ECO ISLE E BIKING
ELECTRIC BIKES ARE THE PERFECT WAY TO EXPLORE AN ISLAND WHERE WIND AND WATER POWER RULES
We use electric bikes (love ’em or hate ‘em) to explore El Hierro, a small, almost energy autonomous island in the Atlantic Ocean
Love ’em or hate ’em, you can’t deny that electric bikes are a ‘greener’ alternative to the gas-guzzling vehicles clogging up our roads. This has obvious benefits for the daily commute – just imagine a future where those too slovenly to pedal a regular bike are enticed out of their fume-belching cars by the promise of motor assistance, low running costs and no traffic jams. But it’s relevant to us mountain bikers too. After all, how many of us drive to the trailhead or jump on a diesel-devouring uplift van? Of course, an e-bike still has a battery, which has to be charged somehow. And that electricity normally comes from a power station burning fossil fuels. Not on El Hierro, though. This small island in the Atlantic Ocean is almost energy autonomous, producing 70 per cent of its power via water and wind. It may be the smallest of the Canaries, but still covers nearly 300km2. So what better way to explore it than by e-bike?
Hierro dirt It’s surprising just how much good riding there is on this isolated and steep island. From the high point of the Mirador de Fileba, you can ride down to all sides, choosing between technical trails, like the one to Frontera, and more flowy routes, down to El Pinar. Whichever you pick, it’s hard to beat finishing at the beach with a swim in the balmy 20°C waters – even in winter! Our guide brings us to the summit of the island, the Pico de Malpaso, where we join a downhill heading south-east. The hard, volcanic
ground lets us build up speed fast through the forest. A slower trail follows, then we head through some villages, soaking in the scenery. We have a bit of a shock at the end, where the trail appears to continue over the edge of a cliff. Playing it safe, we ride the last 200m on a quiet road, which ends at the beach – sadly, not a sandy one, but after 1,500m of descending, it’s great to take a dip.
There are five different downhills from the top. The most direct, down to Frontera, isn’t recommended when wet, since the rocky ground becomes slippery. And that’s not to forget the steep cliffs, which you really don’t want to dive down! But in the conditions we’re riding in, it’s a dream of a trail. The most varied run leads you to Tamaduste, next to the airport. It offers 2,000m of descending, but includes various uphill sections – we count 700m of climbing. Fortunately, it’s peanuts on our e-bikes! The best bit is a section of high-speed singletrack that takes us through a beautiful open landscape and spits us out next to a fishing village. Not only are the trails here great, but it’s a pleasure to ride in a place without much of a tourist industry, where you can still experience the authentic way of life. It’s good to know that, even in Europe, you can still find lonely spots with breathtaking trails and warm-hearted people.
THE HARD, volcanic ground lets us build up speed fast THROUGH THE FOREST