Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
Other Stuff => The Blue Oyster bar => Topic started by: nigel s on June 16, 2024, 11:54:53
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Promised to start a new thread for this ........so here it is.
35 miles this morning starting with a short section of Weavers Way then by roads and tracks onto the coastal path across the cliff tops.
Managed to get up this for the first time on a push bike, doesn't look much in the pic but is 12 feet up with no run up, the pic was taken from where you have to start from :lala:
Stopped at Sea Palling to shelter from the rain, then back home.
The gasgas performed well and still had 57 miles range left when I got back :thumb:
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Just as a point of interest,
In the pic of the cliff tops , when I was a lad, to the right ( seaward ) side of the cliff was a tarmac road, then a hedge ,then a bit of scrub ground, THEN the cliff.
Coastal erosion is taking its toll.
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The village what where I was brung up is on The Weavers Way. Sounds like you're a bit further north though Nigel. As my parents still live in the house they bought in 1967 I may well bring my Cube over one of these days and ride some of the roads I used to as a kid.
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I'm starting to think of buying an ebike, mainly because my mate is getting one. I do have a few bikes and the missus thinks that's enough. She's even suggesting I should sell some :shock:
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Sir Trev,
I am near Stalham. The good thing about Norfolk for cyclists is it is fairly flat. But after a full day at work in Feb, say , cycling home in the dark into a head wind uphill, I have a hard time believing it. :grin:
Uk- Vstrom650,
Same here, I have 3 clogging up my garage now!
I had been resistant to ebikes, didn't see the point.But as I got older and slower they came more into focus.
I have waited and done my research ( and through having a strom 650 after years of litre bikes, saved up some cash :icon_wink:)
Early days yet , but all the bad bits are gone just leaving the good bits :thumb:
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I grew up in Acle Nigel.
Far cry from the VERY hilly High Wycombe I live in now. But, I can now cruise up one of the many 1:4 hills around here at a steady 10mph once in the right ratio, although it depletes the range a fair bit doing so...
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Bloody Hell Sir Trev, just down the rudd :icon_wink: ....:thumb:
Can I ask what sort of range are you getting, I have done 50 miles and it is still showing 40 left?
Seems a lot? But I am thinking it may drop quickly as the battery gets below 50% ?
I am running it at medium assist ,at least on the road sections, and have been up against the 15.5 mph limit , mostly ,not sure if this means I am doing a lot of the work thus saving the battery or if it uses more 'cos I am going quick?
Not really got a clue , all new to me :shrug:
But I did equal my fastest time home from work today.............into a head wind. :icon_wink:
15.5 mph may not be fast for a road bike, but on a fat 3.5" tyred mountain bike is bloody quick ( for me ) plus it does it EVERYWHERE.( no 1 in 4s around here though) :dance:
Loving it so far.
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A 100% charged battery usually shows a range remaining of about 120 miles on min assist on mg Cube. I generally use level 2 of four, and crank it up on the hills, so the 625 Bosch battery really gets me about 60-70 miles around here. A couple of years ago on hols in Ely (a phrase involving pancakes springs to mind) and I got closer to 100, but then I was mostly on min assist for that. The range seemed to drop in a fairly linear fashion on mine but different makes will vary a bit I guess.
If you get over 15.5mph the assist is meant to cut out, so all the power is coming from you. Unless you chip it, which is not that clever if you use the roads, as Daily Mail readers will hate you, tar regular cyclists like me alike, and you'll attract the attention of the Rozzers. Just like the knobends around here did when they all modded their leased Mercs to crackle and bang on the overrun and caused a nuisance at night. They all got nicked as you don't hear them around here any more. Serves them right [\rant].
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Ta for that Trev.
Seems about the same on mine. Good to know :thumb:
I have no plans to chip it, warranty is void if I do.
Besides 15.5 is fine for me, especially off road. My shin has already seen the bike is quicker than me on gnarly single track :icon_wink:
I used to work with a bloke nicknamed Eli ( pronounced in the biblical way , not the town........I knew his name was Nick...so asked his brother how come Eli.
When they were kids their Dad asked "where do you want to go for a day trip " and got the map out ( shows how long ago that was :icon_wink: ) .
Nick points to ELY and says "Eli I want to go to Eli".
Well ...it stuck
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Uncle Ray,
NUTS,
https://youtu.be/q4RbAkgNsWI
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I could have put this in "what are you listening to right now " but.......
I like the way he misses out parts of the course :whistle:
More Uncle Ray,
https://youtu.be/IAgF1QjuvJg
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I went to a downhill cycle playground in South Wales one time, I can't remember where exactly but about 1 hour from Ebbw Vale. It looked a lot like that in the video. I was amazed at what I saw, sitting with a BBQ burger in my mouth and a bike passing at about 50mph!?!? I was scared for the riders. Brilliant.
I wish bikes and trails like that were around when I was young. :thumb:
Thanks for posting.
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God , at 58 , even as a regular cyclist, I would snap in half at the first jump :grin:
Ho Hum
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This , believe it or not is a "restricted byway"
Nice ride as the evening closes. Was wearing my long socks this time to keep the nettles at bay :icon_wink:
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Looking good Nigel. Not sure I'd take the V-Strom down there.
