The Alternative Rider's Guide to E-Gravel: Going Fast, Not Far

Truth be told I was going to write about long, lonely hours in the saddle. Of slogs up inclines that feel unnaturally steeper than they look. How with an e-bike you have to carefully ration your precious battery juice as if it were the last drop of water in the desert... or else.

Or what? Or what indeed!

David our CEO and man of many bikes threw in a swerve ball - "I've got used to full power up hills. I and love it. I'm disappointed now if I get home with more than 5 miles left of range. It means I haven't gone hard enough."

That's a bit exuberant, I thought, before shutting down my computer and slogging up Crich Hill on my non e-powered Camino, posting a personal record breaking slowest ride home. It had been a while. 

I woke refreshed. The brain cells had been ticking over - doing all that good stuff they do during deep sleep, making sense of things that were slightly adjacent to the ducks I had cemented in neat rows.

'Not every ride needs to be a marathon. Not every ride needs to be a marathon. Not every ride needs to be a marathon.' Three times was enough, I got it. The incantation had done its job, I was entranced.

Sometimes the goal isn't covering maximum distance, it's extracting maximum enjoyment from the time and terrain available. Sometimes you only have two hours of daylight after work, legs that want intensity, and trails that deserve to be ridden fast.

This is technical terrain at speed, steep climbs to be powered through rather than ground up, batteries to be used freely rather than conserved anxiously. Anathema to long-distance touring.

Thankfully the El Camino excels at this type of ride. With 38Nm of torque available on demand a light weight build that maintains handling confidence, and a motor that lets you ride faster when the terrain allows, it transforms technical gravel from challenging slog to engaging flow.

Stop thinking about it, use the battery and enjoy the ride

Penny drop moment: trail riding with electrical assist isn't about making things easier, it's about making more things possible. That loose gravel climb I'd normally walk? Power through it. That technical ascent where I'd arrive at the top a shadow of my former self? Reach it strong enough to enjoy the descent with a grin instead of a grimace. That after-work loop that's slightly too ambitious for available daylight? Complete it with time for dinner and a soothing shower.

The mental shift is fundamental, the battery is not for conserving later. It's for using intentionally, full battery capacity over shorter distances. Coming back with 5% remaining and a satisfied grin is success, not poor planning.

But wait, this doesn't mean the motor does all the work. Pedalling is still part of the thrill, workload is still intense, a proper workout guaranteed. The 250W motor and 38Nm of torque provide backing that lets you sustain high effort for longer periods and tackle terrain that would force walking on a standard bike.

Power as defacto

Now we are all in mid or high power modes are our baseline rather than emergency reserves. This isn't wasteful, it's appropriate for the ride. Set mid power for mixed technical terrain, high power for steep or loose sections. Ride confidently knowing you have given yourself permission to consume.

The El Camino's three power modes offer some tactical choices during your rides. If that approaching climb looks steep, click into high and power up at 10-12km/h rather than grinding at 5km/h. The trail flattens for recovery, drop to mid power but maintain higher average speed than you could unassisted. Technical descent ahead, switch off for pure bike feel, or leave power on for confident momentum through the rough stuff.

Let's talk about torque

The 38Nm torque figure means little until you experience it on the trail. Picture a steep gravel climb, gradient pushing 15%, surface loose enough that the rear wheel threatens to spin out. On the El Camino in high power mode, the hub motor provides consistent drive that keeps you moving steadily upward. You're still working, legs pushing hard, breathing elevated, but momentum continues rather than stalling.

Further along a technical rise with embedded rocks and sudden gradient changes mean timing and momentum are critical. The motor responds to your pedalling force through the torque sensor, amplifying your effort proportionally. When you push harder through the technical section, the motor matches that increased input. When you ease off briefly to read the trail ahead, assistance reduces proportionally. The bike is collaborating rather than dominating.

This controlled torque transforms technical terrain from "can I clean this section?" into "how fast can I clean this section?" The challenge remains engaging, but the success rate improves dramatically.

Technical confidence

Electric assist really changes your relationship with challenging terrain. Sections you'd approach cautiously on a standard bike become opportunities to dabble in aggressive riding. This confidence is based on the genuine capability that the Kynamic system and El Camino geometry provides.

Climbing loose gravel

Gravel climbs with poor surface quality, deep loose gravel, sandy sections and weathered rock present exhausting traction challenges. Locally, the Pindale Road climb behind the Hope Valley cement works springs to mind. On a standard bike, you're carefully modulating power delivery to prevent rear wheel spin while maintaining sufficient drive to keep moving - or off your bike and pushing.

The El Camino's hub motor drive provides consistent power delivery that's less prone to inducing wheel spin than the desperate pedal strokes when you are beaten. You can focus on line choice and weight distribution rather than perfect pedal stroke smoothness. This doesn't eliminate good technique, but it does plant a joker up your sleeve.

Power through and thanks Faraday

Maintaining momentum through technical sections requires choosing lines that preserve speed. On standard bikes, this often means taking easier but longer routes around obstacles or difficult surfaces. The Kynamic motor on El Camino changes the equation.

You can clean more direct lines that would be borderline impossible on standard bikes because short power surges get you through the difficult moments. That steep ramp with loose rock at the top? Charge at it with confidence. That rooty section mid-climb where momentum would normally die? Power through and thank Faraday.

This freedom doesn't mean abandoning all that good technique you have developed, good line choice remains crucial for efficiency and safety. But your options expand when you have some extra torque backing you up.

