Video: Using eMTBs to Continue Riding Through Winter Nights

Jan 25, 2020
by Canyon-UK  
Ride:ON | Through Winter

by Canyon-UK
Views: 1,718    Faves: 1    Comments: 0


Press Release: Canyon

Do you loath slogging your way through axle-deep mud and hitting trails at half the speed you would in summer? Or struggling your way back to the top of the hill as that technical climb gets even more tech as a result of endless slippery wet roots, polished by Old Man Winter himself? And then doing all of this with only a few hours of daylight to play with?

Yep, we got over it pretty quick too…

In the end, the fun of sliding your way through berms, challenging yourself to conquer that greasy off camber or roosting the soul out of a rut is a calling that can’t be ignored.

Enter stage left- the eMTB and our Ride:ON Through Winter events.

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We don’t always run our events after dark, in fact, this was a first. But a healthy dose of EMTB power is the perfect motivator to get us out to ride on in the depths of winter when the pull of a warm house, or cosy pub, is strongest.

With three locations across the country we provided riders with EMTB’s from our Spectral:ON and Neuron:ON range, all kitted out with the latest Exposure Flex lights hooked into the Shimano E8000 motor units. Ready to hit the trails, we set off to Surrey, Harrogate and Cannock Chase to explore what night time adventures they had to offer.

With both models from our eMTB range available for people to try, there was something to suit every taste.

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All about that jib life? Or getting in as many runs as possible on your favourite descents? The Spectral:ON offers a healthy dose of playful, agile handling. With 150mm of travel and a progressive rear suspension kinematic (not to mention the burly spec’), the Spectral:ON is ready for all your best moves. Business up front (29” front wheel) and party out back (27.5” rear wheel) with a big 2.8-inch tyre for added drive traction. The Mullet is here to stay.

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Focused towards covering the distance and exploring new zones- the Neuron:ON was developed for big days in the chair. 29” wheels and 130mm travel front and back makes it a bike that’s ready for whatever adventure you have planned. More linear suspension at the back alongside the 29er rear wheel smooths out the trails, flattens the climbs and makes the miles tick by easily.

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It can be pretty daunting riding after dark in winter. Depth perception seems to get downgraded and judging speed and line choice adds another layer of difficulty. The Flex is Exposure’s EMTB orientated light which reaches up to 3300 lumens and plumbs directly into the E8000 Motor- meaning it does away with accommodating a battery in a bulky casing and runs for as long as the bike will (we’ve been told it takes 1 or 2 % off the battery run time). Considering how tidy they look and the light output on-tap; we can live with that.

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In traditional British style, the heavens opened on our first two Ride:ON events in the Surrey Hills and Harrogate, but this didn’t stop us! The bikes lapped up the challenging conditions as did our riders. Geoff Waugh’s camera gear on the other hand, not so much….

The final stop in Cannock rewarded us with fast conditions and no water fell from the clouds. Not quite shorts weather- but getting there…

All things considered- after being fed up with the cold, dark evenings cutting rides short, this was the perfect excuse to hit the trails and get some riding time in during the less favourable winter months.

Who would be up for some more Ride:ON events through spring and into summer?

Check out our EMTB’s here: link


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Video: Sam Needham, Will Evans
Photos: Geoff Waugh, Roo Fowler

