Bufatutu
Member
Two thousand bucks means something to me. Its also a great distraction from an election I care very much about. So, I'm an older guy, a regular bike commuter back in the day on a dual bike/ped way alongside the T; now I retired to the mountains and actually enjoy grinding up hills--the only way to get the ticker moving and a great way to see the scenery and wildflowers. I mostly rode road bikes, though used an early mtn bike to commute and when I traveled out west and to Alaska. Been riding a fine 29er for eight or nine years. I have arthritis now, particularly problems with my feet and knees. And it ain't gettin' any better. But I ride my bike four or five days a week, up and down hilly terrain, 70% road, 15% cinder bike paths, 15% gravel. So I was looking at quality riding step throughs and midframes, mostly with midframe motors and decent components. I thought about step throughs not only for today but as I get older and even more physically limited. Only fall in two years was getting off my road bike. I've droolled at 29er ebikes on bikesdirect, right in my price range. And I've given ebikes brief but decent tryouts at two shops. But turns out a local xc ski resort had some nice rental machines for sale. Great Glen in Pinkham Notch, a place I've skiied and part of the Mt. Wash AutoRoad. Didn't even know they had a few ebikes--that they know not too much about. And I bought one today, first ebike. Just figured out how to get the gritty battery out of its frame slot. Yeah!
Only after I purchased, did I discover how right this type of ebike is for me. The Shimano manuals online, owner and dealer, are enlightening. They should be either printed and included with each and every bike or very prominently referred to in the little info packets for each component. I live in the heart of the mountains, north of NH's White Mtns--I see Madison, Adams, and Boote Spur from here. My other little place is in northern Newfoundland, where there is little flat and the wind is serious and unceasing. I've had to give up hiking and have been biking more, though getting less far with each additional year. So starting a couple of months ago, i started looking at, reading about, researching, becoming interested in owning an ebike. I'm a rider and I want something I can ride and enjoy in all sorts of dry weather--I no longer enjoy or have to be in the rain or worrying about ice on the road. So after a few trials, I'd quickly decided on a mid-drive, just more fun to drive for a regular bike rider, at least compared to the few wheel drives I checked out. So I'd focus on an ebike having the things I thought I wanted and needed to feel safe and have fun. First it was the step through from SLZ, but there was some feature that kept me from going. Then it was a Giant Explore. Wonderful bike in every way for me, until several of you mentioned the smaller battery, which could quickly be an issue in this sort of terrain.
Then someone mentioned that Great Glen ski resort had a few rentals for sale from a brand, Rossignol, I'd never heard of viz. ebikes. The ebikes for sale were in a style I really wasn't looking at, a fairly serious mtn ebike, with strong dedicated motor, Shimano e8000, which was much more powerful than most of the ebikes I'd looked at in any way, in part because of price, other than bikesdirect. The e8000 is much stronger than the e5000 which is on way too many bikes including all those I like on bd and which is fine for riding around on flats/most cities/elder communities. I've looked at the Bosch Active Line and Plus version of the same, both of which, I believe would struggle on the hills around here. So I looked at one of the resort's ebikes a few days go. But its been cold and wet and snowing and salty and freezing on the road, not great for a tryout. Today I did try it out. Quickly zipped up the steep little hill beside the historic property to the historic manager's house and then went up one of the steeper sections of the road to Pinkham Notch, and then turned around. I worked up a sweat...but I was still smiling. I ended up with a powerful bike probably right for where I am and the other place I especially and most devotedly hang out and explore from, at least when the border isn't closed to any but essential. The MSRP was $3,700 and the used rental bikes were advertized for $2300, but this last Medium had an issue with the derailleur so I walked away paying $2000 for an awful lot of bike.
Once I got my new-to-me hardtail home, I started reading about and finding manuals for the e8000 Shimano Steps motor and system. I'm so glad I got this rather than something with a less torquey motor. I will pay a penalty in significantly lower distances on one battery, though still not bad at 35 or 40. But it seems I'm always in hilly windy places and the last stretch to my place here is up a steep hill. I've been here eight years, I ride quite a lot, and I've never ridden from home, because I never wanted to try riding up this hill. I'll try tomorrow.
Only after I purchased, did I discover how right this type of ebike is for me. The Shimano manuals online, owner and dealer, are enlightening. They should be either printed and included with each and every bike or very prominently referred to in the little info packets for each component. I live in the heart of the mountains, north of NH's White Mtns--I see Madison, Adams, and Boote Spur from here. My other little place is in northern Newfoundland, where there is little flat and the wind is serious and unceasing. I've had to give up hiking and have been biking more, though getting less far with each additional year. So starting a couple of months ago, i started looking at, reading about, researching, becoming interested in owning an ebike. I'm a rider and I want something I can ride and enjoy in all sorts of dry weather--I no longer enjoy or have to be in the rain or worrying about ice on the road. So after a few trials, I'd quickly decided on a mid-drive, just more fun to drive for a regular bike rider, at least compared to the few wheel drives I checked out. So I'd focus on an ebike having the things I thought I wanted and needed to feel safe and have fun. First it was the step through from SLZ, but there was some feature that kept me from going. Then it was a Giant Explore. Wonderful bike in every way for me, until several of you mentioned the smaller battery, which could quickly be an issue in this sort of terrain.
Then someone mentioned that Great Glen ski resort had a few rentals for sale from a brand, Rossignol, I'd never heard of viz. ebikes. The ebikes for sale were in a style I really wasn't looking at, a fairly serious mtn ebike, with strong dedicated motor, Shimano e8000, which was much more powerful than most of the ebikes I'd looked at in any way, in part because of price, other than bikesdirect. The e8000 is much stronger than the e5000 which is on way too many bikes including all those I like on bd and which is fine for riding around on flats/most cities/elder communities. I've looked at the Bosch Active Line and Plus version of the same, both of which, I believe would struggle on the hills around here. So I looked at one of the resort's ebikes a few days go. But its been cold and wet and snowing and salty and freezing on the road, not great for a tryout. Today I did try it out. Quickly zipped up the steep little hill beside the historic property to the historic manager's house and then went up one of the steeper sections of the road to Pinkham Notch, and then turned around. I worked up a sweat...but I was still smiling. I ended up with a powerful bike probably right for where I am and the other place I especially and most devotedly hang out and explore from, at least when the border isn't closed to any but essential. The MSRP was $3,700 and the used rental bikes were advertized for $2300, but this last Medium had an issue with the derailleur so I walked away paying $2000 for an awful lot of bike.
Once I got my new-to-me hardtail home, I started reading about and finding manuals for the e8000 Shimano Steps motor and system. I'm so glad I got this rather than something with a less torquey motor. I will pay a penalty in significantly lower distances on one battery, though still not bad at 35 or 40. But it seems I'm always in hilly windy places and the last stretch to my place here is up a steep hill. I've been here eight years, I ride quite a lot, and I've never ridden from home, because I never wanted to try riding up this hill. I'll try tomorrow.
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