EMTB for a day

[Flintlock]

Hired an emtb out of Castlewellan for a day (6 hours). A Cube Stereo Hybrid ONE44 HPC Race

A few miles of back roads down to the disused railway track at Dundrum

Through Murlough

Onto the beach


Through Newcastle & through Donard Wood

Another bit of back road & into Tollymore for brew stop



Up to Moneyscalp & a circut
More back roads to Castlewellan Forest & some MTB trails.

Finally a then & now picture - the US Army 1st Armoured Division outside the castle 1942

and present

30 miles, mostly on eco & automatic setting with a play with the turbo in the last 30 minutes
23% battery life remaining after 5 hours - about 5% of my battery remaining so returned early.

 

[Davey B]

Nice...presumably you enjoyed the bike and the day...weather looked good. Is this a forerunner to chucking £4-£5k on one?

 

[Mzokk]

Lovely run Flintlock. You'd be a while covering that on Shank's pony.

 

[Flintlock]

Nice...presumably you enjoyed the bike and the day...weather looked good. Is this a forerunner to chucking £4-£5k on one?

Yes, a great way to spend a day Davy, have been hiring them occasionally for a few years now & hope to purchase one sometime down the line. The Hire Company sell off their fleet every year, so that might be an option - they ain't cheap new tho!

 

[Davey B]

Cheap...they certainly aren't....and if they only get infrequent use, the price per mile is eyewatering!
I bought a 2nd hand e-road bike from on here. (Specialized Creo SL) It has been superb. I use it for perhaps 10% of my riding. Those days when I wonder if I'll be bolloxed on a ride so can take the ebike and know I'll be fine. Often ride it with power off and only ever on low..set at 25% assist. Hugely impressed with its ability (yeah, road use only) to do well over 100 miles and 10k feet of climbing on one charge of its 320w battery !!

 

[Mr Bean]

Yes, a great way to spend a day Davy, have been hiring them occasionally for a few years now & hope to purchase one sometime down the line. The Hire Company sell off their fleet every year, so that might be an option - they ain't cheap new tho!

Do you have the opportunity to buy via a cycle to work scheme?

As a higher rate tax payer there's a 42 per cent saving on tax and NI. Makes buying s/h a non-starter.

I'm about to buy one.

 

[L2RKE]

I'm loving my Cube Stereo. Hunting out hills and Trails. My next outing should crack 1000 miles since I bought it earlier this year.

 

[Flintlock]

Do you have the opportunity to buy via a cycle to work scheme?

As a higher rate tax payer there's a 42 per cent saving on tax and NI. Makes buying s/h a non-starter.

I'm about to buy one.

Fraid not, don't think I'll be buying new - just too much money - the hire company offer a 6 month warranty as well, so, when the time comes I think that will be my 1st call

 

[Davey B]

I'm loving my Cube Stereo. Hunting out hills and Trails. My next outing should crack 1000 miles since I bought it earlier this year.

Chapeau sir...that is good going for the 10th January...... (I'll get my coat)

 

[L2RKE]

Chapeau sir...that is good going for the 10th January...... (I'll get my coat)

Oops. Old age is getting to me. That's actually @1000 miles in 9 months.

 

[Udders]

I bought my Cube Stereo Pro back in 2019 when prices weren’t silly. I paid just under £4k for it. To get the equivalent today will set you back just over £6k!


I’ve done several thousands of miles on it to some extremely remote places and even to the tops of mountains. Absolutely brilliant bikes.
It’s since had several modifications with a dropper post, tubeless conversion, suspension upgrade, shin destroying pedals, better brake pads and a aluminium sump / motor guard thingy. The original seat has been put back on and the big comfy one removed. That was only on while I got used to long trips.
Oh, and I had a second set of heavy duty wheels made with road tyres on. They make a massive difference if you’re not going off road.

 

[Flintlock]

Proper bit of kit that. Forgot to say, the saddle is definitely not designed for comfort - would have to get a nice comfy one like yours if I was to purchase.

 

[Udders]

Proper bit of kit that. Forgot to say, the saddle is definitely not designed for comfort - would have to get a nice comfy one like yours if I was to purchase.

The big comfy seats are ok if you’re getting back in to cycling because they’re kinder in your ass bones but once you’re used to it you’re better off with the standard “ hard & narrow “ seat. The bigger ones are quite restrictive when it comes to manoeuvrability if you’re off roading.

I do love an exploring type ride like you had. I always take a few spares and definitely my gas burner for a brew or two.

 

[Davey B]

Bike seats can be a nightmare...until you find the one that works for you and then you find (if you have the n+1philosophy of push bikes) that all your bikes end up with the same saddle..the one that works for you. Some bike shops have seat devices that work out you ideal saddle size..based on your sit bone width amongst other stuff. Worth seeking out (Specialized do them and will also allow you to try a saddle and swap it if necessary to ensure you get the right one for you...or they did when I last visited one of their shops) time worth spending...getting the saddle right, or your unlikely to want to spend long days in the saddle....im likely preaching to the converted here so sorry if its granny and egg sucking...

 

[fs996]

Had my Haibike SDuro hardtail since around 2020 I think, cost just over 2k but was on the C2W scheme. It’s seen some pretty heavy terrain and has been very reliable. New bike prices have gotten out of hand but there are plenty of budget e-bikes out there which can make sense for more occasional use. I’m lucky enough to have a Brompton ebike too which sees loads of use locally for nipping to the shops or into town.

 

[L2RKE]

I've got some padded cycling shorts to try out as my arse bones ache a bit after an hour or so.
Here's my Cube that I purchased from AdventureBoy. I let one of my Grandsons have a play

 

[L2RKE]

I had a 24 mile trek today, a lot of which was through the King's Forest. Have to say the padded Cycle shorts made a considerable difference to my comfort.

 

[Davey B]

I had a 24 mile trek today, a lot of which was through the King's Forest. Have to say the padded Cycle shorts made a considerable difference to my comfort.

Next step...for longer rides...is some chamois cream. Feels weird the first time you grab a couple of fingers full and rub around your bare arse and the back of your bollox (any contact points with the saddle) but you appreciate it 3 or more hours down the road (or trail) (And no undies with cycling shorts...you probably know this already)

Chamois Cream | Embrocation Cream | Merlin Cycles

Browse our amazing range of Chamois Cream - available with free delivery worldwide & hassle free returns.

www.merlincycles.com

 

[L2RKE]

And no undies with cycling shorts...you probably know this already)

I do now.
Had to make some adjustments on route

 

[Guru Gora]

I use that too, and I don’t own a bike