Decided to treat myself to another bike.
Got my local trails covered with a gravel bike and aging 100mm XC bike, which are perfect for the summer months. Every year I intend to ride through the winter, but round here the trails turn to deep mud and I usually end up stopping, piling on the pounds and losing my fitness I’ve built over the summer.
I’m wondering if I get an e-bike will it keep me motivated during the winter and with some decent tyres be able to plough through the muddy trails that aren’t really rideable on an analog bike?
I’d only intend to use it as a winter mud plugger to keep my fitness up so doesn’t need to be high end, there seem to be plenty of lightly used bikes for £3k or less that would fit the bill.
Anyone else done the same? Concerned I might end up getting lazy and using the e-bike in the summer too🤣. Other option is to get another analog bike, something with a bit more travel would be nice for more challenging terrain. The new canyon neuron looks like good value.
I have converted a Carrera subway with a tongsheng kit. The mud that can plough through and the hills it can traverse are amazing.
I also have a non motor £99 Jack Flash frame built up with plus wheels. That is equally amazing.
E bikes are fun .
I think the problem is a second hand Ebike usually wont come with a transferable warranty . I had problems with my vitus and actually had it refunded after the motor went twice in 235 miles. Had I not had it refunded I was going to sell it after it was fully paid up . The thought of selling it with a new motor then a few weeks later the motor going and having to deal with the hassle from the buyer seemed a nightmare. Obviously seome motors seem more durable than others. For a wee bit more than 3k you are starting to see new bikes discounted thats the route I would go for to be honest . I got a fairly well specc'd Cube stereo in the sale for £3999
As above, 3k is a fair bit to gamble on when you can actually get a new bike with warranty for that.
Stick with bosch, you probably won’t need the warranty.
Also, bosch can be serviced/rebuilt when the bearings go.
As to your other question, yes, an ebike can be used as a tool for maintaining fitness, precisely for the reasons you outlined, it makes it easier to get out and do something when the weather is foul.
I have a cube stereo, it was initially bought as a means to help me get out and lose weight, but about a year after i got it i smashed my leg up in an industrial accident.
Th ebike was massively helpful because if I got tired I could just turn the motor to full power and retreat home.
It also made it possible for me to get out in the first place, as i had very little strength in my leg after being non weight bearing for 2 months.
I’ve had it 6 years, it still runs perfectly, I’ve replaced tyres, brake pads and a couple of chains in that time.
No issues with the electrical system.
If your local trails turn to mud in winter is it really a great idea to use an ebike to make them passable but probably trash them in the process? A modern smart turbo trainer and Zwift is a much less destructive way to keep fit over the winter.
If your local trails turn to mud in winter is it really a great idea to use an ebike to make them passable but probably trash them in the process? A modern smart turbo trainer and Zwift is a much less destructive way to keep fit over the winter.
There is a fair amount of horse riding in my area so they get chewed up anyway and they always seem to smooth out and self heal themselves when it dries out in the summer.
If your local trails turn to mud in winter is it really a great idea to use an ebike to make them passable but probably trash them in the process?
This.....despite your thoughts.....and your username!
Just not convinced introducing more power to the situation to plough through the crud is the answer to a sustainable trail network. Taken to an extreme - MX bikes - don't we love it when they raze our trails. Clearly ebikes are not on the same scale but even still, it just seems a step in the wrong direction.
Considered a fat bike instead? With the right tyre choice (4.8" Surly Bud and Lou run super low pressures) I am amazed what I can float over AND how little evidence I've been there a fat bike tyre leaves behind. You don't get all twitchy through the ruts either - just serenely float over the top. OK you'll not be particularly quick, but it's a lot of fun and great exercise. Fully rigid fatty - kind of perfect 2 fingers to winter blues. And also - mud - wet - winter - secondhand ebike......really......because you never hear stories of them malfunctioning!
3k ish will get you a gen 2 Spesh Levo with some transferable warranty left
The Brose motor can be eaily reapired by the likes of Bearing Man @Performance bearings
This Comp Carbon had a new motor recently
Alloy 2021 model with some warranty left
Another alloy compe with a new motor in 2021, seller says 1 year warranty left due to the extended warranty on the 19,20,21 model motors that had the belt issue
Another 2020 model with the 4 year extended warranty so good until Jan 24
Just stick some winter tyres on the gravel bike and ride that through winter, save that £3k for summer fun (or your winter heating bill).
Either than or build a cheap SS MTB. Winter is better riding when you know you're not trashing a pricey/complex bike.
Not sure how an eeeb would really improve winter riding, more to go wrong with mud and moisture, more cost to fix it...
