On The Pegs VOL . 4 ISSUE 11 - NOVEMBER 2020101
Joking aside , there is one proper scientific reason that makes electric bikes in slippery mud a better option than petrol . An electric motor doesn ’ t produce its power in perceivable pulses like a two or four-stroke engine does . Each pulse of power from a petrol engine is an opportunity for the tyre to lose traction . Once lost , that traction is hard to grab hold of again , and whichever way you fix it , anything done is killing your momentum . The smooth delivery of an electric bike allows the rear tyre to dig in and hold onto the traction . While I ’ m not saying that the EM can make climbs a petrol-powered bike could not , in my inexperienced hands , climbs were more controllable and I felt much more confident .
With the morning ’ s riding being mostly about feeling out the bike and learning how it rides ,, the afternoon was firmly about putting my new-found ‘ knowledge ’ into practice . We leave the Lancashire lowlands and head to the top of the beautiful Ribble Valley . Sadly , there ’ s no time to take in the views as we are thrown into the toughest challenge of the day so far .
Stream riding is part and parcel of any trial competition . And we weren ’ t escaping it as we were pointed up a steep , fully flowing , rock and moss filled stream . We ’ d already completed on stream climb just after lunch , but this one looked more authentically natural . And my ribs were scared .