Posted In:
eMTB Riding Videos Canyon


Author Info:
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Member since Nov 21, 2019
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77 Comments
  • 73 13
 Why on earth do I need an E-motorbike to ride in the winter? I ride all year through with my mtb for over 20 years.
  • 6 6
 Yes, I agree. Also that eBike in the add would not work in the winters here (North East).......
  • 2 3
 @BornOnTwo: What'd I miss? I'm in Western MA and net to no snow on the trails. Get closer to CT and 100% dirt. When there is enough snow, I like to hit the snowmobile trails as they have built-in grooming and my 2.5 studded work just great, no need for Fat stuff.
  • 4 2
 @BornOnTwo: why not?
  • 3 0
 @Chuckolicious: you missed canada
  • 1 3
 @platnum: The tires would sink into the snow, we normally have 6" to 12" of snow during the winter months. The fat bikes are popular here.
  • 1 0
 @BornOnTwo: sounds like nothing less then a fat bike or dog sled will do. In my neck of the woods you need a pontoon bike right now.
  • 1 2
 @5afety3rd: No. I BLAME Canada. :-)
  • 1 0
 eeeeeeeb iitt
  • 28 7
 What I don’t understand about eMTB ads is that they show them for downhill riding. I mean, there is no advantage having an eMTB for the way down, no? I will be just as crap in jumping, line choosing, etc as with any other bike, except that it weighs almost double the weight. I won’t go faster down due to a motor. Taking a semi-pro rider to show that they can wip 25kg bikes is just odd, in my opinion.
  • 10 5
 I've always felt a bit weird when watching very skilled riders on e-mtb's... In a video part, I like to see good riding and while they are still good riders on the e-mtb, they aren't able to ride the same way as on a lighter bike with no motors. I'd rather see more uphill shenanigans than toned-down downhilling
  • 23 39
flag Lasse2000 (Jan 26, 2020 at 0:47) (Below Threshold)
 If you had ridden one, you would know that they ride more stable and faster. Better traction when cornering, more planted in the rough. You jump further because of the bigger mass as well. So no, they are not crap on the down and fun on the ups.
  • 33 7
 Ebikes helped my jumping a lot, due to them being more stable in the air. And if the weight is positioned nice and low, they actually go dh really well. The reason ebike videos probably show more DH is because it makes doing more DH more accessible. If you like doing DH trails then why would you not want to do 3 or 4 times as many as you normally would? The uphill bit is a neccessary evil for the fun DH bit. You don't buy an ebike because you love hills, you get one to do either longer rides or more DH.
  • 22 4
 Ebikes are better for DH and XC, it's why in 2020 everybody will use then for worldcups. Just kidding.. they show good riders ripping down because it sells more than showing overweight lazy lads buzzing a fireroad.
  • 13 3
 @Lasse2000: so they are more stable, faster, corner better, and handle tough trails better than a regular bike because of he added weight?

So tell me then why are manufacturers always trying to reduce the weight of their bikes all the time? Why does every review of a bike on this site consider it a negative if a bike weighs significantly more than the average?

So you are essentially telling me that the best DH riders and their teams could make their DH bikes better by simply adding a massive hunk of weight to their down tubes and they just haven’t figured that out yet?
  • 10 0
 @sino428: if that was true pretty sure minaar would have a 10 pound dumbbell strapped to his bb
  • 11 4
 @sino428: some of the things in Lasse's statement are true. They corner amazingly well, and why wouldn’t they with all that weight down low. They are also very stable but with all that stability they aren’t very nimble and require more body English to flip around. As far as jumping goes, I’m not sure that they really go any farther and they certainly have less pop. When things get steep and hairy a lot more braking force is needed so line choice is at a premium. When things start to go wrong it’s harder to correct, there certainly was a learning curve the first few rides. All things considered, they are fun as hell.
  • 6 2
 @sino428: manufacturers have long been trying to make bikes lighter so we can ride further, faster and peddle with greater ease. Just like wide range cassettes to make climbing easier and peddling more efficient.
And no he’s not telling you DH riders and their teams could go faster if their bikes were heavier. Their bikes aren’t peddle assist nor would they conform to the rules. On all counts completely ridiculous comparisons.

P.S. turn on your filter, it’s easy.
  • 4 3
 @platnum: I never said they weren’t fun. Simply responding to a ridiculous comment pretty much saying they do everything better than a regular bike, which they don’t. Based on your comment you you agree with my overall point.
  • 3 3
 @sino428: you’re right, you didn’t say they weren’t fun but you did make some pretty uneducated comparisons.
  • 3 3
 @platnum: I didn’t make any comparisons. All I said was that if the downhill capabilities were bikes were so enhanced and better than that of regular bikes (which is what the original post claimed), everyone would be adding extra weight to their bikes. As evidenced by the fact that no one is looking to add that extra weight to their bikes. It stands to reason that the overall benefits simply aren’t there.
  • 2 3
 @sino428: It's more about the bike's centre of gravity... So the motor nice and low helps this on an ebike. Whilst you may not see extra weight added to normal bikes because that would be kind of crazy, you do see great efforts to get as much weight down by the bb as possible. I'm sure outside of the suspension kinematics marketing stuff, that's why we're seeing shocks down low on newer bikes like the latest specialized enduro and santa cruz nomad.
  • 4 2
 @supermike306: sure I get all that. Moving the necessary mass to that part of the bike has benefits. But there is a limit to the benefits, and adding the weight of a battery and motor crosses that line where the benefits of the added mass would be far outweighed by the negative effects on how the bike handles, brakes, jumps, etc.
  • 3 5
 @sino428: try one out, then you know what you are talking about. I compared a regular trailbike like the YT Jeffsy (15 kg) vs. a e-Trailbike like my Ghost Slamr X (21 kg). Both with 140mm travel rear. And yes, it’s as mentioned: the e-trailbike is more stable, better traction, better cornering, more fun uphill. Jumping further, but more work to pop it off the ground - so what, thats the workout Smile

