E-Bikes for Beginners

ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKES FOR BEGINNERS

They are a lightning rod of controversy. They can be seen every where whizzing by on streets and trails. There are ones with fat tires, skinny tires and tires made for the mountains. One thing is sure, like it or not, electric bikes are here to stay. People who have them sing their praises.

Initially, I questioned whether electric mountain bikes even made sense. Would I get any exercise climbing a hill if I had a crutch to fall back on? Could I manage a 50-pound bike on the downhill? I decided to take a ride and see for myself.

I called Bike Truckee to make an appointment to ride an electric mountain bike. I met Dennis and Rachel Elste, who opened their business seven years ago. The shop buzzed with activity. People perused the different types of bikes, waiting to rent or buy an e-bike. The vibe was upbeat and fun and there was excitement in the air. Inside, the shop was lined with commuter bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes for all types of riders. Their lovely daughter Sienna was on duty at the shop and pointed out her father with a friendly smile. Truckee Bike is a family affair. The Elste’s took time out of their busy day to take me for a trail ride.

Dennis rolled out a small-sized Bulls Aminga mountain bike. The bike has a Bosch motor and a 500-watt battery. He explained the basic operation of the pedal-assist e-bike and like most mountain bikes these days, it was equipped with full suspension and seat dropper. On the left handlebar of this bike was a gauge with a plus and minus button that offered four modes of operation: eco that uses human-pedal power, the tour mode that provides a little extra help, the mountain-bike mode that assists in the uphill and the turbo mode that Dennis joked, “is best used if you’re late getting home.”

I hopped onto the bike and took a spin around the parking lot to familiarize myself with its features before hitting the trail, testing the different modes to get a feel for them. Once everyone was settled, Rachel and Dennis mounted their bikes and led the way to Happy Face trail.

Rachel and Dennis took turns talking about their business and the virtues of e-bikes. As we approached the first climb uphill, Dennis said if I needed to get off, there was a push assist mode on the bike. I switched the bike into mountainbike mode and to my delight, I pedaled up the steep hill — and I was a bit out of breath.

Happy Face evened out and we rolled over the hills and through the woods. The rain from the previous day made for great riding on the single track. I played with the different modes and used my pedal power for a good portion of the ride. We came on a few technical spots and I put the bike back into the mountain-bike assist and rolled over the rocks with ease.

Rachel leads the helm of development for the business. The market is fierce and e-bikes are in high demand.

“We started with bike rentals, but Dennis saw that electric bikes were our future,” Rachel said as we rode along the single track. “The bikes are great for the environment.”

She no longer drives her three teenagers to school because they each ride their e-bike to school.

“Riding e-bikes together definitely helped us as a couple. We are not matched as riders, but with an e-bike, I can keep up with him. E-bikes allow you to go farther and ride hard for hours and that’s good,” she said, about the joy of riding together.

I hopped onto the bike and took a spin around the parking lot to familiarize myself with its features before hitting the trail, testing the different modes to get a feel for them.

Priya Hutner and Rachel Elste riding Happy Face. | Courtesy Dennis Elste

Dennis explained that when you ride an e-bike, you can learn better skills going uphill. You’re able to control the bike and you can learn better downhill techniques. You can go over obstacles that you might have never thought you could because you don’t have to worry about pedaling and maneuvering. With the aid of pedal-assisted power, you can focus on maneuvering. The other point he made is that your heart rate doesn’t spike while using a pedal-assisted bike like it does with a hard and steep uphill.

Dennis and Rachel Elste on the trail with their e-mountain bikes. | Priya Hutner

I asked Rachel how she managed to load her bike onto the rack of her car. She laughed and said that she often asked her kids or husband to help but in the event you need to load the bike alone, she said you could remove the battery and that would lighten the load by 8 to 10 pounds.

We arrived back at the shop and I was a goner. I fell in love with the electric mountain bike. Rachel showed me a few other models. I took their KHS model, which was a bit lighter and rode around the parking lot. It, too, was a great bike.

The price tag on an electric bike isn’t for the faint of heart. It is important to know that Tahoe’s trails require a specific

type of mountain bike. What works in the Bay Area hills doesn’t necessarily translate well in Tahoe. I asked Dennis if one could use a mountain bike to ride to town like a commuter bike, he said, of course, it’s just a bit slower than the commuter e-bikes. With Tahoe summer traffic being what it is, I thought an e-bike would be amazing to get to places without the car.

In the end, I asked Dennis, “What do you say to the naysayers?”

He said most people who balk have never tried an e-bike. His response was to try it and see. I did and now I know why those who have an e-bike love them. I am no longer a naysayer and am in the market for an electric mountain bike. | truckeebikerentals.com n

“Riding e-bikes together definitely helped us as a couple. We are not matched as riders, but with an e-bike, I can keep up with him. E-bikes allow you to go farther and ride hard for hours and that’s good.”

–Rachel Elste

Dennis Elste outside Bike Truckee Shop with a Bulls Aminga Electric mountain bike. | Priya Hutner

As I rode, I realized I was, in fact, sweating and getting a workout. But one thing I noticed was that I felt more confident on the bike. I was able to roll over rocks and roots without worrying about pushing up the hill. My mind was able to concentrate on the terrain.

We finally reached the top of the trail with filtered views of Martis Valley below. It was time to try the bike on the downhill. Dennis reminded me that the bike was heavier than a regular mountain bike — 50 pounds — and to be aware that it would take a bit more time to stop. Happy Face is the perfect name for the trail. We cruised down the hill. I definitely had a smile on my face. TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY | TAKE THE PLEDGE

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