earthmover

Nice one! Enjoyed the report. Was hoping to get there myself, but just too much going on. Don't know if I can make either of the FoD events, but will certainly be at Llandegla again. Mark

I haven't entered yet, but it's in the diary! Mark

Have sent an email to Orange offering to be a "real world" Beta tester for them. Not had a reply yet, but it can't be long........ Mark

Do like Orange bikes (I have 3 already!) If this goes into production it could just tempt me to switch. The "underslung" battery idea has already proved to me to be a non-issue, and without using that would Orange have to change their suspension design? Mark

Welcome! Mark

Some interesting points raised, and not wanting to sound too defensive of my choice of bike, here are some of my findings: I never thought of needing to take a spare battery with me, therefore the idea of mid ride battery changes never entered my head, therefore the problem of having to undo the bolt didn't occur to me. In my ownership of this bike (7 months) I have only taken the battery off once, for a software upgrade. The charge port position does catch all the crud, but up to press it hasn't entered the charge port or caused any problems to me when I want to charge the bike, which is every three rides on average. The battery does catch all the crud off the front wheel, but the outer casing is tough plastic, and the lower part has a built in bash guard. This hasn't been an issue for me because of the reasons mentioned above. Yes, the battery could be undone and taken by a scrote with an Allen key, but so could most parts of the bike. I am just a tiny bit paranoid about that, now it has been brought to my attention. Mark

Hi Richard, Bit of a piece of string question, but I'll give you what info I have. My battery says I have charged it 18 times and done 892 km, so that's nearly 50 km per charge. Bear in mind that I haven't always been into the red, so there is probably a bit more to go. I spend most of my time between 15 and 35 % assistance, only using 100% for showing off, or racing. According to Strava my average ride is 12.6 km with 216m of climbing, but this is short sharp climbs, not long slogs. Hope this helps. Mark

I have a Levo, and I had issues with the chain coming off, until I adjusted the chain guide. Turns out there are different shims to pack it out, which explains the funny piece of metal in the bag I got when I bought it! Not had the problem since. Not sure if the "problems" with the Brose motor is more one of rider perception, but am very pleased with mine. If anyone with a Trek wants to meet up and do a comparison I'd be happy to oblige. Mark

Just for information, I have a Levo, and don't want/need it derisricting. Mark

Highside, how many of you were there? A mate of mine was at Llandegla and was surprised to see a large group of e-bikes riding together. Mark

Went out for a ride last night on a track I don't normally use, and it brought this thread to mind. The track in question is a forest fire road, starts flat and then rises up. As I was on my own and keen to get to the downhill part of the forest to see how wet it was, I was in the middle assistance setting (now 35%) and cruising. The motor felt indecisive, as though it was cutting out, whilst not under any particular load, and the bike felt sluggish as though something was dragging. As soon as the track started to rise, and my pressure on the pedals increased, the feeling disappeared and the bike started to fly. I wonder if this is what the OP felt. I replicated the conditions later on in the ride just to check, and yes it felt exactly the same. Mark

Hoping to get some two wheel time during the fortnight we're off. Have a trail ride on the KTM planned, a Penmachno ride (paddle), a Llandegla day and if the weather isn't icy the GS might get used for more than commuting! Knowing my luck this year very little of it will come off. Mark

Scott compression vest for me. Elbow and shoulder pads only, not the thickest, but definitely better than nothing! POC mk2 knee pads, comfiest pair I could find. Mark

Not exactly e-bike experience here, but one of our regular Thursday riders stuck firmly to his "I don't need rear suspension!" mantra for years, with his old school XC bike. He blamed his many crashes on everything except the bike. One week, there was only he and I going out, but his rear wheel had collapsed after ignoring one too many broken spokes, and was in dire need of some new drivetrain. I offered him my old Patriot to ride, which was too small and too softly suspended for his size, but at least had wheels and gears. He bought a full suspension bike a few days later, rather than spend money repairing the XC bike. He now crashes less, has gained confidence, and speed, to the point where he is now contemplating longer travel and more aggressive style trail bikes. Then I let him ride my Levo......... Mark

Hi Colin, Sorry, that sounds as though one of your two devices isn't talking to the other! You do have Bluetooth enabled on your phone Im assuming? If you cant get the app to work, at least you can still use the bike. The normal defaults are Eco = 25%, Trail = 50% and Turbo = 100%. In Eco you can expect 5-6 hours off a full charge, depending on how much climbing you do. Keep an eye on the battery gauge and you'll be ok. I'd be talking to my dealer though. Mark

If it wasn't for bad luck........ You found here then Adam? Mark

Hi Colin, just checking, your bike is switched on when you try the app? I can't remember having any problems with mine, it worked straight away and has continued to do so. The set up was very easy, it must be, I managed it! Try deleting the app and re-downloading it? Mark

Hi Nick, Had mine for a few months now, really pleased with it. Dropped the "Eco" assistance level down to 15%, left the other two as they were. Pedal response I moved to halfway between "normal" and "race", everything else set to default. 15% is enough for me to keep up with fitter mates uphill, downhill isn't a problem, and my battery lasts for at least a couple of rides. Mark

Hi Cyberil, I run 18psi front and rear. I'm not happy any lower, maybe that's just me. Changed the front for a 2.8 Maxxis Rekon, as it was supposed to be a more aggressive tyre. The jury is still out on that one. Have heard about the hack, but don't feel the need to try it out (Have a KTM for that! ) Not had any issues with the motor not engaging, I have the pedal assist set between "race" and "normal" after a chat with my local Specialized store guru about it feeling slow to disengage occasionally. There is a firmware update coming soon I'm told, waiting for him to call me when he has the details. Glad to hear you're enjoying yours! Mark

Wot he said. Mark

Both my bikes are now tubeless, and give me far less grief than tubes ever did. Best advice I can offer though, is to put the sealant in, and go out for a ride immediately! This gets the sealant everywhere around the tyre and beads and doing its job straight away. Mark

Thanks for the comments folks! Eddie - there was a guy there with a Lupine set up that he had borrowed from a mate, £700 worth. That's a good mate! Soundwave - yes, I see what you're getting at, but wiring brings me out in a cold sweat! Engines I can do, electrics I cannot. Mark

Why do you want to take them off? Mark

I have always cycled for fun, off road mainly, cycling on the road only as a means of teenage independence many moons ago! I rode my non assisted Orange Five at the weekend, and really enjoyed it, whilst my girlfriend's daughter rode my E-bike. She absolutely loved it, so that's two people who had fun this weekend because of one bike, and three if you count the fact that her Mum was overjoyed that I'd got her out of the house and away from the damned screen! Mark

I chatted to another Levo rider, one on a Cube, and one on a Scott. The other two appeared to be both on the same bikes, but I know not what. We passed each other going in opposite directions all night. Mark