GRAVEL E BIKES

31 replies · 940 views

chas
1,305 posts
#21Feb 8, 2021, 12:41 PM
Mark wrote:I am too old to start a project like this, but somebody should be exploring regenerative hub braking (if it hasn’t happened already).

The problem is that there is very little benefit from that (and a ton of weight), Besides, we like to coast.
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chas
1,305 posts
#22Feb 8, 2021, 12:42 PMedited
AndyJ66 wrote:Hi mate - I did this exact thing for my wife - we ended up with a Turbo Levo Hardtail and then I modded it with better gearing, fork (Lauf cuz they’re awesome) and wheels to suit her and riding. It’s a great gravel bike and now she out performs me !!! But loves it - huge tyre clearance too

I love it!

If I could get my wife out in the woods with a smile that big on her face, I'd buy her one too!
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Frank
82 posts
#23Feb 16, 2021, 7:26 AM
AndyJ66 wrote:Hi mate - I did this exact thing for my wife - we ended up with a Turbo Levo Hardtail and then I modded it with better gearing, fork (Lauf cuz they’re awesome) and wheels to suit her and riding. It’s a great gravel bike and now she out performs me !!! But loves it - huge tyre clearance too

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Frank
82 posts
#24Feb 16, 2021, 7:37 AM
AndyJ66--I just followed your lead. Bought a Liv hardtail--had a hard time finding one in XS which fit her--a problem with most brands--just happened on Liv. Tires 2.4 Maxxis Rekons, 400 WH Yamaha-Giant motor, rear rack, lots of accessories--perfect for her. This should expand our distance and gnarly factor on many of our Arizona rides. Thx
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Mark W. Ingalls
62 posts
#25Feb 16, 2021, 1:27 PM
Frank wrote:AndyJ66--I just followed your lead. Bought a Liv hardtail--had a hard time finding one in XS which fit her--a problem with most brands--just happened on Liv. Tires 2.4 Maxxis Rekons, 400 WH Yamaha-Giant motor, rear rack, lots of accessories--perfect for her. This should expand our distance and gnarly factor on many of our Arizona rides. Thx

Pictures when you’re able, please.
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jabberwocky
3 posts
#26Feb 18, 2021, 8:17 PMedited
I picked up a Giant Revolt e+ in late 2019 and have been sold on our electric pixie future ever since. In the time it would take to ride 30 miles on my Motobecane I'm covering 50, and can ramp up the pace on busy roads and slow back down on the small gravel roads. My wife tried gravel a few times a while back and wasn't that enthused, but after giving it another try on the Revolt she fell in love and after riding it most of last summer and fall, we just got her a Liv Thrive.

Revolt and historic bridge.

Loudoun as far as the eye can see.

Wifes new Thrive.
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chas
1,305 posts
#27Feb 22, 2021, 3:47 PM
Yeah, being able to cover more mileage is good, I just don't like worrying about running out of energy - both the battery and me. With no battery, I can just keep going and going.

I've been doing this about 8 years, and still greatly prefer analog. But...

The last few weeks I've been about 100% ebike. I'm in a lot of snow, and riding on studded tires. Fully studded, my speed/range is about 30% of a fast gravel bike. But with E-assist, I can choose my speed, and keep the same distance in an hour that I would on a nice summer day. And like you said, its nice to be able to putz around at 10mph, and then have a little boost for taking these heavy wheels/tires up a steep incline, or to be able to jump into traffic at 25mph.

Clearly these roads are not very "fast" this time of year without a little help.

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Flyer
39 posts
#28Apr 16, 2021, 4:05 PM
I picked up a Specialized Creo SL (regular gravel bike is a Santa Cruz Stigmata) and am in the process of switching the road tires to gravel tires. The bike is incredible. It is probably around 28 lbs but I only feel that when pedaling fast downhill and on downhill rollers/flats after I go past 28 MPH assist max speed..then you can feel the weight trying to keep it above 35-40 MPH. That is a unique scenario where you have steep mountains. As a gravel bike, it will be great fun on recovery days and just to do a low-effort ride for 40-50 miles.
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chas
1,305 posts
#29Apr 20, 2021, 4:51 PM
Flyer wrote:I picked up a Specialized Creo SL (regular gravel bike is a Santa Cruz Stigmata) and am in the process of switching the road tires to gravel tires. The bike is incredible. It is probably around 28 lbs but I only feel that when pedaling fast downhill and on downhill rollers/flats after I go past 28 MPH assist max speed..then you can feel the weight trying to keep it above 35-40 MPH. That is a unique scenario where you have steep mountains. As a gravel bike, it will be great fun on recovery days and just to do a low-effort ride for 40-50 miles.

Yeah, I use mine to commute with on recovery days.

I did some race training the other day (25-30mph) on my analog bike. I was doing a cool down on the way home, when a bike pulled out in front of me. I decided to see how fast he was going - and we were doing 28mph into a hilly headwind. I'm thinking - who is this guy - he is an animal!

We get to a stoplight and he is chuckling, saying - I bet you were working pretty hard back there. I'm on an ebike. He was on a Specialized Creo, and I couldn't even tell (by looking) that it was an ebike. Ok, I've been doing that for about 8 years on an e-bike, and finally, someone does it back to me (when I'm on an analog bike).
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Flyer
39 posts
#30Apr 20, 2021, 7:19 PM
Hahaha that is a great story!! The ONLY time I did something like this when a race team came up on me like a freight train, when I was about 15 miles into a nice easy putzing around ride. So I put it it the middle mode and took off. The middle mode was not enough with these guys, as I found them not dropping behind at all after 5 mins or so. The first 2-3 were the strongest so they broke away from the pack and started to chase me. Fortunately, I had 3-4 short climbs coming up. I was working WAY too hard one the middle mode so I put it in the highest mode and started to pull away. After ten minutes, I had maybe a hundred yards between us so I really started to push again and took the turnoff to my house (I live in the hills). They must have been wondering- who is this animal? That was kinda fun for 4-5 miles. I don't cheat on Strava so they never knew who I was since I did not load the ride.
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Frank
82 posts
#31Apr 21, 2021, 8:28 AM
I bet we all have a story like that---I was doing my morning ride a few months ago--in San Diego --one hilly place for sure. After about 25 miles and heading home and feeling proud of my self, I began a nasty climb. I was about half up the hill and not paying much attention to anything except the type 2 fun I was having. All of the sudden, I was brought back to reality by " on your left" being yelled by a portly lady with a top coat and stocking hat and a grocery bag in her handlebar rack. She was riding a flat bar bike and passed me going about 20 mph-- up the hill. I finally caught her at the next lite and hoped that she was on an e bike. Thankfully she was!
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Flyer
39 posts
#32Apr 21, 2021, 9:20 AM
hahaha that is pretty funny! I haven't been passed by anyone on an E yet but it is bound to happen soon!

Frank wrote:I bet we all have a story like that---I was doing my morning ride a few months ago--in San Diego --one hilly place for sure. After about 25 miles and heading home and feeling proud of my self, I began a nasty climb. I was about half up the hill and not paying much attention to anything except the type 2 fun I was having. All of the sudden, I was brought back to reality by " on your left" being yelled by a portly lady with a top coat and stocking hat and a grocery bag in her handlebar rack. She was riding a flat bar bike and passed me going about 20 mph-- up the hill. I finally caught her at the next lite and hoped that she was on an e bike. Thankfully she was!
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