I had a ride on the missus' ebike (Haibike Trekking 4.0) last Tuesday. Have been resisting using it for about two years however as I'm now thinking of getting one, thought I'd give it a go. Apart from the heavens opening within minutes of me setting off (am sure I saw Noah floating by), I did a quick loop around some roads I usually do on my road/mountain bike. Initial thoughts were it makes it much easier to do the loop - my heart rate is usually an average of 166bpm (maxing at 190), on the ebike it was an average of 144bpm although I managed to hit 180 uphill when I was going for it.
I did notice I was out pedalling the motor a fair bit on the ride, and the bike is 27kg so was a bit of an effort on the flats as my average speed was around 17-18mph. I suppose I could just slow down slightly...
By the end of the loop I could have easily repeated it again and probably again, so it does make me think a full bore emtb for some trail centres might help make better use of the trip. May have to start looking at them in more detail.
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UK- Vstrom,
I have found the same thing with regard to the 15.5 cut off. I have to reign myself in.
On mine 10th (1x12) gear just happens to be 60 rpm cadence at 15.5, I think that is designed in. :shrug:
If I keep to that on the road I and the bike seem happy working together.
I don't check heart rate, but I cycled 35 miles a week going to work and back on a normal bike, not to keep fit as such , but to keep healthy, if you see the difference.
With the ebike , though it IS less exercise just commuting, I find I am using it a lot more, so I am getting a gain.
And it is a lot of fun, which has got to help.
If exercise was boring I probably wouldn't do it so much. :icon_wink:
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They do say ebikes are a great enabler, and you tend to ride them more so it provides about 95% of normal bike exercise.
I'd probably be better off slowing down to be honest as I tend to go max effort all the time which isn't good either. Also, I tend to drive an hour plus to get to some trail centres but you only get a few loops in before the legs give out - the ebike would probably double that.
The issue I have is not enough hours in the day/week/year to ride the V-Strom and the bikes.
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That is the problem, never enough time.
Though saying that just got back from a ride ,couple of hours.
Luckily I have all sorts of trails, tracks etc , just on my door step so no traveling in the car involved.
A few pics from tonights efforts .
A NOT abandoned church, but only acessable by tracks ..no road.
The frankly dodgy path down by the canal.
And a swamp that I am going nowhere near :icon_wink:
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Another evening ride on the gasgas, not far, 10 miles ?
All on tracks / paths near me, just ambling really. Saw nobody bar a few hares, a deer and some rooks angry at being disturbed , and an old girl on her horse. She thanked me for turning off my strobing headlight and giving way( I used to work in a stud so know how some horses are ), we had a good natter, middle of nowhere, just me ,her and the horse , and went on our ways.
Lovely.
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That's interesting about the horse and flashing lights. I was covering mine up whenever I came across horses but someone I know who owns horses told me I didn't need to as it wouldn't bother them... May have to think about that again.
I went for an eleven mile cycle ride today on my hardtail - bought it a year ago but haven't quite hit 200 miles on it yet... It's a bit over biked for the local loops but still nice to get out on it.
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The thing about the lights is that although most horses most of the time are fine, they are animals. And just like us ,have good days and bad days. Covering them like you do, shows respect for the rider and lets them know that you have seen them . I try to be polite and considerate riding the trails,duty of care to others and all that , the last thing we need is the Militant Arm of the Ramblers Association getting all uptight. Besides ,I like to stop and have a natter. :grin:
I am NOT one of those riders who will hold up and annoy other road users just because the law says I can , A Pox on them I say :icon_wink:
Nice bike, that weighs , what.. half mine :lala:
What is that rear mudguard, SKS? I have fitted one on the front but am debating about the back, or whether just to fit a rack/tail bag :shrug:
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I think it comes in just under 13kgs - pretty light compared to my old MTB (17+kgs) which is the bike I tend to use the most to be honest.
The mudguard is a Mucky Nutz one - it has an extension bit you can add to cover the rear wheel for wet weather, and a short mode for summer.
I tend to wear a hip bag on the MTB rather than attach stuff to the bike, mainly because I can't fit one to my full sus, but a bonus is the bag also has a water bladder for longer rides.
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Ta for that.
Googled the mucky nutz and it got good reviews, I like the idea of adjustable lengths so found one on fleabay. :thumb:
If it starts to piss down 10 minutes after I have fitted it........not my fault :icon_wink:
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Evening ride exploring some new trails that weren't there a few years ago.
Midgies in clouds pelting me like foul tasting hail.
Weirdly , considering all the off road I have done since getting the bike, my dodgy right knee feels the best it has in years :shrug:
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Wet all morning, so took the gasgas down to Bacton woods.
My yard manager rides there and recommended it.
All good fun, rode Sunny The Snake , a nice open trail, must paint up a rock to bring along next time.
In the trees it was a lot tighter with stumps and dead falls.
