Can an e-MTB make a molehill out of a mountain?

http://ift.tt/2jKql70

People are an odd lot. On the one hand, humanity searches out challenges that demand complete commitment (scaling remote and dangerous mountain peaks) while on the other we like to make things as easy as possible (apps that order takeaway food without the need to move or speak to a human). For every scaling of a lofty mountain peak, there are a few hundred pizzas being delivered from 200m away.

• 10 reasons you really should try an e-MTB
• e-MTB vs XC - which is faster?

It’s this dichotomy that brings me nicely onto the subject of e-bikes. They’re designed to do all the exploring yet massively reduce the amount of effort needed. With that in mind, what better way to find out how something hard can be made easier than by taking an electric mountain bike up a proper mountain?

My faithful companion on this 'expedition' was the Mondraker e-Crafty R+

The mountain in question was Snowdon in north Wales. It’s the third highest peak in the UK, but as a proud and entirely unbiased north Walian, it’s the best one in all of Britain. Scotland might brag higher peaks, but this is about quality not quantity and this mynydd (mountain, for those not versed in Welsh) is my favourite.

ADVERTISEMENT

There are many paths but only three routes open to cyclists — the Scottish, with their open access for all, can shut up now — and they offer a trio of varying challenges. The Llanberis Path is the one the tourists use, but it’s still a fairly arduous slog that goes from 109m to cresting the peak at 1,085m. The more adventurous can incorporate the Ranger Path, which ends on the other side of the mountain, and those wanting to complete a full loop back to Llanberis have to take in a brutally short and steep haul over open moorland before a fast and flowing descent down Telegraph Valley, which leads back to town.

Most interesting is the Rhyd Ddu bridleway, which takes in a rather exposed path from the third, knife-edged ridgeline from the peak before winding down an open trail that delivers you on the ‘wrong’ side of the mountain in to the village of Beddgelert.

The Mondraker e-Crafty R+ e-MTB

Run to the hills, run for your lives

By and large, the Mondraker was making mincemeat of what was a pretty unpleasant climb

Risk and reward

Fully fettled and completely faffed out, we set out up the mountain for our attempt at the peak

The slow (ascent and) descent into madness

The snow was packed thick between the rocks and the gradient was such that getting restarted once stalled was all but impossible

A whole lot of e-biking fun

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

via BikeRadar All the latest from BikeRadar.com http://ift.tt/2jzNq9Y