Looking for ebike recommendations for backcountry ski access (ride bike to bottom of the route, then go skiing) during the spring in Colorado.
The access roads are mostly pavement and dirt forest service roads, with some snow patches. I'd also use it around town occasionally, especially in the winter when fewer buses are running. In that case it would see a mix of pavement and packed snow, with some steep grades. I'm eligible for a generous rebate from the town I live in ($1500), so that is my starting budget. This is a luxury item that will only see occasional use, so keeping the cost down ($2.5K max?) is a priority.
I'm very familiar with mountain bikes (been riding mtb regularly for 20+ yrs) but am totally in the dark with ebikes. What are the non-negotiables? Is there a meaningful difference between hub drive and mid drive for what I'm planning to do? Is a motor from a reputable company (Bosch, Shimano, others?) a must? Same question for battery. Wattage requirements?
The access roads are mostly pavement and dirt forest service roads, with some snow patches. I'd also use it around town occasionally, especially in the winter when fewer buses are running. In that case it would see a mix of pavement and packed snow, with some steep grades. I'm eligible for a generous rebate from the town I live in ($1500), so that is my starting budget. This is a luxury item that will only see occasional use, so keeping the cost down ($2.5K max?) is a priority.
I'm very familiar with mountain bikes (been riding mtb regularly for 20+ yrs) but am totally in the dark with ebikes. What are the non-negotiables? Is there a meaningful difference between hub drive and mid drive for what I'm planning to do? Is a motor from a reputable company (Bosch, Shimano, others?) a must? Same question for battery. Wattage requirements?