Did get a surprised look for going UP a steep bit from a couple at the top, till I got to the top, stopped and they realised I was cheating :icon_wink:
New mudguard seem to be doing the job nicely :thumb:
Came back along the Dilham canal and Ebridge Mill.
E Mountain bikes rock.
But notice the empty water bottle cage, forgot to bring one and was gasping by the time I got back :whistle:
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Sounds like a good ride out. Rookie mistake on the water bottle though - you won't forget it again.
I had a ride to Harewood House today. Went out during the England match so the bits of road I had to go on were empty. I did regret being in shorts on the overgrown Bridleways though - too many nettles and brambles so may need to find alternate routes until autumn.
Stopped for a photo with the deer - shame they look further away in the picture than they were.
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Are those deer farmed?
We have a couple of captive farmed herds round here and I always thought it odd considering there is 1000s of them running around wild :shrug:.
You are right about the water though, had the bottle ready in the fridge and wasn't till 7 miles in ,down Weavers way I noticed.DOH.
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Yes, I think they are farmed - I know the farm shop there sells venison.
They also film Emmerdale out the back of the estate - not one I watch, but there's usually the odd coach of tourists going up/down the steep road if I'm out on the road bike.
I usually forget food rather than water when I'm going out, and it's very hilly around here so you suffer a lot when that happens.
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The food I remembered.
I am partial to cherry bakewell flapjacks (also venison sausages :icon_wink:). A little bit of sugar for the rush and oats for the slow release energy.
Always have one in my toolkit on the strom too, and they last for ages , just in case.
Emmerdale, is that the one with the plane crash or was that The Archers.......... you may be able to tell , also not a follower of soaps :grin:.
I got filmed the other day in Norwich, walking back to the bike park near the market I passed Alan Partridge ( Steve Coogan) looking goofy,
makeup on ?
WTF,
Looked back and there was the camera crew rolling.
So if you see a tall biker in that shot........Twas ME.
Ho Hum
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Peeing down..............
Still peeing down........
STILL peeing down.....
Feck it .......take the gasgas out for a wet ride to test the mucky nutz rear mudguard with the extension on.
Does it work ...yep. No splurge up my back :thumb:
Rest of me absolutely soaked through though'........but still ........got a grin out of it so.........
Ho Hum
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Gasgas beachbeach,
Deserted ....don't know why.
Got back to watch the last two kicks of the footy.
Spent my time well .........I think :shrug:
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Took the mountain bike to Dalby Forest on the V-Strom. Weather forecast was for rain, but apart from a downpour on the ride over was sunny the entire time.
22.08 miles with 2,192ft of climbing in 3hrs 10mins of moving time. Only stopped once for a sandwich. Average heat rate was 165bpm though 😱
Got a lot of looks with the MTB on the Strom...
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Finally uploaded my pics from our break in Devon.
Beside the River Exe
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53843960494_3062cfaa8e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q31nys)
Exmouth
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53843877723_d16c180b77_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q2ZWXn)
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Nice :thumb:
That is one of the things I like about pedal power compared to motorbikes, you can get right up close pretty much anywhere and no one bats an eye.
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So....exploring some overgrown paths on the bike near me I found a ....thing.
It is about 3 /4 feet across and must have some deep foundations 'cos it is in a swampy area near the river.
What it is ..no idea :shrug:
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It looks like a Mortar or machine gun base?
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Good call Mick, plenty of that sort of thing in Norfolk.
Or possibly an Ordnance Survey/Water authority ( it is near the river ) reference point.
No idea really , just a guess on my part. :shrug:
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Pretty sure it is a spigot mortar.
There is one in East Lothian which I have seen and this webpage describes some to the North of London
https://www.northmymmshistory.uk/2018/01/brookmans-parks-spigot-mortar.html
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Thanks cooltshirt,
Yeah, that is what it is. :text-goodpost:
Interesting link. Reading it I realised that the emplacement would have been overlooking the railway line just down from Stalham station. The station was closed in 1959,and the line torn up, part of the Beeching cuts probably.
Though the station building was taken down brick by brick and moved to Holt on their line when it was relaid.https://www.nnrailway.co.uk/portfolio-items/holt-station/
Got to say that is some high quality stainless steel forming the spigot ,not a spot of rust.I think that is what threw me ,age wise, must be fairly recent I had thought.
Thanks again, it would have bugged me to not know what it was :icon_wink:
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This is reassuring, 50/60 thousand miles out of a motor and £300 ish for a full rebuild when out of warranty.
As long as you keep the water out. Just like my strom then :icon_wink:. I clean both with GT85.
This channel is like a lot on YT and don't like to upset the manufacturers , but it has some :shrug: good bits.
https://youtu.be/EXD3cShGWWM
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Having passed 300 miles on the gasgas and past the stage of battery equalisation (A subject for another day ,lets just say it is run in :grin:) time for a range test , or to put it more accurately, a range anxiety test :icon_wink:.
Full battery this morning and using std mode for the wet ride out and 75 miles range showing.
After the rain passed this afternoon 33 miles left with 5 bars( under 50% ) left. Off I go.
Everywhere has been muddy and wet off road so the range is dropping quicker than normal.