Manufacturers make bikes lighter? My Spesh Enduro Carbon of 2015 was 13.0 kilos complete with sturdy 26“ wheels. Today the Enduro weights 16 Kilos including pedals and SG tires. Everything gets heavier because of bigger wheels, wider tires, wider axles and longer frames.
  • 2 3
 @sino428: get your hands on two identical -say- Spesh Demos. One carbon with light wheels and all the super light stuff you can buy. And one alu with heavier parts. When the suspension is the same quality, yes i say that the heavier one is more stable with better traction and thatfore faster for us mortal weekend warriors. Its worse on acceleration (at start and out of corners). Thats why pros dont use them in races.
  • 3 4
 @platnum: “fun as hell”, umm , are we talking about the same thing? Sure, I’ll agree, your girlfriend is fun a hell; kinda freaky too ????

Ebikes are not fun, they serve a purpose, but there ain’t no way they’re as fun as riding that same bike sans motor and battery.

My wife has a Shuttle in case you’re wondering ....
  • 5 1
 There are two types of people; those who own eebs and those who wish they owned eebs... I unfortunately fall into the latter category Frown
  • 4 1
 @nurseben: don’t you have a bed pan to change?
  • 20 3
 One of the lamest commercials ever. Not sure if I am reading Pinkbike or WizzAir magazine. “Jibs”? Really?
  • 14 4
 HTFU and ride a single speed in winter not a F**king Ebike.
  • 18 5
 How about giving the trails a rest when they are sloppy wet instead of tearing them up with a motorized cycle?
  • 3 2
 Relax, ebike owners are even bigger pansies when the going gets tough, they are not our shredding the trails when it’s cold and wet.
  • 14 5
 This winter, when looking out of the window and seeing it is raining again and the trails are probably muddy, not once have I thought, 'damn, an e-bike would make everything loads better'. A decent waterproof jacket and seal skinz socks maybe. Bike manufacturers really are stooping to desperate tactics to sell their motorised bikes (motorbikes) now. Bring on the downvotes!
  • 4 3
 Lol you're right; an ebike is not going to help you much while sitting inside looking out the window.
  • 13 7
 Hows about people get fitter,just another thing to make everything easier and contribute to the devolution of man,while encouraging trails to be over ridden ,keep it!
  • 7 4
 *Unpopular opinion incoming* I actually think having an ebike for winter is a great idea. On those wet, gross days when I don't want to sit on a logging road for 2 hours slowly getting colder and wetter, being able to get the grim bit over and done with and still get a descent in seems like a great idea.
  • 3 3
 Hardly unpopular, couldn’t agree more
  • 3 0
 I'm not really sure how I feel about eMTBs, but in the Northeast riding through sloppy wet, "axle deep" mud is pretty inconsiderate, and generally looked down upon. The trails aren't meant to be ridden on any bike when they are like that.
  • 26 20
 Fuck e-bikes
  • 13 15
 Awesome! Oh to be a teenager again...
  • 12 5
 @Chuckolicious: I'm 50
  • 16 14
 @Dlakusta: but act like you're 12
  • 1 3
 Ya
  • 2 0
 Whatever floats yer boat
  • 2 3
 @Dlakusta: Oofa. Maybe something you want to keep on the DL?
  • 2 0
 The spec swat box intended use. Ride uphill with empty swat box. Fill with rocks and dirt at the top to get your bike to have the planted feel. Ride downhill. Empty swat box for a light bike on the uphill again. Genius
  • 4 0
 That's winter riding? Looks like the fall in the northeast.
  • 7 4
 Any interest I might have had in Canyon bikes just evaporated after that assault on my eyes....
  • 2 0
 Ride your e bike in winter and spend the next few weeks getting it repaired as the motor got a splash of water near it .
  • 2 1
 Ride mine in the wet all the time. Shimano motor is water tight. I don’t think I would want to submerge it but riding in wet conditions is no big deal.
  • 2 0
 “All about that jib life” but can no longer bunnyhop a downed tree across the trail. Sigh
  • 3 0
 Like a commercial looks
  • 2 0
 Now there's winter specific eMTBs?!
  • 2 1
 I have bad knees and eMTB is the only way for me for now.You don't like eMTB, noone makes you ride it, be humble
  • 1 1
 So it never rains in the summer over there in Germany/Canyon-land? There is only mud and wet roots in winter?
  • 2 1
 ebike fitness hacks for the cant be bothered brigade.
  • 1 0
 looks like a cmmcl meta
  • 2 1
 Haters gonna Hate
  • 3 4
 Saw a guy in an electric car yesterday with his electric bike on the back. Great for the environment. He was fat.
  • 4 0
 And likely working that fat off, seeing as how you get just as much of a workout by simply adding some miles. Win all around!
  • 2 3
 @Chuckolicious: i doubt it. im yet to see an ebiker actually turn down the motor and break into a sweat
  • 3 1
 @sailor74: Well, happy to meet you then! The times I've rented them on vacation I got just as much of a workout as I do on my regular rig, just went twice as far. And how about all them pros that use them for training now? If somehow you missed that, just do a search here, you'll find them.
  • 1 3
 @Chuckolicious: you're living in a dream. You're all convincing yourselves that the $10k you dropped on a bush pig with a motor is just like having an actual MTB. 90% of you ride the same ks with motor on full and the 10% that ride twice as far don't need an e-bike.
  • 2 0
 @danlovesbikes: Dude, what the heck is wrong with you? First off, my fine young friend, you missed the part about me RENTING them. Come on, my boy, try to keep up. Second, I’ve been riding since ‘89 so I’m pretty good at gauging how much effort I put into a ride. Third, at least with Specialized, there’s actually a cool third party app the tracks how much user inputted wattage there was for a ride. Come on, stop being all hysterical and threatened by these things. You’re kind of the modern version of the ridiculous skiers who I battled in the mid 80’s with my Burton Cruiser 165. Yea man, you’re the skier in this equation. Watch this video to see how you’re coming off. Hopefully you’ll be scared straight? :-D youtu.be/XPZDEWBzneY
  • 1 2
 @Chuckolicious: Firstly, you are the 10% that don't need an e-bike. You just want one.
Also, I'm a snowboarder. And I view skiing and boarding as both legit due to them being human powered.
Progress is not my issue, I love the progression of MTB tech. Apart from strapping a motor to a bicycle, thereby turning it into a MOTORCYCLE. Of course they're fun and fast, motorbikes are. Also most e-bikers I meet are lazy middle aged men with a good income. Where's the progress there? I know a guy that put on at least 10kg after he bought an e-bike. How is that better? He tells me he can go for bigger rides and still feel fresher?
Unless you live in the mountains and want to avoid the costs of getting up the mountain, and if you don't have illness/injury/infirm reasons then you should ride a normal bike. They are better for the environment. And nobody with an e-bike is commuting to work and not driving their car.
  • 2 0
 @danlovesbikes: Really sorry you don’t see the allegory in that video. Same resistance was heaped on us mountain bikers back then too, of that you really have no idea. All of us were a mechanized menace to the gatekeepers: hikers, horses, etc. Shame that we’ve become them. Interesting bit about this go around is it’s all being forever memorialized on the internet. Might be a bit embarrassing to look back in 10 years.
  • 1 1
 Looks like a commencal?
  • 13 0
 Looks like a commercial.
  • 2 1
 by Canyon UK - so yes, it‘s advetorial content as it is called: same layout as editorial content, but pure commercial. You shall not recognize it if possible, that‘s the idea behind it.
  • 14 15
 Waaah, eBikes winge, waaahh

