EBR made me do it! (new Vado SL 5.0 EQ)

[Stefan Mikes]

It is the max assist comparison ride then

 

[gromike]

With a hub drive and going up a steep incline you need your legs to keep the motor happy. Then hub motors are great,
and not so bad if you got the gears.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

With a hub drive and going up a steep incline you need your legs to keep the motor happy. Then hub motors are great,
and not so bad if you got the gears.

Agree. With a hub-drive, you have to keep your wheel speed up — generally by entering the base of the hill at the highest possible ground speed. With my mid-drive, you need to keep your cadence up.

Either way, you need the right gearing. Had to lower the gearing on both bikes to improve climbing — in the hub-drive's case, to be able to finish the climb on my own steam as wheel speed bogged down and motor efficiency tanked.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

The bike that EBR built
The new SL's pretty much finished for now — just waiting for a saddle bag and an ABUS folding lock holder for the top tube. The bike itself and every accessory and mod seen here came out of recommendations or discussions on EBR. Thank you all once again!

At Moonlight Beach today, right after getting 38 mm tubeless Pathfinders installed a few blocks away at Cadence Cyclery of Encinitas. Based on a list compiled from several EBR posts, they also got me tooled up for tubeless field repairs.

Generally have mixed feelings about gum sidewalls but kinda like 'em here. (No, didn't even try to ride it in this loose sand.)

Put on the Pathfinders mainly to (a) smooth out the ride, and (b) improve offroad grip with little sacrifice in pavement performance. Big win on (a) at 30 psi, and (b) will be tested tomorrow.

Asked the shop to put the tires at the lowest safe pressure for the ride home — just to see the effect on compliance. The owner/manager chimed in that he's had good luck with his own Pathfinders at 30 psi, so 30 psi it was (despite the 50-80 psi on the sidewalls).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

40 psi for today's race in 42 mm Tracer Pro. I'm a heavy person and am carrying several good kilograms of necessary stuff.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Lovin' the SL 5.0 EQ more everyday, but getting frustrated with the Racktime rack. Still don't want a standard-sized trunk bag back there for now, but I DO want to make use of this rack.

Q1. Is it for SnapIT or SnapIT 2.0 adapters? The Racktime site gives distinguishing characteristics that don't exactly match the rack I have.

Also, found a 10x10" bungee net that's a workable size for bulkier temporary loads like a warmer jacket or take-home food order But the racks side- and cross-bars offer insecure attachment points for its 4 hooks.

Guess the next try is an old-fashioned 3-strap bike rack bungee.

Q2. @Stefan Mikes , are you still happy with your Ortlieb Quick-Rack replacement? Was it easy to install?

Thanks!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Jeremy: get rid of the Racktime and get yourself Ortlieb. Ortlieb served me perfectly on a hard race today.

The easiest thing to install!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A very heavy pannier held onto the Ortlieb rack perfectly even on rough cobblestone!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Jeremy: get rid of the Racktime and get yourself Ortlieb. Ortlieb served me perfectly on a hard race today.

The easiest thing to install!

I've just been told in no uncertain terms that no more money shall be spent on bicycles at this time. She's kinda got a point. Maybe for Christmas.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I've just been told in no uncertain terms that no more money shall be spent on bicycles at this time. She's kinda got a point. Maybe for Christmas.

We all suffer from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) from time to time. For some, there is no cure.

 

[DaveMatthews]

We all suffer from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) from time to time. For some, there is no cure.

As a guitar player, it never happens to me! No really!!!

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

SL fully outfitted for local rides. The Topeak MondoPack saddle bag suggested by @Saratoga Dave added enough storage for now.

Probably violated some code of honor by fitting a bell as big as this Incredibell XL on a bike like this, but the dainty little Spurcycle bell the dealer put on had no effect on our oblivious pedestrians. This one's a good bit louder at 1/3 the price, and the lever position's adjustable. We'll see.

 

[Allan47.7339]

Usually the Spurcycle is louder if installed correctly. It's easy to over tighten and mute the sound. It was designed to have a noticeable tone.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Usually the Spurcycle is louder if installed correctly. It's easy to over tighten and mute the sound. It was designed to have a noticeable tone.

Interesting. The Spurcycle I returned rang a long time at a high frequency with a slight beat — no sign of damping by overtightening at least. The tone is certainly distinctive, but not one pedestrian of maybe 20 encountered so far showed any sign of hearing it till I was under 10 ft away.

The ROCKBROS bell on my other bike does way better than that. Better ergonomics, too, but that model's no longer available.

The Incredibell XT is roughly as loud as the ROCKBROS, and I like its ergonomics, too. The Spurcycle weighed almost as much. Effectiveness to be determined.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Reflectors, anyone?
Trying to keep the SL as clean-looking as possible but feeling the need to add some rear- and side-pointing reflectors in case I get caught out after dark — preferably small and classy-looking.

The small EQ tailight lens has no reflective elements. The headlight does, so I'm covered up front.

Maybe hang one with this form factor but smaller from the rack or put on some reflective tape?

Lost my stock sidewall reflectors with the tire change. No side reflectors at all now.

Lost the pedal reflectors, too. Last time I searched, no good way to add reflectors to these.

Ideas? No added lights, just reflectors, please. Have some reflective LED ankle bands, but with storage at a premium, would prefer not to rely on something I have to stow.

Thanks!

 

[DaveMatthews]

Something like this?

Amazon.com

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Something like this?

Amazon.com

Thanks! Right size and shape, but the sloping fore and aft pedal "walls" are too thick for typical reflectors and present little surface for glue or tape.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Thanks! Right size and shape, but the sloping fore and aft pedal "walls" are too thick for typical reflectors and present little surface for glue or tape.

I wonder if the "right" kind of glue would be enough anyway?

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

If I can bring myself to do it, the simplest and lightest solution is just red reflective tape on the back rail of the rack and white reflective tape on the side rails.

These black reflective stickers would be more acceptable esthetically if they really work:

Amazon.com

Wonder how hard the tape or stickers would be remove?

 

[DaveMatthews]

If I can bring myself to do it, the simplest and lightest solution is just red reflective tape on the back rail of the rack and white reflective tape on the side rails.

These black reflective stickers would be more acceptable esthetically if they really work:

Amazon.com

Wonder how hard the tape or stickers would be remove?

Heat gun/hair dryer, alcohol and a little elbow grease ought to do it.
***More alcohol later if failure occurs***