Howdy from Newbie

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Congrats agent 86! I know how difficult it can be to make a decision on these things and fork over the money. I think you made an excellent choice in bike and upgrades. I have gotten two flats on my Carbon so hopefully the Marathon tires will help. I put double thick tubes on the back and haven't had any issues since. I also have the Mirrycle mirror on my Carbon. I never realized how much I needed one until I got it. I feel lost when I ride my other bikes that don't have one. A must have! Best of luck to you.
 
Thanks Marc . I had a cheap bar end mirror that required constant fiddling and was a pita. I will check out your recommendation. I will tell you I am so looking forward to the phrase, "Hey, did that old fat Grampa just blow by us?
 
Curveball.......Anybody ride a Neo Race. I did yesterday and boy does this thing fly. I am wondering, since I am strictly a street rider, why I should not consider a Race. The Race rolls beautifully even with no power assist. I could always add a suspension seat post and some hydraulic disc brakes
 
86 - Actually chances are you cannot add disc brakes. Generally a frame built for rim brakes will not have the appropriate anchor lugs for the disc calipers. If you swapped to a suspension fork, you could add a disc on the front if you bought a disc compatible fork and relaced the wheel to a disc compatible hub (you need to attach the rotor to the hub). There are always exceptions, but generally you can't retro fit discs if those are really important to you.
 
The Neo Race comes disc upgrade compatible. The rear frame and fork have caliper mounts and the wheels have the necessary bolts.
 
Welcome to a great way to getting around.
Most people recommend a change in saddle. Hopefully your dealer can help fit you to a saddle. You may need to shop a dedicated bike shop (REI stores do a good job).
I purchased the Jumper, because I wanted full suspension.
Try riding awhile before changing derailleurs.

I hope you will report your experience going forward.
I'm considering the light harness, but there are a limited number of 6 volt D.C. lights available.
Drivers routinely misjudge how fast I am moving and pull out in front of me; I use two front white blinky style lights and think drivers see me but misjudge speed. It happens much more frequently than when I've ridden motorcycles.
It's actually not a big deal since the e-bikes allow us to get back up to speed.

Padded bike shorts are a good idea. The Pearl Izumi Attack work best for me. I do wear them under my jeans (and you do wear them without underwear).

Do go over removing the battery with the dealer. They can be tight. I often use a pair of plastic levers designed for fixing flat tires. If it is too tight the dealer should be able to adjust the fit.

Mike
Colorado
Mike:
My local dealer stocks seats which come in a vast array of sizes based on taking a sit bone measurement. The measurement is then altered by your intended riding position which then arrives at a size. The dealer is guaranteeing a comfortable seat or I can get a refund/exchange. I decided not to do the light wiring kit as the lights available have limited lumens. The dealer is putting a Light and Motion TAZ 1500 on the bike and this sucker is unbelievably bright. I use the flash mode in the daytime when I ride (rear as well). I am not changing derailleurs but shifters. Shimano XT shifters have a nice crisp action. I did order the Marathon Plus instead of the supremes as the Plus model is specifically designed for heavy e-bikes. The two models are pretty close.
 
My Neo Carbon bike is being built next Monday and fitted on Wednesday. It will leave the bike shop with Marathon Plus tires, XT shifters, Light and Motion front/rear lights, Topeak rear rack, a custom saddle, and a 12A battery. I will post pictures......
 
I have a Neo Race. Excellent bike. I fitted thicker tires to mine and dropped 3 miles of my top speed. I would ride the bike with original tyres before putting on the retrofit tires. Just to check if the new tires have any influence on your top speed.

On my bike I can go 3 mph faster uphill when riding in the smallest front ring compared to the largest.
On my Jumper there is no difference.

I think a carbon fitted with suspension in the front is a good choice. The race is pretty stiff and absolutely useless out of tarmac. The other day I did 2 miles on gravel and it had 4 punctures.

Be aware that it is possible to get top speeds on the BH bikes like the Specialized Turbo.
Either you need a battery booster which is quite cheap or a battery from a BH Nitro which is quite expensive.

If you want to see if it is possible to climb Mont Ventoux in France on a BH Neo Race on one battery charge check out my video below.


In a few days I will post another video with the Race on the same mountain. This time. Full throttle. Not all the lycra guys on the montain liked being overtaken :).
 
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I am not into speed. At my age the only thing I am super speedy at is falling asleep. I do understand that the Carbon will provide boost above 20mph in pedal assist. I do most city/road riding but am sure I will encounter a mild gravel/dirt road. The Schwalbe's are supposed to have solid puncture resistance. I will try the basic front suspension but already have my eye on a cheap air shock.......and by cheap I mean 600-700 dollars.
 
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