The number of our female cyclists is growing! What role do lightweight e-MTBs play in this and are they – intentionally or unintentionally – the perfect bikes for women? Between mountains of prejudices and curves of reality, I explore the world of lightweight e-MTBs from the unbiased perspective of a woman.
Panting, sweating and with a bright red face. You just can’t keep up. Frustrating, isn’t it? You’re riding with a group that’s been doing this for ages – mostly men with a lot of riding experience who put on a show on the climbs. You’re left behind mercilessly, with no chance of keeping up. It’s just not fun.
Okay, okay, I know I’m stepping on some toes here, but I think we need to address this issue because a lot of girls feel this way, even if few like to admit it.
You need a lot of strength to get uphill on an analog bike. This can be very discouraging for newcomers, especially if they are not the marathon runner type. We girls in particular are often at a disadvantage when it comes to strength. Unfortunately, the genetic differences between men and women cannot be denied. In addition, girls have less muscle mass on average and do not build it as easily as their male counterparts. Of course, skinny men can also benefit from the advantages of a lightweight e-mountain bike. However, the ratio of bike to body weight is much more relevant for us women, as we usually have to move the same amount of bike with less muscle power. Full-power e-mountain bikes compensate for differences in performance, but can be difficult for weaker riders to handle due to their high weight.
A fallen tree on the trail? A technical section that you’d rather push? You want to park your beloved bike in your attic apartment? With a heavy, powerful eMTB, things can really be tough.
The solution: a lightweight e-MTB! Due to their low weight, lightweight e-MTBs are much easier to handle in such situations. Be it on the trail or just when storing and transporting the bike. A little support on climbs can make a big difference, so you don’t have to completely exhaust yourself to keep up.
Light E-MTBs – The secret weapon for women – and men?
Why do I always talk more about us women than about men? After all, we know from our survey that 95.7% of Enduro readers are still men. However, the trend of women getting into mountain biking is unstoppable!
It takes a lot of training to effortlessly ride up the mountains. As a beginner with a group of friends who are already experienced, a little electric support can’t hurt. But that doesn’t automatically mean that light e-MTBs are only for mountain bike newbies. In principle, they can be anyone’s secret weapon. If pedaling uphill isn’t fun for you because you live for the descents or you just don’t like pedaling, a light e-MTB is your golden ticket.
Ultimately, anything that helps you have more fun on the bike is the right choice for you! If you’ve never ridden a lightweight eMTB before, I recommend you do so as soon as possible ;).
Bridge the gap – Light E-MTBs between analogue and full-fledged models
Closing the gap… Where exactly do light e-MTBs fit between analogue and full-fledged models?
The analogue structure of light e-MTBs
Light eMTBs look much slimmer than their fully motorized counterparts. Visually, light eMTBs are more similar to analog trail bikes. The placement of the SIMPLON Rapcon Pmax TQ and the analogue SIMPLON Rapcon Side by side, you’ll hardly notice any difference. However, current full-power e-bikes still can’t hide the fact that they have something to offer under the hood.
Light E-MTBs on the rise
How powerful is a light e-MTB? How much support do you need and when? Heavier riders have the disadvantage of generally using more battery, especially on climbs. On a light e-MTB, this means more effort! Lighter girls with light bikes, on the other hand, can race up the mountain with the 50 Nm support of the TQ-HPR50 motor and only need a little effort of their own. Technical climbs in particular are easier to master with a light e-MTB compared to an analogue model, as the gentle support of the motor helps you overcome obstacles in tricky situations. The feeling of being able to keep up increases your confidence on the bike – even if you rely on the support of a motor. But fit trail enthusiasts who only want minimal support can also benefit from the combination of comfort and performance that a light e-MTB offers. Either way, you don’t have to worry about which group you can and can’t ride with: bridge the gap!
Your battery compared to the bicycle battery
An important point to consider is the physical battery capacity compared to that of your bike. Because the range always depends on you. Especially with a light e-MTB, your weight and fitness play an important role. The more power you can generate on your own, the less support you need to maintain the same speed. So you can get a long range with a light e-MTB, provided you can ride with minimal support. Your own battery will definitely drain more slowly than with an analog model. Not to mention that many light e-MTBs have the option of a range extender that allows you to increase the battery capacity many times over. If you prefer very long and intense tours, full-power e-MTBs have the edge, as you will hardly develop range anxiety with such a large battery. However, for a day tour with several climbs and descents, a small battery with minimal support is sufficient in most cases. If you choose an analog bike without a motor, your own battery may run out faster than you realize – unless you have the legs for a day trip!
Everyday use of a Light-E-MTB
For us women, the handling of a bike is a crucial factor, especially when it comes to weight. A lightweight bike makes life easier in many ways. For example, if you have to carry the bike down the stairs to the basement or up to your apartment to charge or store it, a lightweight bike is a great help. It allows you to complete the little tasks in life with much less effort.
You will also notice the lower weight when you go to a bike park with a chairlift or gondola. Transporting the bike on the rear rack of your car will also be easier. If you are old school and still remove the front wheel to store the bike in the trunk, this will also be easier. Light e-MTBs are simply less maneuverable than full-size models.
How do light e-MTBs perform on descents?
The performance of a bike on the trails depends on many different factors. Weight plays a crucial role – and for good reason. In certain situations, a heavier bike offers clear advantages. When it comes to the ride feel and ground contact, a heavier bike can make a positive difference. Especially on fast, straight stretches or rough terrain, the additional weight increases the stability and smoothness of the bike, giving you more safety and control.
On trails with lots of sharp turns and tight sections, less weight makes for more agile handling and quicker response to all inputs from a light rider. Women can also benefit from less weight when it comes to moving the bike around the trail or jumping, as it’s easier to get airborne. A lightweight eMTB is a good compromise: heavier than an analog bike and thus better anchored to the trail, and lighter than a full-size eMTB and therefore agile enough to maneuver around tight corners.
A lightweight eMTB also proves to be superior to a full-size eMTB when unexpected obstacles appear on the trail. Imagine you are standing on a difficult section full of rocks and roots. Everything is still a bit wet and slippery from yesterday’s rain. Your head might be in the wrong place and you just don’t feel comfortable, even though you know you could probably make it. So you play it safe and fight through the difficult section. It can also happen that obstacles like trees block the trail and you have to lift your bike up and carry it to the other side. In such situations, a lightweight eMTB is easier to handle and requires less effort.
Light E-MTBs form the bridge between analogue and full-fledged E-MTBs. Their sleek design means they are almost indistinguishable from analogue bikes and offer the necessary support uphill without compromising your own performance. Short tours and easy handling in everyday life included. Light E-MTBs also prove their versatility downhill and combine stable handling with agility in tricky situations.
Our (female) conclusion on light e-MTBs
Building bridges! That’s what light e-MTBs are for. They are the link between analogue bikes and full-fledged e-MTBs and bring everyone together, whether you’re a man or a woman, light or heavy, powerful or petite. Every type of rider can benefit from a light e-MTB, but for us women it offers great advantages. So what are you waiting for, grab your light e-MTB and hit the trails, ladies!
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Words: Antonia Feder Photos: Mike Hunger
