How many people are using there e-bike off-road?

[EddiePJ]

The Macina Lycan should up and ready tomorrow evening, but I popped out tonight for an 18 mile ride on the brilliant 1964.
I shouldn't have gone really, as I have felt crap all day and had to stop twice, as I wanted to puke. Thankfully I didn't. That was one very muddy ride, with way too much pushing involved.
It also turned icy cold, although only my head and toes felt it, but once again it was a ride where the mud froze absolutely solid to the bike, and the gear started to play up.

All good stuff, and still beats sitting at home doing feck all.

 

[georgehenry]

Hi Eddie, I took my 1964 out the day before yesterday on that favourite ride of mine up to St Martha's Church on the North Downs that I posted pictures of on page 69 of this thread and you commented on the unbelievable dryness. I have to agree that the 1964 is a really good hard tail and I really enjoyed putting her through her paces. Amazing spec for the price and all done on a ride to work scheme. Happy days. Henry.

 

[EddiePJ]

Superb Henry.

Because of the mud being frozen solid, I couldn't clean mine the other night. It didn't look too pretty this morning when I went out to look.

All clean and mint looking again now though.

Apart from swapping the tyres around, the major service of Macina Lycan is all finished now.

It's had the following carried out.

Full rear suspension bush kit fitted.
New gear change cable.
New front sprocket.
New chain.
New jockey wheels.
The rear cassette is pretty much new, so wasn't touched.
The rear brake hose was rerouted, as was the gear change cable.
New fork remote cable.
Brake fluids changed.
Front fork seals checked.
Rear derailleur stripped and rebuilt, as the clutch had been playing up, so adding to the issue of odd gear changes.
Both wheels trued, and spoke tension adjusted. Wheel bearings were fine.

There is probably more that I can't currently think of, plus I have two new additions. The first being a Neogaurd. Chosen after seeing just well that they work on a recent and very muddy ride, in which two other KTM riders each had one fitted. The second new addition is a set of Shimano M520 SPD pedals, that I got from CRC for a bargain price £11.99 (They cocked up a recent order and gave me a £5.00 discount) I can't wait to get back to an SPD set up.

Looking clean again.

 

[baldylox]

My off road jaunts have been restricted to my local area (apart from when I pop off the front wheel and throw the bike in the back of the car but the rattling around while driving wasn't much fun), so I got a tow bar mounted rack which can take two (up to) 30kg bikes.
Now I can venture a bit further afield so if anyone would like a Sunday afternoon ride (nothing too extreme) in the Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Sussex area; feel free to PM me and I I'll see if we can arrange something.

 

[georgehenry]

Blimey Eddie, it should feel like a new bike. All ready for the spring and summer! Henry.

After my trip on the 1964 I did three consecutive trips to work and back of about 70 miles on the Haibike sDuro including a wicked off road steep down hill blast where I probably sound like a runaway train with my rack and panniers! I can feel it in my legs this morning.

Henry

 

[EddiePJ]

I've also just been given a new toy to play with. A Proform Tyre lever.
I've sung the praises of this lever previously, and now I have my own one.

http://www.bikegoo.co.uk/bike-parts-c8/tubeless-products-c27/proform-tyre-tool-p774

Henry, I'll be riding in your neck of the woods fairly soon.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/wiggle-super-series-ups-and-downs-mtb-2016

This one has one of my favourite sections, where you ride along what looks to be a shallow stream bed. I'll map the section out this year, so that I can go back again another day.

 

[EddiePJ]

I see that you have been modifying the Haibike again Soundwave!

 

[soundwave]

that 1 got a tad to hot lol

 

[georgehenry]

It might be cold but spring is on the way
KTM 1964 on top of the North Downs (I know it does not have a motor!)

View towards Newlands Corner from The Pilgrims Way on the approach to Newbarn Farm
Albury Church

Warren Lane overhanging tree View towards Blackheath Forest

Cottage adjacent to Ford Farm
A great ride before the rain on Sunday. I really like my KTM 1964 hardtail and find it performs really well as an agile cross country machine. I am sure that I am not alone using a non motorised bike as well as the Haibike sDuro that mostly gets used as a fantastic commuting tool, too and from work with a large slice of off road thrown in for good measure.

 

[EddiePJ]

It certainly looked lovely and dry up there.

 

[georgehenry]

And here was I thinking you had a fetish for wet mud Eddie. Don't go pretending you like dry conditions,no one will believe you!

 

[EddiePJ]

I haven't dared to ride the Lycan since it's rebuild.

 

[georgehenry]

I have a friend who loves to ride his 1955 Triumph motorbike rather than mothball it in the garage. His attitude is that he loves to ride it and can always rebuild it again!

No point having that Lycan not being used, much better to get out there and ride it. You know you want to. As my friend said, you can always rebuild it again!

 

[EddiePJ]

It's staying clean at least until Sunday morning, then it's back to normal usage.

A mate is thinking of buying an e-race, and all being well and good, we will be out for a bit of a road ride on Saturday together, and I'm hoping to get some photos of both bikes whilst they are clean.

I haven't been feeling that great over the last week, and have only been out for two road rides on the Woosh Karoo that I currently have here.

I'm out on it again tomorrow evening for a fish and chip run, then Friday evening is a group mtb ride that I'll be taking the Ultra 1964 on.

