For carrying our two bikes my Thule Euroway G2 3 bike rack goes on the car once or twice each week and I like the super quick Thule towball attachment method. Leaving the towball in place means I don't have to change things over for a trailer too.
When the Euroway is off the car I can stand in...
I've run a lot of sticks through my AXS derailleur and keep expecting it to bend or break but it hasn't been damaged yet. I've hit the brakes dozens of times fearing the worst but it keeps on working smoothly, with a couple of micro-adjustments since new. I even bought a spare just in case.
Any gear setup that works smoothly and is easy to keep in tune is fine. I like the 9 speed shimano gears on the Cube reaction just as much as my AXS. The SRAM 12 speed with cable and various derailleurs was a PITA.
For smooth tracks my Wife's Cube Reaction Performance is an excellent bike. Nice to ride, plenty of power if you're not doing steeper hills, not heavy and the 9 speed shimano gears are easy to tune and shift smoothly and easily. I've put some slime in the tubes (new tubes) to avoid punctures...
I carry Petsafe Sprayshield: SprayShield® Animal Deterrent Spray | PetSafe® Australia
Sprays a 3m stream of citronella scented liquid. I've read good reports on its effectiveness but haven't used it personally.
I ride with my dog off leash but stop whenever I see horses or walkers and hold the...
All of my rides include long, steep hills and I suffer from arthritis so a stronger motor is the only choice. The only time I wish for a lighter bike is when lifting over locked gates or other obstacles.
If you're otherwise happy with the bike why not take the good frame from the 625? You'll end up with a perfectly good bike and the Bosch motors and electronics are very good and reliable.
IMHO new items with minor defects should be sold as seconds at a discount, with the defect declared up front so the buyer can choose to accept the defect or not. The shop should offer a full refund or a new/perfect frame or an agreed compensation (eg. a free SRAM AXS GX upgrade kit :) )
Isn't pepper spray legal in the UK? If so I'd be carrying that on the ride.
As a non-fighter I'm really glad I don't have any of these stories to tell.
If you're only a little over the limit on a metal frame and riding conservatively you should be fine, then after a few months you'll be under the weight limit :)
They were just reinforcing their bromance by picking on someone outside their group - standard chimp behaviour. Humans can be annoying - best to keep your distance :)
AFAIK the number and type of spokes doesn't really matter provided the wheel is well designed and well built to suit its intended purpose. DT Swiss say they designed the wheel to take higher loads with a stronger hub and thicker spokes. It seems to be the same as the HXC 1501 but with an...
I get a few raised eyebrows when boxes come through the front door - I tell her we've got to buy spares when they're on sale since we never know when parts will be unavailable :)
The rear wheel from that set is still in stock. I ordered it from Wiggle (also at chainreaction) for AU$313 shipped to Oz. Built strong apparently.
DT Swiss HX 1501 Spline 30 Boost Rear Wheel | Chain Reaction (chainreactioncycles.com)
Airline travel is a major PITA at the moment with staff shortages due to covid. I'd suggest not taking the bike in order to minimize hassle at the airport.
58, Australia, Cube Stereo 120
I discovered eMTBs after being nobbled by joint problems for 20 years - the eMTB gave me my mobility back.
Dipped my toe in the water with a Chinese cheapie:
then upgraded to a second hand Cube Reaction:
then bought a new Cube Stereo 120 which is quite a...