Heeh ... Warm shower!" Excuse me? Us? After five days on the Transalp, we've just arrived at Lake Garda. Instead of running into the water on the beach like everyone else or riding our bikes straight in (it's not possible because of the electric drive), we climbed onto the bollards at the Torbole jetty and jumped into the cold water. Now we're pedalling along the harbour promenade dripping wet and have to take abuse?
Admittedly: Five days ago, at the start in Garmisch, we were still sceptical ourselves. Would a Transalp with e-mountainbikes be fun - or a bland tour on gentle forest tracks? Would the motors be able to withstand long climbs without overheating? How will the heavy bikes ride on trails? And whether the batteries will last a whole day's stage? We wanted to try it out and put together a colourful group. My companions: Michaela and Holger, bike guides from bike tour operator ULPtours - around 30 and super fit. Franzi, the shop's tour operator. Uli, the boss - in his mid-40s, a bon vivant. Constanze, his daughter, about to leave school - chilled, but with freeride talent. And Markus, former test manager at BIKE, now a sports photographer.
Realisation 1
Let's not kid ourselves: E-bikes polarise. Time and time again. Whether it's tourists at the Lago, curious normal bikers on the Lichtenberg Trail above Glurns - "Is that really possible with these things?" - and their wives - "Where are you? ... Hey, you're riding an e-bike!" - or scepticism in their own ranks. "Well, it wouldn't be for me," explains Michaela on the very first day. Leading e-bike tours? The others are welcome to. Constanze's reserved silence leaves room for interpretation. But her quiet grin says: not so bad. And Uli, a family man whose main job is as an engineer in an industrial group, says openly: "I clearly see the target group of leisure cyclists here. Fewer metres in altitude, more breaks at the hut, cake and culture." Is the wish the father of the thought? Be that as it may.
Realisation 2
"Honestly? I think it's cool!" Markus is the first to venture out of hiding. While the others are still wrestling with their own prejudices, he's grinning from ear to ear, his eyes are sparkling and he's simply having fun - despite the heavy photo rucksack on his back. On the ascent to Plamort above the Reschen Pass, he comments with amusement after a few hundred metres in altitude: "Hey, I'm sweating already - I didn't really want that." Franzi is particularly happy about the extra boost from the motor on steep ramps. Because more speed usually means more fun - even if it's only a few kilometres per hour: Uphill, they sometimes decide whether you master a steep section with confidence or get stuck on some boulder sticking out of the ground due to a lack of power and speed. And even Michaela can't hide her good mood on the second morning: "Easy, Brauner," she says with a grin, soothing her e-bike, which, after a slight, unconscious push on the pedal while waiting in the car park in front of the hotel, immediately activates the motor and wants to set off.
Realisation 3
One thing quickly becomes clear: e-bikes not only shift performance limits, but also perspectives. On a transalpine e-bike tour, it is not the rider who always reaches the top of the pass first who is "the beast". It's the one who has the most juice in the battery in the evening, because they have ridden with a low support level and high power input during the day. Like Constanze. She is constantly looking at the remaining range shown on the display and would rather pedal bravely in Eco mode than be left completely without assistance in the afternoon. Her fears are unfounded, of course, as the range forecast is based on the current driving style - just like in a car. And no climb lasts forever. Michaela also deserves the title of "Miss Eco" - but she pedals more out of pride than fear. Uli, on the other hand, is always bludgeoning his bike uphill in turbo mode - and yet it pulls him up every climb without complaint and without any signs of overheating. But new worlds also open up downhill. Franzi is thrilled: "I ride things here that I would never have dared to do before. The bike somehow feels safe." Markus specifies the "somehow" from a technical point of view, but is no less enthusiastic: "The low centre of gravity with the motor under the bottom bracket and the high weight mean that it sits so firmly on the ground that it simply irons away roots and such. It really doesn't lose its composure!" He is correspondingly relaxed on the downhill forest path that leads down from Monte Gazza in tight bends - "THE trail of the season" for him. Franzi tried it - and then preferred to push. After all, boundaries don't immediately shift into infinity. And if you're realistic, you'll leave the hairy downhills to the pros even if you have 250 watts of uphill support.
Realisation 4
Speaking of pushing: Admittedly, pushing a 22-kilo bike steeply through the forest on a narrow path is no real pleasure. Neither downhill nor uphill. And heaving the thing onto your shoulder to get over a few steps ... well, yes. But both are possible - we tried it out. We wanted to go up again from Lake Molveno. Soak up the view of Lake Garda and the Brenta from Monte Gazza. Enjoy another downhill. Try out a new route. We either didn't understand our hotelier's description properly, didn't read the map carefully or overlooked a signpost. No matter. It just happens. In any case, the Italian schoolchildren on a hiking day loved it. At first, because we rode the bikes - "but they're motorised, aren't they?" - puffing but confidently purring up the steep, concrete ramps. Then, because they were able to boot past us again as we fought our way through the mountain pines, puffing a little more and a little less confidently. But after every struggle comes a summit - and it is usually rewarding. In any case, it rewarded us with impressive views to the north of the Brenta and to the south as far as Lake Garda - and Constanze, Holger and Markus with the aforementioned zigzag trail downhill to boot.