Ride the technical way home

I finish work at 5.30pm, it's already dark and even at my fittest its going to take me close to 2 hrs to get home. But I still want to get in a 'good' ride. The standard plod is a 36km road route that gets me back home in time for dinner, but not always a shower first. The El Camino is a more ambitious beast, it wants a 35-45km loop with significant climbing and technical sections that would normally require 3+ hours.

I am not looking for efficient surface quality and gentle gradients, I want challenging terrain that provides engagement and satisfaction. Steep climbs become attractions rather than obstacles. Technical sections are features to enjoy rather than endure.

Starting with low power as baseline. Rolling terrain for first 10km gets the flat section out of the way as quickly as possible. A power boost so I don't waste energy on the Crich climb. And power off to enjoy pure bike handling down to the canal.

Time to take advantage of the gift the El Camino has given me - time to enjoy more fun trails. Switch to mid power for the Cromford incline (maybe a touch of high power as the gradient kicks in) don't want to lose time here. Flowing gravel leads down to Grangemill with the prospect of more b-road and gravel to Bonsall.

Bridleway back down to the valley, avoiding the busy A6. Just me, sheep and the cows.

Battery still looking good, check the time, sweet still exactly on plan, where can I burn the remaining juice?

Arrive home with battery nearly depleted, legs thoroughly worked, face grinning. Perfectly executed exhaustion for me and my bike.

The El Camino advantage for trail riding

Not all e-bikes suit aggressive technical riding. Many are too heavy for confident handling, too draggy above the 25km/h assist limit to ride fast, or too sluggish in response to feel engaging. The El Camino avoids these pitfalls through thoughtful design choices.

Weight and handling

At 13kg, just 3kg more than the standard Camino, the El Camino handles like a gravel bike rather than a battery on wheels. You can throw it into corners confidently, weight shift remains effective for technical sections, and lifting the front wheel over obstacles doesn't require excessive effort.

This weight advantage matters most on technical descents and rough trail sections where handling confidence is critical. Heavier e-bikes feel planted but sluggish, requiring more effort to change direction or adjust line mid-section. The El Camino responds like a proper bike because it essentially is one, just with motor assistance available when needed.

Rolling above the assist limit

UK regulations limit assistance to 25km/h. Many e-bikes feel resistive above this speed, creating noticeable drag that forces you to ride at exactly 25km/h to feel optimal. The El Camino uses hall sensors rather than magnetic sensors in the motor, eliminating this drag above the assist limit.

Practically, this means smooth gravel sections and descents where you naturally exceed 25km/h don't punish you. The bike rolls freely at 30km/h, 35km/h, or whatever speed the terrain allows. You're not stuck at 25km/h burning battery unnecessarily, you can ride faster when conditions permit, conserving battery for sections where assistance genuinely helps.

Tyre clearance and capability

The 50mm tire clearance accommodates proper gravel rubber; 40-45mm tyres with aggressive tread for loose surfaces and technical terrain. This isn't just about fitting larger tyres; it's about having sufficient clearance that mud doesn't immediately clog the frame.

British trails, particularly after rain, can be muddy. Having clearance for the tyre to shed mud rather than pack the frame is the difference between riding and pushing a mud-clogged bike.

Refined controls

The updated control blips on the handlebars are chunky enough to operate with cold, wet, gloved hands. Pretty standard conditions for British trail riding much of the year.

The out-front display on the drop bar versions of El Camino shows current speed, power mode, and battery percentage at a glance. Quick visual check tells you everything you need for tactical decisions without taking your focus off the trail.

Gear and Setup for Trail Riding

Trail riding places different demands on equipment than long-distance touring. Your setup should prioritise handling, control, and reliability over carrying capacity. There are many places where you can get advice on setups, such as the Sonder facebook group, or meet ups with other riders in the Sonder Winter Gravel Series.

Tyre Selection

Choose tyres at the aggressive end of the gravel spectrum. 40-42mm width with pronounced tread blocks for loose surfaces. Runs 28-35 PSI tyre pressure depending on your weight and typical terrain, go lower for technical sections, higher for faster rolling on hardpack. Tubeless will keep your rolling through the end of summer hedge cutting season.

Riding Position

Bar positioning and saddle height affect handling and power delivery. For technical riding, you want a position that allows weight shift and aggressive cornering while maintaining good power transfer for steep climbs.

Many riders lower bars slightly compared to their long-distance setup, perhaps 10-15mm for more centred weight distribution on technical terrain. Experiment with spacers to find what works for your body and riding style. Pop into any Alpkit store if you need any help making adjustments.

Carrying only what you need

Trail rides don't require full bikepacking kit but you will still want to be self sufficient. A small frame bag or top tube bag for tools, spare tube, snacks. Something like a Gravel Bag on your handlebars, a Bilbie under your crossbar or a Koala under your saddle keeps essentials accessible. Choose what carrying system works for you. Water bottles in cages. Phone in pocket or bar-mounted for navigation if needed. Total weight beyond the bike itself might be 1-2kg compared to 8-10kg for touring.

This weight reduction improves handling noticeably and reduces battery consumption slightly. More importantly, it keeps the bike feeling nimble and responsive rather than loaded and sluggish.

Maximum fun per hour

Trail riding on an e-gravel bike rejects the premise that worthwhile riding requires epic distances.

The El Camino enables this riding style through light weight, responsive handling, and sufficient power to transform technical challenges into engaging features rather than soul-destroying obstacles. The 250Wh battery provides enough for proper adventures in the shorter winter daylight.

Next time you have limited time but unlimited enthusiasm, plan a trail ride. Choose technical terrain, set mid or high power as default, ride hard for two hours, come back empty on battery and full on satisfaction..