No love for electric gravel bikes? This is my review of Specialized Creo
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No love for electric gravel bikes? This is my review of Specialized Creo
Trying an electric gravel bike was one of my biggest goals since I began my gravelbikes.cc project where I test gravel bikes and bike parts that helps improve the overall comfort without losing the fun factor. I simply wanted to know if electric gravel bike will be the ultimate gravel comfort machine. Finally, I got the chance to test one of the newest and most expensive electric gravel bike and not in one, but in two variants (carbon and aluminum). Riding Specialized Creo was very entertaining but the wonderful experience of having an electric motor is unfortunately hampered by the law (speed restrictions) and the current state of technology development (in my opinion we still did not reach the stage where we can have a really seamless experience, a perfect harmony between the motor and the rider). I am very interested in your opinion about electric gravel bike. This is mine:
https://gravelbikes.cc/tests/special...-bikes-review/
Cheers!
https://gravelbikes.cc/tests/special...-bikes-review/
Cheers!
#2
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Got one in at the shop a couple weeks ago for a customer, was not impressed. Yeah, it's cool to be able to soft pedal up hills at 24 mph, but it has issues (IMO). The biggest gripe I have is the monstrous Q-factor. It's like riding a fatbike in a road position. We've had in other Turbo models and none of them have been set up like that. The other issue is the motor. It doesn't increase its assistance when you increase your power. I know, I know, it's an assistance motor, but when you get out of the saddle, it feels like you're dragging the full weight of the bike along. You sit back down and it suddenly feels fine. For a bike that starts around $6000, it sure doesn't wow like it should.
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No love.
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Got one in at the shop a couple weeks ago for a customer, was not impressed. Yeah, it's cool to be able to soft pedal up hills at 24 mph, but it has issues (IMO). The biggest gripe I have is the monstrous Q-factor. It's like riding a fatbike in a road position. We've had in other Turbo models and none of them have been set up like that. The other issue is the motor. It doesn't increase its assistance when you increase your power. I know, I know, it's an assistance motor, but when you get out of the saddle, it feels like you're dragging the full weight of the bike along. You sit back down and it suddenly feels fine. For a bike that starts around $6000, it sure doesn't wow like it should.
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There's an Electric Bike forum for those folks who need motors.
Brent
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Moved here from gravel bikes. Ebike threads go in ebikes, period.
#8
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You can put 40-42C gravel tires on a Domane+ (the Bosch ones). Did that on mine and (per another user) so long as you don't mind mostly sitting and not standing to pedal, it's totally fine (and pretty enjoyable) to ride on gravel!
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what specifically precludes standing? You can't really stand much around here because you are either climbing or descending, and the climbs are too steep
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I'm pretty sure he meant it would work
#12
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#13
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Not impressed? I am....
I downshift prior to stopping so when I start up again, being in a lower gear, it's easy to get the cadence up and have the motor kick in soon enough. As for the "monstrous" Q-factor, I don't notice it unless I try to and, even then, it's quite subtle to me. I've own, and continue to own, many bicycles (7 currently) and my Creo SL fits like a glove and is a total joy to ride.
Got one in at the shop a couple weeks ago for a customer, was not impressed. Yeah, it's cool to be able to soft pedal up hills at 24 mph, but it has issues (IMO). The biggest gripe I have is the monstrous Q-factor. It's like riding a fatbike in a road position. We've had in other Turbo models and none of them have been set up like that. The other issue is the motor. It doesn't increase its assistance when you increase your power. I know, I know, it's an assistance motor, but when you get out of the saddle, it feels like you're dragging the full weight of the bike along. You sit back down and it suddenly feels fine. For a bike that starts around $6000, it sure doesn't wow like it should.