The problem with all of us who are new to specialist forums like this, is that whilst we have lots of very basic questions, we have little to offer.
I'm no different. I'm very grateful for every reply I've received to my numpty questions but have little to offer. I've learnt a lot, thanks. In fact, I cringe thinking of some of my past questions already! This is a great forum and I love the way its a group who meet in the Real World as well. All the best forums are Clicks-and-Mortar ( or is that bash-and-crash in our case?)
So, I thought I'd try and compensate in a tiny way and share some of the thoughts, highs, lows and fears of an aged newbie to this fascinating pastime / sport. Of course some of you may think reading garbage is a waste of your valuable time. If so stop reading now ...
Me & e-MTB
In the Beginning
Like most of the best things in life, they happen / arrive out of the blue and with no aforethought or reason. 12 months ago, my knowledge of mountain biking was limited to sofa-surfing ''those 'kin idiots' sloshing around in the mud, and what has that got to do with the Olympics anyway? Harrumph!" I wasn't even aware that you could 'electrify' a bike. It would have course have been a lot cheaper if I had remained somewhat unaware, but my bank account can moan alone on this one.
I'd had bikes as a kid. Who didn't at some time if you were born before 1980? The long-suffering OH and I had even bought some bikes to look at the countryside 15 years ago, but they rather, like my body, were a little neglected and not quite functioning the way they were originally intended. Mind you, few do at 65+ (my body not the bike).
So, what changed?
I guess it was the perfect storm; A serious illness, a final warning about having too much fun from the quack (my 3rd Final warning), the recognition that I needed to lose 15kg (nearly 2 1/2 stone for anyone in 3rd - world countries). Tick-in-box by December then a mad desire to go skiing again (I only started that at 50), which I enjoyed. then COVID, the dreaded lockdown from March 1st and a target of losing another 20 kg through no booze and exercise. This was going really well by early may, but I was fed up of walking 2+ hours a day (knackered knees from a prior life playing rugby, so impact from running not an option).
Decision - buy-a-bike!
The Usual Research - "I remember when"
Born and growing-up in a remote village, 'research' as a youngster came from what your mates told you, the opposite of what your parents said and whatever the local shop had in stock. I think my decision this time went --- Google is a friend or a PITA, I don't know.
Bike? -- ooh MTB looks fun on Glued-to-Tube
e-MTB ?-- ooh look, unfit old gits can cycle for weeks with those
Specialized? -- ooh, they keep getting voted the best (really? What do you expect when you're looking at paid-for advertising, muppet) and I know someone who swears by them (see previous comment)? Anyways I can see that on that nice e-MTB forum over 50% of the threads are about Specialized. Got to be the perfect decision -- no question. I'm infallible.
Specialized Turbo Levo Comp? -- well you never buy the cheapest model of anything do you? Best value (as on a wine list) is always the 2nd most cheap isn't it! Gawd preserve us --- as if marketeers had not twigged that load of BS years ago .. but there will always be idiots like me.
Anyways day 1 of LBS re-opening I order an "In Stock" 2020 Turbo Levo Comp which I proudly take delivery of on May 27th (?)
4 months later I know the Spesh LT Comp should be classified as a Class A drug and LSBH (long suffering better half) is increasingly convinced I should be certified.
The Last 4 months
I honestly do not know where to start.
1400 kms (much of that on roads with wifey in the early days)
79kg personal weight target achieved -- more weight loss possibly to come.
Some of the biggest smiles (and spills) I've had for years and a
Drive to do more, get better, get dafter,
Yes, I've found a totally new hobby that I'll do as long as my body holds together. In fact -- scrub that, I fall off every week and buy more and more protection gear so I may well have to stick my wrinkly old frame back together a few more times yet.
So, how did this sad state develop?
The Evolution of a Muppet
I couldn't believe it when I first saw Levo (original nickname huh?). Big, Powerful, massive tyres, surely, it's a MX machine (I've never ridden a motorcycle either)?
Size bought? What my LBS said (M) .. (im actually on the cusp of M/L)
Acceptance Test -- 75 metres (like yards only further) on the tarmac, but plenty of time for 1st instructions from anxious LBS-owner ...
Put the Seat Up! .. How .. that lever by your left hand .. ooh!
Change Gear! ..... How? .. lever by your right hand .. no, not that one, the one behind it.
Change Mode .. How? .. the buttons that say + and - .. oh shhhhhiiiiiiiii***********!
75 metres later I'm the world's most natural e-MTBer and im on the way to the Megalavanche in Les 2 Alpes with the intention of a podium place -- nothing less is worthy of such a natural talent.
