After watching some videos on Youtube, I found myself clicking on GCN's video comparison of a Giant EBike v one of GIant's best road offerings, which was interesting, but a few clicks further found me at Orbea's website looking at their Gain D10.....
Their website seemed to be offering Test Rides via their Dealer network, which after a quick call to a LBS, proved the case, and I was offered the lead in Gain for the weekend. Happy Days, I couldnt resist.
First thoughts, - this looks incredibly like a Standard Road bike, and apart from a small Power button on the Top Tube, its very very 'normal'.
So much so, that when a mate arrived yesterday morning to ride with me, I muttered some excuses that 'Id forgotten to change the TT tyre on my Roubaix, and was gonna have to therefore use my son's 'mates' bike that had been left in teh garage....... all without question, and off we set.
Ok, the first 7/8 miles were flatish, so the 'E' part of the bike stayed off, and on we trundled to warm up, and then we hit a long climb.....
Now let me say first of all, that I hate hills, with a passion, always have, even when on a low geared Mountain Bike. Just hate that lung busting effort that they so often need, and I usually just spin away at the back, leaving my buddies to fight to the top and then wait for me.....
So here we are, a sunny morning, and a fairly long climb ahead of us, and I discreetly clicked the power button to the first assistance setting, which was noticeable, and on we trundled.
Slightly steeper now, and I click in to the middle Orange setting, ....more noticable, incredibly easy in fact, and I'm still chatting and looking around, not wanting to power ahead and give the game away, which would have been all too easy.
At this point I comment on a lovely view to our right, and my buddie at this point mumbles something about me having an engine ? I come clean, telling him I wondered how long it would take to realise !
He said he was beginning to think just how much my winter TT sessions had paid off.... lol
Anyway, I'm sold on the concept, I really am. I know, I know.......lots of you die hard 'Roadies' wouldnt dream of 'cheating' with an EBike, but thats the point, I arent a Die Hard Roadie. I'm 56, with some kind of Arrythmia in my ticker (that largely Alcohol brings on), and have no wish of busting my HR to levels that I deem unsensible at my age. I'm fit, I work out well and reasonably hard on the TT, but dont want to be stupid climbing Hills on a Bike, End of.
The EBike concept will simply allow any of us that want to enjoy our cycling better, do just that, without the pain of Hills.
Case in Point: I live very close to a rather nasty little climb, that is really an ideal direct route to lots of places, but being so close, and therefore never warmed up enough, I never do it, Period. To be honest, even if was warmed up, I wouldnt want to climb it, its a lung buster.
But today, I went out purely to see what difference the Ebike would make to that dreaded climb.......
3mins from home, ......10mins it took, I hardly broke breath, and only used Max power for maybe 2/300yds at it steepens at the top.
Complete Game Changer. Thank you Lord !
The Orbea Gain is a nice Bike, ok the model I tried is the cheapest version, but it was ok, the Claris Groupset was ok, the wheels & tyres ok, the Cable Discs ok.......all in all, for £1700, a great intro to E-Biking.
Sure, IF I get one, it would perhaps be the D10 at £3k, with Ultegra and Hydro discs etc, but perhaps its more than 'needed'.
I'm sold on the concept, and yes, if I had £6k burning a hole in my rather shallow pockets, I'd opt for a Pinarello Nytro, with Carbon Frame, and removable Battery, very sexy,..... but for now, I'll consider my options......
But, an EBike I will have, thats for sure !!
Their website seemed to be offering Test Rides via their Dealer network, which after a quick call to a LBS, proved the case, and I was offered the lead in Gain for the weekend. Happy Days, I couldnt resist.
First thoughts, - this looks incredibly like a Standard Road bike, and apart from a small Power button on the Top Tube, its very very 'normal'.
So much so, that when a mate arrived yesterday morning to ride with me, I muttered some excuses that 'Id forgotten to change the TT tyre on my Roubaix, and was gonna have to therefore use my son's 'mates' bike that had been left in teh garage....... all without question, and off we set.
Ok, the first 7/8 miles were flatish, so the 'E' part of the bike stayed off, and on we trundled to warm up, and then we hit a long climb.....
Now let me say first of all, that I hate hills, with a passion, always have, even when on a low geared Mountain Bike. Just hate that lung busting effort that they so often need, and I usually just spin away at the back, leaving my buddies to fight to the top and then wait for me.....
So here we are, a sunny morning, and a fairly long climb ahead of us, and I discreetly clicked the power button to the first assistance setting, which was noticeable, and on we trundled.
Slightly steeper now, and I click in to the middle Orange setting, ....more noticable, incredibly easy in fact, and I'm still chatting and looking around, not wanting to power ahead and give the game away, which would have been all too easy.
At this point I comment on a lovely view to our right, and my buddie at this point mumbles something about me having an engine ? I come clean, telling him I wondered how long it would take to realise !
He said he was beginning to think just how much my winter TT sessions had paid off.... lol
Anyway, I'm sold on the concept, I really am. I know, I know.......lots of you die hard 'Roadies' wouldnt dream of 'cheating' with an EBike, but thats the point, I arent a Die Hard Roadie. I'm 56, with some kind of Arrythmia in my ticker (that largely Alcohol brings on), and have no wish of busting my HR to levels that I deem unsensible at my age. I'm fit, I work out well and reasonably hard on the TT, but dont want to be stupid climbing Hills on a Bike, End of.
The EBike concept will simply allow any of us that want to enjoy our cycling better, do just that, without the pain of Hills.
Case in Point: I live very close to a rather nasty little climb, that is really an ideal direct route to lots of places, but being so close, and therefore never warmed up enough, I never do it, Period. To be honest, even if was warmed up, I wouldnt want to climb it, its a lung buster.
But today, I went out purely to see what difference the Ebike would make to that dreaded climb.......
3mins from home, ......10mins it took, I hardly broke breath, and only used Max power for maybe 2/300yds at it steepens at the top.
Complete Game Changer. Thank you Lord !
The Orbea Gain is a nice Bike, ok the model I tried is the cheapest version, but it was ok, the Claris Groupset was ok, the wheels & tyres ok, the Cable Discs ok.......all in all, for £1700, a great intro to E-Biking.
Sure, IF I get one, it would perhaps be the D10 at £3k, with Ultegra and Hydro discs etc, but perhaps its more than 'needed'.
I'm sold on the concept, and yes, if I had £6k burning a hole in my rather shallow pockets, I'd opt for a Pinarello Nytro, with Carbon Frame, and removable Battery, very sexy,..... but for now, I'll consider my options......
But, an EBike I will have, thats for sure !!
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