Some boring metrics on my first stress test with the SL 5.0

[SwimBikeRun]

I brought my new Vado SL out to my local trail this weekend. This section is usually used by off road vehicles and SxS, but I find it to be a great workout and stress test for me and my equipment. Overall, the bike did awesome, there are a few 40% grades that I couldn't get traction even with 700x50 American Classic tires. I can't complain there, as in all my years I've never seen anything with pedals make it to the top without walking. Speaking of that, the walk assist is a very nice feature, one that I didn't think I'd ever use but proved me wrong.

I managed to finish my workout of around 15 miles with still over 80% of battery left. Since I had so much battery left, I decided to do the last 4 mile stretch in turbo mode. This is a Cat 3 climb with a nice headwind. It usually takes me about 33 very hard minutes on my old gravel bike. I knocked that section out in a spirited 15 minutes (me x2 seems accurate) However turbo mode took the battery from 80% down to 58% during that short time. This was a good lesson for me, as I will continue to only use turbo for very brief 5-10 second climbs when I could use the momentum.

Side story, the start of my ride is a short 3-4% trail. Some people that were following me mentioned how quiet my motor was, I told them I didn't have it on yet, they were in shock which for my humble self brought a big smile to my face.

I can also share my GPX if anyone is really bored

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A nice ride report SBR!

 

[SwimBikeRun]

Where is this hill?
Camel Back. AZ?

No but I've hiked that area before and can see the resemblance. This was out near Sloan, NV

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Great looking bike. Loving the chunky tyres. I have the 43c Gravel Kings SK on mine. Didn't think you'd be able to fit 50, that's impressive. It's such a versatile rig the Vado SL. I love seeing how people change and adapt parts to suit their locales. And that landscape! Looks like you could explore different trails every day.

 

[SwimBikeRun]

Great looking bike. Loving the chunky tyres. I have the 43c Gravel Kings SK on mine. Didn't think you'd be able to fit 50, that's impressive. It's such a versatile rig the Vado SL. I love seeing how people change and adapt parts to suit their locales. And that landscape! Looks like you could explore different trails every day.

Gravel King SK's are great tires. I have a spare set of 38's I used to run on my other gravel bike. They will be going on my 2nd wheelset for the SL. Yeah those 50's just barely fit. For our dry and rocky they work but if I was in an area that experienced a lot of mud, I would probably drop to 45's or less. The rear is fine, but not a lot of room on the fork.

And yes, there are 100's of trails out here to ride just in that one spot. It's a little more work on a gravel bike but definitely doable

 

[Rás Cnoic]

Here’s my SL 4 recently about to head out on a shopping trip & looking unusually sparkly after a rare clean!! The mudguards here in U.K. are essential especially as we head into autumn and winter. Lots of rain, mud and flooding of roads. That means 43c is probably as big as I can go with the tyres. I’d love to have the bike stripped down & try it in those desert conditions. Must be incredible fun.

 

[SwimBikeRun]

That's a very nice setup you have there. I want to start exploring some farther desert trails, but I need to find a rear rack that will work. Riding in the desert is fun, but very isolated. If you break down, you hope your sat comm device works LOL. I usually carry one tube, tubeless sealant, and a tire. But I'm thinking going two tubes, two tires, sealant, hydraulic and gear cables. Something like your setup would be perfect

 

[Stefan Mikes]

FWIW guys, I've been trying to make my SL 4.0 EQ more lightweight not heavier Hence 38 mm Pathfinders Pro 2Bliss, and the full Redshift ShockStop system for the suspension (I know the SL 5.0 has the Future Shock). I removed the front mudguard to make my SL suitable for the forest, and replaced it with an AssSaver (it works surprisingly well this rainy Autumn here). Similarly to Ras, I do my grocery shopping with the SL, and two heavy panniers on the rack: then the thing becomes really heavy!

On a gravel group ride. As I rode for 147 km on that day (and rode it fast), I needed as many as 4 Range Extenders. Four kilograms extra is a lot; add to it beverages, tools, spare inner tube... Yet I didn't need wide tyres there!

A 147.47 km Vado SL ride.

 

[SwimBikeRun]

Looks like a nice ride Stefan. I ended up ordering a range extender as well. I know what you mean about the weight, it adds up fast on a bicycle. For my longer trips I'm going debating a Burley trailer. Some of my routes I may have to carry the bike up a rocky or sand hill and it would suck to have to carry one, then go back and get the other. You mentioned you bring 4 extenders? I haven't looked at the weight, but I guess they aren't that heavy, at least for the gain they provide.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You mentioned you bring 4 extenders? I haven't looked at the weight, but I guess they aren't that heavy, at least for the gain they provide.

Each of them is 1 kg (2.2 lb) so four of them weigh together as much as a full power battery.