I now know that the initial cost of the bike was absolutely immaterial. It has become what my wife calls when looking for new shoes (that is every day) an Advanced Shopping Experience. Vehicle carry racks, spare everything , mud guards, invisiframes, specialist tools, stands, different tyres ( cos the forum says OE-fit are awful, right?, the right gear to wear, the wrong gear to wear, protection gear ... and I'm still at the crawling stage;- shocks, forks, carbon body ( me, not the bike) all to be upgraded cos everyone says the OE is crap. Bring-it-On.
My Thoughts on Specialized & the Industry
So, let's get my conclusions out before the argument. I find my bike amazing; the more I see of Specialized in action, the more impressed I am; all 4 LBS I know are committed enthusiasts committed to providing the best service they can and all in an industry which is at best niche but where its customers seem to have Five Star expectations.
I don't get the expectations frankly.
This is an evolving, relatively new, still developing hobby. Its never going to see the magnitude of investments of a Musk or other wannabe global leader. No-one in their right mind is going to invest billions into developing a product which is essentially fragile so that lunatics can hurl themselves down mountains at breakneck speeds.
It's much more sensible (and financially rewarding ) to invent PC software, smartphones, advanced logistics et al
In fact, you have to be a Mike Sinyard to take on challenges like that. I shall raise a glass to him and his ilk tonight.
Yet, on this forum, we seem highly critical of this niche product in every way. So why did we buy them? I know they cost money -- but far from the most expensive hobby I've ever had. Golf, Flying, Boats, Cars, Skiing, Horses, Fishing , women .. and let's not start on the cost of watching professional sport. Our expectation of warranty support -- especially from LBS -- I don't get it. I'm not even sure that warranty is actually reasonable when smashing both man and machine an inevitability of such a crazy pastime/sport
PS .. Dear Mr Specialized -- can I have a discount on my next bike for writing such nice things? No? Well I shall write nasty things all over the e-mtb forum then, until you take my complaints seriously.
The LBS
What an under-rated asset these are. All the ones I have seen and used are family-owned by enthusiasts.
They are so important to this pastime. Even the biggest companies like Specialized , Giant and Trek haven't got the reach to serve our needs in every town and village throughout the World.
Sure, some will be better than others, and we all have a bad day at the office but is it really fair to ask them to support us and go above-and-beyond when we insist on doing our browsing there yet our buying online to save a few cents here - and - there? It's pretty simple in my mind, no LBS and the industry shrinks. We're not all maintenance afficionados nor stockists of try-before-you-buy.
I shall now duck and await the incoming.
Magic pastime, magic people (when you help me), magic bike and Im loving every single moment of it.
I'm no different. I'm very grateful for every reply I've received to my numpty questions but have little to offer. I've learnt a lot, thanks. In fact, I cringe thinking of some of my past questions already! This is a great forum and I love the way its a group who meet in the Real World as well. All the best forums are Clicks-and-Mortar ( or is that bash-and-crash in our case?)
So, I thought I'd try and compensate in a tiny way and share some of the thoughts, highs, lows and fears of an aged newbie to this fascinating pastime / sport. Of course some of you may think reading garbage is a waste of your valuable time. If so stop reading now ...
Me & e-MTB
In the Beginning
Like most of the best things in life, they happen / arrive out of the blue and with no aforethought or reason. 12 months ago, my knowledge of mountain biking was limited to sofa-surfing ''those 'kin idiots' sloshing around in the mud, and what has that got to do with the Olympics anyway? Harrumph!" I wasn't even aware that you could 'electrify' a bike. It would have course have been a lot cheaper if I had remained somewhat unaware, but my bank account can moan alone on this one.
I'd had bikes as a kid. Who didn't at some time if you were born before 1980? The long-suffering OH and I had even bought some bikes to look at the countryside 15 years ago, but they rather, like my body, were a little neglected and not quite functioning the way they were originally intended. Mind you, few do at 65+ (my body not the bike).
So, what changed?
I guess it was the perfect storm; A serious illness, a final warning about having too much fun from the quack (my 3rd Final warning), the recognition that I needed to lose 15kg (nearly 2 1/2 stone for anyone in 3rd - world countries). Tick-in-box by December then a mad desire to go skiing again (I only started that at 50), which I enjoyed. then COVID, the dreaded lockdown from March 1st and a target of losing another 20 kg through no booze and exercise. This was going really well by early may, but I was fed up of walking 2+ hours a day (knackered knees from a prior life playing rugby, so impact from running not an option).
Decision - buy-a-bike!
The Usual Research - "I remember when"
Born and growing-up in a remote village, 'research' as a youngster came from what your mates told you, the opposite of what your parents said and whatever the local shop had in stock. I think my decision this time went --- Google is a friend or a PITA, I don't know.
