Purchased a 2018 Cube Reaction Race 500

[Parky]

I’ve had mine a week and never been off it.
It’s got me back pedalling for the first time in years and I’m loving it more than I even thought.
Bought the 19 frame but thought it felt cramped so swooped for 21 which is bigger but feels better.
Going to invest in a litelok belt lock coz I’m petrified someone is going to try to nick it!!

You’re hooked like the rest of us

 

[soundwave]

The Topeka Explorer 29er rack came in handy today when collecting two pairs of shoes i'd had delivered to my local supermarket..




Some cheap £30 waterproof shoes for cycling (colour co-ordinated in blue to match my bike, naturally )...

they look better there £170 tho

 

[Francis Albert]

Update.
Had my Cube reaction hybrid pro 500 5 weeks.
No problems at all once I had ironed out the pre delivery woes from the apathetic store I got it from.
260 miles and I love the thing.
Mostly doing cycle routes,old railways etc but some roads so have front and rear lights,bright ones so I'm seen a little bit better.
Wish I'd got a full suspension bike as at speed some trails bounce me about but as a £2000 bike as it is I'm in no way disappointed.
I am doing 25/30 mile trips and still having three bars left though I'm not using turbo or emtb much mostly tour and using the smooth shifting gears a lot so figure on a range of 40+ or 25 ish in the woods climbing more.
The bike is very heavy but this is not noticed on the move but steps and styles etc are awkward.
Brakes strong the whole thing works wonderfully as you might expect for the price but it puts me in places I thought my poorly knees wouldn't take me and like my old Alfa I like looking at the cube...it looks cool,goes great and at 0% finance well they are giving it away for free.

 

[Wicky]

Wish I'd got a full suspension bike as at speed some trails bounce me about but as a £2000 bike as it is I'm in no way disappointed.

Thought about a seat post suspension?

Like this https://www.srsuntour.com/products/copy-of-sp12-ncx-seatpost?variant=27528514371

 

[Francis Albert]

Haven't but will...they seem to get great reviews.

 

[Nev]

Haven't but will...they seem to get great reviews.

I am thinking of getting one too. A mate of mine has recently bought one and he really likes it. I have started doing a fair bit of off road stuff and some of the surfaces are really bad.

 

[Trevormonty]

Update.
Had my Cube reaction hybrid pro 500 5 weeks.
No problems at all once I had ironed out the pre delivery woes from the apathetic store I got it from.
260 miles and I love the thing.
Mostly doing cycle routes,old railways etc but some roads so have front and rear lights,bright ones so I'm seen a little bit better.
Wish I'd got a full suspension bike as at speed some trails bounce me about but as a £2000 bike as it is I'm in no way disappointed.
I am doing 25/30 mile trips and still having three bars left though I'm not using turbo or emtb much mostly tour and using the smooth shifting gears a lot so figure on a range of 40+ or 25 ish in the woods climbing more.
The bike is very heavy but this is not noticed on the move but steps and styles etc are awkward.
Brakes strong the whole thing works wonderfully as you might expect for the price but it puts me in places I thought my poorly knees wouldn't take me and like my old Alfa I like looking at the cube...it looks cool,goes great and at 0% finance well they are giving it away for free.

Thought about a seat post suspension?

Like this https://www.srsuntour.com/products/copy-of-sp12-ncx-seatpost?variant=27528514371

Also try dropping tyre pressure, 30psi good place to start. You have motor so rolling resistance isn't an issue and range doesn't seem to be for most of your rides.

 

[Francis Albert]

Also try dropping tyre pressure, 30psi good place to start. You have motor so rolling resistance isn't an issue and range doesn't seem to be for most of your rides.

I'll check them now....good idea.....thanks.

 

[DangerousDave79]

I'll check them now....good idea.....thanks.

Has anyone else wore out their smallest rear cog? Im doing 26k commute to work and back, mostly in the highest gear, with a dongle, flat to the mat...

This seems to have worn down my teeth on the lowest smallest rear cog. Im getting the whole set replaced with a smaller tighter groupset this week but was wondering if any other big mile big speed users have done the same?

 

[Plodder Bob]

I found stepping up the front sprocket from 15 teeth to 20 helped .I had the same issue now find I rarely use smallest gear , well maybe downhill going for a new p.b ! I must admit I’m not using a dongle though or turbo mode . What total mileage are you up to ? Is your chain ok I’ve heard of them being replaced after 1500mile

 

[Trevormonty]

Try alternating chainring sizes eg 15-18 every time you replace chains should spread wear between few gears.
I find on road that I ride at 22-27km/h spending most of my time between 2 gears.

Long term Rohloff hub would be ideal but for price you can buy a lot of cassettes and chains.

 

[DangerousDave79]

I found stepping up the front sprocket from 15 teeth to 20 helped .I had the same issue now find I rarely use smallest gear , well maybe downhill going for a new p.b ! I must admit I’m not using a dongle though or turbo mode . What total mileage are you up to ? Is your chain ok I’ve heard of them being replaced after 1500mile

Not sure of the miles. Its 250km per week but im rarely getting a full week as meeting and work require the car alot.

Im getting the chain replaced as well as the casset. £55. The new PB may be very interesting with the lower teeth range...

 

[mike killay]

My experience with a TONARO Enduro is that the 11 tooth sprocket wears very quickly indeed

 

[bikey850]

For anybody who has increased the front sproket size - what number did you go for and did you need to lengthen the chain any? Thanks.

 

[soundwave]

you can go up to 20t anything more than that will effect climbing and harder to ride.

i tried a 25t and the bike was so hard to get going i had to stand up to peddle.

thats to short.

i think that was 4 extra links.

 

[Plodder Bob]

20 teeth is the max I think I should have added a few links as the chain seems tight on the largest gear ( rather like sound waves pic above !)but I don’t use it as don’t have any hills that require it on my commute

 

[zakventis]

Those mudguards look decent. I’d be interested to know if you think they’d be ok for 29” wheels.

I have a pair them fitted to my Powerfly 7 which has 29ers - perfect fit (although had to use zip-ties as there are no lugs on the Trek).

 

[Kimbo]

So any recommendation for mudguards for this bike?

I'll be needing them over the winter for commuting. I quite like the look of the ones that Cube fit to their 'all road' models, but they are £50..

I also bought the Race 500 and been looking at mudguards. Waiting for the bike I bought a couple of SKS Bluemels P65 but it's to tight of a fit. Since the Pro Allroad uses the same type tires as the Race 500 I figure those mudguards would fit (even though they are pricey). But I can't for the life of me find which model they are using, you don't happen to remember?

 

[The Bear]

Since the Pro Allroad uses the same type tires as the Race 500 I figure those mudguards would fit (even though they are pricey). But I can't for the life of me find which model they are using, you don't happen to remember?

Im not sure if they appear on Cube website?

I ended up fitting the SKS Beavertail mudguard to the rear of my Race 500 (Halfords £15) which fit perfect under my Topeak rack.

 

[Trevormonty]

I've gone for SKS VELO 65 MOUNTAIN 29. Better coverage, need to order fork leg mount points separately.

See my Trek Powerfly7 review thread.

Its possible to add lights that are wired into motor. I found price was getting up there so put on hold for now. Besides light cost (Euro30 -300) will also need handlebar mounting bracket and bosch lighting cable (Euro 12+8).