Riding an E-mountain bike is different from riding a non-motorized mountain bike and nowhere is that more obvious than in corners. Doesn’t matter if you are going up, down or on level ground. Please refer to your Brian Lopes book on proper cornering technique to brush up on your technique. Those techniques hold true with or without a motor. What differs is how you use your assist.
UPHILL CORNERS: LESS IS MORE
You are headed up a steep climb enjoying all the assist that your bike has to offer. Up ahead is a series of switchback turns that trail designers snaked back and forth into the hill to lessen the steepness of the climb. This is where new E-mountain bike riders have the most problems. You are going to hit those turns at a much higher speed than a non-motorized bike.
Leaving your bike in a high-assist level in the corner will cause your pedaling to lift the front wheel, loosing grip and pushing you to the outside. So, approach the turn at a speed that does not require you to apply the brakes. Reducing your pedaling cadence and the hill’s incline will slow you down plenty. Before entering the turn, choose the next lower assist level (maybe 2 down). Keep your elbows bent and your torso as close to parallel with the trail surface as possible.
Use your momentum or carefully pedal through the turn. Once past the turn’s apex, increase your cadence and toggle back to more assist. Bonus tip: Look around the corner at the line you want the bike to follow while exiting the turn. Break the habit of looking at the corner when you enter it.
DOWNHILL CORNERS ON YOUR OWN
You won’t need much assist in a downhill corner. Gravity works with you to keep your momentum steady without the motor’s assist. Select the lowest assist level (if any) in case you bobble in the turn and need a bit of a push to get you back up to speed.
Remember, the E-mountain bike’s lower center of gravity will give you the feeling of riding on rails while your suspension flows through every inch of travel. It is a treat to descend and rail corners on an E-mountain bike even if you have no assist.
CRUISING THROUGH FLAT CORNERS
Look ahead and adjust your speed (by reducing pedaling cadence or assist level) for upcoming corners. Break the habit of approaching a corner so fast that you need to apply your brakes. It is way better to flow a corner than chop it up by braking hard and then accelerating harder. Smooth also increases your bike’s range.
On flat-surfaced corners you should not need anything higher than the lowest assist level. Use your derailleur to pick a gear that allows you to get back to that sweet-spot pedaling cadence after exiting the corner.
SETTING YOUR PERSONAL BEST
Most of these tips will help you set your “personal-best time” on a mapped loop by helping you ride smoother while utilizing both your bike’s gearing and motor assist. Still, these are not speed tips. I want riders to have a good riding experience without causing conflicts with other trail users. Your E-mountain bike puts you as the fastest of all natural-surface trail users by a long shot. Please use that power wisely.
Chapter Index (Click on any title to read the chapter)
Chapter 1: Intro To A New Breed
Chapter 2: Understanding Your Drivetrain
Chapter 3: Assisted Living
Chapter 4: Climbing To The Top
Chapter 5: Descending
Chapter 6: Cornering
Chapter 7: Trail Obstacles