Cycling UK Forum

Taking the long way home from the pub tonight.

I'll expand upon this a little later, but for me, my yearly trip to the Swiss Alps provide easily the best riding.

The ride below is 10.4 miles of climbing with an elevation gain of 8,721ft. I do this climb every year, and have yet to get bored of it.




And this shows some of the other peaks that I have reached. Each superb to do in their own right. The Eiger is shrouded in cloud, behind the arrow on the top row, right hand side. The arrow bottom right showing a cable car station, is the ride above to Birg from the Lauterbrunnen valley.

MikeDee wrote:
With the weather you get in the UK, maybe mountain biking is not that popular with riding through the mud and slop all the time? Just a guess on my part because I live in a dry climate.

My self and my regular riding pal are out three nights a week, and usually manage to squeeze in a weekend day time ride as well.

My annual off road mileage is now close to 4,000 miles a year, which isn't bad for just a hobby. Admittedly though, I am a pretty spoilt as I have a choice of analogue and electric mtb to ride. I'm also an ambassador for KTM, and write the occasional review for other brands.

I would contribute further to both the electric bike section, and to this section of the forum, but don't agree with the way that that Cycling UK forum admin, turn a blatant blind eye to current UK pedelec law, and condone the use of ebikes which breach it. I see that as a shame, as I could contribute significantly in respect of eMTB's but do not want the association.

In respect of analogue mtb's have recently sold my KTM Ultra 1964, which has stood up to UK and Swiss mountain riding conditions very well, and instead, picked up a bargain priced last years model Giant XCT Advanced Plus 1. This bike is quite phenomenal to ride, and has me grinning with every ride. eMTB's are great, but give no where near the sense of achievement, or fun that a quality mtb gives.

The current rides.





Yet another Giant, but this time an eMTB that I have just finished reviewing.

They both have their plus and minus points, and whilst I run both an SRAM and Shimano set up on my current bikes, my preference is for Shimano, and to me the Cube represents better value, especially as it comes already equipped with a dropper post.

I guess that much comes downs to whether you want Shimano or SRAM and a 1x or 2x set up.

You know full well that your bike is illegal to use anywhere than on private land that has no public access or right of way.

You are even going to lengths to avoid stating the bikes nominal watts and have taken things even further by having an incorrect data plate fitted to the motor. By doing so, you are taking things way beyond what you deem to be a "legal technicality" On the plus side of your actions, you have started a paper trail.

Once again for reference, the law could not be any clearer on this matter. http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/electric-bike ... -bike-law/


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Okay Kwackers, what is the nominal wattage for your BBS02?







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kwackers wrote:Either way I wait with baited breath for them to pull me over, although I won't bother holding it.

All well and good until you are involved in accident. You will be riding a motorcycle, and this bike when finished, will require registering and insuring to make it legal for road use. You will also be required by law to wear a crash helmet.

You know full well that your conversion is illegal to use within the UK, other than on private land that has no public or rights of way.

You even conveniently forgot to add the nominal wattage of the motor in your starter post.


Why not just use BBS01 and remain legal?





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The Bafang BBS02 does not meet UK EAPC requirements as it is not a 250w nominal motor, which means that by fitting it, you are riding a motorcycle and as such it can only be used on private land that has no public access or rights of way, or on the road after having registered and insured the bike as a motorcycle.

You mention only one downside, but I can think of another. http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/electric-bike ... -bike-law/




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I run Hutchinson Toro's back and front on one of my hardtails, and on my second hardtail a Schwalbe Racing Ralph on the front, with a Schwalbe Rocket Ron on the rear. I quite like the loose feel that the Racing Ralph on the front gives. The Rocket Ron struggles for traction during the wet winter months, but I stick with the set up, as I also enjoy the low rolling resistance that they offer.

Toro's are superb, but they seem to develop a habit of becoming porous on the sidewall if run for any length of time as a tubeless set up. I have had two sets in row become porous, which is obviously not an ideal thing to have happen.

It can work both ways.

It was riding an eMTB that got me back into the saddle, so building my fitness without adding to an on going knee complaint and muscle wastage issue. But is also the same bike that has got me increasingly interested in riding my analogue mtb in preference for enjoyment and satisfaction of achievement. The analogue mtb is far more rewarding to ride, and there is no foreseeable way that I shall give it up.

Threevok wrote:You mention you are a "beast of a man". In that case I would be looking at coil suspension forks, rather that air sprung, as the latter do have weight restrictions. Even though modern air forks have improved over older versions, you could still find yourself popping the seals quite often.

Ignore the above, it is utter rubbish!



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Like others have already said, unless buying used, then forget a full suspension bike at that price bracket.

Okay I am biased as I own three KTM mountain bikes, but leaving that biasness aside, you will struggle to find a better spec of mtb within that price range, than the superb KTM Ultra 1964. The following link is purely an example and not recommendation of seller. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KTM-Ultra-196 ... 1862905465

The one thing that I would say, is that to my mind the frame sizing comes up a touch on the small size. But again it largely depends upon what your own preference for bike bike feel.


This is my own Ultra. https://www.ukxcnews.com/reviews/race-t ... 1964-2015/ It bought it ex demo, which could be another option for you. It can save a massive amount of money, and in the process get you a higher spec of bike. There must be lots of shops that have ex demo bikes of varying make for sale.


edit... Looking back through a few old mags, perhaps also take a look at the Saracen Mantra Trail (650b) and Canyon Grand Canyon AL 29 (29)




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I hate flat pedals, but if I were to use them, then the DMR V8 would be my choice.

SPD Shimano XT all the way for me.

Gattonero wrote:clip-on rear fenders would also be annoying when going downhill and moving back with your bum off the saddle, this thing being right in the way...

Exactly.

And as all of my bikes run dropper posts, the issue would be made even worse. Mudguards are only of any use for riding disused railways lines, country parks and cycle lanes.

I really rate my front Neoguard, but even that is an impossibility on my next bike that has upside down front forks.