What can electric motors do for mountain gravel bikes?
The electric Gravel (or e-Gravel) revolutionizes mountain biking by offering a unique combination of versatility, assistance and autonomy. It makes it possible to explore more demanding itineraries with greater comfort and efficiency, while retaining the sporting spirit and agility characteristic of gravel. It's a particularly relevant option for embarking on routes like Route des Grandes Alpes ® Gravel, which alternates mountain roads, rolling tracks and trails.
To accompany this new practice, Bosch has developed the Performance Line SX motorization, perfectly suited to e-Gravel. This lightweight, compact and dynamic motor provides sporty, responsive assistance without weighing the bike down, while preserving the natural riding feel expected on this type of terrain.
Easing long, steep climbs
In the mountains, the main challenge for a Gravel bike is managing long, often steep and uneven climbs, especially on unpaved trails. Electric assistance brings several major advantages:
- Reducing effort on climbs: a torque-sensing central motor adapts assistance to the effort expended, making it easier to manage long, technical climbs. Forest paths and trails with steep gradients, which are very difficult for muscular Gravel, become much more rideable.
- Possibility of taking on more committed trails: some mountain routes include stony paths or slopes in excess of 10%. Assistance makes it possible to ride with greater fluidity and control over such terrain.
- Less fatigue on long stages: by using assistance strategically (Eco/Tour on uphills, no assistance on downhills and flats), it is possible to link together several passes without exhausting yourself several climbs without getting into the red, thus favoring long distances.
- Better effort management, thanks to the level of assistance used. Bosch, for example, offers assistance modes adapted to a wide range of route profiles, from an economical mode to maximize range to more dynamic modes for climbs or restarts. These modes (Eco, Tour+, Sport, Turbo, eMTB or Sprint depending on the system) modulate effort and adjust power delivery according to terrain, load or riding style.
This diversity helps to optimize both pedaling comfort and energy management, particularly useful when roaming or on demanding routes allows you to adapt your pedaling to the terrain and your level of fatigue.
Extended autonomy when roaming
In contrast to electric mountain bikes, which place heavy demands on continuous assistance, electric Gravel in the mountains allows for more progressive battery management, which helps to optimize autonomy. Used for long-distance adventures, the e-Gravel allows you to extend your range without generating excessive fatigue, as long as you adjust the assistance to the terrain and the effort required. For those who wish to extend their outings even further without changing configuration, a solution such as the PowerMore 250, a compact and lightweight additional battery, can complement the main battery and provide a welcome energy reserve on long stages.
- Average range from 50 to 150 km, depending on assistance mode and battery capacity (250 to 750 Wh).
- Intelligent consumption management: Eco mode on rolling, hilly terrain, Tour or Sport mode on long climbs, no assistance on descents and on the flat, especially with favorable wind.
- Possibility of increasingly easy recharging: thanks to removable batteries and fast chargers, it's possible to recharge during breaks (accommodation, restaurants, electrical terminals).
These elements make it possible to envisage long-distance adventures, such as Route des Grandes Alpes ® Gravel, on the basis of optimized management of energy resources.
A greater capacity for exploration
Electric assistance considerably broadens the horizons of mountain Gravel:
. Easier alternation between road and trail: motorization offsets the difficulty of brittle or steep sections, making it easier to alternate between asphalt and trails.
. Access to more isolated and technical routes, which would be too demanding for muscular Gravel.
. Access to unpaved passes and high altitude trails, often difficult to climb with a muscle bike.
. Possibility of carrying more gear: assistance allows you to ride with loaded panniers without the weight becoming a brake on climbs.
The electric Gravel pushes the limits of alpine touring, allowing you to take on more committed routes without compromising the pleasure of the trip.
A lighter, rolling alternative to electric mountain biking
Electric Gravel offers a different approach to electric mountain biking:
- Lower weight: E-gravels are lighter than VTTAEs (14-18 kg vs. 20-25 kg), improving performance on road and rolling trails.
- More dynamic behavior: on roads and trails, the electric Gravel offers more responsiveness and better pedaling efficiency than an electric mountain bike with big tires.
- Less rolling resistance thanks to thinner tires than a mountain bike, enabling faster, more dynamic riding.
- Less inertia on descents and rolling terrain, making it easier to handle long distances with a more muscle-bike-like feel.
A more inclusive and accessible experience
Electric motorization enables a wider public to take up Gravel mountain biking:
- Less physical demands: easier access to difficult routes for less trained cyclists.
- Ability to ride in groups with different levels, each adjusting the assistance to match the collective pace.
- Less apprehension about long distances and steep climbs, encouraging more cyclists to attempt ambitious itineraries.
- Less fear about long distances, steep slopes and technical trails.
E-Gravel thus opens the door to more mix and diversity in mountain biking.
Electric mountain gravel represents a major evolution for roaming and exploration. It facilitates long ascents, increases autonomy over several days, opens up access to more committed itineraries and enables a more fluid and inclusive practice. It thus becomes an ideal alternative for those looking for a bike that performs well on the road, is agile on the trails and capable of tackling Alpine gradients without exhaustion.