Cycling Thread 2

[Ryan Coke]

Originally Posted by habernac

A week late, did you go? . I did 3 and a half hours in the slop.

Oh yeah, I went and did 5 hours in it. It was pretty nasty in some spots in the back side of the long course, gooey mud that was hard to pedal through, then more gooey mud on steep hills. Some serious work just to make it up. Only had my small chainring for half the day, which suddenly came back thankfully before the faster section. And just as I started to get a little warm at one point it then started raining again, and then hailing for a while.

Honestly had a really good time. But that event deserves some good weather next year. 2 years in a row like that is some bad luck.

[Engine09]

Does anyone have a rear wheel they would sell? 29" Quick Release HG 6 bolt 135mm Hub Spacing

No stock at Ridley's, MacLeod Bike Shop or Pure Cycle. Trying to avoid ordering online.

[Tron_fdc]

Just a heads up for the Mtn bikers out there, RCR (Fernie) has opened Timber Chair on Saturdays. There's SO much terrain up there so if you're into it come down and check it out. I was in the park last week (Elk chair) and they have actually done a decent job trail building.

Trails in town are all up and running as well, so there's a pile of super cool stuff to ride.

[habernac]

Glorious out there today. 3 hours on the gravel, legs feel pretty great. Was worried as my knee has felt like trash all week.

[Street Pharmacist]

So I'd like to get into biking to get some exercise and even get to work, or get a few groceries now and then. I live in Salmon Arm up a fairly big hill from my store, so I'm looking for an ebike as that climb wouldn't be for me after working all day. Ideally, a throttle for if I'm exhausted might be nice as I found doing a practice run up the hill my legs were pretty you're about 3/4 of the way up the hill.

I'm not sure I'd want a city bike only because I think at some point I'd like to do some trail riding as there are an awful lot of trails a short ride from my house all over the lake. However, I'm not very knowledgeable about bikes at all so maybe a city bike is just fine. Looking at bike shops, everything seems to be $4-15k+, but online there are much cheaper options. Is reliability a concern? Are the more expensive ones really that much better?

[Delthefunky]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

So I'd like to get into biking to get some exercise and even get to work, or get a few groceries now and then. I live in Salmon Arm up a fairly big hill from my store, so I'm looking for an ebike as that climb wouldn't be for me after working all day. Ideally, a throttle for if I'm exhausted might be nice as I found doing a practice run up the hill my legs were pretty you're about 3/4 of the way up the hill.

I'm not sure I'd want a city bike only because I think at some point I'd like to do some trail riding as there are an awful lot of trails a short ride from my house all over the lake. However, I'm not very knowledgeable about bikes at all so maybe a city bike is just fine. Looking at bike shops, everything seems to be $4-15k+, but online there are much cheaper options. Is reliability a concern? Are the more expensive ones really that much better?

Ha. We just moved off of 97B from Vernon, I went and checked out the Canoe trails, they're awesome. Let me know if you get into mountain biking.

I would imagine marketplace is worth a look I would just be concerned about batteries with something too old or mistreated, but I don't really know what I'm talking about..

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by habernac

Glorious out there today. 3 hours on the gravel, legs feel pretty great. Was worried as my knee has felt like trash all week.

3 hours? Pfffft. Cliff had done 3 hours of biking in the first 2 hours of the day.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

So I'd like to get into biking to get some exercise and even get to work, or get a few groceries now and then. I live in Salmon Arm up a fairly big hill from my store, so I'm looking for an ebike as that climb wouldn't be for me after working all day. Ideally, a throttle for if I'm exhausted might be nice as I found doing a practice run up the hill my legs were pretty you're about 3/4 of the way up the hill.

I'm not sure I'd want a city bike only because I think at some point I'd like to do some trail riding as there are an awful lot of trails a short ride from my house all over the lake. However, I'm not very knowledgeable about bikes at all so maybe a city bike is just fine. Looking at bike shops, everything seems to be $4-15k+, but online there are much cheaper options. Is reliability a concern? Are the more expensive ones really that much better?

