Competitive eBiking – The Country Is Opening Up, But Is It a Sport?

The ebike has become one of the most popular forms of transportation in America today, if not the world. The ability to have that extra push to get round tough parts of the trail is invaluable, and the speed boost can also give a shot of adrenaline. USA Today highlights the fact that many areas are now accepting of ebikes, even where they formerly weren’t welcome. The next step after this is the world of sport – and there are signs that ebikes may be at the frontier of an exciting new sporting arena.

Photo by Julian Hochgesang on Unsplash

Cross country flair

One of the biggest institutions organizing competitive ebiking is the UCI. Their 2022 e-mountain bike competition didn’t just demand endurance, but flair, too. Riders not only need to be able to go the distance in long-term, muscle-activating races, but be able to show off on their steeds while they’re at it. Equipment is key, and having the best electric bike for wheelies and stoppies is key in maintaining control over the bike when it goes over hills and ridges across the courses. The UCI events, held in Canada, China and Europe, have brought greater visibility to the ebike sport. 

Demo and ride

Smaller competitions have also cropped up across North America courtesy of Shimano. According to Wayin.com, 2022 has seen a number of events take place in support of advertising efforts. Yet, these events have had a big impact, lasting long in the memory and improving the profile of ebikes as a new tool for sport.

High speed racing

One major event that didn’t quite come to fruition was the EBK Grand Prix Series. As TechRadar highlights, this event promised to highlight fast-paced, highway speed bike racing, giving a real shot of adrenaline and something to get hyped up for. While the series didn’t come to fruition in 2022, interest remains very high – expect to see something more concrete arrive in 2022, and produce a lot of valuable experience for the future of ebiking in the sports sphere.

Keep your eyes peeled, then, for a raft of new ebike sporting events. The battery assisted vehicles are providing something exciting and new for sports enthusiasts to enjoy. With interest from the big players in the industry, there’ll undoubtedly be a thriving sports scene to witness over the coming months and years.