Let me start by being honest: I love my E-bike because it makes getting to the top of the mountain quicker and easier. I’m a professional downhill racer, not a “climber.”
That being said, I’ve also discovered while electric bikes make climbing easier, they definitely don’t do it for you. In fact, climbing singletrack on an E-bike can actually accentuate your climbing skills (or lack thereof). Timing each pedal stroke to get the most benefit out of the motor while keeping your body weight carefully balanced over the bike and choosing the best line is easier said than done.
I’ve stalled out, slipped out, tipped over, and plowed into plenty of square edges on climbs while learning how to ride an electric bike. But where I’d probably just hop off my analog bike and push up a techy section, something about the E-bike pushes me to try it again and again. And pretty soon I’m looking for the steepest hill just to see if I can climb it on my electric bike. Who would've thought?
Here are my top-tips for climbing on an E-bike:
