DMC707

Finally gave in to the siren song of the e-bike. Our local Tour de Dirt race series now has an E Bike class, and they also run them at select hare scrambles for the moto guys.

I dont have enough rides on it yet to know if the "dream bike" i built up last year will be going up for sale soon - or whether this is just another N+1, and another way to enjoy the sport. Seems like i should keep the "Acoustic" bike around due to so many places out west that i like to ride at still frowning on e-bike usage

2old

Keep both; you may discover (as I did after a while) that both forms are fun; about 75% of my riding is non-"e" now.

veganbikes

That is a sweet ride, enjoy it. Enjoy all bikes (and sandwiches). I think in terms of E-MTB Specialized does some of the best stuff, really good suspension kinematics and I do like the feel of the Brose motor. The charge port door has always felt a little afterthoughty but if you take care of it, it is totally fine and a huge improvement over the old one.

prj71

I'm not an e-bike person but have taken a spin a few. Specialized does OK on theirs. I think Orbea did it a little better in the fact that motor is barely noticeable. Took my friends Orbea for a spin a few months ago and it was OK, but not my thing. No work to get up any of the hills. Matter of fact no effort at all. Kind of defeats the purpose of why I ride.

https://www.orbea.com/us-en/ebikes/mountain/rise/

rumrunn6

let us know! looks gorgeous! go get it dirty

Wifey & I rented electric hybrids for tooling around Martha's Vineyard. OMG we loved them, as auto replacements. we love "the button". got me wondering if I would want them for my current riding & I decided no. BUT it opened up the ideas of different riding. if we had room & discretionary cash I'd be messing with them for sure! enjoy!

DMC707

Big S makes a Lighter weight levo that is closer in marketing strategy to that Orbea. Weather in my area is still not allowed me to get this thing on the trails but I am looking forward to doing back to back laps on the same circuit with my yeti cross-country bike. The trails are very tight and technical and I’ve always thought that the limiting factor in the trees was not my motor but how fast I’m willing to push it before I start bouncing off of stuff

I don’t see that changing with an E bike but it would make shuttling up the hills in Bentonville quite a bit easier so I can enjoy a few more downhill runs during a day.

DMC707

I am actually looking into the idea of how to hook up a small trailer to the back of this so I can legitimately use it to run errands.
Would not be nearly as efficient for that as a hybrid style because the big monster truck tires but would allow me to justify adding a new bike to the stable:
As an aside cruising around Martha’s Vineyard with my girlfriend sounds like a wonderful idea for a summer vacation

Route 66

I like an E-bike that doesn't look like an E-bike.

rumrunn6

the options are mind boggling.

regarding the vineyard here's my breakdown
Edgartown - shopping
South Beach - ocean waves
Oak Bluffs - bars restaurants ice cream
Vineyard Haven - quiet port bank and grocery
Aquinnah - famous colored cliffs
Menemsha - fishing port & freshest seafood always quickly cooked you can eat dockside
plus all around the island are wild undeveloped places to find and explore. I really like having a car when there for a week's vacation.

ferry reservations are complicated but you can get them. easier to call for a reservation but you can do it on the website
https://www.steamshipauthority.com/reservations

you can also rent cars and electric bikes there. for example
Sun 'n' Fun Rentals

we often go "stand-by" as pedestrians w/ bicycles. easy peasy no reservation required. park in a lot on the way to the Steamship Authority in Woods Hole. the furthest lot is a 30 minute shuttle bus ride (ea. bus carries 2 bikes) to the dock. get your tickets in the office w/ restrooms at the dock. bike parking out front. ferry ride is 45 min.

biking in July is like this

prj71

Seems the e-mountain bikes are a hit for those that like to do the downhill repeats. I'm not a downhill rider. I like to put on miles and see scenery. I'm lucky in that trail system 15 minutes from my house has 33 miles of trail to ride.

bhiter010

not only for them
I know one guy who like to ride e-mountain bike at city

DMC707

I’ve got two rides on this so far. Not much considering how long I’ve had it but I am an insurance adjuster by trade and my work schedule and helping put Florida back together after the hurricane a couple months back has been 12 to 14 hour days

In the case of this particular bike, It’s really not cut out to be a commuter. Even when you’re trucking along at close to 20 mph, it feels heavy and lethargic on the road and it’s genuinely a lot of work Even with the assist. But it has tickled my fancy and I would seriously consider a lighter weight Hardtail or hybrid style for rides like that.

DMC707

First ride report: I had to make a couple of modifications to the bike just for my preference, like swapping the brakes Moto style, I also swapped the SRAM trigger shifter for a grip shifter unit. And put on a different seat per my preference and I am waiting for some Renthal bars and stem That will more closely duplicate the sweep and rise on my yeti (Plus they look trick).

The important thing is the ride. I have gained some weight over the last year so setting the proper air pressure in the shock was a monumental task and I still have to play with little bit because I was getting lots of pedal strikes but it has an adjustable bottom bracket height somehow also I’ll play with that also. I took it to a trail with enough climbing that it was intimidating to me with my cross-country bike And as predicted, it was a real help. I averaged 145 heart rate for the ride with a 157 max for 90 minutes. Coincidentally that is what I average on most of my mtb rides So the work out effect was the same, but I got to clean a few climbs that I normally would have had trouble with but as predicted, the tight terrain kept the speed down

Bike is heavy and you can’t get around that so the downhill sections I was tending to drag the brakes a lot more than I would have on my conventional bike And when you’re under power, just like on a regular bike you hit things harder but the extra weight means I’m going to spend a bit more time on suspension set up

but all in all, was a great day. Nobody lost their Strava KOM and in fact I was passed by a gentleman on a gravel bike out on the trails So having a motor does not turn me into Julian Absalon out there, because I was only averaging 8 mph. But just was a really fun day and I’m excited to take it out again

As I mentioned in the post above though, It’s out of its element riding it on the road,

DMC707

Thank you! That reinforces the fact that I must visit there before too long

rumrunn6

do it now, I mean make your plans now. the end of June/beg. of July is the best weather in New England & usually before the sharks show up
the traffic isn't nuts until after July 4th, then I hope you like ppl ...
or whenever ... we like it (& the cape) year 'round. had friends w/ a little cabin in the woods, w/ a fireplace. we'd go for new year's & cross country ski. never went out for meals, so it didn't matter that so many places were closed. they got divorced & sold the property so winter visits to the island are more rare for us now

freeranger

Don't ride off-road all that often these days. But if I was, that Specialized would be very tempting! Nice looking bike and I'm not growing younger.

DMC707

A Handful of years back I was dating a gal my age - mid 40s at the time - And her whole family were avid cyclists despite being in their 70s. Since I consider myself slow for my age and her dad and his friends fast for their age due to the huge miles those retirees put on - It was a fun group to ride with and they didn’t take things too seriously with being hyper competitive

When things didn’t work out with my perspective lady friend I really felt bad because it was like I was losing my riding group at the same time, but We all follow each other on Strava

one Day I noticed her dad and mom getting faster than me on a loop that is well ridden and well known in the area. They post ride pics all the time so when I saw a new bike I expanded the photo and noticed a characteristic bulging down tube of an e bike .

Since the young lady has moved on and remarried another gentleman caller, I think I’m in safe territory if I start riding with her old group again! Right now I’m 50, but I need to drop quite a few pounds’ I’m thinking on days that I can get out those retirees will definitely keep me on my toes

DMC707

New observations

Hit up two trail systems on New Year’s eve and day that I haven’t visited in over a year. But I know them literally like the back of my hand. I really thought I would blow up my previous PR’s in dramatic fashion Despite being 30 pounds heavier

Didn’t happen. I mean it was close and the bike is a gas to get an open sections and let it rip , and I’m not saying this as a knock against the bike, Because it is an absolute blast, But it once again backs up my theory on riding in tight single track.