Did I miss anything?
  • 2 1
 Yes, the comments synopsis for you is now ebikes are better at downhilling and jumping. It's in the comments section so its true. Basis laws of physics now do not apply to fat 50 year olds whipping the shit out of the jumps line.
  • 4 1
 @yeti-monster: @yeti-monster: Ha! I'm a supporter of Class 1 E-Bikes but also find the claims about them performing better on jumps and stuff to be absurd. However, I'm 52, nice and svelt, rip as hard as I ever have (since '89), and when I go on trips to big country I'm happy to rent a top line E-Bike so I can enjoy myself in the limited time I have. Will absolutely own one once they break the sub-40lb barrier. Levo is almost there. So maybe check the generalizations at the door. Can easily degrade into how bad boomers are, and how truly awful millennials are. Us X-ers like to jeer from the bleachers, thank you very much. ;-)
  • 3 0
 @yeti-monster: check out my comments earlier, already been over this.
By the way, like Chuck I’m 50 and still go pretty hard, hardly fat and no I’m not a dentist.
  • 2 2
 @platnum: like I said, it's in the comments section so it's TRUE! Smile
I'm sure they give the impression of stability with low CoG, but basic newtonian laws apply. Acceleration occurs in all directions when external unbalanced force acts upon it. A heavier mass requires more braking force, greater cornering force thus loading tyres more. Cornering is all about change in direction thus acceleration. Check newton's second law.
One bonus they add is for ploughing through the rough is conservation of momentum, both angular and linear. But the European car industry has always had the saying: "any old American can go fast in a straight line."

My work here is done
  • 2 2
 @yeti-monster: as I said earlier, read my earlier post you condescending wanker.
Hurry up now, back to work.
  • 1 1
 You did miss something. The education to allow you to write an argument.
  • 1 1
 Stupid e-bikes.....







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