can take regular AAA batteries if you can’t find an outlet to charge. It’s also simple to use and very bright. 10/10
Satellite Messenger – Garmin inReach Mini
This was used almost every day in Maine since there was barely any cell service. Did not need it again until the mountainous areas in the South. I’m glad I had this either way for peace of mind.
Headphones – Apple Airpods
Wireless headphones are AMAZING on the trail because you can give one bud to your hiking partner and listen to the same thing. For podcasts, I would only listen to one bud at a time to stretch the batteries. 10/10!
Toiletries/Misc
Med Kit: Leukotape, Ibuprofen, Benadryl (multiple hornet bites can cause bad allergic reactions), Imodium, Pepto Bismal (stomach aches happen a lot), Neosporin, non stick pad, and Mucinex (got a cold on trail).
Repair Kit: Tenacious Tape, Duct Tape, Sewing Kit, DCF Tape, and Sleeping Pad Patch Kit.
Hipbelt Stuff: Dr. Bronner’s unscented soap in an eyedropper, unscented lip balm, saline eye drops, petrojelly balm, rubbing alcohol spray, sunscreen (tossed, maybe only useful in the Whites) , 100% DEET (got rid of when it got colder and the bugs vanished).
Sunglassses – Sent home
Bug Net – Sent home after in the Fall
Microfiber Glasses Cleaning Cloth
Knife – Leatherman Style PS2 w/ Scissors
This multitool is small, lightweight, and functional. I used the scissors to open pesky food packaging, cut repair tape, and clip fingernails. The flat head screwdriver was used to tighten my trekking poles. And the tweezers were used to remove ticks and hornet stingers. 10/10
Contacts – 7 pairs of dailies
At first, I was wearing contacts all the time, but I actually prefer to wear glasses in non-trail life so I switched to them permanently. The contacts were just a backup.
Trowel – Duece of Spades
This thing is very light but hard to use with roots in the way. I ended up stepping on it as you would with a real shovel to get it deep enough.
Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss
Notebook
Waterbottle Bidet Attachment – Sent Home
Did not get comfortable using it, definitely something you should…”practice.”
Wetwipes – Tossed
I thought they were unnecessary. Just give yourself a birdbath in the stream to clean off.
Wallet – MYOG DCF Wallet
Not really waterproof…but lightweight and very durable.
Packing System
Compression Stuff Sack – Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Event Compression Sack
All my sleep stuff went in this one: sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow, liner. It got really nice and small.
Misc. Pod – MYOG DCF Backpack Shaped Pod – Medium Tall
I made this out of a 1.5 oz/yd DCF. It worked out great except the fabric got some holes from abrasing the metal pot inside. Next time I would use the 3.0 oz/yd DCF instead. It was great to have all my misc. stuff in here since my HMG pack is just a big sack.
Clothes Pod – MYOG DCF Backpack Shaped Pod – Short
This was also made of 1.5 oz/yd DCF. I was really compressing my clothes in here which caused some stress on the zipper connection and small rips started. Either I would make it a bit bigger or go with a heavier material.
Food Pod – MYOG DCF Backpack Shaped Pod – 8 inches Tall + MYOG Rock Throw Bag w/ 50′ Z-Line
This was probably my most successful MYOG piece of gear. It stood up to rain and tons of falls since I was bearing hanging it. The 3.0 oz/yd composite DCF material is very similar to the material used on the HMG pack so it was basically also indestructible. Having a big full zipper allowed me to access all the food inside, which is better than digging through a barrel-shaped roll-top bag. I had the rock bag and line always attached to the food bag so it was easier to get my bear hang on.
Final Thoughts
There are as many ways to pack for the AT as there are types of people on the trail. So use the internet as a guide but don’t stress about it too much, you will always be able to switch your stuff around once you’re on the trail. Gear is important, but once you’re on trail you’ll probably spend less time thinking about it and more about how incredible of an experience you are having.
Happy Trails!
Mr. Clean, all miles of the AT hiked SOBO.
