Public Lands Sale Withdrawn, New Bosch Mid-Drive, and New Blix Bikes Mgmt | TWR Ep 38

As we reported in last week’s e-bike news, the Trump Administration’s proposed Budget Bill originally included legislation supporting the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of BLM and Forest Service lands in 11 states. Areas covered in the bill included land used for biking, camping, hunting, OHV operation, and other recreational activities.

Following the rejection of the original proposal, Utah Representative Mike Lee introduced new legislation that reduced the quantity of public land for sale to 1.2 million acres. The revised proposal placed a focus on areas within 5 miles of cities.

Like its predecessor, this bill was not well-received; representatives from Montana and Idaho spoke out against it until Senator Lee withdrew his proposal.

Jenn Dice, the CEO of People for Bikes, made a statement about the new development. Dice said, “Public lands are essential to our mission of transforming the U.S. into the best place in the world to ride a bike. From mountain bike trails to gravel routes, these lands provide unmatched opportunities for millions of Americans to experience the joy of riding a bike. We are grateful for the bipartisan leaders in Congress who successfully defended our shared outdoor spaces, and we thank our members, the bike industry, and the broader outdoor community for standing up to protect access to these vital places.”

Our Take: As advocates for the bike industry and outdoor recreation in general, we are extremely pleased to know that these public lands are safe once again.

We received many comments from our readers and viewers who were opposed to the legislation and who contacted their representatives to voice their concerns. To those who contributed, we thank you for speaking up!

The Performance Line PX, Bosch’s latest mid-drive motor, promises up to 400% assist with 700W of peak power and 90 Nm of torque. According to the company’s press release, the motor weighs less than 6.5 pounds, features an “optimized gearbox concept” for quiet operation, and will offer pedal-assisted speeds of up to 20 mph for the US market.

Using a combination of sensors, the motor is touted to adapt its power output to changes in terrain and wind through an Auto Mode. It also features Hill Start Assist to deliver a burst of power when starting from a stop on an incline.

Like many of the brand’s other mid-drives, the power output of the Performance Line PX can be tuned through the Bosch Flow app. Users with a Flow+ subscription will have access to a new 3D map within the app, providing a topographical representation of the surrounding area, as well as a new annual overview of all recorded rides and data.

Additionally, the motor is compatible with Bosch eBike ABS systems using brakes from Magura, Shimano, and Tektro’s TRP line. It can also be paired with Bosch’s eShift system, which offers automatic gear changes.

Our Take: We’ve thoroughly enjoyed our previous experiences with Bosch mid-drives and the brand’s Flow app. With the ability to tune motor output and dictate a desired battery percentage upon reaching a planned destination, the app is extremely functional and robust.

While this motor isn’t as powerful as many of the recent “century club” models boasting 100+ Nm of torque (other motors from Bosch included), the Performance Line PX seems promising and well-suited for off-road adventuring. We look forward to getting hands-on experience with this new mid-drive!

In a statement released through the brand’s Facebook page, Blix announced that its operations team has been “upgraded,” its e-bikes have received a “complete overhaul,” and its customer support team has promised to resolve any issues or complaints that went unaddressed by the previous team.

The company shouldered the blame for past disappointment, stating, “We know many of you have experienced frustration with unresolved issues and unanswered complaints left behind by the previous team. That’s not acceptable to us. Starting today, we invite every past and present owner to reach out directly with any lingering concerns. Our brand-new customer support team is held to the highest service standards, and we promise to see every case through to a satisfactory resolution.

If you have any open or past issues, please email us at [email protected]. We’re committed to responding as quickly as possible and ensuring every problem is fully addressed.”

Our Take: In past weeks, many of the brand’s e-bikes were out of stock, leading us to speculate that changes were in the works, for better or worse. Our team has been impressed by many of Blix’s bikes (the Vika X, for example, has been one of our favorite folding e-bikes), so we’re hopeful that the new team can build upon the brand’s good foundation.

We encourage anyone who has contacted the new team about resolving a past complaint to share their experience in the comments section below!