Cycling UK Forum

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Can I recommend a crank drive motor, such as this Bafang BBSO2 which I've fitted to my 27.5 hardtail. Easy to fit, low centre of gravity and the bike pedals fine with it turned off. I put a big 15ah battery on, which lasts 4-5 hours off road, but a 9ah would be ok and much lighter. I used to ride hu...

I've converted a couple of Bromptons to electric for friends. Both using Nano motor kits. The radial spoking works fine, the rims look very strong. The battery on the newer kit was a 4aH Bosch, like that from a large Sds drill. It fits in an adapter in the front bag. Carrying the the folded bike in ...

I fitted Marathon Plus 29er tyres to my wife's ebike...they've been excellent and much better than std Marathons. After getting a flat from blackthorn following the hedge cutter, I put about 50ml 'Stans' fluid in the schraeder tubes; to date, no punctures after daily use on poor Cornish lanes. I've ...

Hi Phil, I've ridden many of the bridleways on Dartmoor; it's been very good this year due to the lack of rain. Look on the Dartmoor National Park website for info. on campsites, wild camping and mtb routes etc. Along with the OS 1:25000, there is also a very useful on/off road cycle map (Hartley?) ...

I've used Puma ones from Specsavers for the last 4 years; clear, orange and dark lenses. Really good and about £90.

Hi Si, If you are really only using the little chainring on your compact double, why not give 1 x 10 a try on the gravel bike. I have done just done it on my trail mtb. Sunrace MX5 11-40 cassette, 32 tooth narrow wide chainring, 104 bcd, bolted to inside of Deore chainset, has good chainline. The na...

I recommend trying a 'range extender' rear cog, 40 tooth for your cassette. I've done a few of these for people, albeit on 10 speeds. There's no reason it shouldn't work with ( speed and your LX mech. It's a very neat solution, and you don't change your front set up.

Back to HMB's original post about upgrading to a carbon road bike; I did just that a few years ago, from an alloy Giant Defy to a Planet X Pro Carbon with 105 groupset. I love it. It is lighter, but the real gain is more comfort, which is often ignored is these carbon discussions. I also ride a (sec...

Hi Rotavator the fork was a steel Surly Instigator I think, with disc mounts; unfortunately it sold yesterday on another mtb forum. I have another one, quite similar on an mtb/hybrid hub gear bike currently for sale on this forum, if no one goes for the bike soon I will split it and give you first d...

Hi Rotavator, I would advise against using alloy suspension forks with a front hub motor. I tried it a few years back on some rockshox and the anti-rotation washers tore the drop outs apart resulting in an over the bars crash, at low speed fortunately. I have fitted quite a few front hub motors to m...

Hi Ryan Can I recommend you look at a BMW e-bike. We bought one a year ago for about £1600 and have now put 1500 miles on it. It's a Bosch crank drive 700c hybrid. Rides much better than a hub motor MTB which we used to have. Range of at least 25 miles in hilly Cornwall. I think Ocean BMW still have...

Hi David
I have a pair of Bliss ARG Minimalist pads for low risk mountain biking.
They are very light, comfortable and unobtrusive, due to 'custard' technology, I believe.
Highly recommended.
Tony

How about ATF (automatic transmission fluid)? It's in the power steering in my van. I wash my mountain bike after each muddy Dartmoor ride, wipe the chain with dry rag then on with the ATF, in an old finish line bottle. I think it gets into the chain better than chainsaw oil, which I tried last year...

We have two e-bikes in our collection Mine I built several years ago for fun; a 26" alloy mtb with 8spd Sturmey hub, disc brakes and Chinese 8fun front hub motor fed from 200watt/hr bottle cage battery. It's fine for up to 15 mile round trips in hilly Cornwall with full panniers. But front hub ...