I rented an e-bike from the trail centre at Grizedale – I absolutely smashed the red "North Face" route – I loved it. The rocky ascent at the start was an interesting introduction to the bike and it handled it perfectly. Fire-road climbs went by quickly – a little effort goes a long way. But I was really impressed with the descending – I felt confident hitting the very rocky trails at speed, with the 2.8" tyres making it so much fun. Although it feels like cheating, it meant I could really enjoy the ride, didn't need to worry about the climbs or how long was left and would have even done a second lap.
I am now very tempted to buy an e-bike!