My apartment, Brooklyn, NY
Burning Question: 7 Brands That Haven’t Released an eMTB Yet
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Keith Scott, Owner/Designer at Banshee:
This past year has seen plenty of fresh new electrified models with names like Pole and Yeti launching bikes and we got a quick look at a potential new eMTB from Evil this month . It has become increasingly rare to see brands not be working on some form of eMTB or even take a stance against these kinds of bikes. With this in mind, we reached out to several brands missing an eMTB in their lineup and asked them why they haven’t released one yet and if there are any difficulties, sustainability issues or anything else that could stop them from launching one in the future.
Why haven’t you released an eMTB yet?
There are a whole number of reasons… but I guess the main ones are:- At Banshee we are purists, and like to ‘earn our turns’.- I don’t like the idea of unnecessarily introducing the pollution inherent in batteries and consumed power where they simply aren’t required by most people (eMTB are an amazing accessibility tool if someone’s condition requires it, so they have a niche that justifies them, and I’m all for this, but it’s more than covered by the many eMTB makers already in the market)- We are a small brand, (just 3 people) and there is an economy of scale required to compete in the eMTB world from a pricing perspective, minimum order qty of motors being a big one. We have a sustainable business and strong niche, why be greedy and risk destroying what we have?- There is lots of red tape around ebikes in terms of regional testing etc… So they are expensive to bring to market, and for our scale it wouldn’t make financial sense.- I don’t like the current battery/motor options out there. They are generally pretty rudimentary and unrefined afterthoughts added on to a bike, they could just be so much more integrated with gearing etc.- There is also an element of impact on trail conservation especially on climbs (wheel spins plus more general wear and tear), plus radically different speeds on climbs can cause issue on occasion if riders are not respectful. Something I have personally witnessed a number of times mainly by people renting eMTBs at trail centres.
Would you ever consider releasing an eMTB in the future?
Maybe, but only once the battery tech cleans up significantly, and I’d aim for slight assist rather than loads of power. I quite like the idea of something like 100-200w assistance to help you climb a bit further and faster but without having huge impact on weight and with a much smaller battery and motor. But only once the tech is cleaner and gears are integrated into motor and a few other things like that. I feel eMTBs of today will be laughed at in 10 years time as design and tech improves significantly. I mean, why do eMTBs still have traditional derailleurs when there is so much opportunity to integrate gearing with the motor?
What considerations are there in deciding to release an eMTB?
For us this is mainly about our brand and what we stand for Releasing an eMTB (in their current form) would be hypocritical as we currently do what we can to minimise environmental impact, and we like to promote the purity of riding. Bikes are often considered the most efficient human-powered modes of transport ever created. I guess I just like the human power element, and feel that a lot of our loyal customers feel the same and share ethics.
Do you think releasing an eMTB is a different prospect from a standard bike? Or would it be like adding any different style of bike to your range?
I consider it quite a different prospect. They are for a different type of customer, and different marketing is required as a result. Plus there is the legislation side of things that’s difficult for a boutique brand of our scale to justify.
If you wouldn’t ever release an eMTB, why not?
Never say never, but currently the industry is very guilty of greenwashing. Batteries are not clean tech and even if energy comes from renewables, the infrastructure has significant environmental impact, so it’s not as green as the industry claims. Greenwashing is rife everywhere right now as companies realise the marketing potential of presenting their companies as ‘green’, but when you dig under the surface and look at systems as a whole they are often far more polluting than they would have you believe.
Are there any sustainability or other issues that guide your decisions around eMTBs?
Ben Pinnick, Founder at Bird:
Other than the dirty business of sourcing elements needed for current battery tech, there is also the hysteresis element that means batteries have a finite usable life, and then the recycling element, which I don’t believe is currently as high a priority as it should be. Marketing guys can greenwash it as much as they want, but ultimately it’s needless pollution being pushed into our sport.Currently, all major motors are a huge design constraint. They limit pivot locations significantly as well as dictate orientation on the frame. The result is that any good short link 4 bar orientation is impossible, so nearly all eMTB’s end up being basic single pivots or generally inefficient horst link designs, and end up basically being iterations of the same sort of design. Current motors dictate frame design and as a result, sacrifice linkage performance.I should note that I’m for e-bikes for commuting purposes where they replace the use of a car, but eMTB is a different story (Unless you are lucky enough to commute to work along proper mtb trails).
Why haven’t you released an eMTB yet?
