Reply With QuoteLad I used to ride with was knocked off his bike just outside of Bury. The ambulance took him to the Royal Preston, KOM’s all the way. Made him smile , which was hard as he had broken his jaw and lost lots of teeth :)Originally Posted by Bondurant
Yes. The cheats will always cheat.
Lad I used to ride with was knocked off his bike just outside of Bury. The ambulance took him to the Royal Preston, KOM’s all the way. Made him smile , which was hard as he had broken his jaw and lost lots of teeth :)
If you lose a KOM to an e-bike/moped/car/whatever and it bothers you just flag it. E-bike rides should be recorded as that, in fact my wife has a few QOMS in the e-bike category 😂
Not everyone wants the same thing from their cycling, some people want to go full gas all the time, not everyone does.
I did a 25 mile TT on a road bike last year at a smidge under 25mph, I was pretty chuffed with that as I am no spring chicken, nor particularly powerful, but equally I am just as happy going for a nice social pootle with some mates, or a ride to a cafe with her indoors on her e-bike, which would never have happened prior to her getting it 👍
You know your bikes and usually have good input but the way this thread is going is rather shite.
You DO have ebikes that are like mopeds: the motor is in the front wheel hub and once the bike is moving will behave like an old Solex -albeit with a lower centre of gravity.
But the others -and especially those where the motor is fitted in the pedal hub will only provide a variable assistance. There is a short steep hill on a side road (bizarrely called “old London road”) out of a coastal village near me that I struggle to climb on maximum assistance, but that I manage (just) on a properly geared road bike (I would not go much farther though).
This “cheating” is only in the mind of cyclists who think this is a competition. I e-cycle as often as I can for top up shopping, it still involves a 20+ kms ride that I wouldn’t do on a road bike.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
What is a KOM?
King of the mountains. If you get a fastest segment time on Strava…..or win the polka dot jersey in the Tour de France
Something is only cheating if it’s a formal competition.
I don’t see how using a recreational e bike for fun could ever be construed as cheating, it’s not a race.
Anyone who cares about Strava and KOMs being taken by “cheats” on ebikes should pin a number on and do a proper race.
Pretty much every KoM has been won by a rider with a massive tailwind or as pert of a group, Strava is a bit of fun but shouldn’t be confused with a measure of ability or a race as there are numerous ways to “cheat” ebikes being just one.
As I said above cyclists should encourage ebike riders as they then get out of cars onto two wheels which has to be a good thing.
My dad is 82 and got an ebike a few years ago.
Allows him to keep doing something he loves, keep doing something hehas done all his life. Was wonderful for him over the lock downs, only time he got outside really.
No need to hate on ebikes because some bell ends claim KOMs using them. Those guys would cheat one way or another anyway.
The beauty of cycling is it's you and the bike v the terrain. You know when you're in nick, don't need Strava for that.
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They are e-bicycles not motorcycles, not everyone is interested in calories burnt and strava, some people just enjoy being out there feeling the wind, rain, snow and even sun on their faces. Each and everyone to their own :)
I've got 2 ebikes, a hardtail KTM for messing around on roads, paths, canals and commuting rather than using the car and a full suspension de-restricted Cube for some heavy duty thrashing around on blue and red mtb routes. They are fantastic fun. But as said they are a separate category of cycle, as different as a 125cc to a Fireblade. I also use my old much modified Rockhopper mtb for riding to the gym for spin classes about a mile away now we've moved, when we lived 4 mile from the gym last year I often used the KTM.
No point being a luddite about it, ebikes are the latest thing and here to stay. Y'all should worry out the loons on 50mph escooters and 70 mph 2000watt Sur-Rons on the streets.
I assure you, it does. Perhaps not to you, but not something to worry about.This statement makes no sense whatsoever.
I assure you, it doesn't. Perhaps to you it does, but not something to worry about.
This. Every additional person regularly using 2 wheels is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.
I've been toying with an e-cargo bike for ages now, or an e-bike for my wife so she can come out with us. I did 2.5k miles last year, i'm fitter than i've ever been but i still fancy an e-bike for the more mundane journeys that i currently do by car.
Last edited by Lazydonkey; 18th March 2022 at 10:56.
i live on a national cycle route, when i look out the window and see somebody on a bike it makes me smile, from a racing snake to somebody with an ‘opera diva’ physique its just another person on a bike and not sat in a car and likely going nowhere fast.
there are a crazy amount of cargo bikes now, used to be quite a novelty but now the school run is full of them as well as people moving stuff not kids around.
one thing i don’t agree with is chipped E mtb’s on trails and trail centres. they are electric motorbikes and don’t belong there.
Absolutely this, at the moment I don't have an ebike, but I'm sure that at some point in the future I will.
In the group that I ride with we have an 85 year old that now uses an ebike, he was riding without a motor until he was 80, no one looks down on him in anyway at all, we're just pleased that he can still come out with us if even for a few miles.
