Off the top, let me reiterate my apologies for letting this Substack sit fallow for awhile. When I started writing here, I set the intention to produce an article a week. I figured I’d focus on gravel and MTB due to my personal interest. Candidly, I was doing this because I had plenty of free time without a full-time job, and it seemed like a good way to keep my “personal brand” out there (gag).
It became surprisingly hard to come up with new topics to write about every week. Some of that was seasonality. There just wasn’t very much happening in November and December, apart from cyclocross. Also, I felt like I was treading much of the same trail that I had seen when I worked at VeloNews, and, to a lesser extent, The Pro’s Closet. Maybe if I was able to get out to races and events to meet new people and explore different stories, it would have come together. Unfortunately, it just felt a bit stale.
However, I still wanted to produce media, especially written media. And, I wanted to do it on my own terms, to own the title.
So, I saw an opportunity in the e-MTB segment, and I set to work creating Direct Current, my new website devoted to electric-assist mountain bikes. I know some of you might not be interested in e-MTBs, but hopefully you’ll at least check it out or share it with friends who are.
Above all, I’m extremely curious about this emerging technology. This gives me far more energy to pursue e-MTB stories and reviews. I also believe that most bike media gets it wrong when it reviews e-bike technology, especially in the mountain bike segment. Often, I see 2,000-word reviews that have merely a paragraph about the bike’s motor. With Direct Current, I intend to explain how this technology works, how it affects a bike’s performance, and what to think about if you’re considering an e-bike.
Finally, as I’ve started to ride e-MTBs, I’ve realized how they can open the door for more riders to participate in the sport and just how fun they can be.
Maybe a few of you are surprised that I — someone who’s always been game for 200-mile gravel slogs, mountain bike races on vintage bikes, and other adventures — would be stoked on e-MTBs. It may seem incongruous. However, there’s been one constant in the 25-odd years that I’ve raced and ridden bikes: I always like switching things up to keep it fresh. E-bikes are the latest way to reinvent my relationship with riding.
And don’t worry, I’m not giving up my conventional, non-motorized bikes.
So, that’s my long-winded excuse for slacking on my Substack. I don’t know what’s next for this platform. Perhaps I’ll use it for some personal journals about rides or races that are meaningful to me. No promises though, because I and fully committed to making Direct Current a successful website that provides real value to anyone who’s considered riding an e-MTB.
Thanks for reading,
SP
This makes me smile. You need to hook up w/ me and Barlow some time here in Moab for a Magical Mystery Tour of forbidden slickrock. May include a small bit of poaching, incredibly steep slickrock climbs, a bit of exposure and a whole shitload of fun. Also - who the hell is going to start an e-mtb race series near us. The BCBR/Megavolt idea needs to come south. Cheers,
sevy