E-bikes are a huge area of growth, with some trail centres in the UK already seeing around 50% of their traffic coming from e-bikes. Therefore, whether you like them or not, they are here to stay, and I wanted to find out more. I was lucky enough to be lent a brand new Marin Alpine Trail E2 for a month, so I could get some experience for myself first hand. I then sat down to chat all things e-bike with strength coach and bike tester, Ben Plenge, and elite DH racer and coach, Olly Morris. We talk about the positives that e-bikes bring and the challenges that come along with that. So tune in and have a listen. I'd love to know what you think about e-bikes too... Supporting Partners Marin Bikes Marin Bikes have just launched their brand new full-suspension e-bike, the Alpine Trail. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one for a month to research this episode, and I loved it. With a fairly long reach, 63-degree head angle and mullet set-up, this bike just loves to go downhill fast. The bonus is that it likes to go uphill just as quickly too! The Alpine Trail put a big smile on my face every time I rode it, and my riding progressed more than ever. This was because I was able to get so much more time riding on the challenging parts of the trails, and was less fatigued from the climbing. To find out more, just head to marinbikes.com. We Are One Composites This episode is supported by We Are One Composites. We Are One have been big supporters of what I’m doing from the start, and for that I’m really grateful. They also make amazing carbon fibre wheels which are hand made in Canada, and have recently added their DaPackage bar and stem to their line up. I’m running their Faction 29er rims on my bike, and they look and feel amazing. They’ve managed to find the sweet spot between stiffness and compliance, making a wheel that tracks, but doesn’t feel harsh to ride. They’ve got a whole line up of wheels, so there is always something to suit your needs. Head to weareonecomposites.com and check out what they have to offer. If you’re tempted, then as a Downtime listener, and because it's nearly Christmas, they are offering you 20% off during December. All you need to do is enter the code ‘santagives20‘ at the checkout. Podcast Stuff My webstore is BACK! It's brand new, with new designs, lower prices and faster shipping. All products are 100% organic, shipped without plastics, and made with a supply chain that's using renewable energy. So check it out now over at downtimepodcast.com/shop. The new t-shirts are super soft and a lovely fit, so treat yourself and help the podcast at the same time. We've now got sweatshirts and hoodies too! For everything video, including riding videos, bike checks and more, subscribe over at youtube.com/downtimemountainbikepodcast. Are you enjoying the podcast? If so, then don’t forget to subscribe. It’s free and means you’ll get every episode delivered to your device as soon as it’s available. You'll find all the links you need at downtimepodcast.com/subscribe. You can find us on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google and most of the podcast apps out there. While you're there, why not join our newsletter, to get our Weekend Warm-Up email every Friday, full of interesting bike-related stuff, competitions, product recommendations and more. If you want to share tips and advice with other podcast listeners on anything mountain bike related, you can join our Facebook group, head to www.facebook.com/groups/mtbperformance/ request permission to join the group and get involved! Our back catalogue of amazing episodes is available at downtimepodcast.com/episodes Photo - Marin Bikes