Mountain Biking

Tubeless conversion done on both of my bikes, Maxxis tyres are so difficult to put on a rim, Schwalbe went in without struggle.
I have found that as well, swapped to using Schwalbe tyres a while back, easier to mount and often cheaper, love the Magic Marry and Hans Dampf combo i have at the minute.
 
This is absolutely true, some of my bits came from Europe as they were both in stock and cheaper than UK store listings, so the forks were circa £600 for instance compared to £850+ cheapest UK prices (and no stock anyway). Forks, crankset, derailleur, dropper post, saddle all from Germany.

Who are you using in Germany if you don't mind sharing? Do we get hit with import fees now? I've been trying to source a wheel set and some dirt jump forks for a long while now so getting tempted to look overseas!
 
Had to switch my bike geometry into the high setting, the BB height on this frame is so damn low I was pedal striking constantly with 170 crank arms. Still, even in high it's a 64 degree head tube so pretty darn slack :p
 
Tubeless conversion done on both of my bikes, Maxxis tyres are so difficult to put on a rim, Schwalbe went in without struggle.

Can't say I have ever had any issues with maxxis tyres and tubeless. If you have good rim tape and know what you are doing, most tyres go on really easily as long as you have a track pump to get air in quickly.

Just got back from Bike Park Wales and its every bit as good as I remembered. Shame there were a load of trails that were closed for maintenance but still had a blast. There is no better feeling than flying down a flowy, poppy, jumpy trail that lasts 5 minutes or more.
 
Can't say I have ever had any issues with maxxis tyres and tubeless. If you have good rim tape and know what you are doing, most tyres go on really easily as long as you have a track pump to get air in quickly.

Just got back from Bike Park Wales and its every bit as good as I remembered. Shame there were a load of trails that were closed for maintenance but still had a blast. There is no better feeling than flying down a flowy, poppy, jumpy trail that lasts 5 minutes or more.
Yeah it's a fun place to ride. Think I've bust my rim from riding there last week. Had 3 punctures and only got two runs down, it was a race day - didn't even manage to get a full run in.:/

Managed to pull the rim out with a set of grips, hopefully they last but it's looking like a new rim!
 
Yeah it's a fun place to ride. Think I've bust my rim from riding there last week. Had 3 punctures and only got two runs down, it was a race day - didn't even manage to get a full run in.:/

Managed to pull the rim out with a set of grips, hopefully they last but it's looking like a new rim!

Yeah, I got a pinch flat on the second to last run. Luckily I run tubeless and had some plugs to sort it out so I managed to get down and get another run in. I built a set of EX511/XM481s a few months back and was a bit worried they would suffer but they have held up really well. Its just a brutal place on tyres and wheels. I forget how much more abuse a single days there puts my bike through than months of my normal riding.

What run did you bust your rim on?
 
Yeah, I got a pinch flat on the second to last run. Luckily I run tubeless and had some plugs to sort it out so I managed to get down and get another run in. I built a set of EX511/XM481s a few months back and was a bit worried they would suffer but they have held up really well. Its just a brutal place on tyres and wheels. I forget how much more abuse a single days there puts my bike through than months of my normal riding.

What run did you bust your rim on?


Yeah rather annoying, em the top red down to the new blue somewhere. Yeah, I'm tubeless too but the rim bending just caused havoc. There was a lot of punctures all day in fairness. Frustrating as you can go pretty damn fast down that trail - but then your going to lose a rim/tyre. I have the XM481s (1700s, but same thing), I think I'm going to build the rear up on a EX511. I assume that's what you've done?
 
Yeah rather annoying, em the top red down to the new blue somewhere. Yeah, I'm tubeless too but the rim bending just caused havoc. There was a lot of punctures all day in fairness. Frustrating as you can go pretty damn fast down that trail - but then your going to lose a rim/tyre. I have the XM481s (1700s, but same thing), I think I'm going to build the rear up on a EX511. I assume that's what you've done?