Got back and Trip now shows 17.5 miles done this ride with 11 miles on the range and 2 bars (under 20%) left.
I will take that.
Nice to know the computer is cautious in it's estimate.
I was being careful on the short road sections coasting where possible.
This bike coasts like a champ, could be the weight :shrug:, even compared to my hybrid with rack and tail pack and road size tyres that weighs not much less it is MUCH better...Odd.
Seeing that pic reminds me..........must peel off the screen cover.
Ho Hum
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Nick Sanders is at it again, this time on an ebike.
As ever a lot of what he says makes good sense to me.
https://youtu.be/v458q-H14Yg
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Realised I hadn't done a purely road ride on the gasgas.
So yesterday evening rode down to Horsey, 20 mile round trip.
Found myself getting into my old road bike racing groove and the time flew.
Though couldn't resist a bit of path work to find Horsey Mere , down past the windpump........not a windmill.
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I took the kids around the Forest of Dean today, one blue loop which they did well to get around, and one green loop which neither wanted to do as it ended up being 10.5 miles in the baking heat. Cost me a pub dinner to "make it up to them" but was worth it. They managed 17 miles in total.
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Nigel said: "This bike coasts like a champ, could be the weight".
My Cube hybrid is quite a porker which makes downhill rides quite hairy at times. We have an annual hill climb event at Kop Hill, just a few miles from me, and I rode down the hill on a ride out earlier this year. The speedo got to about 40 and I bottled it, gingerly heading for the (thankfully excellent) disc brakes just over half way down.
We came back via a different loop but here in The Chilterns you cannot avoid large elevation changes... This is the main reason for getting a ebike of course.
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There is something to be said for a heavier bike.......If it has a motor :grin:
As the Tour de France was on I googled what the average speed was on a climb section...12 .5 mph.
Hah . Come on let's have you :icon_wink:
Of course on the flat it is 28 or so.
Coming down the coast road from Sheringham to Cromer in the car a few years ago I got stuck behind a bloke on his racer coming out of the town.
Not because he was doing anything wrong, but because he was doing the speed limit..30. :shock:
Anyhoo ,I get past in the 40.
As I come into Cromer, 7/8 miles further up the road, and get to a slow bit as we filter onto the high street. Guess who comes past on the outside...yep.
Damn.. that is seriously fast pedaling.
Ho Hum
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Evening ride yesterday to Bacton woods.
Starting to (just ) get the hang of it.The realisation that I don't have to go round an obstacle ...I can just go over it ..is fun.
My low speed handling of the strom has also improved, a lot less wobbling rolling at walking pace or slower in traffic.
Pic of some of one the trails I am using, a captured German mortar gun from 1917 at Dilham ,how that got there :shrug:, I cycled past on the way home and the obligatory church :icon_wink:
Ho Hum
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A non olympic sport?
But huge skill.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uYlHMqIQsdI?feature=share
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Does the Olympics not have BMX freestyle now? :shrug:
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Was that what that was?
As to if it is an Olympic sport ,also :shrug:
I know I could google it, but sometimes I like to .....just do it old school.....more fun :whistle:
Ho Hum
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Here you go Nigel. From an Olympic qualifier. :)
https://youtu.be/LuKOAjHbTc4
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Nice one Mick.
I am amazed by the skill of the riders, but more so at the attitude.
Moto Gp riders etc, I can almost ( ALMOST ) get my head round.Go a little faster , brake a little later, lean a little further, gradually get quicker, if the skill is there.
But these blokes and their motorcycle counterparts.........How do you build up to doing a somersault........You can't just do a bit of a one to see how it feels........What is going on in their heads? :shrug:
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I'm with you on that Nigel. I'm sure the 'training' must involve some sort of sponge pit they can land in? Plus a few broken bones? :shrug:
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Gave the gasgas some love with some new tools.
I do love new tools :grin:
I have been fiddling with tyre pressures ( new tool number 1 ...SKS tyre gauge, when did mtbs move to presta :shrug: I was left without the right tool.......the shame :icon_wink:) , started at the std 33 f 35 r and have settled on 25f 30 rear .With an ebike you can get away with not worrying about rolling resistance so I can set it up for just off road.
Checked chain stretch (New tool number 2... parktool chain gauge) 450 miles and no stretch.I have a spare chain that will go on soon though , and they will get swapped till the cassette is worn.
Checked fork set up ( new tool number3... rockshoxs pressure gauge/pump, a very sexy tool :icon_wink: ) I wasn't using the full travel and settled on 150 psi and max rebound.
All that done I took it down Weavers Way again , this time as far as just the other side of Aylsham. A few detours for exploring and back home, a 35 mile round trip.
Near perfect weather with a cooling breeze.
