E-Bike Adventure Blogs

by Christopher Everett

Does riding an e-MTB risk turning a fit, healthy person into a lazy mamil or, as the spruikers say, simply open up the possibility for more time and distance on the trails? Exploring the Parklands MTB Trails, Sunshine Coast, on a rental from ecoTekk Sunshine Coast might provide the answer.

After investigating public transport options to the rental shop, Stuart from ecoTekkSC provided a common sense alternative of having the bike delivered to my accommodation and riding to the trailhead. This would take in the beautiful Maroochy River and estuary and Wetlands Sanctuary boardwalk. The only possible downside would be the weather. As luck would have it, the unusual winter highs low down in the Tasman Sea was going to maintain the cold, wet Melbourne weather I was trying to escape. Oh well, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve spent 4 hours riding in drizzle.  

Stuart and the e-MTB arrived at 9.00 and after a quick briefing I was off. The ride to the Bli Bli foothills was really nice. I was suited up in a merino long sleeve (stays warm when wet) and fluoro vest, polyester undies (never cotton for a ride), shorts, Gore-Tex pants, and hiking boots – none of it bike gear but it does (and did) the job. 

Screen grab detailing the start of Chris’s 13 km e-MTB adventure from Maroochydore to Parklands MTB Trails, with highlights like the Maroochydore Wetlands Reserve and challenging sections along the route.

The rain was light but steady, Google Maps seemed a little confused at times through the steep residential streets but the bike was more than up to the task. I cranked the assist up from 1/2 on the flat to mostly 3/4 on the steep (over 20%) bits. After playing around with the e-assist/conventional gear combo I settled into some comfortable hill climbs. Having the opportunity to practise on roads and not on single track was another bonus. After 13 kms and an hour of not raising a sweat I arrived at the Atkinson St West entrance/trailhead. 

So I was now in proper MTB conditions: a hotchpotch of flowy tracks, skiddy descents, slimy roots, slippery rocks, boulder creek crossings, and switchbacks, all on a bike very different to one I was used to. Stuart had warned me about the mud before I committed, but I didn’t need to worry, the rain was washing off all the mud. 

Picking the e-assist/conventional gear combo became pretty simple for the first section – stay mostly in 1, and use 3, 4 or 5 depending on the slope. I stuck to tracks numbers 6 and 5 heading up towards Cancer Tree.

Taking a well earned break at the top of a waterfall, offering stunning views of the forest and MTB trails in Parkland Conservation Park on the Sunshine Coast.

The first thing I noticed was the ability to bash through obstacles that would normally require a bit more finesse – sloping roots and uneven rocks, for example. Stuart suggested that is because the increased weight provides more stability. Also the very steep uphill technical parts become more doable simply because you have more in the legs with the e-assist enabled. An important thing is to trust the bike, not try to avoid an ugly dismount. Also the mid-drive seems to have a residual bit of oomph after you stop pedalling, another reason to keep your body weight on the bike. A downside with the e-MTB is that if you do come off going up a steep bit, it is a lot harder to push given the extra weight. Even more incentive to stay on. Another issue was going down steep bits. As I went to move my weight back I was hitting the ‘built for comfort’ wide seat, a little disconcerting and which required a work around. Mentioning this to Stuart afterwards he suggested one of his racier seat options for next time, although I don’t think that would include a dropper.

Chris’s tracking map captures the thrilling e-MTB adventure from Maroochydore to Parklands MTB Park on an ecoTekkSC-hired Ascent 29″ Pulse, showcasing the scenic Maroochy River pathways and the excitement of Parkland Conservation Park’s mountain bike trails.

The end of Cancer Tree going into Blue Tongue was a lot of fun with faster flowy sections. You forget you are on a heavy e-bike through some of the berms, but then you hit some little jumps where the bike remained firmly on terra firma and you realise you do miss your old bike. 

I met one of the local emus which was nice, but was not seeing some of the large and clueless kangaroos I’m so wary of in some locations down south. It might just have been the weather and time of day. I finished off doing bits of Road Rage, Lush, and Rookie Road. This was a nice wind down after some of the earlier efforts on Rock and Roll and Roo Valley (no roos today). 

All in all it was a great ride, a little over 30 clicks and 3 hours. The battery still had a lot of juice (although Stuart has said he could run up a fresh one if needed). I could have had the whole day up there but there was a plane home to catch (and it was still raining). Compared to a normal ride there was definitely the opportunity for a lot more time in the saddle, albeit you would be wise to avoid the black runs. Less adrenaline and more exploring, taking in a new environment, which is kind of what you want when travelling. Given ideal conditions (i.e. sunshine), I would have been happy having the bike all day. My normal profile would be closer to two hours and quite a bit under 20 clicks, and I’d be pretty spent, so everything in its place.

I can’t wait to get back and try it all again. I found EcotekkSC a very well-run operation, open and up front about what they deliver. Stuart offers good advice which seems more about meeting your needs rather than maximising his income. I would recommend them very highly. If you do want to bash down black runs on a full sus bike, I would suggest bringing your own. But if you want to taste a bit of everything, and possibly ride with less experienced friends or family, then this experience would be hard to beat. As for becoming a lazy mamil, I reckon this kind of riding would actually boost your fitness, especially if you had the time to stay out on the trails, and chose the lower range of e-assistance. As with most things it comes down to what you like, but a day out on either a nippy carbon soft-tail or a heavier e-MTB, with the right attitude, will leave you content and potentially exhausted.

Chris takes a break with his VelectriX Ascent 29″ Pulse e-MTB at the Blue Tongue Track 3 trailhead in Parkland Conservation Park, ready to tackle the Switchback downhill berm on the Sunshine Coast.

Addendum from the Owners of ecoTekkSC

Following Chris’s insightful feedback after his ride at Parklands MTB Trails, we’ve made some key upgrades to enhance the performance and comfort of our VelectriX Ascent 29″ Pulse e-MTBs. We’ve upgraded the drivetrain to a MICROSHIFT Groupset MTB – ADVENT 1×9 Speed 11-46T, offering smoother shifts and a better gear range for tackling the diverse terrain of the Sunshine Coast. Additionally, we now offer suspension seat posts for improved comfort on rougher trails, and a selection of narrower seats, allowing riders to choose a saddle that best suits their riding style.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Chris for sharing his experience with us and allowing us to publish his blog. His feedback has been invaluable in helping us improve our offerings and ensuring every ride with ecoTekkSC is as enjoyable as possible.

To all our wonderful customers, we invite you to share your stories with us too! If you’ve had an adventure on one of our e-bikes, we’d love to hear about it. Your experiences help us continue to enhance our services and inspire other riders to explore the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Learn more about ecoTekkSC e-MTB hire and explore the Parklands MTB trails at https://www.ecotekk.com.au/parklands-mtb-park/

Happy riding!