Well if you want a bike that can haul groceries, an adult passenger (or multiple kids), and do trails, then check this out:

https://www.ternbicycles.com/ca/bikes/471/orox


Big caveat here that I have not looked into eMTBs at all, but my understanding for city/cargo bikes is that the top quality mid-drives (Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha/Giant) do not come with throttles. But they offer far more natural riding experiences than hub drives or probably other mid-drive options (but this is worth exploring more).

You can peddle lazy on a mid-drive and get up any hill, but probably sacrificing some speed compared to just throttling up. Though I think you're more likely to get up the steepest offroad hill with a mid-drive than a hub drive.

I test drove a Surface 604 and it has a pretty good torque sensor with a hub drive and throttle. But it was my first ever e-bike ride and I've preferred the mid-drives I've tried since, though i'd be interested to try it again to compare. S604 seems like a pretty cool company out of Vancouver. Higher quality components than Direct-to-consumer options out there, and might be a sweet spot for you if you really want throttle.

Last note is that wattage listing between mid-drive and hub-drive are apples to oranges. 250W Bosch may be more powerful in many ways than a 750W rear Bafang (but devil is in details).

And battery quality is another big reason to go quality mid-drive; look for UL certification otherwise

[jayocal]

Recently I've been very interested in getting an ebike mainly for commuting to work using Calgary's path system and streets. I am pretty overwhelmed with the selection and price differences locally and online.

I purchased a nice Rocky Mountain bicycle last year that I'd be willing to trade in. Does anyone have any good quality recommendations for around 2-3K? I'm a bigger dude 6'4, 240.

Sent from my Pixel 7a using Tapatalk

[dubc80]

Kids Mountain biking trails...

I'm talking 9 and 7 year olds who are still learning how to use gears, still learning about body position on the bike, still learning how to read upcoming terrain in order to navigate rocks and roots, still learning not to hammer the front brake and go over the handlebars.... you get the drift!

I took my 9 yr old son out to JumpingPound Loop for his first ever experience and for the most part it was ok. We did the South portion and had to walk some of the up and downs. Too steep to ride up and too scary to ride down.
Also decided to quit while I was ahead and rode back along the gravel road.

Overall, a decent ride so looking for more of the same, if not easier!

Any suggestions?

[GGG]

Goat creek,

You will have to push back up into Banff or back to the parking lot but it’s doable for the 9 year old. You’d also have to figure out a car shuttle. It’s a rocky fire road.

Easier than that is elbow valley provincial park. There is about 5-8k of the Elbow valley loop before it starts going up hill. It follows the edge of the elbow river and is mostly double track. At about 5k there is a short hike up to nahahi canyon which is a really neat little slot canyon that’s fun to go up and down a few times. About a 20 minute hike up from the river.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Well if you want a bike that can haul groceries, an adult passenger (or multiple kids), and do trails, then check this out:

https://www.ternbicycles.com/ca/bikes/471/orox


Big caveat here that I have not looked into eMTBs at all, but my understanding for city/cargo bikes is that the top quality mid-drives (Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha/Giant) do not come with throttles. But they offer far more natural riding experiences than hub drives or probably other mid-drive options (but this is worth exploring more).

You can peddle lazy on a mid-drive and get up any hill, but probably sacrificing some speed compared to just throttling up. Though I think you're more likely to get up the steepest offroad hill with a mid-drive than a hub drive.

I test drove a Surface 604 and it has a pretty good torque sensor with a hub drive and throttle. But it was my first ever e-bike ride and I've preferred the mid-drives I've tried since, though i'd be interested to try it again to compare. S604 seems like a pretty cool company out of Vancouver. Higher quality components than Direct-to-consumer options out there, and might be a sweet spot for you if you really want throttle.

Last note is that wattage listing between mid-drive and hub-drive are apples to oranges. 250W Bosch may be more powerful in many ways than a 750W rear Bafang (but devil is in details).

