Electric bike or regular bike? - A beginner's guide to choosing a mountain bike.
Today’s market offers way too many bike models to choose, and even in one rental shop you may find that embarrasing to pick between different types of bikes. Should I go for electric full suspension, e-fatbike or just a regular fatbike. This article compares two extreme types of mountain bike: the rigid fatbike and the full-suspension mountain bike. In addition, at the end you will find a few points on the question ” With or without electricity?“.
Fatbike, the all terrain multi tool for leisure riders
Pros:
- All-year round: the Fatbike can be ridden on summer trails as well as on winter trails.
- Thick tyres, smooth ride: the fat tyres adapt to the terrain and make it easier to drive over small rocks and roots, allowing you to choose more relaxed driving lines. Smoother rides ahead!
- Reliability: without shock absorbers, the bike is simpler, requires less maintenance and is therefore more reliable too. Simple!
Cons:
- Poor road riding: a fatbike is by no means the best choice for road riding, but a good quality bike with tubeless tyres can make you a very comfortable ride anyway.
- Rubber ball effect: When hard off-road driving, the elasticity of the tyres can cause unpleasant bouncing. At a steady pace, this is not a problem.
Full-suspension mountain bike for sportier riding
Pros
- Low rolling resistance: narrower and harder tyres roll better on most surfaces.
- Better grip: the shock-absorbed front and rear wheel grips the ground better, especially in corners. This allows higher speeds in difficult terrain.
- Fun: higher speeds make driving more fun if you like rallying.
Cons
- More demanding riding: narrow tyres require more precise line choices between rocks and roots.
- Maintenance stress: the suspension requires regular maintenance, which can cause stress. You should allow an extra 300-500€/year for the maintenance budget, depending on the amount of riding you do.
You can try out and rent the electric full suspension bikes in our rental shop in Saariselkä.
Electric bike vs. non-electric bike
Electric bike
Pros
- Longer rides: an e-bike can go longer, faster and further.
- Ease of riding: the lightness of pedalling provided by the electric motor makes riding more enjoyable.
- Now you can do it! When riding in a group, an e-bike evens out the fitness differences in the group.
Cons
- Higher price: an electric bike is clearly worth more than a non electric bike. Both when renting and when buying.
- Maintenance requirements: higher power on chains and wheels, and higher mileage require significantly more maintenance and spare parts compared to a traditional bike.
Non electric bike
Pros
- No battery stress: no need to worry about running out of battery power on long rides.
- Lighter and more agile: The lightness of a non-motorised bike gives you more agility and is quieter too!
- More fun on the downhill. When ascending, the muscle powered bike is slower. But on the flat you can quite easily get close to the 25 km/h speed of an electric bike. When decending, especially on technical terrain, the acoustic bike is often faster.
Cons
- Shorter rides: the length of a ride may be limited by the limits of your own strength.
- Heavier uphill: without electric assistance, uphill stretches can be challenging.
Summary
The choice of mountain bike depends on your riding needs and style. A fatbike without suspension is a good choice for versatile and maintenance-free riding all year round. A full-suspension mountain bike is suitable for sportier and faster riding on challenging terrain, but requires more maintenance. Electric bikes offer longer and lighter journeys, but are more expensive and require more maintenance. An acoustic bike, on the other hand, offers lightness and quietness, but requires more muscle power and has its own limitations on long climbs. The choice is yours – what kind of mountain biking do you value?
Whether you’re in the market for a new bike, or just planning a trip on a rental bike, reading a wide range of articles on the subject can enlighten you a little. By trying out different bikes yourself, you can learn a lot. Ask our rental shops for more tips and visit them to rent a variety of bikes. This will give you a practical introduction to the subject.
Our staff will be happy to help you with any questions you may have in both our shops in Saariselkä and in Rovaniemi.
Can we help you?
Do you have any questions about your bike choice? Contact us using the form or call/email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Telephone: +358 400 380063
Email: sales@rolloutdoors.com