I initially built up a 2020 Trek Powerfly with 2-Bosch 500 batteries.
Once I realized I could trigger more of the bike community bikepacking with a full sus eMTB enduro bike I chose the Aero Rack bikepack set up and honestly, it couldn’t have gone better.
We did Cypress Hills, I called ahead to the ranger station to make sure the station had power to recharge. From Elkwater to Ranger campground and then to the Conglomerate cliffs with still a 1/4 batter left in the 640wh that comes with the Orbea Wild FS.
I had range anxiety so much of the flats I rode with no power which was tough, but on the hills and decents, oh man, I absolutely crushed them, I took the Ressor Lake hill down (asphalt) and when I started breaking had already reached 72/km hr😳 which was scary as F but incredibly , I felt totally in control despite the major consequence had something gone wrong, but to me this spoke to the handling this bike has even with a 250lb rider & 27lbs of gear on the seat stays! NO I will never be that dumb again lol
I never cared about accumulating trail grit, or conquering punishing climbs , I wanted to enjoy the scenery and not be broken afterward and I def did just that.
All that said, I had a lucky time, EMTB’s will come with a LOT more issues and potential for breakdowns than any other bike so route planning IS VERY important.
I now ride a Steel Rigid Salsa Fargo for Bikepacking and it’s a very reliable set up.
by Fancy-Bake-4817