Rider on a Orbea Rise for the first time

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission on products or services you buy through them. There is no extra cost to you, and your support helps keep this website active.

Riding Longer, Faster, and Fresher on the Bracebridge and Huntsville Trails

For over twenty years, mountain biking has been part of my life. It’s given me fitness, freedom, and more trail memories than I can count. But for just as long, I resisted one thing: the e-mountain bike.

I saw them popping up on the trails, riders gliding past with effortless smiles. To me, it looked like cheating. Too easy. Not the real mountain biking I’d grown up with. And so, I held the line.

Until now.

Recently, thanks to the good folks at Liv Outside Adventures in Bracebridge, Ontario, I finally swung a leg over an e-mtb, the Orbea Rise, for two days of riding at the Bracebridge Resource Management Center trails and the Huntsville Mountain Bike Trails. What happened next completely shifted my perspective.

Why I Resisted E-MTBs for So Long

Like many long-time riders, my relationship with mountain biking has always been tied to hard work. I believed that grinding out the climbs and finishing rides completely spent was part of the deal.

My excuses for avoiding e-MTBs were familiar:

“It’s cheating.” I felt like the motor gave an unfair advantage.
“It’ll be too easy.” I thought I’d lose the sense of accomplishment.
“I don’t need it.” Pride told me I could still keep up the old way.

But as the years rolled on, the climbs got steeper, my friends got fitter, and I found myself falling off the back more often. I loved the downhills just as much as ever, but the cost of earning them felt higher with every ride.

When I got an opportunity to try the Orbea Rise, how could I say no?

The Orbea Rise: First Impressions

The Rise didn’t look like the bulky, heavy e-bikes I had pictured. With a sleek carbon frame and a Shimano EP8 RS motor, it felt remarkably similar to a regular trail bike, weighing in at just about 40 pounds. That’s impressively light for an e-MTB.

Unlike some e-bikes built for brute power, the Rise is about subtle support. The motor delivers a natural-feeling boost, smoothing out the effort without taking away the need to pedal. Think of it as shaving a couple of decades off your fitness level.

When I rolled it onto the trail for the first time, I was nervous but curious. Could this bike actually change how I ride?

Day One: Bracebridge Resource Management Center Trails

The Bracebridge RMC Trails are renowned for their flowy singletrack, short climbs, and technical sections. Normally, I’d spend most of the first lap rationing energy, saving something for later.

With the Rise, that went out the window.

From the first climb, I noticed the difference. The motor didn’t launch me forward; it just took the sting out of the grind. I still worked, but instead of staring at my front tire, I was looking ahead, thinking about the fun sections coming up.

I covered more ground, rode faster, and most importantly, finished climbs with energy left. That freshness made a huge difference on the descents. Instead of hanging on and surviving, I attacked the corners, pumped the rollers, and let the bike fly.

For the first time in years, I felt like the ride was giving back more than it took.

Day Two: Huntsville Mountain Bike Trails

Next was the Huntsville trails, long climbs and descents, roots, and plenty of rocks. Usually, I would treat these trails with caution, pacing myself so I don’t burn out halfway through.

On the Orbea Rise, I felt a new sense of freedom. The tricky climbs, with their rocks and roots, still required skill, but I had enough gas in the tank to take them on with confidence. The assist turned those frustrating “hike-a-bike” sections into rideable challenges.

The biggest surprise came on the downhills. Because I wasn’t drained from the climbs, I rode them harder and smoother than I had in years. I was more aggressive, more playful, and more in control.

Even better, I kept up with my riding buddies, most of whom were younger and fitter than I was. For once, they weren’t waiting for me at every junction. We laughed, swapped lines, and shared the ride as equals. That camaraderie alone was worth the switch.

What I Learned About E-MTBs

After two days, my old excuses didn’t hold up anymore. Riding the Orbea Rise taught me a few big lessons:

It’s not cheating. You still pedal, sweat, and work hard. The motor just makes the climbs less punishing.
It’s not too easy. The trails still demand skill. You just arrive at the fun sections fresher.
It makes mountain biking more fun. More laps, more energy, more smiles.

Instead of replacing the challenge, the e-MTB reshaped it. I still earned every descent, but I earned them with more gas left in the tank to enjoy them.

Final Thoughts: Why I Wish I Tried Sooner

I spent a long time resisting e-MTBs for several reasons, but two days on the Orbea Rise showed me how much joy I was missing. It didn’t make the ride effortless; it made it sustainable. It let me ride longer, harder, and with more friends.

Will I give up my regular mountain bike? Not at all. There’s still a place for the pure, analogue experience. But I can see myself reaching for an e-MTB on the big days, when I want to explore more trail, ride with faster friends, or just rediscover the feeling of flying downhill with energy to spare.

If you’ve been skeptical, I get it. I was too. But here’s my advice: don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Find a demo day, head to trails like Bracebridge or Huntsville, and see what happens. You might just surprise yourself, just like I did.