I tow a trailer on the back of my eMoulton as it is great for shifting gear around, although the last thing that I moved was a fridge to the tip (18 miles). I have had a sort out and now have so much electrical waste at home that I could make use of an eCargo bike very easily, but for the fact that I have steps down to the house, no garage and a shed too small to accommodate a normal bike let alone a eCargo bike. With the right property and level access I would have one mainly because I cant get a slot for a Tesco delivery. I live just off NCN Route 1 and often host touring cyclists for a coffee and cake, a place to stay over, or just a place to leave some kit so that they can cycle further north to Yell and Unst without the encumberance of too much kit. They have to be a hardy lot to cycle up here.
Ladies and gents we are privileged to have a TZ bike thread with three quarters of a million views which is normally a great thread to visit. Can we just accept E bikes are popular , forget KOM’s and whether they are cheating or not.
Lets get back to the good stuff, drooling over 100th Monkey’s ( Kerry’s ) latest Specialised bike or wondering why Tridents 50 k time looks like most of ours 25k efforts . Lastly those nasty dirty Santa Cruz mtb guys getting down and dirty.
Steve
Last edited by higham5; 19th March 2022 at 11:12.
Well said Steve
Rubbish.
If an e-bike helps someone get out into the great outdoors and enjoy some level of exercise, that ordinarily they would not be able to do, then I fully support that.
Me too, but if you want to get fitter do it the good old fashioned way its worked wonders for years. As we automate every inch of our lives from home delivery to convenience foods we have to make an effort to avoid being machine dependant. If I had a very unfit client starting out I would get them on a regular bike and build them up not gratify them on a electric one where they will quickly become demoralised without the assistance.
There has been a real degradation of standards over the last 30 years in recreational sport and fitness, when I joined the Army we ran 1.5 miles in boots and coming in at 8 mins you wouldn’t be top 10, now days the best of the recruits are struggling to make 9 minutes!
I actually think ebikes have a place my only gripe is those who claim (read brag) about how many miles they did and how fast but fail to mention on what assistance method, fella in my local is ‘legendary’ on a MTB to the locals, none of whom ride, his tales of riding 50 miles despite being 20 stone and taking up exercise at 55 have them in awe.
RIAC
Well you could tell Spring had arrived, the amount of carbon fibre on the roads earlier today was something else. Not a mudguard or gravel bike in sight, replaced with plenty of lycra and deep section wheels. Looked like everyone had dusted out their road bikes and hit the road. This was around Bushey Park, Hampton Court way.
Yup first day of carbon ( sans mudguards) for me. Net result I went out too fast and suffered all the way back. 32 miles 2:15 , it could have been 2:05 or better. Note to self pace yourself lad :)
Haha, I went out first time this spring without spike tires, on my gravel bike. There were still shadowy sections of road with 10cm of steel hard ice on them, had to walk the bike a few times. Still it was nice, the bike is so much faster with lighter tires. Weather is getting warmer, so I expect that by Easter I can also start my road bike season.
I’ve been riding my road bike through the winter - no choice! Always see plenty of nice carbon fibre out whatever the weather.
Was a great day today for being out and about (especiallyafter being soaked last week on the mtb and road bike). A quick 30km for me before a 12hr night shift😁
It was even carbon road bike weather in glasgow [shocked face]
Got to say i was a bit worried how carbon wheels + rim brakes would feel after a winter on my farilight with GRX discs but the bike felt fantastic. Looking forward to many more rides like that over the summer.
My old (early 1990's) Raleigh M-Trax Ti, with modern Campy running gear on a 100km trip around Herefordshire on the weekend.
I’m going to build something like this, but can’t decide on a group set. I’m leaning towards the new Sram Rival eTap tempted by only 2 cables going through the frame/fork. I will go 2 by in front, not 1 by as in the picture. I have another bike which is a mechanical groupset with rim brakes, so that’s another thing that makes me thing electronic is the way to go for more variety. I had Di2 on my other carbon bike and fancy trying Sram as I feel like the ergonomics are slightly better for me. Heard mixed things about battery life etc. What would you do? Opinions please.
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I wouldn’t go Sram or Shimano. I’d go Campagnolo
What do you like about it? I’ve never tried Campag apart from the few times on someone else’s bike and absolutely hated the thumb paddle. And with the electronic ones, I really dislike the price.
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I have Campagnolo on my posers bike but I don’t like the thumb paddle.
Di2 has been faultless on my main bike for 40,000 miles.
Never used SRAM but the wireless solution looks good but Shimano offer that now, more or less.
Not much to add other than that is a spectacular paint job! Really don't want to see what it will cost me to land one of those in Australia (or do I, I have been trying to justify a gravel bike and man that ticks so many boxes!!!).
I can understand the appeal of the aesthetic (and easy build) of the sram wireless gear though don't know if it's enough to sway me from mechanical, though I'm a complete luddite in my cycling approach so take my opinions with a grain of salt (the stem of my road bike says it all).