We have a bike in prototype, but it’s taking a long time due to prototype lead times tripling, and even when we have the frame ready we may not have motors and batteries. Despite the fact we ordered the production motors and batteries as soon as we committed to a certain design, and BEFORE we made our first proto bike! It’s just a waiting game now. The supply chain is likely to take 2-3 years to resolve itself, so we’re not sure when it can launch just yet.
Would you ever consider releasing an eMTB in the future?
For us, mail order is the big issue. We have a leading (and I hope deserved) reputation for great customer service and we want to protect that. E-bikes are not as reliable, or maybe less easy to self-diagnose and fix is a better way to put it, as regular bikes, and present a whole raft of extra challenges in terms of diagnostics and service/warranty. That’s why we’ve gone EP8 as it has the widest support network. Even then we’ve chosen to go with a more traditional sales route and will be selling the bikes under a different brand and via our partners rather than online. We’re also launching 3 new stores as part of that process to provide servicing hubs for our customers as well as demo and possibly rental fleets too.
What considerations are there in deciding to release an eMTB?
Well, I guess half that question is answered above - yes the idea of a bike with a motor & electronics do present some major challenges for a direct supplier. But also there are two types of bikes to as we see it in terms of the ‘range’ we could logically offer. The Full eMTB with big motors and batteries, and the bike replacement eMTB which is slimmed down to have a more reasonable weight. We’re focused on the big bike right now. We’ve met some challenges that fitting the motor and big battery in brings by adapting our normal design style with some updates and suspension changes that have worked so well I suspect some will make it back into the regular range too. There are of course the smaller niggles of extra cables to handle, and the adaptation of the build process but those are less troublesome.
If you wouldn’t ever release an eMTB, why not?
Some days when I’m working on the eMTB I do wish we weren’t! They do add a layer of complexity to what is otherwise a joyously simple piece of kit. They are also great fun though. I’ve found myself doing way more wild old-school style riding since the eebs arrived. They really can make rides that at this time of year would be a total chore really enjoyable. My washing machine doesn’t love me so much though. For me, this is the challenge to overcome - ensuring our production eMTB is as reliable and trouble-free as we can make it. If that means lots of filthy rides out in the moors rather than sitting at a desk, I will take one for the team.
Are there any sustainability or other issues that guide your decisions around eMTBs?
Cy Turner, Founder at Cotic:
Sustainability is a challenge especially when you add in a Lithium battery, and gets harder as the supply chain strains further making you have to compromise on decisions you’d not have to compromise on in normal times. The reality is unless you’re making pure commute or cargo eBikes then you’ve no place claiming your eBike is green. It’s just not when compared to a regular bike. There’s no real debate on that point and so the best you can do is minimise the impact you make.We’re taking a different approach than most other manufacturers though, as you’ll know reduction and reuse is way better than recycling, and with that in mind rather than put all our efforts into reducing the impact of new stuff, which of course we do in many small ways around the factory and in our shipping, we’re instead focusing on lifetime usefulness of the product. We’re soon launching a refurb service for existing owners to get their bikes refurbed and back to like new for a reasonable cost. We’ve always been fairly cutting edge on our bikes so even a bike with a few years on it is still very relevant in terms of modern geo, so rather than buy a whole new one we can help the owner get it back to better than new. That program will have been running for a while by the time the eBikes start shipping, so we’ll roll them into that as well with support for the complete bike including motor and battery support so you can still get a decent lifespan from your eBike too.
Why haven’t you released an eMTB yet?
We haven’t released an eMTB yet because we wanted to wait until the tech was a bit more mature, but mainly because the current supply issues combined with prototyping in Taiwan means that it takes a very, very long time.
Would you ever consider releasing an eMTB in the future?
Very much so. [radio announcer voice] I can EXCLUSIVELY REVEAL…. that we have just received our first eMTB prototypes. I signed the drawings off in July 2019, and Shimano tell us even if we order now we won’t get drive units and batteries until the end of ‘23 earliest, so it’s a slightly frustrating product to develop. That said, we’re looking forward to the fun part now, which is riding and developing the bikes properly. We have one in each size so everyone at Cotic can get involved, and friends beyond the company too. We had our first afternoon of team ebiking last week and there were a lot of laughs, and silly climbs attempted.
What considerations are there in deciding to release an eMTB?