I think I am becoming slightly immune to stinging nettles too, is that a thing :shrug: I hope so :icon_wink:
Stopped on a bridge over the route at Aylsham for a breather, took a pic , and found some plums growing wild, the tree was jammed ( hoh ) with them, not ripe yet but I will be back that way next month...........with my larger rucksack :icon_wink:
Ho Hum
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Inspired by Mr Pidcock, got out into the peaks for a ride after work. 24 miles in total with around 2500' of climbing, I'm definitely not in the condition I was a few years ago and that was tough in the heat. Still great to get out pedalling, although it does amuse me the number of other riders who call my bike a classic, it's from 2007 like my Strom, clearly a fine vintage for 2 wheelers, if not the riders 🤣🥵
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Nothing wrong with an older bike, my go to work bike is a 30 plus year old hybrid, though it is a bit like Triggers broom, only the frame is original now :grin:
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A puncture , a charge back, will to win... rubbing is racing...epic.
https://youtu.be/ekv789zIHbM
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Mmm……..I saw that the French crowd were booing him as he crossed the winning line.
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Not a Gallic Shrug :shrug: then.. :icon_wink:
Ho Hum
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Short 10 mile ride on the gasgas, bit of this , bit of that. The last part is a restricted byway, and some fool in a 4x4 had gone a mile down it , got stuck where it narrows and obviously had to reverse all the way back out looking at the way it was cut up. :shrug: :icon_batterup:
What a glorious evening.
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Another evening ride, some new tracks and general tomfoolery.
Pic of Happisburgh Lighthouse with bonus church in the backround.
The church doesn't really lean like that, must be my cheap phone :icon_wink:
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Nigel, not sure if you've been watching the Olympics but this is the GB lad, Kieran Reilly, who won silver in the BMX freestyle the other day.
Like we said, how do you practice this stuff? :crazy:
https://youtu.be/9sNTHzwvME0
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Lovely lap of Gwydir Mawr (otherwise known as The Marin Trail) today.
Wales really is bloody glorious, a few days a year 😉
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Took the kids to Cannock Chase for a ride around the blue route - they both enjoyed it and are improving on their off-road skills.
Left them at Go-Ape so I could have a quick ride on the red route 'Follow The Dog' - covered 5.82 miles with 600ft of elevation in 48:39 mins. Was a bit of a slog on the uphill sections and had an average heart rate of 160bpm for the ride (max 185).
This Forestry England national membership has paid for itself now.
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Got my first puncture on the gasgas yesterday, in the rear. I was carrying a spare tube and levers and thankfully it turns out it is an easy tyre to get off and on over the rim, didn't need the levers for it to go back over. Old tube was in the sink and repaired when I got home. Through axles, derailleur locks and disc brakes are all new to me but do make wheel removal/replacement dead easy.
Not bad ,just the one puncture, considering the nature of some of the stuff I have been riding over. :grin:
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A puncture didn't affect Pidcock too much.
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You might need to think about going tubeless Nigel. I had one puncture on my first rideon one of the bikes after a farmer had been cutting hedges which the sealant plugged. Does mean you need to check sealant levels every so often, carry tyre plugs (which I've never used) and a spare tube if you're going far...
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Rusty ,
The gap between what Pidcock does on a bike and what I do is so big I can't even see the other side. lol
Besides... he has a mechanic to sort that stuff out :icon_wink:
UK_Vstrom650,
I will get my money out of these tyres first then look into tubeless , Ta.
Not sure if the rims are compatible, will have to check. They have reinforced eyelets and are ridiculously light compared to what I am used to , that is as much as I am sure of. :shrug:
I have run the kevlar reinforced Schwalbe Marathons on the hydrid for years now , going over much the same stuff and never had a puncture over the two sets I have used, may look into something like them but with a suitable grip pattern :shrug:
Though bicycle tyres ,like motorbike tyres , but even more so are at stupid prices for what they are.
A quick google found these,
HMMM.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Schwalbe-Marathon-Plus-SmartGuard-E-50-Endurance-Compound-Wired-26-MTB-Tyre_92758.htm?sku=324223&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Schwalbe&utm_campaign=shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzby1BhCQARIsAJ_0t5O1xB_jKjC86H3v9Q8HtFRUJrk6h-2h1b02a7ph4N4sDIW0_0GIsrUaAtSZEALw_wcB
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Agree make the most out of the tyres before swapping but are the tyres on the GasGas not tubeless ready? I thought most MTBs came tubeless ready these days... You'll likely need rim tape, valves and sealant to convert if you ever want to.
(Re: the link below, I'm assuming the GasGas is 29" tyres not 26" which they are)
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They could well be tubeless ready, not checked yet, and yes 29ers, good spot. :thumb:
I have had a look on the e mtb forums after your post as to how to change to tubeless , seems simple enough, tape ,valve and sealant.
Some were also going with these, which I found interesting. Even with a sliced up sidewall they will still hold air and roll. Pricy.......but I am assuming they can be put in new tyre many times ?
https://www.tannus.co.uk/collections/armour/products/tannus-armour-tyre-insert-for-29-wheel
More weight but with an e mtb that is not so much of a problem :icon_wink:
Those combined with the schwalbe's ( those at that site only had 26s but they are available in 29s :thumb:) should mean I can always make it home as the armour even allows "run flat".
Like my strom, reliability is more important than speed :grin:
Not decide yet.
