The best tips for e-mountain biking in winter

Whether on snow-covered trails, levelled toboggan runs or on a fat bike in powder snow: the e-drive turns the cold season into a biking paradise. Thanks to motor support, adverse conditions lose their terror. But how do the sensitive electronics cope with sub-zero temperatures? And how do bikers protect themselves from the icy cold? You can find the best tips for e-mountain biking in winter here:

• Equipment and care/maintenance
• Fatbike test duel: Mondraker E-Panzer R against Haibike XDuro Fatsix 8.0
• E-MTB riding technique in winter

The ten best tips for e-mountain biking in winter:

• Plenty of bite! What applies to lights when riding at night applies to studded tyres all winter long: never ride without them! Crashes on ice or hard snow are avoidable and these tyres offer endless grip. What many people don't know: The rubber compound of normal tyres is not designed for extreme temperatures and grip suffers enormously. Winter classic: the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro.
• Step on the gas! The capacity of a cold battery collapses. If it is working hard, i.e. supplying power, it remains warm and efficient. So: Ride with a high assistance level. Saving power in Eco mode is counterproductive in sub-zero temperatures. Further tips regarding temperature:
• The battery likes it cosy too! If you stop off at a hut on the tour, be sure to take the battery with you into the warmth and do not leave it to cool down outdoors. Otherwise you will lose range!
• Late starter! Store and charge the battery at room temperature. Only insert it into the bike shortly before riding.
• Go intube! Internal batteries have an advantage because they heat up more quickly inside the frame and are somewhat better protected. Unfortunately, neoprene protectors for external batteries are not very effective.
• Make it flat! We've all been there: one hour on the road with clipless pedals in winter and your feet freeze from underneath. No wonder: the pedal cleats act as a cold bridge. Even models advertised as winter shoes are often unable to cope in sub-zero temperatures. Winter hiking boots and flat pedals are the way to go here: the well-insulated hiking boots have a much higher thermal performance and the platform pedal has a super grip, plus it doesn't ice up.

• Silk skin! If you have problems with cold fingers despite wearing gloves, an old mountaineering trick can help: Silk gloves (specialist mountain sports retailers) as a first layer work wonders.
• Go abroad! A look in the ski department makes sense when getting dressed. The exposed face in particular should be effectively protected: Ski goggles also help against watery eyes, a ski helmet is warmer than a bike model and a face mask keeps the other parts of the skin warm in extreme cold.
• Do not overdo it! In snow and ice, familiar routes become a completely new experience. Trails that are boring in summer can become a real challenge. So feel your way slowly! However, on some trails, the right amount of snow also acts as a trail iron. A layer of snow can level out holes and roots and provide extra flow. The right timing is crucial.
• Readjust! We have experienced this many times: crystal clear blue skies on a cold winter's day. But the bike's chassis seems frozen, the suspension becomes stiff and overdamped. At low temperatures, the composition of the oil in the fork and damper changes, so readjustment is necessary. Check your compression and rebound settings in the direction of "faster". It can happen that the adjustment range is not sufficient at extreme temperatures. In this case, more in-depth interventions are necessary, e.g. replacing the oil with a thinner one.