E-mtbs are brilliant for winter riding, I love it and can't recommend them enough to keep you motivated during those dark cold/wet days. When your manual bike would be going nowhere up or down the trails, you can still ride an e-mtb, though expect your reactions to get better as you slip and slide round or expect to fall over lots!
No way your getting me on the road, especially when your more likely not to be seen by cars in crap conditions
As for reliabilty, they're pretty all much of a muchness, I've spent the last 4 winter on a emtb's and none have failed due being used all year round, though shimano have the worst long term reliabilty record (followed by binning it as unrepairable).
From what I've seen you simply get the best service from Spesh, though you'll have paid a bit more for it, but all e-mtb will more than likely end up having 'some' issues, so great back up from the manufacturer is a boon.
Spesch tend to have only reliable transfereable warranty ('19-21 Levo & some Kenovo's had a 4 year warranty) IIRC, you just need the original owners reciept.
If you do go down the 2nd hand route beware of Gen 2 Bosch motors , I had 4 in 3 years eventually Bosch advised not to ride it in the wet as the motor doesn't like it 🤔🙄😔
I would go the opposite way and get something as simple as possible: SS or 1x9 (drivetrain gets trashed but at least it's cheap) fat/plus bike, rigid, hardtail if you must.
With the money you save, by 2 or 3 sets of really good winter kit - dirtsuits maybe. It's not the bike that stops me getting out in the winter.
Also, a pressure washer if you don't have one, and a bunch of spare BBs. Pressure washing an ebike with suspension? Sounds like a terrible idea. Pressure washing a rigid bike with a cheap drivetrain? Sounds like a way to get through the winter.
There's absolutely loads of 2nd hand ebikes out there, so many I'm surprised they sell for the money people are asking. Orbea aluminium framed wild fs seem to be listed at around the 3k mark, yet you can buy new for 3.5k!
Personally I'd absolutely stay away from 2nd hand unless it's a significant saving - 50% or more of current bike prices.
As for trashing trails in winter, I've not noticed any difference between those riding an ebike vs regular bike on my local trails. I find Horses & walkers trash trails due to the footprint imprint left which gathers water. Bikes tend to be kinder to muddy trails in winter as they leave a path for water to run down, however volume of bikes does tend to trash the trails regardless of what type.
I use my ebike all year round, drop from 29 to 27.5 tyres in winter tho, as it gives so much more mudguard clearance ( had a few complete stoppages on 29 on the wrong sort of mud).
If you’re going to ride thru puddles and rivers of unknown deepness, have a need to keep washing the engine, love jet washing and really powerful hoses etc etc etc I’d advise against as water does appear to kill them.
I’d go Bosch or brose/levo and I’d speak to bearing man (performance bearings) and ask advice re any potential choice. Note above comment about some Levo motors having 4 year warranty.
Ultimately with full mudguards, maxxis shorty I can plough thru pretty much everything but I have carried my bike over known deep bits……..
have converted a Carrera subway with a tongsheng kit
£3k used E-bike for winter use?
Got my local trails covered with a gravel bike and aging 100mm XC bike, which are perfect for the summer months
Why not go for some cheaper middle ground? Convert one of your bikes using a tongsheng kit and then remove it when the summer comes back.
This way you can decide if ebikes are for you before you spend ££££s on a ebike that's going to break eventually if you use it in muddy wintery conditions.
Thanks for the comments.
Not sure about fat bikes or single speeders, don't think they'd motivate enough to get out.
Curious about the conversion kits. Maybe I could convert my pub bike, looks like they are £280 on amazon.
I suppose it could be a bit risky to get something secondhand out of warranty. A EMTB hardtail would be cheaper and a bit more robust - The Grand Canyon:ON has the Bosch motor and is under 3K, or maybe go full on budget with a £999 rockrider from decathlon.
Regarding damaging the trails, I went out about 3 weeks ago and some of my routes were super muddy, barely rideable. In the last few weeks they've really dried out and it seems to be where the bikes have been riding they have smoothed out the horse/footprints, so you could argue it's improving the trails. -;)
I have and ebike and to ensure motor longevity I avoid sopping wet conditions. It is usually water ingress that kills the motors. I do not wash with a hose, let alone a pressure washer.
I am at a stage in my life where I am more discerning about where and when I ride as unfortunately there are often other things I need to do. Ebikes are amazing but can be stressful too.
I take my gravel bike when faced with winter slop and claggy mud. It cuts through much more efficiently and clears mud from the tyres as soon as you speed up. So suspension to knacker in the mud either 🙂
@damascus.i did think about that but to even up the q factor I need to use a pedal extender on the left.
Tongshengs already have a habit of crank snapping ,a pedal extender thrown into the mix is just asking for trouble!