If you’ve ever been passed on the uphill by a cyclist who seems to be barely breaking a sweat or breathing hard, there’s a good chance you’ve seen an electric bike, or e-bike, in action. These two-wheelers get a boost from a battery-powered motor, making anything from a casual commute to a multi-hour road ride a little less energy intensive. In a thin-aired destination like the Vail Valley, e-bikes offer a high-altitude hack for recreationists just arrived from sea level. 

“The thing that’s most appealing about e-bikes is that they open up opportunities for people who wouldn’t be able to ride in the valley,” says Mike Brumbaugh of Venture Sports, an outfitter that rents e-bikes around the Vail Valley. “They even the playing field. Whether you’re from Texas or California, or you’re someone who’s woefully out of shape or hasn’t ridden a bike for a while, you can enjoy riding an e-bike.”

While e-bikes are especially helpful for folks visiting from lower climes, that’s not where their usefulness stops. “They’ve become modes of transportation,” says Paul Hields, owner of Wildsyde E-Bikes in Avon. “Instead of having to get in your car, drive in traffic, and find a parking place just to get a cup of coffee, you can ride an e-bike. And you won’t arrive all sweaty and smelly, because you aren’t putting in the power you need to on a regular bike.”

In addition to their utility for recreation and transportation, e-bikes also can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). According to the Eagle County Climate Action Plan, single-occupancy vehicles including small cars and trucks account for 42 percent of Eagle County’s greenhouse gas emissions. To help remedy this, Eagle County recently adopted an e-bike rideshare program called Shift Bike to make green transportation more accessible to residents and visitors. Through the end of October, 155 e-bikes docked across 33 charging stations from Vail to Edwards are available for short-term use (with the pay-as-you-go option, after dowloading the app, the first ride is free, then a $3 fee unlocks the bike for 30 minutes, followed by a toll of $0.40/min), perfect for that morning coffee run, commute to work, or a first-time e-bike fling.

“If all of Eagle County commuted alternatively twice per week, it would reduce transportation-related GHG emissions by 17 percent annually,” explains Beth Markham, the environmental sustainability manager for the Town of Vail. “It’s easy to come to Vail without a car,” she says. “And the more folks that are out on bikes and foot, the closer we get to achieving climate action goals to reduce GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050.” 

looking for road bike routes? We've got you covered.

E-Wheeling 101

E-bikes are available in styles ranging from cargo-carrying commuter bikes to versatile hybrids, wide-tire fat bikes, full-suspension mountain bikes, and sleek road and gravel bikes. Most cruiser e-bike rentals are available as step-through frames, which make it especially easy to get on and off the hefty bikes (which can weigh more than 50 pounds) and start pedaling once you’ve stopped.

E-bikes fall into three classes, which determine the kind of power a bike offers, how many miles per hour it will clock, and where it’s allowed to go.  

Class 1

e-bikes have pedal assist, meaning you need to pedal for the motor to kick in. Once it does, the motor will amplify your effort up to 20 mph. “All of our bikes are pedal assist,” says Brumbaugh of Venture Sports’ rental fleet. “This means if you stop pedaling you will stop moving.” Assist levels range from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most helpful, but you can always turn off the assist if you want more of a workout. 

Class 2

e-bikes are distinguished by a throttle that allows you to accelerate up to 20 mph without pedaling. Paul Hields, owner of Wildsyde E-Bikes in Avon, prefers the throttle as an easy-start mechanism, especially for moving uphill or accelerating from a stop at a traffic light. 

Class 3

e-bikes provide pedal assist up to 28 mph and extra oomph to tackle steep hills or headwinds. These powerful motors are typically reserved for cargo-hauling commuter bikes or road e-bikes and are often banned from bike-specific paths, multi-use paths, and mountain bike trails.

