How many people are using there e-bike off-road?
- Thread starter iain85
- Start date
Both.. it's an old man thing!not like the turbo levo then or the 7k price tag
to date i have never had a reply from haibike or winora regarding parts and the few bits i have found so far are all from Germany.
ebike shop sell the bearing kit but will only sell to his customers that have bought a bike from him.
11 speed can get expensive if you have to replace cassettes at 100 quid a go and the xd hubs are 90 quid if you brake 1 of those.
http://www.vivax-assist.com/en/produkte/e-mtb/fahrrad.php?catId=E-MTB
15kg
ebike shop sell the bearing kit but will only sell to his customers that have bought a bike from him.
11 speed can get expensive if you have to replace cassettes at 100 quid a go and the xd hubs are 90 quid if you brake 1 of those.
http://www.vivax-assist.com/en/produkte/e-mtb/fahrrad.php?catId=E-MTB
15kg
Interesting that you are considering a hard tail which echos my sons thoughts on his full sus normal bike.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.
When riding with him I like the way his bike glides over tree roots when I am bounced about..
That's my only reason for another bike...
As i see it the problem with full suspension bikes is that if you go for the entry level the you end up bobing and regretting.. so how far up the ladder do you go ...
No real options of test riding around here but I have seen a nice shiny blue 2015 haibike at 3 grand+. Which got me drooling. . (Another old man thing)
No real options of test riding around here but I have seen a nice shiny blue 2015 haibike at 3 grand+. Which got me drooling. . (Another old man thing)
Just saying!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.
One prick is all it takes to spoil a nice ride out, some ramblers think the country side is just for them ( esp the weekenders ) and the odd one is really stuck up their own backside, you did well keeping cool I'm afraid I would have to him he was being a total arse and that the SDW is for all to enjoy whether walking, riding or cycling. So far I have only come across pleasant and helpful folk on the downs, I expect he was being a tit and showing off to be macho in front of the women in the group. Probably one reason why I try to avoid weekend riding off road esp as I also tend to use PF's.
The bee colony I remember and did copy the pics for the local association monthly news letter, sounds like they are doing well and are able to manage the dreaded varroa mite and associated viruses that effect them. May be you could pm their exact location to me as I would be interested in visiting them as they are fascinating to watch.
The bee colony I remember and did copy the pics for the local association monthly news letter, sounds like they are doing well and are able to manage the dreaded varroa mite and associated viruses that effect them. May be you could pm their exact location to me as I would be interested in visiting them as they are fascinating to watch.
Izzyekerslike. I'm fine with that. Georgehenry aside, It's 42% less people out riding and chewing up tracks.
Nealh, I'll post the grid ref later, or a better OS map detail, but here is the location from Strava. It's actually very easy to find. You just go up Firle Bostal to the car park, follow the track that leads through Black Cap Farm, go down Black Cap hill, and it is at the gate way at bottom of the hill between Home bottom and Stump Bottom
I must admit that I did spend a fair bit of time watching them. Obviously they weren't prolific in number, but it was a reasonable flow of them popping in and out. The good thing is that there is plenty of flowers out in their location and they are in quite a sheltered spot.
edit, if I have done this correctly the TQ 46641 03880 lat: 50.8159 long: 0.0802
I also prefer riding the Downs during a week day, and usually avoid the SDW. I was just trying to pick a route today, that I knew would be relatively dry and free from mud.
Weather permitting, I'm aiming to be up there again on Wednesday. I have to look at a job in Keymer early morning, so might well take the opportunity to put the bike in the van, and sneak a ride.
I'm also hoping to come away from looking at the job, with a free Rohloff hub geared mtb. Potential then for a build project!
A very foggy start, and despite knowing the WD fairly well, I had to keep referring to OS map finder.
I also forgot to add that it was great switching back to a clipless pedal set up. I really didn't enjoy my time using flats.
Nealh, the bees are to be found at the bottom of this hill. This hill can get pretty greasy when things get wet. This was also the hill that my last tubeless set up failed on. There are quite a few sharp bits of flint that protrude through the grass surface
.
Nealh, I'll post the grid ref later, or a better OS map detail, but here is the location from Strava. It's actually very easy to find. You just go up Firle Bostal to the car park, follow the track that leads through Black Cap Farm, go down Black Cap hill, and it is at the gate way at bottom of the hill between Home bottom and Stump Bottom
I must admit that I did spend a fair bit of time watching them. Obviously they weren't prolific in number, but it was a reasonable flow of them popping in and out. The good thing is that there is plenty of flowers out in their location and they are in quite a sheltered spot.
edit, if I have done this correctly the TQ 46641 03880 lat: 50.8159 long: 0.0802
I also prefer riding the Downs during a week day, and usually avoid the SDW. I was just trying to pick a route today, that I knew would be relatively dry and free from mud.
Weather permitting, I'm aiming to be up there again on Wednesday. I have to look at a job in Keymer early morning, so might well take the opportunity to put the bike in the van, and sneak a ride.
I'm also hoping to come away from looking at the job, with a free Rohloff hub geared mtb.
Potential then for a build project!
A very foggy start, and despite knowing the WD fairly well, I had to keep referring to OS map finder.
I also forgot to add that it was great switching back to a clipless pedal set up. I really didn't enjoy my time using flats.
Nealh, the bees are to be found at the bottom of this hill. This hill can get pretty greasy when things get wet. This was also the hill that my last tubeless set up failed on. There are quite a few sharp bits of flint that protrude through the grass surface
.
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Hi Eddie, sorry to hear about your rambler issues. When out on the North Downs I can have the same issues.
I have an old fashioned bicycle bell (£5 from Halfords) that I ring when approaching walkers in either direction but always when approaching from behind and have had some really nice comments, "So nice to hear a bell, so many other cyclist wizz by me the with no warning".Fair comment. There must be a lot of bikes zooming by pedestrians from the rear with no warning, not helping our cause.
I highly recommend an old fashioned style bicycle bell as everyone associates the tring tring sound with a bicycle and they get the attention of a walker far more effectively than more modern styles.
Those new, one ding style bell just don't attract a pedestrians attention in the same way, and on occasion when using one I have been dinging away madly and found the walker looking up in air for a strange sounding bird, completely unaware of my approach. So I would highly recommend a traditional one.
I always slow right down or stop for horse riders.
However I find the vast majority of walkers are enjoying the countryside like me and smile and return my hello/small talk about the weather.
But there are always a few who will not make eye contact, return my greeting or make way, seeming to want confrontation and sometimes forcing me to stop completely.
I have to admit that when faced with this rudeness and where the track allows I have just shot up the bank and whooshed around them leaving them to their grumpy consternation.
These rude ones are in my experience in the minority, and often an occasional rather than a regular user of the track in question. I generally know as I often use the same routes.
Henry
PS out today on the KTM 1964 in the labyrinth that is the common land between Milford and Elstead in Surrey to give me new ride to work options. Fantastic bit of countryside with a myriad of routes. Needed my map and needed to consult it often. I forgot how much you have to stop when exploring an area with so many criss crossing paths. Very easy to get disorientated. Quite a lot of signs warning about the possibility of unexploded ordinance as the area is used by the Army/MOD, however no hand grenades to be found! Fortunately no banjo playing locals either asking me to "squeal like a pig".
I have an old fashioned bicycle bell (£5 from Halfords) that I ring when approaching walkers in either direction but always when approaching from behind and have had some really nice comments, "So nice to hear a bell, so many other cyclist wizz by me the with no warning".Fair comment. There must be a lot of bikes zooming by pedestrians from the rear with no warning, not helping our cause.
I highly recommend an old fashioned style bicycle bell as everyone associates the tring tring sound with a bicycle and they get the attention of a walker far more effectively than more modern styles.
Those new, one ding style bell just don't attract a pedestrians attention in the same way, and on occasion when using one I have been dinging away madly and found the walker looking up in air for a strange sounding bird, completely unaware of my approach. So I would highly recommend a traditional one.
I always slow right down or stop for horse riders.
However I find the vast majority of walkers are enjoying the countryside like me and smile and return my hello/small talk about the weather.
But there are always a few who will not make eye contact, return my greeting or make way, seeming to want confrontation and sometimes forcing me to stop completely.
I have to admit that when faced with this rudeness and where the track allows I have just shot up the bank and whooshed around them leaving them to their grumpy consternation.
These rude ones are in my experience in the minority, and often an occasional rather than a regular user of the track in question. I generally know as I often use the same routes.
Henry
PS out today on the KTM 1964 in the labyrinth that is the common land between Milford and Elstead in Surrey to give me new ride to work options. Fantastic bit of countryside with a myriad of routes. Needed my map and needed to consult it often. I forgot how much you have to stop when exploring an area with so many criss crossing paths. Very easy to get disorientated. Quite a lot of signs warning about the possibility of unexploded ordinance as the area is used by the Army/MOD, however no hand grenades to be found! Fortunately no banjo playing locals either asking me to "squeal like a pig".
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Unfortunately there are probably a higher percentage of ignorant cyclists than there irritating ramblers. On the canal I am alarmed by the number of strava chasing bikers who think they are in a race. It's no wonder walkers take it out on whoever they can get hold of... usually me!
I love the sheep photo. Are the masts in the distance the ones by the 'asbestos barn of death' do you know?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.
They are the two radio station masts at the top of Beddingham Hill. You can see them quite clearly from up here in Crowborough.
I don't ever recall seeing an asbestos barn there though, but I've never even really paid the masts any attention either when I've I cycled past.
What's the story with the barn?
I don't ever recall seeing an asbestos barn there though, but I've never even really paid the masts any attention either when I've I cycled past.
What's the story with the barn?
Good points about startling walkers/horse riders/doggers when approaching on bike especially from behind. I don't currently have a bell (had everything from mickey mouse bell to airzound horn in the past) but I am considering adding one of these to my bars..
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/-oi/oi-the-bike-bell-that-doesnt-look-like-a-bike-bell
I think they look and sound rather nice.
I rather liked that bell as well. Very discreet, and functional.
I'll wait for the Chinese to copy it and sell them on Ebay for a £1.00
I recall a very embarrassing moment when just a little ping of a bell sent a horse rearing up, very much out of control.
Good job that you can blame a mate when out riding!!
I must confess to being rather rude to a horse rider recently.
I approached from behind, slowed down and shouted a cheery good morning. I got no response, verbal or head turning, so called out again.
The female rider then swung round and shouted "I heard you the first time, what the hell do you want!"
It was the one time that I wished that the bike was fitted with air horns.
Very discreet, and functional.I'll wait for the Chinese to copy it and sell them on Ebay for a £1.00
I recall a very embarrassing moment when just a little ping of a bell sent a horse rearing up, very much out of control.
Good job that you can blame a mate when out riding!!
I must confess to being rather rude to a horse rider recently.
I approached from behind, slowed down and shouted a cheery good morning. I got no response, verbal or head turning, so called out again.
The female rider then swung round and shouted "I heard you the first time, what the hell do you want!"
It was the one time that I wished that the bike was fitted with air horns.
Think they're different masts, miles away. The barn is a really old structure at the below map location (if the link works ok?). It's on my lunchtime circuit during the week. I've heard several different people refer to it as the 'Asbestos barn of death', - so I took the name up too as a point of reference.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/50°52'55.4"N+0°15'23.9"W/@50.8820704,-0.2588217,514m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en
That would really get my goat. One must just rise above horsey people (my sister and family are, Ewww!). Horsey people have a level of self-righteousness and importance above mortal folk.I rather liked that bell as well.
I'll wait for the Chinese to copy it and sell them on Ebay for a £1.00
I recall a very embarrassing moment when just a little ping of a bell sent a horse rearing up, very much out of control.
Good job that you can blame a mate when out riding!!
I must confess to being rather rude to a horse rider recently.
I approached from behind, slowed down and shouted a cheery good morning. I got no response, verbal or head turning, so called out again.
The female rider then swung round and shouted "I heard you the first time, what the hell do you want!"
It was the one time that I wished that the bike was fitted with air horns.
Take a lot for me to be patient and bite my tongue but I think I'm better as I get older.
Horn's a fun thought but it'd likely cause the horse to freak causing all manor of mayhem.
Smile and be thankful they aren't related to you
Don't worry, I was only joking about the air horn.
They are different masts. I know exactly the barn that you mean, and that's where I intend to head towards on my Wednesday morning ride.
This is the pair of masts at Bedingham. I really hate the climb from Southease to the masts. It's no different from any other climb on the SD, but for some reason I have always hated it.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8335462,0.0676546,691m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
I also hate the climb that goes through Pycombe golf course.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9001839,-0.1513755,1494m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
NealH, thanks to Brightonbikes, and his use of Google maps, this is the exact location for the bees nest. The top end of the crescent shape small field .
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8122302,0.0767817,233m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
.
They are different masts. I know exactly the barn that you mean, and that's where I intend to head towards on my Wednesday morning ride.
This is the pair of masts at Bedingham. I really hate the climb from Southease to the masts. It's no different from any other climb on the SD, but for some reason I have always hated it.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8335462,0.0676546,691m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
I also hate the climb that goes through Pycombe golf course.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.9001839,-0.1513755,1494m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
NealH, thanks to Brightonbikes, and his use of Google maps, this is the exact location for the bees nest. The top end of the crescent shape small field .
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8122302,0.0767817,233m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
.
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Did think you were joshing about air hornDon't worry, I was only joking about the air horn.
They are different masts. I know exactly the barn that you mean, and that's where I intend to head towards on my Wednesday morning ride.
This is the pair at Bedingham.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8335462,0.0676546,691m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
NealH, thanks to Brightonbikes, and his use of Google maps, this is the exact location for the bees nest.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.8122302,0.0767817,233m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
.
I might come and try to find you Wednesday morning then?
Would you fancy company of another ebike for a little section?
I often play along there, such a great playground to have with riding distance of home.
I used to hate the cycle up but since ebikes that bit's fun too. 15-20 mins and I'm at the top. Half hour or so play and back down. Ruddy fantastic!
Sounds good, although I'm not 100% sure about timing yet. Drop me a message with your contact details, and I'll get in tough.