The EV is coming

Nope. I cycle on my own, as far over to the left as the road will allow me as I’m constantly aware of the aggressive car drivers who persist in thinking that overtaking me with a 1.5 inch distance is perfectly safe and acceptable.

 

These bike things are more expensive than cars

Nearing 500miles & many ft in elevation albeit with 3weeks away, certainly makes a mock of bagging Munro’s


Just fitted a new rear Wheel & Tyre to mullet, discs and pads for a bit of bling and a comfier “saddle” place to lay my butt!

 

To be honest, it’s taking quite a bit of getting used to!

Coming from a hard tail, it’s intuitive, but with the motor it’s turned the day on it’s head.
My previous switch to hard tail was deliberate, as confidence was spiralling out of control and realisation on life reset was much needed due to frequent injuries, though here I am again, though with an e bike there’s more thrills in bagging the ascent than the jump, the past two weeks I’ve hit the local hills/mountains Durris Hill, Clachnaben, Loch Muick Circuit, Lochnagar, Bennachie, Kirkhill, and the smallest Brimmond Hill I couldn’t of thought of bagging these on pedal bike, in such a short time!
There’s certainly benefit in having the assistance, certainly enticing! Though not without their share of problems, depending where you read, my initial ordered Santa Cruz Bullit has been pushed back to Apr 22, think I’ll be cancelling and requesting the refund, there’s still a shortage of supply and manufacturers are playing catch up - Supply chain issues….
(I can’t find a 12 speed cassette in Uk!)

The Specialized Levo hard tail is worth considering, whilst in no means a connoisseur of E bikes, many manufacturers have issues the 2.1/2.2 motor does appear the more reliable with favourable warranty support

I still can’t dispute their cheating, however, I run mine factory restricted, I find I can travel further quicker on road and try in earnest to run beyond motor restricted speeds with high cadence, circa 26-32kph or faster, so I’m now pulling the heft of the bike & dragging motor on fat tyres at speed, further, on return my legs feel every k but my chest doesn’t, similar rides on my gravel bike leaves chest wanting a break and shorts sweat soiled!
I’m still undecided, if it shall replace my Gravel bike, though certainly gives options of different ride!

 

If I were ever to contemplate buying a bike (which'll never happen) I'd consider one of these

https://reevobikes.com/

Saw it feature in a scam FB listing and it appealed greatly, more as a design exercise than anything.....

 

£4K…..I’ll stick to pedal power only

 

The issue with EV bikes I can’t get my head around is the weight. I’d imagine they are getting lighter, but still a fair bit of heft to lug around when/if the battery goes flat.
Maybe I’m set in my road bike ways, current road bike is sub 7kg.
Does the reality of owning one ring true or is this something that is worked around?

 

Electric drive is just cheating. Keep turning the pedals! Before long people will be going hiking on electric golf carts.

 

They are pretty cool!
Several companies/individuals doing this, I was tempted with the “FLX Babymaker” before I committed to a gravel bike
Think I was deterred by the T&C small print

 

Bike pricing is worryingly scary just now! - Thank COVID for that!

 

that bike is illegal for use on the roads in this country and would need to be registered as a moped and taxed and insured to make it anything like legal
save your 4k and put a deposit on a proper E Mountain bike

 

I’ve broke it!
Over the weekend I kind of, entirely accidentally, derestricted it - 54mph on tap.
My mullet conversion was running slow, so rather than take to the dealer and have wheel circumference corrected, I thought I’d get a thingy ma Bob and tore up the mountains unrestricted yesterday, today it was doing funny things and now the TCU has lost the motor….
Tonight I removed thingy ma Bob, though whilst functioning, its ill!
After a reset, its looking like a dealer visit after all - complex things these! - BTW - I done nothing, playing dumb!
On the plus side, the motors not broken having clocked up 918miles to date!
Have I said, just how much fun yesterday was…. Just as quick (if not quicker) going up as I was going down!

 

I see a visit to A & E in your future, Sean .

