How to Ride a HiPEAK Fat Tire Electric Bike in Las Vegas Desert?

Las Vegas is the paradise for cycling enthusiasts. Here, people can experience the best five-star hotels in the United States, gourmet cuisine cooked by renowned chefs, and stunning bike lanes. Additionally, the high temperature and desert are also highlights of Las Vegas. For cyclists, riding in the high temperatures and desert of Las Vegas is definitely a challenging and proud experience.

James Carl, a 27-year-old lifelong resident of Las Vegas, runs a local bicycle shop and is also a loyal fan of the HiPEAK folding electric bike. When it comes to cycling in Las Vegas, Carl has his own unique experience and perspective. He says, “People who ride electric bikes in Las Vegas are severely underestimated. To ride here in the high temperatures and desert, besides having solid cycling skills, one must also possess a strong inner strength to endure extreme solitude.” In this article, Carl shares his important tips for safely navigating the desert for a day using the HiPEAK ELIAS fat-tire electric bike.

Preparing well before departing

“Don’t go cycling in Las Vegas without proper preparation,” says Carl to everyone who wants to ride here. He advises people to download the TrailForks app before cycling, which includes everything from trail reports, ride planning, interactive map browsing, to crowd-sourced reviews. It can also calculate elevation, water sources, mileage, and sunset time to find the most suitable route.

In addition to researching routes, it is crucial to have a good understanding of your bike equipment. Riding in the desert, with its sandy terrain and slopes everywhere, places higher demands on the performance of an electric bike.

“I’ve encountered many riders stranded in the desert. They were confident in their electric bikes but underestimated the difficulty of the desert terrain. To successfully navigate the desert, you must have an electric bike like the HiPEAK ELIAS with a minimum 750W power motor,” says Carl. “In addition, fat tires are easier to handle than regular tires. You never know what dangerous objects are buried beneath the sand, and fat tires can greatly prevent punctures from these objects. Moreover, sand is slippery, so fat tires provide sufficient traction.”

Telling others about your riding plans

According to Carl, while most paths and roads in Las Vegas can receive phone signal, there are still some areas that fall outside the coverage. Therefore, after determining your cycling route, it is important to ensure that someone knows your riding route and the estimated time of your return. And a crucial point to remember is to strictly adhere to your plan. The purpose of doing so is to quickly obtain assistance from others in case of unexpected incidents in the dangerous desert.

Wearing enough sunscreen

The scorching sun is the most common weather condition in the desert. It is evident that carrying enough sunscreen by your side is a good idea so that you can reapply it after sweating. Do not underestimate the importance of sunscreen in desert cycling. It can greatly help riders prevent heatstroke, and there are even studies suggesting that it can provide a cooling sensation.

Wearing correct clothes

Although sunscreen can protect the skin, it is not enough to rely solely on this layer of protection. For most of the year, Carl rides in lightweight t-shirts or sportswear. However, to minimize sun exposure, he also wears white arm sleeves or quick-drying long-sleeved shirts. During winter, when wind strength increases and temperature fluctuations may become more extreme, Carl also wears a lightweight windproof layer.

Carrying enough water and salty snacks

As a highly experienced desert rider, Carl always carries several bottles of electrolyte drinks and some salty snacks on the rear rack of his HiPEAK ELIAS folding electric bike. Carl advises other riders not to rely on finding water sources along the way because in the high temperatures and desert, even if there used to be water sources in certain places, they may have dried up by now.

Carrying a few bottles of electrolyte water is a good idea. Due to the hot and dry desert weather, sweat often evaporates before riders even notice it, but they are still losing a significant amount of water and need to replenish it regularly. In the desert, the only signs of sweating are often the white salt crust on shirts, helmet straps, or on the face. In such cases, salty foods like assorted dried fruits, salted rolls, jerky, electrolyte chewables, and potato chips can be used to replenish sodium.

Riding in the morning or evening

“Unless it’s in the cold winter season, it’s best to start riding as early as possible and avoid riding at noon. Of course, it may be even better to try riding at night. With the help of a headlamp and the front light of the HiPEAK ELIAS fat-tire electric bike, you can explore desert trails under the starry sky as the heat subsides,” says Carl.

Remembering to bring repair tools

“If you’ve made up your mind to start desert cycling, be prepared to encounter rocks and cactus thorns,” says Carl. “In fact, there may not be many others around to provide assistance. I would say that 90% of the time I ride alone. Therefore, while it may add some weight to your ride, bringing your own repair kit is always the wisest decision.”

Ready to try desert riding?

While desert cycling may come with many uncertainties, it offers riders unparalleled experiences. HiPEAK provides the best and most cost-effective electric fat-tire bike, the HiPEAK ELIAS, for all adventure enthusiasts. With its 750W motor, it delivers powerful climbing capability, while the large capacity 48V 15ah lithium battery provides a range of up to 60 miles. The 20″ X 4″ fat tires offer enhanced traction and maneuverability for desert riding.

About HIPEAKBIKE

We are a E-bike company that produces innovative, high-performance, valuable and affordable electric bike and outdoor accessories. Our mission is to get people in touch with bikers and outdoor people shine in their communities.