Encountering obstacles along the trail may be the one time you find yourself wishing for a non-motorized mountain bike. What are obstacles? We are talking about the occasional curb-sized rock, water bar, rain rut, downed tree branch and even that snake sunning itself.
WEIGHTY ISSUE
Mountain bike riders would employ the bunny hop to clear any of the obstacles listed about. A well-executed bunny hop requires the rider use body weight to slightly compress the bike’s suspension just before reaching the obstacle and then springing up, lofting the bike over the obstacle. The E-mountain bike’s 20 extra pounds (at the least) takes the bunny hop out of most riders’ arsenal. Hopping a 50-pound bike is impossible for anybody with less skill (and muscle) than a Brian Lopes.
The E-mountain biker should use the same bunny-hop technique. This will result in slightly reducing the impact force with the obstacle. Just know, you are going to hit the obstacle, not sail over it. Keep your body weight as centered between the two wheels as possible. Move your body weight back to make the front wheel light when it hits the obstacle and then try to lighten the back wheel by moving your body weight forward before it hits the obstacle.
Better than using the bunny bash is to find a line around the obstacle. Look as far forward as possible (DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE OBSTACLE) and pick a line clear of the obstacle. If the obstacle covers the entire trail, try to spot the path of least resistance. A rock may have a slight ramp to it. That’s always better than hitting a square edge. Try to go over the tree branch at its lowest point.
Ruts are not the obstruction they once were when our front wheels were secured by wimpy quick releases. Big fat thru-axles are the way to go. Most bikes with thru-axles allow you to ride through ruts or over them without issue.
As for that snake, hit your brakes if you can stop a safe distance away. If you can’t stop, do your best to lighten the bike (using the bunny hop technique) so the poor thing doesn’t take your full impact. The worst thing you can do is stop just short of the critter. A rattler can coil and spring forward in a blink of an eye. Of course, if you can’t stop at a safe distance, you were probably going too fast.
PILE-DRIVER REAR WHEEL
The E-mountain bike that I ride has the motor located between the crank arms and in the center of the bike. E-mountain bikes using a hub motor can have a motor in the center of the rear wheel, in the center of the front wheel and some have motors in both wheels.
I don’t know what advice to give riders with hub motors when encountering obstacles. That’s because there is so much weight concentrated on one wheel. Bunny hop? Very difficult. Trying to lighten the bike? Again, very difficult because compressing the suspension and pulling up will get the front wheel light but you are going to peg that obstacle hard with the rear wheel. It is a limitation of using hub motors.
The only advice is to slow down.
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