During the launch of the SRAM EX1 drivetrain, we had three adventure-packed days in the mountain bike mecca of Finale Ligure on the Italian coastline. Known across the globe for its mass of amazing trails, we were stoked to be out riding alongside 10x Downhill World Champion Nico Vouilloz to discover that it’s potentially even more suited to E-MTBs!
This wasn’t a day for shuttles and we were happy to rely on our E-MTBs.
The day’s schedule was rumored to take in some of the notorious stages from the Enduro World Series as well as some virtually undiscovered mountain biking trails – largely due to the fact that a shuttle is unlikely (read: impossible) to reach them.
These exciting exploratory trails led us to a super tranquil location, known as the Ciapin Lodge, a fully self-sufficient Eco-Lodge in the middle of the countryside. No phone reception and definitely no road access, the Ciapin Lodge relies on solar panels, fresh water and even boasts a pump track in the garden. Owner Mike has created a wealth of hand-built trails that start right from the garden, and barely feature on the radar of the throngs of mountain bikers that descend on Finale each year.
Sorry, Shuttle – not today. However, that’s not to say that E-MTBs and shuttles should always be mutually exclusive! Admittedly we were able to charge our batteries over lunch making it possible to complete our ride filled with six descents and 2,000 metres of climbing.
Obviously, if you’re going to shuttle every now and again you’ll get even more descents in the bag. But isn’t that paradoxical? Far from it. Why not save the battery power, using it to find trails that are even further away and reaching the trails that require some pedaling from the shuttle drop-off? Cramming into a sweaty shuttle to drive up the fire roads isn’t always the most pleasant experience, so having the E-MTB gives some nice respite – and guarantees you’ll get a proper warm-up before each dropping into each trailhead.
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Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: Victor Lucas
