- Joined
- Nov 23, 2015
- Posts
- 834
Bikesdirect came out with a high end ebike. I always found their bikes a good deal, and have been thinking about the potential of an ebike, We saw some in the mountains of France on this year's mtb trip. I took the plunge and OMG, is this thing fun.
It is essentially the same bike Diamondback sells in Europe, but it is $3500 here, not $4600. XT level parts, 140 mm suspension, 27.5 plus tires
The Shimano steps mtb system is amazing. It has torque sensor input control, so it adds power only when pedaling, and the harder you pedal, the more assistance it delivers. It is so quiet and smooth that it just seems like you are Peter Sagan, not some aging rider with a small motor.
We have not been able to use up a battery yet. A ride of 34 miles of dirt,slush and snow, with 2600 ft of climbing, used about 65% of it.
My wife is gah-gah, glassy-eyed, nutso about hers. Out riding every day, in all sorts of weather and already planning on all sorts of new trips in the west and in Europe. Also, she has no problem keeping up with me, she justs ups the assist a bit, and she still uses less battery power than I do. She had been thinking about getting a motorcycle by her 70th birthday (not so far off) but found them heavy, noisy, and a struggle to handle. Those are no longer under consideration.
I guess they aren't legal on some of our famous trails. No big deal. Many of those were ruined long ago by the organized gangs of downhillers who are shuttled up in bike shop buses, only to scream back to town wearing full pads. We have miles of stuff to ride here, and google earth on our side.
It is essentially the same bike Diamondback sells in Europe, but it is $3500 here, not $4600. XT level parts, 140 mm suspension, 27.5 plus tires
The Shimano steps mtb system is amazing. It has torque sensor input control, so it adds power only when pedaling, and the harder you pedal, the more assistance it delivers. It is so quiet and smooth that it just seems like you are Peter Sagan, not some aging rider with a small motor.
We have not been able to use up a battery yet. A ride of 34 miles of dirt,slush and snow, with 2600 ft of climbing, used about 65% of it.
My wife is gah-gah, glassy-eyed, nutso about hers. Out riding every day, in all sorts of weather and already planning on all sorts of new trips in the west and in Europe. Also, she has no problem keeping up with me, she justs ups the assist a bit, and she still uses less battery power than I do. She had been thinking about getting a motorcycle by her 70th birthday (not so far off) but found them heavy, noisy, and a struggle to handle. Those are no longer under consideration.
I guess they aren't legal on some of our famous trails. No big deal. Many of those were ruined long ago by the organized gangs of downhillers who are shuttled up in bike shop buses, only to scream back to town wearing full pads. We have miles of stuff to ride here, and google earth on our side.
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