Yep, XM481 at the front (for that very necessary 40g weight loss over the EX511) and then an EX511 at the back. First set of wheels I have built up so I was all ready for them to explode at some point but they have performed admirably. Running on a 140/120mm trail bike as well so I definitely bottomed out a few times. I can see why people either run tyre inserts or DH casing tyres at bike parks. Even Myrthyr Rocks (a blue) had me scared my wheels/tyres would meet their doom.



Actually had my head turned by a Trek Rail 9, probably one of the first emtbs I don't mind the look of.

I think I will only get one when the price either comes down (unlikely) or they make some really good ones ~17kg.

I also use MTB as my main form of cardio so I don't want to lose that. All the ******** about getting just as good a workout on an eMTB is just that, ********. Most of the people I see on them are fat middle age men or fat men in their 30s. We were doing a lap at Forest of Dean on Friday and a chap was on a new hardtail which he said he bought because he felt he was losing fitness on his eMTB. He said he had no idea just how bad it had got until he rode the hardtail.

Its all well and good saying that you are working hard on an eBike but I have never seen anyone out of breath or gassed on one. If I didn't care about fitness though I would probably just get one (after I had remortgaged the house)
 
Yep, XM481 at the front (for that very necessary 40g weight loss over the EX511) and then an EX511 at the back. First set of wheels I have built up so I was all ready for them to explode at some point but they have performed admirably. Running on a 140/120mm trail bike as well so I definitely bottomed out a few times. I can see why people either run tyre inserts or DH casing tyres at bike parks. Even Myrthyr Rocks (a blue) had me scared my wheels/tyres would meet their doom.





I think I will only get one when the price either comes down (unlikely) or they make some really good ones ~17kg.

I also use MTB as my main form of cardio so I don't want to lose that. All the ******** about getting just as good a workout on an eMTB is just that, ********. Most of the people I see on them are fat middle age men or fat men in their 30s. We were doing a lap at Forest of Dean on Friday and a chap was on a new hardtail which he said he bought because he felt he was losing fitness on his eMTB. He said he had no idea just how bad it had got until he rode the hardtail.

Its all well and good saying that you are working hard on an eBike but I have never seen anyone out of breath or gassed on one. If I didn't care about fitness though I would probably just get one (after I had remortgaged the house)
Trek Rail 9 is cheaper than the Spur I was looking at.
Zwift is where I get my cardio.
 
Its all well and good saying that you are working hard on an eBike but I have never seen anyone out of breath or gassed on one. If I didn't care about fitness though I would probably just get one (after I had remortgaged the house)

No doubt that compared to a normal bike, you just dont / cant (unless you turn the assistance off ) work as hard going up the same hill when on an ebike. I didn't sell my hardtail after getting the ebike, and I'm glad for similar reasons as mentioned above ... I can get a better workout on the hardtail.

That being said, i have been blowing out my backside on an ebike on some runs we've done which simply wouldn't be possible on the normal bike as the terrain has been that much harder to cross ( think like heather and deep grassy knoll hill tops and moorland )
 
Yeah but look at them! :D



£110 vs £50 on a £5k build is neither here nor there tbh.

I may get a second pair for my other bike, saves swapping them over all the time.

Snap!
20210714-114405-jpg.jpg
 
No doubt that compared to a normal bike, you just dont / cant (unless you turn the assistance off ) work as hard going up the same hill when on an ebike. I didn't sell my hardtail after getting the ebike, and I'm glad for similar reasons as mentioned above ... I can get a better workout on the hardtail.

That being said, i have been blowing out my backside on an ebike on some runs we've done which simply wouldn't be possible on the normal bike as the terrain has been that much harder to cross ( think like heather and deep grassy knoll hill tops and moorland )

This is the truth of it. I am reasonably fit but if someone put a motor under me and I had the option to stop feeling like my legs are turning to jelly on a horrible climb I would take it. When that work is unavoidable or the other option is to "give in" and walk its an easier choice. When you can lie to yourself and say "I still pedalled up that hill" even though the motor did 80% of the work, thats a nice get out clause.