All new to me......... :shrug:
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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You can get similar tyre inserts for a tubeless setup - I haven't bothered as I don't think I ride aggressively enough to need them. But I have seen someone who does and they didn't help him but that may have been a one off/unlucky for him.
There's some good valves on the market these days - I have some version 1 Muc-off iridescent valves on the road bike to add some bling and matching Muc-off stealth bar end caps to carry the plugs, but I think other brands do the hidden plug bar ends/better valves.
I'd suggest going tubeless eventually as it'll protect against thorns which might be what you come across most. It also allows you to run lower tyre pressures for better grip.
The downside is you have to top up the sealant every so often and you can get clogged valves (I try wherever possible to have the valves angled so the drain when stored)
I my old mountain bike, 26 inch wheels, I have the old Slime inner tubes which have sealant in them. They also work well but are heavier. Am sure they make them in 29ers but I've never bothered being a non-ebike.
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Ta for that.
Does seem like tubeless is the way to go on a mtb.
A friend who does a lot of riding ,1000 miles plus a month, has gone off tubeless on his road bike.His problem was thorns as you say.But he found sometimes when he got a puncture out on the road that the sealant/plug couldn't handle and went to fit a tube ,it got a puncture straight off, 'cos there was a tiny thorn in the tyre he didn't find 'cos the sealer had silently done it's job and he had no warning of it. He was then stuck phoning his wife to come get him .
That wore thin pretty quickly ,her being a nurse working shifts :icon_wink:
Ho Hum
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nigel s, UK_Vstrom650, Rixington43. I thought of you blokes this morning I went out for a ride around Kent about 90 miles stopping at Headcorn Aerodrome for a coffee. There is a Electric bike centre there. Also this Plane had just landed.
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Thanks for the thought ,
Now , I know nearly as much about planes as I do about cars...not a lot... :icon_wink:, but I'll have a stab...Mustang :shrug:
Can't imagine there are many of them left flying, if it is one.
Ho Hum
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nigel s I have to say I didn’t know what it was either lol but I have found what I think it maybe ??
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Good bit of research :thumb:
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Oh Dear,
Cycling into work today I see our local shepherd has run over one too many rocks/ unleashed dogs.
The number plate fell off , when the diff hit probably , and was up the road. Check out the wheel angle , even jacked up.
Not much money in sheep, that bill is going to hurt.
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Update on the gasgas,
I fitted Tannus tyre armour a couple of weeks ago and have been impressed so far.
https://youtu.be/-nwBHCGsFH4
No punctures.......
Also quite a difference in ride quality, much less "boing" on the 2.3" tyres, it seems to damp out the hits compared to normal, comfort is improved over broken ground.
Fitting wasn't too bad, some have struggled going by YT comments.
Rotated the chain at 700 miles , went up a grade to NX, no wear in the original, but the price of a new chainset is something I want to avoid having to spend out as long as possible.
All good.
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Dusted off my Surly (it's been hanging on the wall for nearly 4 years :shy:), gave it a wash and a service and sorted my cycling gear. No lycra, I promise.. :icon_wink:
I then went on a 13mile loop along the Thames path which was nice on the way out but coming back was challenging due to at least a 20mph headwind... :dl_smiley_banghead:
Didn't do too bad considering I've been out the saddle for some years. :old:
I used to ride over a 100 miles a week ... :bawl:
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Tailwind out , no no no :grin:
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Due to mileage concerns on the 650 took the gasgas down to Bacton woods to meet up with a friend and his 12 year old son to crash about in the wild.
I fell off in a bomb hole , to much amusment.
While we were laughing about it at the bottom a bunch of enduro types came flashing through at great speed , the leed rider called out a cheeky "OI OI " ,and with an enviable skill they whipped past getting good air.
Some on e bikes , some on regular.
After they had passed my mate's son looked about , shook his head , and said under his breath "PRICK"
Cue more amusement :icon_wink:
Ho Hum
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Today I went to Hamsterley Forest and rode the black and red routes. Covered just over 12 miles with 1,854ft of climbing in just under 2hrs.
Hamsterley has a lot of uphill slogs but the trails are worth the effort.
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Went out on the road bike on Monday in the monsoon. Was going to use my 2008 mountain bike but got shamed into using the road bike by the missus as I'd be too slow to keep up with her ebike, especially on the climbs (still didn't keep up).
It's now Wednesday and I think the shoes have finally dried out. Must invest in some waterproof/winter cycling shoes this year.
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It's that time,I just ordered some warmer leggings, the mx socks I was using won,t cut it now.
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Evening run out on the gasgas.
Past 750 miles now and am starting to get the hang of riding it off road, it is still better than I am though.
I have "rediscovered " the auto power setting. It has 5 plus auto. I have been riding it on std ( 3/5) which gives 100% assist , ie doubles what you put in,and only using boost (5/5) on steep offroad climbs.
The auto switches between settings depending on what you put in up to 350% and was a bit too much sometimes, giving me more than I wanted getting me into trouble on gnarly tracks, but now I am getting a handle on it, it is a LOT of fun and only knocks the range down to 65 miles as opposed to 75 in std.
Got cold quick as the sun set, but all good.