Realisation 5
Well, what remains? The memory of a wonderful Transalp with 365 kilometres and 5,650 metres of altitude. With many watt hours of power - and a lot of fun. With a sense of achievement on the trails and enthusiasm for these bikes. With a great desire for more such e-experiences - and without the feeling of not having ridden a "real" Transalp. That's exactly why the cries of "warm shower" in Torbole rolled off us like the condensation on the ice-cold - and in our opinion well-deserved - glass of beer at the end in Mecki's Bar.
"E-BIKES GIVE YOU MORE FREEDOM"
ULI STANCIU, BIKE EDITOR
Uli, as a mountain bike pioneer, do you now dare to ride an e-mountain bike?
Oh, I've ridden so many Transalps on a normal bike in my life that I can afford to do that. The fact that I'm now switching to an e-bike certainly has something to do with my age. But the main reason is that it's more fun.
What is the fascination of E-MTBs?
When the first mountain bikes appeared, we suddenly had a device that increased our freedom. We could get off the road and onto field and forest paths. But even with an MTB, there are limits: super steep climbs, long distances. The e-bike now gives us even more freedom. On a long, steep climb, you have a pulse of 180 on a normal bike and you know: either I'm going to totally exhaust myself - or I'm going to get off and push. With an e-MTB, you simply shift up a support level. Or: If you see a ramp with roots and rocks ahead of you on a trail, as a normal biker you often ask yourself: Can I do this? With the e-bike, you try it out. You set it to "High", pedal hard - and get up. That's more fun. But more freedom also means a greater radius of action. I would never have managed to ride 14 stages with almost 3,000 metres of elevation gain every day on my tour of the Western Alps. But you can with an e-bike.
But not with just one battery ...
That's right. I always have a spare battery in my rucksack on long tours. The range is a sticking point. Every Transalp rider is constantly worrying: How long will it last today? That's annoying. Manufacturers should definitely realise this: Larger battery packs are needed for MTBs.
Have you ever had technical faults on your many tours?
Not a single one so far.
What should I bear in mind when choosing a route?
Pushing and carrying distances should be minimised. But an experienced, trained mountain biker can ride anything on an e-bike that they can ride on a normal bike.
TIPS FOR THE E-BIKE TRANSALP
Route selection Basically, the same principles apply to E-Transalps as to a normal Transalp: adapt the route to your riding technique. You should avoid longer pushing and especially carrying sections, as this is very tiring on heavy bikes. Some mountain bikes are equipped with a pushing aid, which is operated by a lever on the handlebars and provides assistance up to 6 km/h even without pedalling. This helps at least over short ramps.
Reach Rule of thumb: With a current standard battery and normal riding behaviour - i.e. a certain amount of work on the mountain - around 1,200 metres in altitude and 50 to 80 kilometres per day are realistic. If you only ride in Eco mode and switch off the assistance on flat stretches, you can expect up to 1,700 metres in altitude. For daily stages with more metres in altitude: take a charger with you and recharge at the inn or hut at lunchtime or pack a spare battery in your rucksack.
Mixed groups A tempting option if riders with different levels of performance and training want to go on tour together. Some ride e-bikes, others ride without assistance. However, you should be aware that it can be frustrating for normal bikers when the e-bikers pedal away chattering and chattering, while you have to put in a lot more effort without the drive. This can work well among friends. But: If you want to take part in an organised MTB tour with an e-MTB, you should definitely ask the organiser whether this is okay.
Guided tours ULPtours offers the Transalp Garmisch-Gardasee under the motto "Genießertouren" as a pure e-mountainbike tour. 7 days, 5 stages, 364 kilometres, 5,850 metres in altitude. 6 nights and 5 x half board, guide, luggage transport, support vehicle and return shuttle to Garmisch: from 899 euros. Info and booking: www.ulptours.de
Book tips Uli Preukert, Anke Hoffmann, Marianne Steinmeyer: "Garmisch-Gardasee. Alpine cross with the mountain bike." Tour book with road books and altitude profiles, compass map sections, sights and useful addresses. Plus GPS data for download. ULPbike Verlag, 19.99 euros.
Uli Stanciu: "Adventure Western Alps." A reportage in 13 stages. With many photos, altitude profiles and accommodation addresses. 21.90 euros. Book order, digital maps and GPS data: www.bike-gps.com