The considerations are that it’s a huge market, and it’s a part of the sport now, and they’re fun! It massively increases the accessibility of mountain biking to people who maybe aren’t strong enough to get ‘out there’ on a regular bike. Cotic is 18 years old. We will have customers from our early years who might well be getting to an age where riding a regular bike isn’t fun or even possible anymore. For others, it gives more bang for buck if you only have a limited time window for riding. As good examples, I’ve done a big ride that would normally take me 3.5 to 4 hours in just over 2, and I’ve ridden more with my wife in the last two weeks with her having the ebike that we have in years. That last one alone makes it a reason to build one on a personal level.
Do you think releasing an eMTB is a different prospect from a standard bike? Or would it be like adding any different style of bike to your range?
Our eMTB won’t be an exact replica of one of our current bikes, but it’s very much a variation on the theme. As you can see it runs our proven droplink suspension and Longshot geometry, so you know it’s going to handle and feel great. Others may come after, but we’re focusing to doing this one right for the moment.
Are there any sustainability or other issues that guide your decisions around eMTBs?
Owen Pemberton, CEO at Forbidden:
The battery issue is a worry, but given that’s a global issue with electric cars etc, the solution will have to present itself. I suspect it will be in the form of battery farms or similar. Just because a battery is done in its initial application, doesn’t mean it’s useless. If it still holds 70% charge and can happily charge and discharge at a low, steady rate, I see old batteries being used to store electricity generated by renewables where the performance isn’t such an issue. You can even build your own powerbanks using old cells relatively easily. One of our friends already does. These seem like a good solution to me, but unfortunately I have no influence on whether it becomes a widespread option. Closer to home, the reliability of the drive units is still improving, and I really hope that a refurb option comes online for the warranty replaced units that fail in service.
Why haven’t you released an eMTB yet?
As a small team with limited resources we have to be very selective when it comes to developing new platforms. This is all the more important when the technology at the core of an emerging category is advancing as fast as it is within the world of eMTBs. As such, we would never jump into anything until we’re 100% ready and have fully evaluated the [eMTB] market and the current offerings that pique our interest. Deciding what kind of eMTB we would like to develop and the design direction to take is, therefore, a huge decision for us. Tossing the ongoing supply chain issues into the mix with some exciting new non-e-platforms, which we can’t talk about and are in development right now, we’re extremely busy and happily distracted, for now anyway.
Would you ever consider releasing an eMTB in the future?
Yes, totally, I think the writing is on the wall; eMTB’s are here to stay! But what is less obvious is how the technology will develop and where the products will shake out during this period of rapid evolution. Motor and battery technology is advancing so fast that I would bet that the eMTB offerings we’ll see and be riding five years from now, will be significantly different from the ones on the market today. Given the rate of development in this sector, we are content to sit back and observe, at least for a little while.
Do you think releasing an eMTB is a different prospect from a standard bike? Or would it be like adding any different style of bike to your range?
Absolutely, the addition of the motor, battery and rider interface make an eMTB a totally different product from a standard MTB. The way the rider and the bike interact with each other, and with the trail, is fundamentally different. To us, this makes it a very different product and as such, would require a different approach. This is why we have chosen to take it slow and learn as much as we can before we develop our own eMTB. We don’t produce “me too” products without motors and we won’t start doing it with [eMTBs].
Are there any sustainability or other issues that guide your decisions around eMTBs?
Will Montague, President at Guerilla Gravity:
If we were on the cusp of developing a platform for this category, perhaps, but this topic is hard to cover authoritatively without hard facts to reference. I think it’s fair to say that there are real concerns about the end-of-life options for old motors and batteries especially, and while this is true of any consumer goods with batteries, I am pleased to see initiatives happening within our industry - and the world as a whole - to reduce the environmental impact of battery disposal.
Why haven’t you released an eMTB yet?
We are actively investing a ton into our operations to meet current demand. We’re a small company with limited resources, so it makes sense for us to sit on the sidelines until we’re able to get through these next few years of infrastructure building.
Would you ever consider releasing an eMTB in the future?
Definitely. We’ve ridden some of the modern eMTBs and think they’re awesome. We’re excited about where the motor and battery tech is going and we are looking forward to seeing how things evolve over the next few years. Further, I think there is a lot of “getting the bugs worked out” happening right now with the current bikes on the market and the bigger companies have the resources to shoulder the costs of early technology adoption.
