How To Mountain Your E-Bike Safely During Winter In The UK
What a mind-blowing feeling it is to ride an e-bike across the mountains! There are so many delights all around you.
Configuring the suspension can have a significant influence on the grip, that’s why consider reducing the spring stiffness to produce adequate grip. You might only need to open the low-speed compression damping on the majority of the modern forks and rear shocks. Since you’ll be riding at much slower speeds in the winter, the chance of bottoming out is ultimately minimal.
You may think that riding in the worst winter conditions is quite tricky or even impossible, but as this article will demonstrate below, e-bikes can be a perfect way to go for a fantastic ride in the winter. Once you get the hang of it, you could find yourself hopping on the e-bike and stepping ahead for tarmac in the snow. Your rides are really waiting on all of the breathtaking trails in the UK. Just take the e-Mtb and head out for the mountains! Let’s read through the article and explore the dazzling biking destination in the winter on your e-bike.
Gears to equipped properly for your mountain rides
With pedal assist and your ability to choose your level of activity, you should think about dressing in layers and wearing warmer clothing. Then, there should be less possibility that you will chill off too quickly when the wind hits you. If you’re particularly sensitive to the cold, consider a heated model along with high performance thermal underwear is paramount.
Use an outer softshell combo, then your body will be protected from wind and wet elements. It’s never a joke when your extremities feel freezing, so waterproof shoes with thermal, over-socks or socks, and warmer attire are quintessential. An insulated drinking bladder will prevent your beverage from freezing and keep the liquid at a pleasant, drinkable temperature.
Know the riding technique to control yourself on snow
Keep in mind that riding in winter often brings you on snow or ice which requires you to stimulate your regular e-bike behaviour. While much of this pushes common sense and doesn’t necessarily call for any riding skills.
Steering, braking, and pedaling should be done quite gently. Quick starts and stops, snappy motions, and more lavish force on your tire contact patch all sweeten the chance of skidding. It’s true particularly if you don’t ride an electric mountain bike, electric fat bike, or have studded tires. If your e-bike comes with a throttle control feature, use it slowly and carefully.
You may find that lowering tire pressure also improves traction on ice and snow. In general, lowering the proper tire pressure by up to 50% will give you approximately 50% more traction on soft surfaces. However, if you are riding on an extremely hard-packed route or leaping onto the tarmac, this may lead to your challenge. A spare set of studded tires for winter driving are clearly the best option if you predict often facing high amounts of ice. Be experienced in mountain biking, then you might find yourself venturing out in the snow just to have a ton of fun.
Wait! Check the weather to make sure you’re safe
Weather forecasts can provide you with a rough idea of what to expect, even though you can’t rely on it completely. In this regard, using any weather update tool can be handy to be sure about the surroundings.
If you go for a ride early and find the surface almost slippery on ice, it may seem trickier to handle the steering on an e-bike. Conversely, if you have the right tires and lower pressures, snow doesn’t matter, use your riding skill and go forward.
Further, severe winds and downpours come as risky, probably if you’re riding in a vulnerable segment of the road with a strong side wind. Although tailwinds seem playful, headwinds can be challenging to bypass.
But, the most important thing is to know the weather update and if you find it unsafe to ride in this particular type of weather, it’s good to play it safe and never risk it.
Be a father of your e-bike and do full maintenance
After each ride, you should attempt to clean your e-bike. Leaning in a jet wash is not necessary, though doing so could spoil the bearings and electronic components. Manufacturer maintenance guidance may be helpful in this case.
However, the best approach is to use a bucket of warm water with foam or a garden hose to remove any visual filth by hand or with a brush, followed by using a decent cleaning fluid to remove any build-up of grime. Before drying it with a soft cloth, give your bike one more clean rinse to ensure that all of the snow has been removed.
Let’s have a look at the motor, and give the chain, cassette, and chainrings a deep cleaning. Splash some multipurpose cleaning fluid onto a soft material and use that to wipe most of the dirt off. It’s a good idea to use a specific chain oil with a higher viscosity during the winter months because it should keep the oil on for longer which will contribute to the life of the motor. But try to use a soft microfiber cloth to clean the suspension. Most importantly, try your best to avoid coming into contact with the battery; for this, use a resin-free multi-functional fluid or a mild contact spray.
After you’ve taken care of the frame and chain, turn your focus to the bike’s moving parts. Depending on the condition of your bike and its headset seals, try to reapply grease to the bearing cups to assist safeguard the sealed bearings. Put your forks upside-down and let them sit there for a few minutes to re-grease them. On bikes with full suspension, it’s important to inspect the pivot point bearings and replace them as necessary. If they are extremely dirty, moving erratically, or showing any signs of wear, you should hire a professional to change them. Remember, if you ride too long with worn or damaged bearings, you run the risk of damaging other parts.
The storing area of your bike over the winter is just as crucial as the physical cleaning that it gets. Any moisture in the air will lead to oxidation, so choose a dry and desolate area.
At best, store the battery as close to room temperature as possible because anything below that will shorten its lifespan. As you go for a ride, start your ride with pedal assistance so that you can warm the battery up quickly and get it to a functioning temperature.
On the bottom line, it’s really an immense pleasure to go for a mountain ride on an e-bike. But to properly enjoy the ride, you must be well prepared and use your riding skills to handle the steering.
Keep in mind it’s not wise that your battery will function as you expect. If it seems to be getting cold, it’s good to put it into “turbo” mode and make shorter rides in case the temperature drops suddenly. Check the weather updates before getting out, and enjoy e-biking all day long. Just stay cool, stay warm, and have fun!
