@bikesandboots, i am in exactly the same place as you. so we did the Whinlatter demo day a few weeks ago. The advice we were given was to try the lightweight (hahahaha) half fat ebike first, which was the Orbea Rise. it was quite nice, but the demo bike didnt have the display, so i didn’t know how much power I had left. It was ok, bit more pedalling than the full fat ebikes but the “assist” was noticable.
Next was a cube “full fat” with ABs!! i found a big difference in the two bikes, but the weight funnily enough, was not noticeable. Less battery range obviously, but far easier to use than the e-light Orbea.
We then tried the new Yeti ebike….and wow, just amazing. Better ride, but not necessarily due to its e capability, more to do with the suspension set up (but it was a £12k bike)
Left the day with a good idea that I don’t want a half fat ebike. Trying to get a demo on a Scott eGenius and a Trek rail as i think one of those two would be ok for my needs, but what I have learned is that set up and suspension is still just as important as a “normal bike”
i ride a fully rigid fat bike, in the lakes, so I am often out for Big Days. I can normally do a full lap of Whinlatter North and South ok, but am beat up afterwards. we did 3 laps of North and South during the day and i was fine at the end. No way i could do 3 full laps of Whinlatter North and South on my current bike.