Where to Ride an e-Bike

Keeping in mind how long your battery will last (typically between 3 and 4 hours depending on how much power you are using), e-bikes are a fine option for most of the road rides featured here, except for Vail Pass (where e-bikes are not allowed) and longer rides like Colorado River Road and the Leadville Loop. 

Venture Sports’ Brumbaugh suggests that beginners start with an easy route, like riding from Avon to the Riverwalk in Edwards along the car-free Eagle Valley Trail. Less than 10 miles round trip, it’s the perfect length for lunch, coffee, or shopping. From there, more ambitious routes abound on the trail, which has a variety of starting points. When completed (likely in 2025; yet to be built is the 7.5-mile Horn Ranch segment connecting Wolcott to Edwards), the Eagle Valley Trail will allow cyclists to transit 63 miles of continuous paved path from the mouth of Glenwood Canyon in Dotsero to the top of Vail Pass (the 12-mile section from Dowd Junction to East Vail, a.k.a. the Gore Valley Trail, follows Gore Creek and includes Brumbaugh’s favorite stretch behind Cascade Village: “It’s just gorgeous there.”).

Can I Ride an e-Bike Off-Road?

The first thing to know: E-bikes aren’t allowed on all conventional mountain bike trails. The motor in an off-road/mountain e-bike puts it in the same category as a dirt bike in some Vail Valley jurisdictions. Although you can’t ride an e-mountain bike on all your favorite single track (in the Town of Eagle’s extensive MTB network, for example, e-bikes are allowed only on a single soft-surface trail: Second Gulch), there are great options, including fan-favorite routes in-bounds on Vail, Arrowhead, and Beaver Creek mountains. When in doubt, look for routes that allow other motorized vehicles like dirt bikes, such as US Forest Service roads, or check out the e-bike setting on the Trailforks app. You might be surprised at where your e-mountain bike can take you.

“E-bikes increase access to recreation and are equitable for all ages, body types, or folks with injuries, disabilities, or illnesses,” says Ernest Saeger, executive director of Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance, a local trail-building and advocacy group. But he also notes there are concerns about mountain e-bikes taking riders too far into the backcountry. “E-bikes allow people to go farther in a shorter time. This starts to add up and has a cumulative impact on wildlife and ecosystems.” 

To mitigate your impact, only use trails where e-bikes are allowed, and practice proper etiquette. Standard mountain bike courtesies apply, including giving the right of way to horses, hikers, and riders who are laboring up climbs without an electric assist. And, of course, when you’re sending it downhill, always stay in control and be mindful of others.

E-Bike Etiquette

Be safe and be prepared.

Though the power boost of an e-bike might make you feel gleefully superhuman, standard rules of the road still apply. That includes basics like staying on the right side of the road, riding single file, and using hand signals when navigating in car traffic, but it also means being extra aware of riders who aren’t on e-bikes. 

“Let’s say you’re going up a hill. People not on an e-bike may only be going 5 or 6 miles per hour and you don’t realize how fast you’re coming up on someone,” says Brumbaugh. “Always say ‘On your left!’ And when you’re going downhill, remember that people are coming up at you.” In other words, if you aren’t actively passing someone, always stay to the right, even on a bike path.

As for what to wear, Brumbaugh suggests hiking or biking shoes instead of street shoes or open-toe shoes like flip-flops. Slim-fitting pants, tights, or shorts are ideal. Also be mindful of the ever-changing weather in the mountains, where bluebird skies in the morning often give way to afternoon thundershowers. If you plan on tackling a pass, remember that when it’s summer in the valley, it might  feel more like winter up high. A waterproof jacket, pants, and a thermal layer are essential, in addition to extra water and snacks. 

Also know, and follow, the rules of the road wherever you ride: The Town of Eagle’s recently revised e-bike ordinance set 15 miles per hour as the speed limit for e-bikes on paved paths, sidewalks, and trails, and prohibits riders from using cellphones when in motion—so do like you do when you’re behind the wheel and just hang up and ride.