Sunday morning I might well head off to either Biggin Hill to ride off road from there, or possibly head down to Alfriston and do a loop on the South Downs.
A mate was down there riding yesterday and said that it is dire, so who knows. The rain last night has probably totally screwed it again.

 

[georgehenry]

I rode to work and back on Monday and Tuesday. I saw -3 on the night time Monday return trip, and got considerably rained upon on the Tuesday night return trip. I took the car yesterday but hope to be back on the bike today, if the weather isn't too wet.

 

[EddiePJ]

It was a close one today. I nearly cancelled the trip to the South Downs, as it was foggy and horrid here. I'm glad that I didn't, but I did have a couple of events kind of spoil the ride. Total ride length was 30.5 miles, and sadly I had to cut it short, to get back home again.

https://www.strava.com/activities/514840179

The day started well despite the fog, although it was pretty cold. It went tits up when I came across a group of ramblers, that blocked my way. An argument over rights of way kicked off, and I left feeling very fecked off.
Thankfully my annoyance was forgotten at the first coffee and cake stop at Birling Gap. I spent well over half an hour talking to a lovely elderly guy about the Royal Marines and the time that he served in the forces.
I set off and soon came across another group of friendly walkers, who advised on a route that I hadn't ridden before.
Then it had to happen again. As I approached Alfriston, I was blocked from crossing a bridge. The lead rambler told me that I was technically on a footpath path and shouldn't be there! I remained polite, and pointed out to him that if he took the time to turn around, he would see that he was blocking a South Downs Way bridleway sign, and 'technically' I had ever right to be there.
He was about to argue about it, when a female rambler stepped in and told him that he was wrong.
As I went to pull away, my path was made very narrow, and I lost balance, so causing the handle bar to hit the side hand rail of the bridge, and the bike became well and truly stuck underneath it. At this point another female rambler came over and kept apologizing, saying that it wouldn't have happened, had they got out of the way. It seemed to take forever to get the bike unstuck, and the result was one very ruined handle bar grip, and twisted bars. I said nothing and just cycled away.
I couldn't even begin to count how many times that I have ridden on the SD with no problem, then I get two lots of hassle in the same day!

NealH, do you recall the photo that I posted early last summer of the bees that were nesting under the SV man hole cover on the South Downs. I can report that incredibly they are still there, and are quiet active.

 

[Gubbins]

It was a close one today. I nearly cancelled the trip to the South Downs, as it was foggy and horrid here. I'm glad that I didn't, but I did have a couple of events kind of spoil the ride. Total ride length was 30.5 miles, and sadly I had to cut it short, to get back home again.

https://www.strava.com/activities/514840179

The day started well despite the fog, although it was pretty cold. It went tits up when I came across a group of ramblers, that blocked my way. An argument over rights of way kicked off, and I left feeling very fecked off.
Thankfully my annoyance was forgotten at the first coffee and cake stop at Birling Gap. I spent well over half an hour talking to a lovely elderly guy about the Royal Marines and the time that he served in the forces.
I set off and soon came across another group of friendly walkers, who advised on a route that I hadn't ridden before.
Then it had to happen again. As I approached Alfriston, I was blocked from crossing a bridge. The lead rambler told me that I was technically on a footpath path and shouldn't be there! I remained polite, and pointed out to him that if he took the time to turn around, he would see that he was blocking a South Downs Way bridleway sign, and 'technically' I had ever right to be there.
He was about to argue about it, when a female rambler stepped in and told him that he was wrong.
As I went to pull away, my path was made very narrow, and I lost balance, so causing the handle bar to hit the side hand rail of the bridge, and the bike became well and truly stuck underneath it. At this point another female rambler came over and kept apologizing, saying that it wouldn't have happened, had they got out of the way. It seemed to take forever to get the bike unstuck, and the result was one very ruined handle bar grip, and twisted bars. I said nothing and just cycled away.
I couldn't even begin to count how many times that I have ridden on the SD with no problem, then I get two lots of hassle in the same day!

NealH, do you recall the photo that I posted early last summer of the bees that were nesting under the SV man hole cover on the South Downs. I can report that incredibly they are still there, and are quiet active.

I am thinking of buying a full sus ride.. what would you recommend?

 

[soundwave]

https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/mountain/sworks-turbo-levo-fsr-6fattie/113965

 

[EddiePJ]

I actually have very mixed feelings about full suspension bikes.

I'm currently thinking of getting a hard tail e-mtb, as I'm not convinced that I really get the full benefit of an FS bike for my use. It's seemingly wet and muddy for eight months of the year, and I'm starting to see FS as a hindrance, not an advantage.

Obviously if you are just thinking of one from a comfort aspect, then you can't go wrong. I'm exceptionally happy with my choice of make of bike and motor system. Early issues of chain suck were quickly resolved by engaging the clutch on the rear derailleur.

Recommending a bike is a tricky one. Clearly I'm biased towards KTM, as I really love every aspect of the bike, and parts are certainly a lot cheaper than say Haibike, when the inevitable rear suspension rebuild time comes around.
Skirting around a recommendation, I can only really suggest that you try a few different bike brands out, as what suits one person might not suit another.
After seeing a Cube in the flesh last week, I was pretty impressed by it, both in build quality, frame finish and component spec.

If really pushed for an opinion, I guess that my order of preference would be the following.
KTM, Cube, Trek, Lappierre, then after that I'd prefer to walk.

 

[Gubbins]

https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/mountain/sworks-turbo-levo-fsr-6fattie/113965

Poo!
You do make me smile!