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Great picture nigel s 👍
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Ta Asmith61,
It is a pity pics have to be resized, and that I only have a cheap phone for pics :grin:
I like the little house on the left of the view, it seems to be abandoned in the middle of a field, but IS lived in . In the original you can make out the hint of the track running up to it, and the water tower on the horizon is lit up more by the sunset.
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Nigel s. I expanded the picture and did see the little house, and it does look like it is in the middle of a field 🤔
I do like sunset pictures, they remind me of what I call heartbeat skies ( the television series) 🤣
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What with the clocks changing, I have not had much time on the gasgas bar commuting , so threw it in the car and rode Marriots Way today.
Bit muddy in parts, lots of leaves but no one about so plenty of wildlife.
I tried to get a pic of the 20 or so grey squirrels I saw, but was too slow, at least the swans were still.
The Kestral that whumped into the hedge just up from me got unlucky and had to drop the mouse he had caught as he took off and saw me coming, but lucky for the mouse.
There are seats/sculptures made from the original railway tracks that also act as mile posts dotted about.
There was even a live badgers set, it was one of three on the way , and a sign said this one was live and to be careful not to disturb them after dark.
I didn't do the entire 52 mile round trip, as the Way reaches Norwich it turns into a regular cycle path , so cut this bit off,I prefer getting muddy, and turned round and headed back.
Coming back, 30 miles in and 15 to go into a headwind , so flagging a bit, I repassed the old station house that has been turned into a cafe , for about a mile or 2 before I got to it I could only smell bacon sarnies, should be some law about that :grin:.......Normaly I would have been unable to pass that up...but 15 more miles on a bacon sarnie ?....... :icon_wink:
Ho Hum
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Great pictures nigel s
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Say what you like about mountain biking v motorcycling, mountain biking does keep you warm............... all except my bloody ears :GRR:
Got me some new non fingerless gloves after my pinkies were feeling the chill on the Marriots Way ride the other day, so out " field " testing them today :grin:
Obligatory church in the background.
Ho Hum
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Ohh........and 10 points ( that's all I've got ) to the first person with a pic of their Strom in a ploughed field ( 5 for any other bike) another 5 for a church in shot :lala:
Ho Hum
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nigel s
Not a ploughed field but how’s this ?
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Near enough for me :thumb:,
Nice pic, nice bike, nice church, what's not to like.
Where is that?
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It’s in Appledore Kent a strange church as you can see it’s right in the middle of a field surrounded by water, I have also flown my drone over it.
Here’s a few more churches & windmills sorry if not of interest to you nigel s
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A few more nigel s
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Nice ...I love a windmill me, and a windpump ( most are windpumps in Norfolk , or we would have flooded back then), I live near Sutton windmill, the tallest in Norfolk and maybe the UK.
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I will google Sutton windmill now nigel s
The 2 windmill photos are Stock & Mountnessing both in Essex.
The other one with the v-Strom I cannot remember I came across it while riding ( like you do )
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" I came across it while riding, ( like you do ) ".....always the best way :thumb:
Ho Hum
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nigel s
Another place for you to visit on your travels ( if you haven’t been ?) is Thaxted which has a beautiful 18th century windmill and also a stunning cathedral, and some lovey biking roads to 👍
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Ta for that, I sometimes head over to Saffron Walden, looks like a detour is in order.
May have to wait for a warmer day mind, I should be used to it by now but I have been outside moving boats around all day and have only just warmed up :grin:
Still ...thankfully no snow like further north...yet.
Brrh
Ho Hum
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Yes the gritters were out on my way home from work today 😠
Yea bloody freezing today I am outside everyday unloading & loading lorry’s on the forklift Brr indeed 🤣
We don’t want that bloody white stuff !!!!!
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Cold indeed, when moving boats about the yard it is always the forklift driver that feels the cold the worst, at least the shovers/ pushers are working up a BIT of sweat moving about , he is stuck there freezing and still gets the blame when something gets dinged..even if shover / pusher number two was watching ( or was supposed to be ) that corner :GRR:
Brrh.
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My forklift only has a plastic cover on its roof, and that’s it and when it’s raining you end up sitting in the water all day !! (Poxy job in the winter)
Being a boat builder must be a very interesting and rewarding job Nigel ?
Not far from me we have Bradwell marina and Not sure if they are boat builders but BOATS are down this way as well.
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Boatbuilding can have its moments, but like my previous job (Farm worker) , don,t go into it if you expect to get rich or keep clean and warm :icon_wink:
Behind our yard is Trend , they make marine glass, and they have maybe 6 forklifts. They recently replaced an old one with a spangly new electric job with not only a roof but glass all round...... and a door!!!!
No heater mind, judging by the number of jackets he is wearing at the mo.
Our main forklift driver has been eyeing it enviously for a while now :icon_wink:
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I can feel their pain. Went cycling yesterday at Sherwood Pines but only lasted about an hour as it was freezing and the missus wasn't happy riding her bike in the snow (no snow where we live but the trails were covered).
