Cycling - NLC

[istoo]

Anyone else riding an Ebike?

I bought a full sus cube with the boschCX motor and its probably the most fun I have ever had on a bike. It is also great for splitting opinions between those who have never tried one and think its cheating to those that have and see how much fun it is. Ive been riding things and places that I would never have got to on a normal bike, and uphills are now enjoyable bits to ride, whilst still feeling burst at the end of them. 10/10, would recommend.

spotted one in the bike shop a few weeks ago and wondered how good it really was.

need to try a test ride.

doing 25kph uphill, yeah its a laugh, as heavy as an old DH bike. But had a go on two MTB variants now. They are fun but i will stick to manual power. It has its place but I wouldnt use it to replace what i currently enjoy most. Great for a commuter, city bike.

A couple of months ago I was out on a club 60 miler Sunday road ride and stopped at post office cafe in Chapel of Garioch. There were two touring ebikes parked outside, we came inside to see two very senior gents, cant recall actual ages but i am sure one was about to turn 80. If i am still cycling at that age, nay, still alive at that age, i will be a very very happy man.

[kenny]

Bumparama

Looking for some SE byclist commuter thoughts.

I do around 2500 miles a year on my bike mainly commuting plus some falling and hurting myself for fun.

I bought a Cube Analog 4 hardtail 4 years ago after my Specialized was stolen, while decent bike I have never really felt it was special. After 10,000 miles it is starting to feel a bit tired.

Is it worth spending a bit more in the next bike mainly for commuting?

[ryallm]

In a word, yes I reckon it is, as long as you have somewhere secure to leave it at work. I'm a regular bike commuter with a 30ish mile round trip. Been doing it for years on Cube cyclocross bike with 30c road tyres and full guards. Next time I buy something a bit lighter - for me I spent so much time riding the thing it is worth spending bit more, but if you ride through the winter the drivetrain takes such a beating you want something reasonable cheap to replace (i.e. 105 or Ultegra rather than top end kit) . In the last couple of years there has been an explosion of gravel/endurance bikes with disc brakes and fatter tyres which make great commuters. The Whyte range is worth good look. I am very tempted by the Whyte Wessex at just over 2 grand - great bike for the money but they have several other options further down the price range. The Genesis Datum and GT Grade also get great reviews - both ideal commuters. After commuting on a hardtail mountain bike, any of these will be a massive leap forward. Oh, and personally I wouldn't touch anything with cable operated discs - definitely worth paying a bit more for hydraulics.

[pete]

I;ve got a Cube roadbike (Ultegra and 25c tyres) and a cube CX bike. Commuting on the CX bike was a revelation, much more comfortable just the bigger tyres. No real difference in speed (I'm unfit). And only a grand or so. It's the sae as this one.

http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/pro ... cross-bike

[istoo]

bugger replied and then deleted...

yes, good time for a change, especially if you arent feeling it.
I am an MTBer at heart but do road for fitness and my commute is rural B roads 16 miles each way when i bother so Road bike almost always.
When you say you like falling and hurting do you want to be MTBing, suggestions above are good, but they are cyclocross orientated and cyclocross bikes have made a big comeback and are better than thaey have ever been. But so is MTB world. 26in wheels are now heritage, 27.5 is mainstay and 29ers making a resurgance again.

No idea of your commuting distance, type, what hurting and falling entails some suggestions;

leaning towards commuter bias
http://www.cannondale.com/en/Great%20Br ... =undefined
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/c ... I_ID=16780
genesis datum a good shout, crois de fer also a nice piece of kit.

in the middle
http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/v ... eview-2013
this consistently does wel in reviews year after year. on 29er wheels with semislick/slicks it will roll well for road and give you some fun offroad.

MTB bias (i ran older MTBs and slicks) but always have heaps of spare wheels.
http://www.mbr.co.uk/reviews/hardtail/o ... 016-review

[woody]

For commuting Kenny (esp as I think you use the canal paths?) something like this would be great:
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/urban/urban/urban-4.html

Or something a bit more road baised and lighter like this (satill has 30mm gravel tyres fitted)
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/fitness/ro ... -al-6.html

Or I'd be tempted just to look at CX bikes, but you may have guessed that.

[istoo]

Canyon is a lot of bike for the money, however if you have any issues they are appauling to deal with.

If you are on canal paths... Hybrid / gravel bike will be perfect. But of course MTB is always better

[kenny]

For commuting Kenny (esp as I think you use the canal paths?) something like this would be great:
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/urban/urban/urban-4.html.

Still on the canal paths mainly, although the muddiest sections have been upgraded the paths are still pretty bad in winter, really fine silty mud in places that tends to build up if you don't clean the bike a lot. Which I don't.
I do like that one though, never ridden a belt driven bike, does it feel any different?

[Lazydonkey]

Many years ago Dom, Dave and i all went from hardtails (mainly used with front suspension locked out and semi-slicks) to cx bikes and they are a revalation in terms of speed and ease of speed. However if your commute isn't too hilly you might be surprised by a single speed.

I bought a charge plug 0 jsut for a laugh and to use with a kid seat but i love it - and if you're doing that many miles a year there is nada to go wrong / get out of sync. It's a different sensation but i managed to hit 29mph yesterday on mine, albeit with me wee legs battering up and down like you wouldn't beleive!

Genesis day one gives you cx and single speed in one
https://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m117b185s8 ... oCvPvw_wcB

They do an internal hub version too
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/urb ... ty/day-one

Which gives you gears but virtually no maintenance.

Not had any experience of belt drive but they really appeal to me, but they do seem expensive. (although not in the case of that canyon )

[woody]

For commuting Kenny (esp as I think you use the canal paths?) something like this would be great:
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/urban/urban/urban-4.html.

Still on the canal paths mainly, although the muddiest sections have been upgraded the paths are still pretty bad in winter, really fine silty mud in places that tends to build up if you don't clean the bike a lot. Which I don't.
I do like that one though, never ridden a belt driven bike, does it feel any different?

Smee is the belt drive guru, I've never ridden one.

[Scotty C]

there are a few of us on SE entered this.

http://www.kintyreway.com/ultra/

[istoo]

Many years ago Dom, Dave and i all went from hardtails (mainly used with front suspension locked out and semi-slicks) to cx bikes and they are a revalation in terms of speed and ease of speed. However if your commute isn't too hilly you might be surprised by a single speed.

I bought a charge plug 0 jsut for a laugh and to use with a kid seat but i love it - and if you're doing that many miles a year there is nada to go wrong / get out of sync. It's a different sensation but i managed to hit 29mph yesterday on mine, albeit with me wee legs battering up and down like you wouldn't beleive!

Genesis day one gives you cx and single speed in one
https://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m117b185s8 ... oCvPvw_wcB

They do an internal hub version too
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/urb ... ty/day-one

Which gives you gears but virtually no maintenance.

Not had any experience of belt drive but they really appeal to me, but they do seem expensive. (although not in the case of that canyon )

Gates drives are good, my pal Giles has been running his Nicolai hardtail Rohloff for 11 years now, 1 belt in that time only because as he felt he should change it.

Forgot the Charge Plug, my pal stuart got one as a commuter, mega value for money, a tad heavy but doesnt slow him down!

I rather like this, but maybe a bit much for commuting
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/1772827/produ ... 0wodGPgENQ