It'll be interesting to hear what the Dealer says - I wonder if they can detect 'fiddling with' like car Dealerships can?

 

Dealer is an absolute legend!
Phoned this morning and could only book in on 8th September, deflated, so placed on car and drive down, walked in to query
Software update didn’t fix, so new TCU under spesh warranty, taken from sales bike!
Absolute first class service, which had me turning wheels this afternoon on a 20 mile loop - back restricted though, with wheel circumference corrected! Thingy ma Bob thrown over the fence and takes residence in neighbours garden
Still waiting for an 11 speed chain for gravel bike - only 7 weeks and counting!

 

New motor day tomorrow!
Keeping these bikes on the trail/road is every bit as expensive as keeping a car
A bit lost with tracking the mileage, now reads near 3000kms circa 1900miles + the 900ish on the first TCU

To date routine servicing:

8 sets of brake pads, using Uber bike pads over winter due a brake upgrade
4 Brake Discs, a set of Uber bike though inferior quality so switched to Magura Mdr-p
4 chains, sticking with SLX 138 Links, though had to just change to XT
Countless chain lube, though just last night switched to dry wax to check longevity
2 cassettes, strictly not true, had to replace and couldn’t get SLX, so XT cassette just fitted and SLX acquired (fitted to spare 29 rear wheel)
1 chainring, slight wear but changed to 36T
1 derailleur, bit of a rookie error, after cleaning, I set off without clutch, chain jumped the jockey wheel and split the cage- fitted last night
1 rear tyre not yet fitted, though well scrubbed
1 set of pedals - Stamp 7, big platform with high studs
1 front wheel imminent as bearings shot and poor quality hub, upgrade to sealed bearings, likely Crank Brother Synthesis E
Almost a full strip down and re grease, whilst in search of an annoying creak, sadly it’s motor related and early sprag clutch failure!

Attaining bike spares is still very difficult, though, through a colleague at work, I now have an almost endless supply from Romania with no shipping and much less cost.

Motors now making an intermittent grinding noise & whinging, changed from a creak to a grind
Emailed the bike shop and no quibble warranty claim submitted - requested a picture of bike and frame number
All approved within a few days, so have bike booked in for replacement 8th April

Smiles/mile is still high and battery holds 100% health
Sadly picking up battle scares on both bike and self rendering a spring touch up much needed
It has turned a simple hobby into a passion with riding, cleaning, maintaining all very involving

 

Makes my road bike servicing costs seem like small change! The winter bike had a £100 service a few weeks ago, keeps the old gal running sweet and true. Up to 4.2K miles on that bike since I bought it new in 2017.
I’ve only managed two rides out on the Giant TCR this year, it doesn’t seem wet roads….

 

You lads are making me feel tired, just reading your posts

 

I still have the Gravel bike, Whyte Glencoe, I use alongside, that’s a bruiser but likewise doesn’t like the wet, ice, snow or deep mud, good for dry road cycling, forest & fire track.
Think I’ve replaced the rear tube & had a bike fit since ownership, so all round cheap ownership

- Sorry John -

 

Had a go on one of these https://www.focus-bikes.com/gb_en/bikes/e-mountainbike-full-suspension/jam2#sixseries at the cycle show at the NEC a couple of years back, mightily impressed by the Bosch E-Drive, meant I could keep up/beat my 16 year old son...

Bikes parts seem to be quite pathetic nowadays in terms of durability, was forever replacing or repairing my sons bikes, nothing seemed to last, hydraulic brakes although good seems to need the pads replacing every month, got fed up of bleeding them....countless punctures, rear derailleur, chain sets, bearings etc etc. cost me more than the maintenance on the E60.

 

Seemless motor swap, albeit different state of tune, think it needs run in or software reflash….

Add a new front wheel to the list
Oem wheel has 5hit hubs and bearings
I’m perplexed by the noise and left thinking it was perhaps misdiagnosed or overlooked
Nevertheless new wheel ordered last night after a 40k ride with new motor and test fit of sons wheel down the road!

Old hub to be rebuilt and kept as spare as still running true.