And battery quality is another big reason to go quality mid-drive; look for UL certification otherwise

Surface 604 is still a direct to consumer company quality of bike. They are cheaply made and parts to replace are insanely over priced. Their warranty is a joke . 1 year or 800kms which ever comes first. That's because bafang dosen't offer warranty to bike companies. It's up to the brands to deal with it on their on dime.
I had a customer who needed a new controller for their surface bike and they were going to charge him $550. It was a 50 dollar retail controller that Greentime makes.

As for the bolded the listed wattage on bafang or any other motor that lists over 250watts is misleading. When to see a bafang motor listed at 750watts that's at peak power but at 32kms cruising flat they still only pull 250watts as that's what any motor takes to maintain that speed.

When you see a reputable bike shop brand they all list them at 250watts nominal. Because the laws written for ebikes state they must be 250 nominal at 32kms/hr on a flat surface .For example a bosch cx mid drive is listed at 250 nominal but will peak at 720 watts when the battery is 80% to 50% capacity. 36v x20 amps = 720. On a full charge tho 100% to 90% the battery is at 42v x 20amps = 840 watts peak. Even tho they list that motor at 600 watts peak. They use a 20amp controller.

They other thing that is misleading especially on power ratings in hub motors is no motor has a fixed rating. A motor can be what ever you want it to handle if you can keep thermals under control and under 140°C. Around 150°c it starts to burn of the coating of the windings and cause the motor to short out. All you need to do on most bikes to have a higher wattage out put of any motor is just up the battery voltage and tadah! As long as your controller is rated for higher voltages.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by dubc80

Kids Mountain biking trails...

I'm talking 9 and 7 year olds who are still learning how to use gears, still learning about body position on the bike, still learning how to read upcoming terrain in order to navigate rocks and roots, still learning not to hammer the front brake and go over the handlebars.... you get the drift!

I took my 9 yr old son out to JumpingPound Loop for his first ever experience and for the most part it was ok. We did the South portion and had to walk some of the up and downs. Too steep to ride up and too scary to ride down.
Also decided to quit while I was ahead and rode back along the gravel road.

Overall, a decent ride so looking for more of the same, if not easier!

Any suggestions?

Top of Nose Hill has some stuff that’s pretty elementary.

[bossy22]

Rode the Fernie Gravel Grind on the weekend. It was a lot of fun. Hot as hell climbing back above town. It was well run, and a fun weekend. Live music and beer gardens throughout the event. I like how much they support the adaptive riders. Anythinggoeseventseries and lifetimegrandprix really support the adaptive athletes and that's great to see.

[ken0042]

I took the Canal path on Friday and it looks like they have scraped down the pavement to put another layer on top. This image below is looking northbound towards Glenmore.

Spoiler!

However there is still the sections north of Glenmore that are untouched. There is also a part just north/west of Barlow that are also untouched. However I would argue these are the worst parts that are getting done.

[Kybosh]

Has anyone taken a look at the new Zwift Ride bike/trainer combo? I'm thinking of getting one to replace my current trainer set up so my wife and I can use the same piece of equipment. Reviews seem pretty positive so far.

[Flabbibulin]

I took a wasp inside my jersey yesterday on springbank rd (1 sting). Was barely zipped down, but just enough I guess. I didn’t crash, but could see it happening if you freak out too much. There was someone just behind that must have thought I lost my mind.

[ken0042]

I significantly reduced how much stuff I carry on my summer bike, however my tube of After Bite was one thing I made sure that it "made the cut."

[Ryan Coke]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

I took a wasp inside my jersey yesterday on springbank rd (1 sting). Was barely zipped down, but just enough I guess. I didn’t crash, but could see it happening if you freak out too much. There was someone just behind that must have thought I lost my mind.

So funny, I had the exact same thing happen a couple of weeks ago. Trying to not to crash and not look like a panicky freak trying to pull over and get the thing out of my jersey.

[powderjunkie]

I wasn't riding my bike but its on topic - I had a ladybug bite me a bunch of times today. My kid is super into bugs so I was going to leave the bug on my arm to show him, but I kept getting subtle little stings. Not painful...just very barely annoying enough to make me brush it off.

Also, I recently learned that ladybugs are beetles. And apparently beetles represent 25% of all animals species on earth or something. Kids science books are fun.