E-Bike & Climb: ‘In summer, the mountains shrink’
Where does the E-Bike & Climb in Tirol have its roots, and what makes it so special? A chat with someone who knows all about it: Christian “Picco” Piccolruaz.
When considering the origins of the combination of motorised cycling and climbing – known in ‘newspeak’ as ‘E-Bike & Climb’ – there is one man in Tirol you simply cannot ignore: Christian Piccolruaz.
Text: Simon Schöpf
To describe ‘Picco’ – as everyone here calls him – as a pioneer of both Mountain Biking and climbing would be no exaggeration in either field. He has been a Mountain biking guide since 1991; in 2000 he became Austrian downhill champion and has even appeared as a stunt double in films.
He has also made a name for himself as a climber: he has been a Mountain Guide since 1997 and is now a trainer for Mountain Guides specialising in Ice Climbing. He is a member of the Alpine Club’s teaching team and of the athlete team at AustriAlpin, a Partner of Climbers Paradise. So Picco brings a wealth of experience to the table – and who, if not him, would know better: where do the origins of E-Bike & Climb in Tirol lie?
Picco explains:
“In fact, climbers were among the first to use E-Bikes to get to the start of the route more quickly. This was also the case in Tirol, whether it was Reini Scherer, Heinz Zak or Benni Hangl. Nowadays, almost all of my climbing mates have an E-Bike because it’s just so practical!”
The climbers’ fondness for two-wheelers has even been immortalised in the route names on a particular wall in the Karwendel Mountains: on the Repswand, you’ll find the ‘Bike 2 Crack’ (9) from 2006, followed by the ‘Single Trail’ (8-/8) from 2008 and, later – fully embracing the E-Bike era – the “Männer mit Motoren” (8-) from 2016.
But even for Picco, a die-hard downhill rider, it took a few years before he realised the benefits of motor assistance on a bike:
“I remember it well: it was at a time when, after more than 25 years of Mountain Biking, I was starting to feel a bit jaded with the sport. Then I hired one of these new e-MTBs for a weekend and went out four times in those two days, quickly recharging the batteries in between. It was like riding with a 100 km/h tailwind – a completely new sensation. My enthusiasm was back!”
Since then, Picco has been cycling to the Kletterarena Seegrube, the Schüsselkar and, in winter, even to the Pinnistal for Ice Climbing. But one question remains: is it actually ethically justifiable to ride an E-Bike in the mountains?
“With Mountain Biking, the main question is whether I cycle up the mountain under my own steam or let myself be assisted. But for climbers, this ethical question doesn’t really arise – they just want to get to the wall faster! For me, though, one thing is certain: with an e-MTB, the mountains seem to shrink in summer.”
Tapping into new potential
You could also say that your range of activity expands enormously. Suddenly, higher-altitude Rock Climbing Areas become interesting too – places nobody would have travelled to for just a few routes in the past because they were simply too far away.
“I reckon the E-Bike at least doubles the potential for rock climbing in Tirol. Now areas that were previously completely inaccessible can be explored. The motorised bike is also brilliant for first ascents, where you’ve got a lot of heavy kit in your rucksack – like Friends and a drill. Because with 25 kilos on your back, it really makes a difference whether you have to haul everything up yourself or ride to the top with turbo assistance.”
There’s one thing that’s particularly close to the heart of this long-standing Mountain Bike coach:
“You absolutely must have perfect control of your riding technique. Especially when climbing with all that kit in your rucksack, you really can’t afford to fall. You’re often riding on very bumpy trails. That’s why I’d strongly recommend riding technique training to everyone. It’s time well spent.”
What do you need for an E-Bike & climb adventure? Picco recommends that anyone interested uses a well-maintained full-suspension bike with good suspension, powerful brakes and thick tyres for the often bumpy access routes. And you should be prepared in case of a puncture:
E-Bike & Climb in Tirol
The best places in Tirol to start your E-Bike & Climb adventure are summarised on climbers-paradise.com. A number of tourist boards now also offer organised tours with Mountain Guides and E-Bike hire – for anyone who’d like to give this activity a go. But be warned: it can be addictive. Just take a look at the Picco.
Tips & Safety
Would you like to know more about climbing safety? Click here for our safety tips.