What considerations are there in deciding to release an eMTB?
It’s no secret that there are some negative aspects to the battery tech as it stands now, both from current supply chain and end-of-life recycling. In addition to keeping an eye on that, another big thing is rider service and support. Presently, a lot of eMTB riders are newer to the sport and need additional support to have a good experience. And even experienced riders buying their first eMTB are new to motor and battery technology, which is just a different “component” than they’ve used before. Lastly, there are additional nuances around product design (e.g. frame and drive system integration) and fulfillment (e.g. shipping of batteries to customers) to consider.
Do you think releasing an eMTB is a different prospect from a standard bike? Or would it be like adding any different style of bike to your range?
If you think about a standard eMTB (like what Santa Cruz or Yeti offers), I would say it’s about “25%” different, so more akin to an additional bike in our range. There are definitely additional considerations for design, ride characteristics, and customer support, but we don’t view them as a totally different animal. Something like a Sur Ron or some of Greyp’s models are, however, very different animals from what we know and love of mountain bikes.
If you wouldn’t ever release an eMTB, why not?
If the carbon footprint and eco impacts begin trending in the wrong direction, or additional information around their impact becomes available, that would definitely affect our decision.
Are there any sustainability or other issues that guide your decisions around eMTBs?
Noel Buckley, CEO/Head Engineer and Jens Lange Sales at Knolly:
This is something we’re keeping an eye on and that will affect our planning and timing. What the cycling industry is working on in regards to battery recycling is great. We’re optimistic that given all of the focus on EV batteries in general, a lot of the progress will be made on the sustainable sourcing and manufacturing of batteries and their raw material components. While too subjective to fully quantify, I do think there is some amount of offset to riding an eMTB vs driving a car to the trailhead. At a more macro level –and more personal view– I think the potential of ebikes as the urban transport of choice is very exciting and something I’m excited to be able to participate in (I now ride to work, when I previously had not).
Why haven’t you released an eMTB yet?
Currently, our main focus is on concentrating our resources on our pedal bikes to be able to provide a full range of bikes and make the best engineered and riding aluminum bikes possible. We have introduced four new models during the past 18 months and are still working on expanding our core range, even if lead times are longer given the challenges of Covid.
Would you ever consider releasing an eMTB in the future?
A Knolly eMTB makes sense if motors/batteries continue to get lighter and smaller. For us, we have always prioritized ride quality and feel above anything else, and currently the delta between regular pedal bikes and eMTBs is quite large. As that delta continues to shrink, we feel we can start to look at designing and building a sub 20kg aluminum eMTB that does not compromise the existing advantages of our suspension layout and ride quality.
What considerations are there in deciding to release an eMTB?
The challenge with eMTB is finding our niche: we don’t want to bring one to market just because we can. It’s actually relatively easy to build an eMTB, what is not easy is differentiating yourself from all of the other products in the marketplace that use the same 5 motor suppliers with the same 3 frame layouts. We have several markets that we can focus on as a high-end niche player and we are looking into those markets. The challenge with good suspension design is in the subtleties. High power eMTBs mute those subtleties and we want to explore how we can exploit the additional power, not just make the same bike but with more available power.We feel that the layout and intended purpose of a Chilcotin or a Warden would make them the perfect base for a low-torque (around 60nm), small battery (around 400Wh) eMTB that uses the motor as a climbing aid for tech/steep climbs rather than a 900 Wh battery monster, super booster for forest roads and gravel motorways with the sole purpose of breaking KOM records of most meter climbed in a day without getting range anxiety. With smaller, more tunable motor offerings from the likes of Shimano, Yamaha or Fazua we should certainly investigate what’s out there and how we can be part of this and how this can be incorporated within our current values and philosophies.Again, the performance delta between climbing and descending on a pedal bike vs climbing and descending on an eMTB is what we would want to minimize. Our goal with any eMTB would not be to cheapen the experience. It’s a bit of a different philosophy compared to most of the eMTBs on the market which are prioritizing maximum power and maximum energy storage.
Do you think releasing an eMTB is a different prospect from a standard bike? Or would it be like adding any different style of bike to your range?
