Electric bike use and just dropping in to say hello.

[overlander]

Hello guys been a while since I last dropped in and still to finish my heart rate experiment. But the trek fx+ use has went down but I do believe it has found its role. I was struggling before, but as most of you know I am a strange case with a intermittent dodgy knee. I have decided that the electric bike is a fantastic commuter and as such will now be my 100% commuter as its not really that much fun so the electric bike is perfect to get the job done.

So I have decided to accept this and separate my commuter and leisure bike and buy a specialist leisure bike, in my case it is a new Ridgeback panorama touring bike with a lovely Reynolds 725 steel frame. Picking it up on Friday and heading straight of from Glasgow to arrochar with my 10 year old daughter. Will add some photos if anyone wants me to but here is a photo of the bike.

PS should update the bike list as i have sold a few.

 

[neptune]

Hi Overlander, and welcome back. I like the look of that bike, but I would have to change to a straight handlebar to suit me at my age. I too have decided to use my pedal bike and my ebike for different separate purposes . I am retired, so no commute . So it is 10 miles pedalling every morning, and the ebike for running errands in the afternoon. Each is irreplaceable for its own purpose. I am sure I speak for others when i say we would love to see your other photos.

 

[overlander]

Hi neptune, yes the drop bars are a bit of concern for me until i took it a test ride. If you look you can just see it also has brake levers on the flat bars so can be ridden that way. Also even on the flat bar bit you can reach the brake levers on the drops which are also the gear changers. Can't wait until Friday but i need to remember my 10 year old daughter is in tow so wont be breaking any lap records .

I think you have came to the same conclusion as me, that no one type of bike can do it all and once you accept this the electric bike is fantastic.

 

[daudi]

Similar for me. I use my ebike for commuting, for me it is like a landrover: big, solid, will carry any load up any hill. However I sometimes need something light and zippy and therefore bought a Brompton, which I consider the equivalent of a smartcar.


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[overlander]

Well thats the maiden trip done and went without event the bike performed perfectly. I just cannot believe the difference between a good steel frame(reynolds 725) and an aluminum frame with regards to comfort. It really is night and day, no road vibration its like having suspension its so smooth.

Sorry for the poor quality of some photos but we left the camera behind by accident so phone pictures.

The trip was from Glasgow to Ardlui(changed from arrochar at the last minute) along the side of Loch Lomond



The Bike after the trip when i had the camera :-(



The humble accommodation, actually very nice with underfloor heating.

 

[flecc]

I just cannot believe the difference between a good steel frame(reynolds 725) and an aluminum frame with regards to comfort. It really is night and day, no road vibration its like have suspension its so smooth.

So true, suspension would never have been needed if we'd stuck with steel frames.

 

[overlander]

So true, suspension would never have been needed if we'd stuck with steel frames.

I will always look at aluminum frames now as second best for any casual road bike how we ever changed over is beyond me now as the panorama is pretty light bike. Ok there will be certain bikes better off with aluminium frames like suspension mountain bikes but the majority of bikes in my opinion should have steel frames as their suspension is so cheap a good frame steel would take away the need for cheap suspension.

 

[Kenny]

Been a while since I cycled Loch Lomond side. It's a lovely scenic ride but wish the cycle track extended past Tarbet as it can be a busy road at times and very narrow and twisty.

 

[overlander]

Yes we caught the train at tarbet to ardlui that road was too fast with a 10 year old in tow.


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[indalo]

The shock absorption qualities of steel-framed bicycle frames is something that I find curious as my experience too is that ride quality is better on many older bikes than on some aly/alloy framed bikes, even with suspension forks. A metallurgist colleague once tried to explain to me exactly why that is but he gave up when my eyes started to glaze over.

Nice pics Overlander and I remember the area quite well as I lived there for a few years a long time ago. Unfortunately, during most of that time I never owned a bike!

Indalo

 

[Kenny]

Shepherding the kids on public roads can be quite stressful. I take my youngest on the excellent Burley Piccilo tag-along.
Took my three boys for a camp/cycle to Arran last week. Here's a picture of my, ever so slightly overloaded bike with my son, Craig in tow (don't ask about the pirate hat)