Another observation. You really are pedaling constantly on this thing. Between the short 160 cranks and the way the clutch feels in the motor when you are coasting, It really seems to reward spinning it out and I need to figure out how to track cadence on it. But yet again my average heart rate was the same as riding my regular bike, Likely due to the constant spinning

but still having fun. In the case of this bike it is definitely not a moped, but I did see a gentleman ride up as well I was loading up to go home And he did not seem to be pedaling at all. It was very dark by that point so I didn’t engage in conversation

also due to a brutal work schedule, I thought I would invest in a lighting system and it might let me get out there on nights where the temperature is agreeable. I am using a light and motion Enduro 2500 and it is working well although night riding on single track Is a bit trippy. Those darn woods get spooky and you feel even more alone after dark, But if it allows me to extend a session , Or not worry too much if it is getting close to dark and I’m still 5 miles from the truck.

fun stuff and After 33 years of doing this stuff I’m glad to have found something that gets me excited to go out and ride again

DMC707

Update on Levo life

My original thread title on going to the dark side is a misnomer because the lighting system Brings light in the dark places

This comment is about riding After Dark more than e-bike shenanigans . I love it and I hate it at the same time.

Love that I can get a ride in even if I have to work until 7 PM. Hate the fact that the temperature drops progressively faster the darker it gets and I may have to invest in some more comprehensive cold-weather gear as my “non-gear” approach of flannel shirts and warm-up pants with an old toe clip strap around the right cuff It’s not cutting it. Plus once The hands truly get chilled, I am looking for the bail out trail back to the truck,

It is funny now that I’ve got a few rides on the bike when I look at Strava and see all my new kudos and PR’s on sections —- I get a thrill when I look at the segments that I am third or fourth on And see that I was still faster on my 30 pound yeti 2.5 years ago!

Long live the analog bike and I’m looking forward to getting it out again when I’m in a little better shape. Until then, this beast is still working me

DMC707

ooops - pics or it didn’t happen



Waiting on sundown


Unexpected fun is seeing the critters come out at dusk


A more remote trailhead that is a real spookshow when you’re by yourself

Well lit trailhead but with a lot of transient traffic. “Hey brother- got a few bucks or maybe a beer in there?”

DMC707

Update- Bike has an adjustable swing arm with a high and low setting and stock it is in the high setting to run the 27.5 wheel set. I said it in the low position so I could run a a full 29’er set up

No pics yet but I’m going to ride test it today to check it out

DMC707

well, as i mentioned- was anxious to test out the big rig’s new shoes and work constraints dictated part of the ride would be in the dark

but melting ice from a few days before meant, I had to make other plans.

Still trying to figure out a way to stash that headlight battery in a little cleaner fashion. I haven’t found a water bottle cage mount or battery yet.

prj71

Best solution to this problem is a light with the battery integrated. Those wires will eventually fail on the lights with external battery pack.

I have this one...
https://www.fenixlighting.com/produc...-v2-bike-light

Some other options...

https://www.fenixlighting.com/produc...nix-bike-light

https://www.outboundlighting.com/col...evo-bike-light

DMC707

maybe - but after spending long green on this one just 2 months ago, I’m not looking to replace just yet

but appreciate the suggestions!

The light pictured on my bike above throws out a beam equivalent to what my Honda trail bike throws out, But I will look into some of your suggestions for a helmet light, - Fenix has a following in the pow pow community too.

I’ve literally been using a cheap Duracell unit on a headband that takes three AAA batteries. 20 bucks for three pack of them at Costco. It is mostly for when I have to jump off the bike to clear a limb or fart around in my Camelback for something, but the battery life is not very long. I will still keep one in the pack for back up and emergencies. And I found it super handy to keep a couple of these around anyway, especially when you’re used to farting around with flashlights when you’re doing things like feeding animals and what not

prj71

The fenix lights I linked above are too heavy IMO for a helmet light. I would look at the CatEye lights for a helmet light.

Not speaking from my own experience...but from the experience of friends I ride with with...Every single one of them has had problems with the wired lights. Seems over time the connection breaks where the cable goes into the battery pack or into the light. That and when cold weather riding the battery drains quickly. In the integrated system the electronics keep the casing and battery warmer.