Levo Range Anxiety - Wish Me Luck!

[softtailcruiser]

About to ride 32 miles on mainly canal towpath, hard gravel paths and asphalt. Ascent / descent approx 1,000 ft. Going to use the mission control app to manage my power assist level. Should I be worried...? If anyone answers I’ll have done it by the time I read the replies, however I have not a little bit of range anxiety.....

 

[MarkH]

You should be fine if you keep it in eco for most of the route. I did the same distance and 3000+ feet of climbing and just got back with it virtually flat.

 

[softtailcruiser]

You should be fine if you keep it in eco for most of the route. I did the same distance and 3000+ feet of climbing and just got back with it virtually flat.

Thanks Mark. Anxiety fading...

 

[Dax]

You'll be fine, just keep it at a high cadence and don't use turbo. 1000ft is nothing.

 

[Doomanic]

I'd be more worried about tyre wear...

 

[galaga187]

If you look on the speccy site there is a range calculator that I’ve found to be pretty accurate. You should be fine but depends how you have set your modes. I’d set eco a bit higher than default and keep out of turbo and reserve trail for any minor climbs.

 

[softtailcruiser]

I made it! 2 bars left, but I had it turbo’d for the second half of the ride, after the puncture (tubeless soon), and once I had been told the kids were already waiting at the in-laws wanting to open their presents. That sort of thing helps any dad get a wriggle on!

 

[softtailcruiser]

Urban Trails

 

[softtailcruiser]

So now that I’ve put the kids to bed. Here is a more detailed range update, in case anyone finds it useful.

Total distance 31.59 miles.
Two bars left at finish.
Used the Smart Control on the app until the puncture, which was about 12 miles in. There were 9 bars showing at that point.
After that I used a manual combination of Eco on the flats and downhill, with the od turbo boost over bridges and up the steep ramps next to locks. Was very handy to have that kicker as there are loads between Spaghetti Junction and Gas Street Basin. After the city centre, I had to get a wriggle on, and still had 7 bars left, so used a combination of Eco along the remaining canal out towards Selly Oak and the University, and then Turbo for the final 10 miles up and over past Halesowen and then dropping down steeply to the outskirts of Stourbridge.

Great fun, whatever, and all building confidence in the bike.

Might go for a spin in the Clent Hills at some point on NYE morning, before reversing today’s trip home on New Years Day.

Photos...!

 

[Eeh (bah gum) biker]

after the puncture (tubeless soon)

Tubeless is definately the way to go. I was picking up several thorn punctures every ride. Since going tubeless (Touch wood) not had any.

 

[nicklej]

I weight about 78-80kg all kitted up and I can ride 30 miles to Winchester from home (about 1500ft of total climbing en route) and I arrive at 55% charge each time.

I use the power settings 20, 40 and 60 and only use the first power mode. The most range I got was 58 miles from a charge on a fairly flat ride

 

[softtailcruiser]

Seems like weight makes a big difference, as you’d expect, particularly on the hills, as on the flat even I (at 105kg) will hit the 15mph+ fairly easily. I’m a relatively fit 105kg, I should add, relative to my weight and age cohort, that is. I’m 50, just for the record.

On the way home I was feeling ropey with a head cold and think I used more assist, although I tried to keep it to eco or even off for some stretches. For the second half though I switched to mostly turbo due to my cold. The route home was a mile or so longer, too, due to an exploratory detour to check out a bridleway. There was less climbing but only by about 200ft or so, and I got home just as it hit 1 bar. It was colder, too.

Looking at the app afterwards, average assistance was less than on the way over, yet I ran the battery down further. Odd.

Anyway it was all a good learning experience and I was off the sofa and improved my fitness a little bit. Next step will be Cannock Chase or the Peak District at some point in the next month or so to get going on the rougher stuff.