My personal feeling is that they are different. The eMTB market is more complicated than people give it credit for. I think there is a feeling from many high level / purist cyclists who want to marginalize the market as a beginner product or “bringing in new riders” product. Both of those market segments are valid but there is also an extremely skilled user base that purchases eMTBs. Sometimes it’s just to be able to fit in an extra lap: the first lap or so are done on the pedal bike, and the 3rd and 4th lap are done on the electric bike. Or perhaps it’s due to limited time and you can crank out the climb a lot more quickly. Or it’s for commuting. There are lots of reasons. Whether all cyclists agree that it’s valid is an ongoing discussion.Where I disagree with the industry’s overall direction is that I don’t feel that eMTBs and pedal MTB are the same and currently, there is a lot of advertising pressure trying to make everyone believe that they are the same. This isn’t a question of what’s better, what’s more righteous or ethical. It’s recognizing that increasing the rider’s effective power output by 3 - 4x is a stepping stone into motorized vehicles. Ten years ago, there were mountain bikes and there were gas-powered dirt bikes with very clearly delineated boundaries. Now, there are 10 steps between the two where you can link the dots together and that is something that we as a user base should all be aware of from an access and legislation standpoint.
Are there any sustainability or other issues that guide your decisions around eMTBs?
Joe McEwan, Founder at Starling Cycles:
Absolutely. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the shift to a purely electric energy future and have been an EV owner for the past couple of years. There is a lot of discussion on battery longevity, repurposing and recycling and how this will be executed on a massive scale to ensure that the environmental benefits of EVs are not partially offset by materials extraction and waste.For Knolly the question is similar to our recent internal decision to focus on metal bikes and stay away from carbon frames for the foreseeable future. When we talk about “The Three Rs” we tend to forget that they are in order. There is a huge focus on Recycling, but Recycling should be the last option: the first two are Reduce and Reuse. If we focus on Reduce as our key metric, this means that we create high-quality products that last and that don’t have planned obsolescence as part of their design. This same philosophy would be key in any eMTBs that we bring to market.
Why haven’t you released an eMTB yet?
As a small company, we cannot get economic prices (or even supply) from the eMTB system manufacturers. They are only interested in the big companies. Also, we are very busy building bikes here in the UK, and only have limited spare time for development…
Would you ever consider releasing an eMTB in the future?
A closer look at the unique Freeflow technologies motor being used on the current Starling eMTB prototype.
We have been working with a start-up UK motor manufacturer called Freeflow Technologies . They have a great new system nearing commercial readiness: it is small, neat and uses a clever gearing system to reduce motor speeds down to those suitable for pedal assist. We have a first prototype which has been ridden for a good while now. We are working on a second version to refine the design a little. But building a full-sus eMTB out of steel presents a few technical issues, but we’re getting there. The proto rides great!!
What considerations are there in deciding to release an eMTB?
I think all brands need an eMTB in their range, unless you are happy to stay small and niche. I think Starling Cycles could exist quite happily in the niche market, in fact I think our simple elegant designs and aesthetics will do well in a post eMTBs world. But I always like an engineering challenge, so have been keen to develop the bike…
Do you think releasing an eMTB is a different prospect from a standard bike? Or would it be like adding any different style of bike to your range?
There will be some people not happy with a brand like mine adding an eMTB to our range, but hopefully we can come up with something different to the status quo and add some interest.
Are there any sustainability or other issues that guide your decisions around eMTBs?
Calibre
Canfield
Esker Cycles
Ibis
NS Bikes
Pipedream
Pyga
RAAW Mountain Bikes
Ragley
Revel
Salsa
Transition
I think the issue of batteries is something that will come back to bite us in the future, there is talk of recycling, but I suspect for now it’s just greenwashing bullshit.Also, I think the current failure rate with eMTBs is just not acceptable. I’ve been told that one particular very big manufacture of eMTBs has a 100% failure rate on motors! Every single bike they sell has the motor fail and it just replaced under warranty. They do this very efficiently, so customers seem to accept it. But the waste is terrible. In a world where the environment is failing because of our actions, I really don’t think this is something we should allow. Freeflow technologies motor I am working with has many fewer moving parts, so should be much more reliable. And this is something they are working on very hard.I also think trail access and conflict issues need resolving. Over time processes and behaviours will develop. But we need to be aware of this and work towards it.Although not featured in the article the following companies are also missing an eMTB in their ranges: