QUIET REVOLUTION
Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are changing the way many hunters head afield. But are these two-wheeled wonders right for you?
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ACCESSORIES
Each e-bike manufacturer offers various styles, grades and models of bikes with different accessories (also see “Best e-bike bets”). Things such as fenders, reflectors, front and rear pannier racks, and lights come down to personal preference, and may not be needed for your style of hunting. For example, fenders are one accessory I’ve thought long and hard about. We often ride through mud, which can get stuck up under the fenders. But fenders also keep you from getting splashed when riding in sloppy conditions, so it’s an issue of personal preference.
I do recommend adding a pull-behind trailer for transporting gear and game, which makes light work of otherwise tedious tasks. Heather and I have used our trailer, for example, to haul a big mule deer across more than three kilometres in the snow. We’ve also used it to extract an antelope. It’s worth noting, too, that the hitch design minimizes tongue weight, allowing the rider to carry a substantial load with minimal effect on the drivetrain and bike itself.
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Other key accessories you should consider include a gun or bow mount for the handlebars, and a spare battery. The last thing you want is to get stuck in a remote area with no way to recharge your only battery. Although e-bikes can be propelled with pedal-power, it’s important to note they can be quite difficult to pedal on uneven terrain because of their weight.