For more gorgeous paint jobs, there are some lovely bespoke ones here. I can but dream!
https://www.feathercycles.com/bicycles
Yup, the Ritte is as close to a custom frame as I can get. If I went for a proper fancy steel then I’m looking at 3/4x the price and then the bike would probably be too nice to ride.
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I think most of the Feather bikes look too nice to ride (though I know the owner of one of the featured bikes and he does take it out occasionally). I have only recently returned to (slow leisure) cycling and can't justify an expensive bike - I was very pleased to pick up this touring bike from eBay for £600 - the frame is a lovely colour (sparkly rootbeer!). Even this feels a bit too nice to ride to me.
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Those are nice.
Not sure how many of these leave the colonies but worth a drool over if you're unfamiliar https://www.baumcycles.com/
There's a few in my circle and happy to report they get ridden too.
Dreaming is a dangerous game!
Anyone watch the Brompton Factory program last night. Really good
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RIAC
As a novice, they are not known to me but they look fantastic - mind you, at 14350gbp for a 'tailored' bike, they should do. Definitely a dangerous dream!
Very nice, what cassette and set up is that pleaseAI’m going to build something like this, but can’t decide on a group set. I’m leaning towards the new Sram Rival eTap tempted by only 2 cables going through the frame/fork. I will go 2 by in front, not 1 by as in the picture. I have another bike which is a mechanical groupset with rim brakes, so that’s another thing that makes me thing electronic is the way to go for more variety. I had Di2 on my other carbon bike and fancy trying Sram as I feel like the ergonomics are slightly better for me. Heard mixed things about battery life etc. What would you do? Opinions please.
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Definitely in my top 3 favourite brands. Gorgeous bicycles, but yeah. Not in my league!
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It’s not my bike, I only bought this frame and looking at this to decide what I want.
On the picture it looks like Shimano GRX 1x11, I think.
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Thanks, interested to see how you progress and pictures along the way would be nice :)
PawG Sram Rival E tap gets rave reviews even compared to Sram Red. I wouldn’t discount 1 X as a few road guys I ride with are using them with great success. Yes the big ring on the rear cassette looks like a soup plate, but the chain line is better, there is no rear mech. One thing to bear in mind is rear cassette prices. The earliest Sram 12 sp were £800. As with everything this has reduced, but a recent chat with a 1 By owner he said he was quoted £200 for a rear cassette, but he picked a lightly used one off the bay for £60.I’m going to build something like this, but can’t decide on a group set. I’m leaning towards the new Sram Rival eTap tempted by only 2 cables going through the frame/fork. I will go 2 by in front, not 1 by as in the picture. I have another bike which is a mechanical groupset with rim brakes, so that’s another thing that makes me thing electronic is the way to go for more variety. I had Di2 on my other carbon bike and fancy trying Sram as I feel like the ergonomics are slightly better for me. Heard mixed things about battery life etc. What would you do? Opinions please.
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Could be an expensive option, but evolution reduces all prices.
I’ve had a gravel bike with a 1 by and it was great, but I intend to have 2 sets of wheels for this - fast carbon ones set up with 28mm tyres for summer and bit wider ones with probably 35-40mm tyres for winter/touring. So, ideally I want the 10-30 or whatever the cassette is on both, so it’s easy to swap without swapping the chain etc.
The new Rival indeed looks great and is quieter than the Force or Red which is a big thing for me. Few things that contribute, but I think main one is that the more expensive groupsets have hollow cassettes, so it amplifies the noises a bit more. I also like the feel of the hoods a bit more on the Rival. I’ve tried it, but haven’t ridden it properly. I guess I’m pretty set on it. It’s this or waiting for a Di2 105 which is not out yet and I want to ride the damn thing already.
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My old (early 1990's) Raleigh M-Trax Ti, with modern Campy running gear on a 100km trip around Herefordshire on the weekend.
Beautiful countryside & quiet lanes. Looks great cycling there.
It can be great if you stick to the quieter lanes and roads, & we're a medium cycle ride from a couple of great climbs, such as the Tumble and Gospel Pass. Unfortunately the A & bigger B roads are a bit HGV heavy, but I tend to stay away from them where I can.
Do you ride it with the saddle like that den? I’d be sliding off the front & my arms would be killing me
Does anyone have experience of these? https://www.schindelhauerbikes.com/en/Bikes/Arthur.html
https://www.schindelhauerbikes.com/e...hur-VI-IX.html
I've made a rough calculation of the gradient of last part of the ride back home, and the gradient average for the last 1.5km is 10%, which I know doesn't take into account some sections which are a fair bit steeper. Not ideal on a 3-speed Brompton.
Last edited by OldHooky; 23rd March 2022 at 10:55.
Another great day to be out and about on my bike:
Enjoy and ride safe
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RIAC
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