Reminds me even though I have heated grips/jacket/insoles, I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's V-Strom ride 🥶
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After spending the first part of the morning with a drain snake down the kitchen sink fixing a blocked drain :GRR:
A ride out on the gasgas ( got me a thermal skullcap..toasty ears ) down Weavers Way across Ridlington heath.
Riding on frozen moss is odd, slippy but fun...sort of.
I can see me leaving the strom in the garage this weekend and riding the gasgas more if this weather keeps up.
That will be a new one for me, but ... things change :lala:
Ho Hum
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I accidentally went on a 24 mile bike ride today, was only supposed to be out for an hour / about 10 miles, but one bridleway led to another and before I knew it I was over 12 miles away from home. Some good new bridleways found, and managed to miss most of the rain, although I regretted not taking food with me, and given the entire ride back was into a headwind also regret not having an ebike lol
Two things I've learned which also applies to motorbikes, if you don't use them to keep them nice, they can end up in a worse state than if you use them (the chain had mild corrosion from sitting in the garage) and you need to keep riding to keep skills/bike fitness up.
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MOO.............
Saw this fine looking beast going up the coastal path on the gasgas.
The building behind is now a "Wellness " :-x retreat.
It used to be a posh private members club years ago with some VERY rorty 3 day parties involving lots of fine looking women....Allegedly... :whistle:
At least that is what I heard.... never got an invite so.... :shrug:
Nice out on the bike though.
Ho Hum
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First bike ride since New Year's Eve. 11 miles on the full sus to give it a once over ahead of a longer ride on Friday. Need to get back into the habit of cycling again (same also applies for riding the Strom)
Not the best picture but proof it happened.
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Looking good UK-Vstrom650 :thumb:
Friday you say....nearly forgot.....EASTER....that came around quick.
I have been back on the E bike for commuting now the salt has gone....my old hybrid still going nicely over winter, but glad to be back on the cheating Ebike :old:
Had a worry with it last week, a tapping noise while pedaling, that got worse on the ride home. UH OH ..seemed to be coming from the motor!
It was time for a chain swap anyway( I am swapping them every 500 miles , to save the chainset) so opened the quick link to change it and found the front chain ring loose.
It was tight on it's mount ( I had checked that on the road home ) but these mid drive Ebikes have a one way ratchet mechanism that allows you to backpedal for a normal feel. All new to me :shrug:
The collet ring behind the chainring that holds it in place had started to undo (not something to check on a normal bike )...I tapped it back round GENTLY with a long flat screwdriver and all good since then...PHEW...Panic over :lala:
Everyday on my ride home I get overtaken by a man on a 2 wheel drive ( yes 2wd ) fat tyre Ebike doing 40 mph :crazy:
More than once I have seen him nearly get wiped out at junctions. The driver looks up the road ,sees a bicycle and thinks " plenty of space " not realising he is doing 40 odd.....only a matter of time :shrug:
I am kind of torn, the rest of the world has unrestricted E bikes , here it IS illegal ( can you imagine a 11 year old with a 40 mph ebike..shudder ), but things pulling out at junctions is something as a biker I get upset about anyway ...don't know :shrug:
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Good to hear you're back out on the ebike again Nigel, and the mechanical was easy to fix. The wife's hybrid ebike was making a weird noise last time we went out and I spent ages going over the bike and couldn't find anything wrong with it. Was starting to think it'd be an expensive trip to the bike shop but it turned out she'd been wearing different trainers and they were catching the frame as she pedalled lol
Have you got a chain checker for the chain swaps? Think they say you can run them to .5 on the indicator then swap to save the cassette.
The folks on the illegal ebikes are crazy - we get them around here (usually delivery folk) who ride on the roads, pavements etc and treat other traffic as dodgems. Similar to the illegal e-motorbikes too and they have zero gear one.
This morning, I dragged the road bike out and did an early 10 mile before breakfast. I can tell I'm deconditioned from riding, but it was good to get out. One thing I noticed was on the MTB my average heart rate 138bph with an average speed of 7.1 vs the road bike at 161bpm at 10.3mph. I keep promising myself to take it easy on the road bike but it's like the motorbike, it's fun to go faster.
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Glad I'm not the only one that makes trainer mistakes..
I got new trainers last autumn and the ferrule? on the lace would make a ting noise on the crank arm. Took me ages to work out what was going on :haha:
I do have a chain checker, I "think " you may have recommended it to me in a previous post in fact , so got one :shrug: ..Ta if so.
I am being a bit belt and braces ( OCD ..maybe ) about it . I am changing the chain before it is at the limit every 500 miles and keep swapping the 2 I have in the hope that that way it puts off the time I have to replace the chain set .
We will see , at £150 odd I am in no hurry to find out..
As to speed, while I go everywhere at 15.5 mph on the gasgas, my best time home from work was actually on my old hybrid . Mahoosive ESE wind that gave me a tail all the way home. I went for it and was F*cked when I got home, blowing out of every hole :icon_wink: but the time said I did the 3.75 miles at 20.1 mph...not repeated that mind....That is the problem with an E Mountain bike , when the assist cuts out I am NOT going to go any quicker, unless it is off a cliff :lala: