Hello from Gloucester!

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
15,971
6,292
i only went down the canal 1 time to stroud but at the visitors centre/saul junction swing a left down the last bit of the canal over the road then over some fields to the a38 where you can go under the road down a dark tunnel then few more fields then on to the stroud canal straight there.

note there are some styles and fences to get the bike over and prob a nightmare in the wet as the fields will turn in to a bog.
 

SwiggyG

Finding my (electric) wheels
Sep 3, 2016
7
0
61
Stroud
Hi, I've got a Cube reaction hybrid pro 400 and commute the other way round to you, Stroud to Glos. I bought mine from Evans in Cheltenham for £1800.
I take my charger to work and love the commute via Slad, Sheepscombe, and Cranham. I keep off the main roads as much as possible and tend to go on small road or tracks. I often go up Portway and Painswick beacon.
The CX motor is brilliant on hills and it's always puts a smile on my face.
Hi!

As the thread title suggests i'm in Gloucester, I've decided to get an ebike as my family wagon, gas guzzling car is now only used for the commute (wife does 90% of the driving that involves kids). My commute isn't overly far by car, 9 or so miles, but anyone that has gone via the A4173 from Gloucester to Stroud will know that hill is not fuel efficiency friendly, then throw in the basically two miles of pot hole hell which results in a wheel alignment every 6 weeks or so then yeah.... not a happy wallet.

In all I worked out that with finance payments (which are quite low really), fuel, tax, insurance and maintenance my car is costing us around £300 a month to run - I know some people spend this and more on just car payments per month, but as a household with just one earner this kind of outgoing is one we could do without.

So.... I'm handing my car back to the finance company and making the move to the ebike! My commute is 14 or so miles one way, so 28 mile round trip from Gloucester to Stroud - it's a pretty nice commute, mainly along the canal tow paths and only goes onto an A road for about 1.5 miles and I come off the Stroud Waterways tow path right by my place of work (Over the road from Merrywalks Shopping centre in Stroud if anyone knows it).

The bike I'm looking at getting is the Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 400 29er -
https://tinyurl.com/y893ceav

Also going to be getting the Cubeguard mudguards, although as we move into the dryer months may not use this a huge amount.

I'm hoping my commute will take an 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. I'm not massively fit so perhaps as I get fitter I'll get there a bit quicker. I'm going to do a couple of trial runs before I go full time, and also to see if I would benefit from a suspension seat post for a more comfortable commute.

I'm a little apprehensive (if that's the correct word), it's very easy to just jump in the car and go but I'm hoping using an ebike will still mean I retain some of the freedom and flexibility I would lose if I just got the bus.
 

Ravener

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jan 7, 2018
9
1
51
Mitcheldean
Hi!

As the thread title suggests i'm in Gloucester, I've decided to get an ebike as my family wagon, gas guzzling car is now only used for the commute (wife does 90% of the driving that involves kids). My commute isn't overly far by car, 9 or so miles, but anyone that has gone via the A4173 from Gloucester to Stroud will know that hill is not fuel efficiency friendly, then throw in the basically two miles of pot hole hell which results in a wheel alignment every 6 weeks or so then yeah.... not a happy wallet.

In all I worked out that with finance payments (which are quite low really), fuel, tax, insurance and maintenance my car is costing us around £300 a month to run - I know some people spend this and more on just car payments per month, but as a household with just one earner this kind of outgoing is one we could do without.

So.... I'm handing my car back to the finance company and making the move to the ebike! My commute is 14 or so miles one way, so 28 mile round trip from Gloucester to Stroud - it's a pretty nice commute, mainly along the canal tow paths and only goes onto an A road for about 1.5 miles and I come off the Stroud Waterways tow path right by my place of work (Over the road from Merrywalks Shopping centre in Stroud if anyone knows it).

The bike I'm looking at getting is the Cube Reaction Hybrid Pro 400 29er -
https://tinyurl.com/y893ceav

Also going to be getting the Cubeguard mudguards, although as we move into the dryer months may not use this a huge amount.

I'm hoping my commute will take an 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. I'm not massively fit so perhaps as I get fitter I'll get there a bit quicker. I'm going to do a couple of trial runs before I go full time, and also to see if I would benefit from a suspension seat post for a more comfortable commute.

I'm a little apprehensive (if that's the correct word), it's very easy to just jump in the car and go but I'm hoping using an ebike will still mean I retain some of the freedom and flexibility I would lose if I just got the bus.
There's a R&M bike on the forum classifieds well worth a look. It just needs some mudguards and lights. I've spent quite a bit on the right gear to keep me warm and decent panniers. Do it - you won't regret it!
 

Wisper Bikes

Trade Member
Apr 11, 2007
6,211
2,174
68
Sevenoaks Kent
Thanks Ravener, if Nick would like to contact me directly, I will look after him. We can put the RM Charger mountain together with mudguards and lights together for about £2,000. The bike has hardly been used.

All the best, David
David@amps.Bike
 
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Trevormonty

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 18, 2016
1,135
564
17
NZ
When it comes to commuters its small things that make difference. Good mudguards, rack, integrated lights, caffee lock.

Suntour NCX is great suspension seat post.

NB FS MTB are great for mtbing but very expensive to maintain, not good choice for commuter.
 

SwiggyG

Finding my (electric) wheels
Sep 3, 2016
7
0
61
Stroud
Hi, tried to get a map up but struggling unless you follow me on strava. Also happy to meet up and ride the route with you.
Thanks for the help mark but I'm a bit of a technophobe. Might get Mrs G on it.