anyone use a ebike for lakes riding?
as in some of the big passes and rougher trails.
i only had my full sus ebike when i was poorly, and the thoughts of having to push it up a rocky steep path would have ended me.
obviously for someone fit and healthy, this wouldnt be such a issue.
so anyone do the bike stuff on their ebike ?
My eBike (Shimano e8000) has a walk mode but it's pretty rubbish. Basically you need to put it in the highest gear for it to be useful. However you're normally in the lowest gear by the time you need to get off and walk.
I have also had some unpleasant times carrying/pushing the thing up really steep tracks.
Garburn is doable on the e-bike just fine if you ride up from Dubbs reservoir and down to Kentmere.
Caveat- by doable, I mean no hike a bike style carries, but there's plenty of paths in the lakes that fit that criteria I reckon. No one wants to carry an ebike over a pass.
Up coledale houses definitely doable, this opens up loads of options, most of which are in the TOTW at top of forum, one option could be off whiteless pike, rannerdale knotts, then back via rigg/sail beck.
Other doable options (happy to be wrong, I will admit to having a poor detail memory on climbs!)
Keppel cove up helvellyn
Skiddaw main path*
Walna scar
Yoke/Ill bell/nan bield
Langstrath then over FP to Eskdale hause
Over mungrusdale Common onto Blencathra
Over Wharnscale from honister
*this is steep and may get hr up too much Tony, my first ebike ride was riding the rhinns of kells, the first climb up coran of portmark is as steep as Skiddaw, my hr was up around 160.
You'd suggested on facebook getting a munro or 2 in this year, which was before your wee hr issue, let's get some ebike lakes rides done instead mate.
Proceed with caution
@smokey_jo I should flippin’ well hope so I can ride it on my Hightower without getting off my bike!!
Walna Scar definitely doable, OH made it up without having to push. Good thread as with OH having an eeeb now it’ll be good to know about others he can get up, he definitely won’t be lifting that up the four passes for example!
This is where a lightweight ebike like the rise or SL will be perfect. A bit of power to get you up the big climbs and to get you through big days. But still light enough that you can put it on your shoulders.
Rise is 20.26kg, you need to spend a shitload of cash to get it down to the weight that folk on here often quote, 17-18kg, and even at that, not really enjoyable carrying that over the 4 passes.
My rail is 22kg, **** carrying that for any length of time, and I really can't see that just under 2kg lighter would make a huge difference to be honest.
I agree in part, that's where of like to see ebikes going, but I'm afraid it's a long way off.
Selfish comment from me but what’s great about hiking for the best routes in the mountains is it keeps ebikes away.
Walna Scar definitely doable, OH made it up without having to push. Good thread as with OH having an eeeb now it’ll be good to know about others he can get up, he definitely won’t be lifting that up the four passes for example!
Bloody hell. Even this bit?
If you're not after mega gnarr then High Street ( dry or frozen) would be pleasant.
Likewise the Dodds Ridge of Helvelyn would be great until the last bit just below the summit ( which I think is the same as Keppel isn't it?)
Obviously Garburn would be easy, and I would have thought Gatesgarth ascent from the South would also work fine. Descending down to Haweswater would of course leave you with the carry from hell up Nan Beild, but if you cut across Harter Fell from Gatesgarth then that should work?
Caveat that this is based on doing it on a neeb, so of course any minor carry section will have been glossed over in my memory.
Some of the bigger passes which have loads of carrying then yeah even an extra 5kg is weight you don't want to carry. But something 20kg Vs a full fat ebikes opens up more routes with short hikeabike sections that would be pure hell on a normal ebike.
Still if you stay away from the big passes it's not like there's no other rides in the lakes for a full ebike.
Agreed.
I think Tons intention is to ask what big rides with sufficient elevation that can be pedalled the whole way though, which as Golfchick rightly says is a really good idea for a thread.
@thegeneralist, I'm assuming she meant from the other side, and down that way.
I think Tons intention is to ask what big rides with sufficient elevation that can be pedalled the whole way though, which as Golfchick rightly says is a really good idea for a thread.
correct.
i wouldnt want to try the four passes or rossett type stuff obviously.
something which can be ridden entirely.
i have done all the extreme stuff on a lightweight hardtail over the years. no way would i want to try and drag a 40lb bike over stuff whilst in AF.
the stairs up to bed are tough enough for me at present......... ;o)
I’m assuming she meant from the other side, and down that way.
Yep, guess so. Silly assumption based on the fact that my last few ascents have all been up that side 😔
I reckon the ascent up to the top of Stevenson's ground from the East would also be greatvon an eeb, so makes a good circular loop.
the east side would presumably have been doable 10 years ago I guess....?
I ride annually with a group in the lakes of which about 50% are on eebs. It is surprising how much they can ride up that I can't on a normal bike.
They do do a bit of carrying/pushing. Carrying looks hard work but they manage it.
Even if you did have to carry some short sections maybe you could lean on other riders in the group to assist?
Although I have an eeb I tend not to take it to the lakes due to being easier to carry a normal bike. Also we usually have all day for a ride so I am in no rush.
Quite hard to come up with high options that require no carrying at all. Doing a little bit of carrying opens more options
I haven't ridden all these. Just ideas:
As above if you get to Coledale hause, loads of options from there. Going up from the Coledale mines is mostly rideable but does include some carrying.it may be possible to ride up from the whinlatter side over hopegill head? Dunno. Not too many contours tho.
Helvellyn up Dodds or Glenridding zigzags
Warnscale via honister mines
Could you get to the top of dale head from honister? I reckon you might be able to. Down over Robinson from there. Then you can do sail beck/rigg beck over to braithwaite. (I have done this on an eeb - tremendous. Climb only takes 25 mins 😀. It's a massive slog on a normal bike)
Half way up dale head then maiden moor /cat bells ridgeline. Obvs avoiding cat bells if anywhere approaching busy!
Up stoneycroft gill would get you to the tip of sail/rigg Becks. Don't go over crag hill I dragged an ebike over that a couple of years back it is a nightmare!
the east side would presumably have been doable 10 years ago I guess….?
I've only rode it once, in 2012, I reckon it was gravelled over either later that year, or 2013, and aye, you probably coyld have cleaned it then.
We rode up to stephensons ground, then along and descended to a pub in seathwaite before coming up and over. Was a nice ride.
@thegeneralist aye I meant from the other side, he defo got off for that section! But cleared the odd bit my legs couldn't chug me up from that direction!
Up towards Hellveyln from Glenridding, then hang a right to the bealach and down Sticks Pass back to Glenridding.
Perfect for an ebike
