Well that's another Wiggle event out of the way. The lad that I rode with, only wanted to ride the standard 29mile route, rather than the 40mile epic route, so sadly I didn't put the mileage in that I'd hoped for.
As I had thought, the Haibike wasn't the best of bikes to have chosen for the ride. This is absolutely no fault of the bike, just my trying to use it for what it wasn't designed for. Climbing obviously wasn't a problem although the rear Marathon, did struggle for grip a few times. Also because the other lad was on a pedal only bike, I hardly got out of eco most of the time, but did have to have a bit of play in tour and sport, then wait for him at the top of the hills. Some of the climbs today would have tested almost anyone.
The issue for me and the Haibike was the descents. Some were pretty monumental, and running a 700c x 30 front tyre, I just couldn't risk going too fast, in case of getting a flat. There were loads of bikes that got flats, and the lad that I was with also suffered a high speed blow out on the rear. I think that I was just lucky, but that was mainly because I kept my speed down, which was very frustrating. The average down hill speed for the other lad was just over 30mph, and mine was 23mph! If I'd been on the BH, my speed would have been nearer to 30mph-35mph. I did have a couple of major backside clenching moments though, as I got the bars crossed over big time, and on another occasion when the back stepped out. The corn field was also pretty scary to ride. It was very slippery, and many people came close to fallen off, myself included. Sadly there was also too much road work for my liking.
The finished route.
And the rest.
The expression from the lad on the left, sums this climb up quite nicely.
And an embarrassingly clean post ride bike. Note cable tie around battery. This was just a precaution.
After 29 miles and I still have plenty of life left in the battery.
I am going to miss the next two rides, which then means that there isn't sadly anything else until autumn.