I watch EMBN a bit and the language they use is all focussed on the idea that you are the main driving force getting that bike up a hill. Its a pedal assist rather than the human being the "assist".

EBikes are amazing things but I don't like the whole "its just a little boost to my natural fitness" angle. I think that stems from my hatred of societies inability to be honest about things when it comes to health, fitness and diet.
 
....Most of the people I see on them are fat middle age men or fat men in their 30s. We were doing a lap at Forest of Dean on Friday and a chap was on a new hardtail which he said he bought because he felt he was losing fitness on his eMTB. He said he had no idea just how bad it had got until he rode the hardtail.

Its all well and good saying that you are working hard on an eBike but I have never seen anyone out of breath or gassed on one. If I didn't care about fitness though I would probably just get one (after I had remortgaged the house)

...Maybe they didn't get fat after getting the bike. But are fat and the eBike is getting them back out on a bike...

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/8924/how-e-bikes-are-getting-people-back-into-cycling

I don't have one, but I was thinking of getting one, if I have to go back into the office. an eMTB would work well for the commute.
But I could also then use it for fun at the weekends. My current old hardtail, is running on slicks for the commute.
 
I have an emtb, I'm middle aged-ish (45) and weigh around 70Kg
I find the assistance just gets me to and from work without being all sweaty and when not commuting, lets me ride much further distances.
I'm not interested in being super fit, I just enjoy riding and find the motor adds to the fun aspect.
 
This is the truth of it. I am reasonably fit but if someone put a motor under me and I had the option to stop feeling like my legs are turning to jelly on a horrible climb I would take it. When that work is unavoidable or the other option is to "give in" and walk its an easier choice. When you can lie to yourself and say "I still pedalled up that hill" even though the motor did 80% of the work, thats a nice get out clause.

I watch EMBN a bit and the language they use is all focussed on the idea that you are the main driving force getting that bike up a hill. Its a pedal assist rather than the human being the "assist".

EBikes are amazing things but I don't like the whole "its just a little boost to my natural fitness" angle. I think that stems from my hatred of societies inability to be honest about things when it comes to health, fitness and diet.

I mean who cares what other peoples though processes are, it doesn't take away your efforts. I personally can't wait for one. I don't mtb for fitness, I mtb for fun. I run or gravel for the fitness aspect. I'd deffo got more laps in with an ebike though!
 
I mean who cares what other peoples though processes are, it doesn't take away your efforts. I personally can't wait for one. I don't mtb for fitness, I mtb for fun. I run or gravel for the fitness aspect. I'd deffo got more laps in with an ebike though!

Oh I'm sure I will get one at some point as well. I just dislike the current trend of not being honest with yourself. If you are fat you eat too much and don't exercise enough. If you aren't fit its because you don't exercise enough. If you are riding an ebike you are probably not getting as good a workout as riding a normal bike. I have no issue with them honestly. I just don't like having to listen to people on them explain how they aren't being lazy and they get just as much of a workout as anyone.
 
Oh I'm sure I will get one at some point as well. I just dislike the current trend of not being honest with yourself. If you are fat you eat too much and don't exercise enough. If you aren't fit its because you don't exercise enough. If you are riding an ebike you are probably not getting as good a workout as riding a normal bike. I have no issue with them honestly. I just don't like having to listen to people on them explain how they aren't being lazy and they get just as much of a workout as anyone.

We both have different experiences I think. The guys I've rode with on ebikes have been fitter than me on an normal bike, and can send it too. Though I generally don't ride at busy places/trail centres where this demographic is attracted to I suppose. Not sure I agree on the workout part, hour v hour it'd be intresting to see the difference espically factoring in the descending workout.
 
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