E-MTBs: More Than Just A Motor
E-MTBs: More Than Just A Motor
E-Bikes are here, and they’re very much here to stay – motor and battery tech is only getting better, with more big bike brands taking the format seriously and making some undeniably cool bikes! If you’re an E-Bike sceptic or simply looking for a new way to mix up your riding, we’ve picked our top reasons why an E-MTB should be in your fleet.
Time Efficient
We’ve all been there, wishing we had more time to do more laps after a solid session of shredding at the trail centre. Whilst an E-Bike can’t bend the rules of time, they can help you squeeze more laps into the same amount of time – so for the rider operating on a tight schedule but not wanting to limit their amount of fun, an E-MTB is the ticket.
If your local trails are within riding distance on the tarmac, employing the use of a battery and motor to give you that helping hand on the way out means that you’ll have more to give on the trails in the pursuit of fun! It’s a win-win situation.
Great For Building Fitness
You would be forgiven for thinking E-Bikes are just a free ride, but that couldn’t be further from the truth and building fitness is just as plausible on an E-MTB as it is on a standard MTB. With the option to increase or decrease the level of assistance, you can make your rides as easy or as difficult as you like. At the end of the day, getting out on your bike is always more beneficial than sitting on the sofa!
Whilst they’re great for taking the sting out of spikey inclines, pedal-assist motors still mean you’ve got to fulfil your side of the bargain by turning the pedals, but rather than putting out unnecessary torque you can freely spin up the climbs. This makes the overall experience much more enjoyable, letting you get the most out of your ride and giving your knees a well-earned rest.
More Fun
That’s right, we said it: E-Bikes are more fun! Building fitness is all well and good, but life isn’t all about the numbers on a strict workout plan – trail bikes are for having fun on, so why not lean in on it!
Electric bikes take you further and faster, regardless of your fitness level, opening up a whole host of opportunities and a day out on the bike that a normal MTB can’t provide. Try out new routes without worrying about getting off and pushing your way back up mystery descents – you’ll soon access a whole network of trails that would’ve been left undiscovered if it weren’t for the E-MTB!
Focus On Technique
Battling your way up back to back double-digit inclines can be fun in its own right, but it’s hard to deny the thrill of effortlessly carving your way down technical descents. Whether you like to admit it or not, sometimes the hills can take the wind out of your sails, leaving you in a less than optimal condition to go full boar back down.
The beauty of E-MTBs is that you no longer have to flog yourself to crest the climbs, giving you the chance to focus your efforts on honing technical skills on the trail features. Practice makes perfect, and getting the chance to fit more laps in lets you do just that!
E-Bike Racing Is Seriously Cool
E-Bikes don’t mean missing out on a dose of that competitive atmosphere, and if you’re familiar with E-MTB racing you’ll know exactly what we mean. Closely related to traditional enduro racing, E-Bike enduros follow a very similar format featuring various timed downhill stages, but with a big helping of timed uphills that’ll test the limits of both you and your bike!
This may sound simple in theory, but the nature of the event presents various new challenges, one of which is battery management. Drain the battery on the first few climbs, and you’ll be left crawling (or walking!) up the later inclines, with the fine art of conserving battery being the key to success – easier said than done! If you’re of the opinion that E-MTBs are cheating, give one of these a go and see if you feel the same after.
