clubby":2lpk57eb said:Dyna, that Decathlon is absolutely the worst of your listed choices for you. It’s a proper off road MTB and using it for anything else is pointless. No load carrying capability at all. If you still want to be able to ride off-road, a hardtail eMTB would be a good compromise. Fit a rack and panniers for a bit of load carrying and you still have a normal handling bike. Adding a trailer is another option. Earlier in the year I looked at the same choices as you. I was looking at ways of hauling the wee man around with me. In the end I discounted the cargo bikes, as I didn’t need the carrying capacity all the time. I went for a trailer. Easy to fit and disconnect for a normal bike and not too bad to haul around. Have also recently bought a Whyte e150RS MTB, but haven’t used it with the trailer yet.
As for your Hope parts. This isn’t meant in a nasty way, but forget about using them for this. Standards have changed, get over it. Keep them for a build that suits them. Put them aside for now and wait for a suitable frame to put them on. Much better plan than compromising your other choices.
Cargo bikes spending their life on grimy streets don’t need fancy expensive parts.
If you really want to use them then why not look at the e conversions on eBay.
OK, hear what youre saying. I know its no carrying capacity, but its not just that, its also about having the impetus to get out.
Buying the stilus also meant buying a conversion kit for the only other bike I could convert,the already 40lb Claud Butler That was a given.
But im effectively flogging off the 135mm kit, just for the sake of the 29er.
Logically, you look to utilize the assets you already own. and one of my options allows for it-Bullitt
I've no income. I've worked years to accumulate the higher end kit on unemployment benefit. I cannot afford to have 2 Hope kit bikes, plus an emtb, plus an eshopper. The good kit would effectively have to go at a loss- again all for the sake of a 29er play bike.
Unlikely I'll be able to afford any upgrades beyond what is here at home, and only some of it suitable.
It kind of breaks down into 3 logical choices I an envision.
1. Stilus+Conversion = 3-4 bikes Cove and Ti likely need to go, only a couple of parts can be swopped
2. Tern = 2 bikes One a short cargo(Same length as normal mtb)+Cove or Ti
3. Bullitt = 2 bikes Long cargo+ cove or Ti. But much of the ti parts can transfer over. Way Hay a saving - Sweet fanny adams income remember.
Other considerations on using Epower.
Shopping.
Converting the Claud allows for light/medium shopping, but not a lot beyond that, and certainly no bags of sand,timber etc Carrying limited tools, handtools. Transporting the dewalt slide saw cant happen.
The tern is the same length as standard, so effectively using the 20" wheel to gain some space the cockpit is compacted- I'm 6'3" Compact cockpits are not me.
Also the terns center of gravity is considerably higher. Plus the weight is mostly concentrated over the back wheel. Experience of a packed rear is its wobbly. Again unlikely to be able to carry anything joinery related, mainly due to the high center.
(The tern has a better seat tube angle, more height means it sits further back)
I need to get out, to get into a workspace, and its likely that could be a distance away as rents are cheaper, and with that I'd be transporting timber/tools/boatbuilding kit etc. Mostly heavy stuff you dont want wobbling about on the rear.
The Bullit is wholly different. It's moving away from the popular must be this shape to one more suited to carrying loads,and tried and tested for a long time. Tern, and many others are trying to emulate that, but retaining the design shape the public favour. Might be a reason theres no Kirks out there What you get is yes it carries a load, but the downside- high center and compacting the rider space to fit it all in seems to me too busy.
Er.... RetrobikeStandards have changed, get over it.
Standards. Standards are one thing but common sense,logic and utilizing what you have is something else.
How many standard changes have we seen on RB. I mean I've a boxes of 'Standards' . IS or PM, not its 29, last it was 27.5, How about 26"F24"R That was the kit then and who flew against fashion. Or everything is Boost, although guess what ? Seems 'boost' is less favourable these days
Lets drop the front mech, the extra gears claiming a more compact, and such nonsense about mirroring gears doubling up etc.
Clearly that wasnt enough easy peddling, so more and more cogs, now we've changed the rear to accommodate our loss of a front mech. Chains thinner,weaker we go on and on and the standards have changed it to a flimsy disposable item.
People whine on about the latest damper, like they can really tel the difference as it slams into a rock. :? Yeah really
This has developed into a rant
Probably be the Bullitt, due to low center, capacity and It utilizes that I already own. Keep the cove as the manual, thats as capable as any, 'cept maybe the rider.
There you go. Big Sunday post. Feel free to share your own musings.