Pikes Peak, America’s Mountain. After disembarking from our custom-built tour vehicle. 
The vastness of the scene left me dizzy. To the east, the Great Plains stretch into infinity; to the west, the jagged teeth of the Continental Divide pierce the horizon. I have hiked this beauty, but never biked a 14,115-foot giant, downhill, on pavement? With a bike that has an engine? Hm.
My weapon of choice? An eMTB. The pinnacle of engineering, courtesy of the experts at Adventures Out West. This mountain-leveling machine is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes, perfect for a downhill adventure, like today.
The Launch
My tour group descends the Pikes Peak Highway, plunging through ancient granite fields and alpine tundra. This is the Colorado I love! Our guides, “Flying Scotsman” and “Outback Jake,” 
were the perfect pace-setters—pointing out cool historical facts, sunbathing marmots as we breezed past hidden alpine lakes, twisted bristlecone pines, and meadows of wildflowers and aspens. All the while keeping our speeds in check when all I wanted to do was fly! (Wait, isn’t this where the Bigfoot sightings occurred?)
The Gear: Where Tech Meets Trail
AOW uses premium eMTBs on all their tours because they are the marvel of modern mid-drive technology. Whether navigating the loose scree of the Gold Camp Off-Road Tour or the rugged Mountain Scape E-bike Tour, that sophisticated damping keeps you planted, ensuring every watt of power moves you forward with total control. In the world of e-biking, weight and torque are everything. The motor feels like a natural extension of your own legs; with 85Nm of torque at your fingertips, the dreaded “wall” of a 10% grade becomes a playground.
The Verdict
Riding down Pikes Peak seemed daunting, even on a premier eMTB. But by putting my faith in the best technology on the market and the most seasoned guides in the business, I walked away with one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Come ride through the clouds,
Sassafras, Tammila K. Wright
AOW Tours for E-bikes:
- The Pikes Peak Tour offers the highest bike tour in America! The views, paved road, and other variables offer an unlimited challenge. 5 hours+ More info.
- Gold Camp Off-Road Tour– Our National Forest off-road bike adventure is the premier dirt ride in America! AOW is the only provider that can combine its custom-built Tour Jeeps with the e-bike adventure for an even more adventurous experience! 3 hours+ More info.
- Mountain Scape E-Bike Tour– Dirt bike tour through trail tunnels and views of canyon vistas. 2 hours+ More info.