Bike? -- ooh MTB looks fun on Glued-to-Tube
e-MTB ?-- ooh look, unfit old gits can cycle for weeks with those
Specialized? -- ooh, they keep getting voted the best (really? What do you expect when you're looking at paid-for advertising, muppet) and I know someone who swears by them (see previous comment)? Anyways I can see that on that nice e-MTB forum over 50% of the threads are about Specialized. Got to be the perfect decision -- no question. I'm infallible.
Specialized Turbo Levo Comp? -- well you never buy the cheapest model of anything do you? Best value (as on a wine list) is always the 2nd most cheap isn't it! Gawd preserve us --- as if marketeers had not twigged that load of BS years ago .. but there will always be idiots like me.
Anyways day 1 of LBS re-opening I order an "In Stock" 2020 Turbo Levo Comp which I proudly take delivery of on May 27th (?)
4 months later I know the Spesh LT Comp should be classified as a Class A drug and LSBH (long suffering better half) is increasingly convinced I should be certified.
The Last 4 months
I honestly do not know where to start.
1400 kms (much of that on roads with wifey in the early days)
79kg personal weight target achieved -- more weight loss possibly to come.
Some of the biggest smiles (and spills) I've had for years and a
Drive to do more, get better, get dafter,
Yes, I've found a totally new hobby that I'll do as long as my body holds together. In fact -- scrub that, I fall off every week and buy more and more protection gear so I may well have to stick my wrinkly old frame back together a few more times yet.
So, how did this sad state develop?
The Evolution of a Muppet
I couldn't believe it when I first saw Levo (original nickname huh?). Big, Powerful, massive tyres, surely, it's a MX machine (I've never ridden a motorcycle either)?
Size bought? What my LBS said (M) .. (im actually on the cusp of M/L)
Acceptance Test -- 75 metres (like yards only further) on the tarmac, but plenty of time for 1st instructions from anxious LBS-owner ...
Put the Seat Up! .. How .. that lever by your left hand .. ooh!
Change Gear! ..... How? .. lever by your right hand .. no, not that one, the one behind it.
Change Mode .. How? .. the buttons that say + and - .. oh shhhhhiiiiiiiii***********!
75 metres later I'm the world's most natural e-MTBer and im on the way to the Megalavanche in Les 2 Alpes with the intention of a podium place -- nothing less is worthy of such a natural talent.
I now know that the initial cost of the bike was absolutely immaterial. It has become what my wife calls when looking for new shoes (that is every day) an Advanced Shopping Experience. Vehicle carry racks, spare everything , mud guards, invisiframes, specialist tools, stands, different tyres ( cos the forum says OE-fit are awful, right?, the right gear to wear, the wrong gear to wear, protection gear ... and I'm still at the crawling stage;- shocks, forks, carbon body ( me, not the bike) all to be upgraded cos everyone says the OE is crap. Bring-it-On.
My Thoughts on Specialized & the Industry
So, let's get my conclusions out before the argument. I find my bike amazing; the more I see of Specialized in action, the more impressed I am; all 4 LBS I know are committed enthusiasts committed to providing the best service they can and all in an industry which is at best niche but where its customers seem to have Five Star expectations.
I don't get the expectations frankly.
This is an evolving, relatively new, still developing hobby. Its never going to see the magnitude of investments of a Musk or other wannabe global leader. No-one in their right mind is going to invest billions into developing a product which is essentially fragile so that lunatics can hurl themselves down mountains at breakneck speeds.
It's much more sensible (and financially rewarding ) to invent PC software, smartphones, advanced logistics et al
In fact, you have to be a Mike Sinyard to take on challenges like that. I shall raise a glass to him and his ilk tonight.
Yet, on this forum, we seem highly critical of this niche product in every way. So why did we buy them? I know they cost money -- but far from the most expensive hobby I've ever had. Golf, Flying, Boats, Cars, Skiing, Horses, Fishing , women .. and let's not start on the cost of watching professional sport. Our expectation of warranty support -- especially from LBS -- I don't get it. I'm not even sure that warranty is actually reasonable when smashing both man and machine an inevitability of such a crazy pastime/sport
PS .. Dear Mr Specialized -- can I have a discount on my next bike for writing such nice things? No? Well I shall write nasty things all over the e-mtb forum then, until you take my complaints seriously.
The LBS
What an under-rated asset these are. All the ones I have seen and used are family-owned by enthusiasts.
They are so important to this pastime. Even the biggest companies like Specialized , Giant and Trek haven't got the reach to serve our needs in every town and village throughout the World.
Sure, some will be better than others, and we all have a bad day at the office but is it really fair to ask them to support us and go above-and-beyond when we insist on doing our browsing there yet our buying online to save a few cents here - and - there? It's pretty simple in my mind, no LBS and the industry shrinks. We're not all maintenance afficionados nor stockists of try-before-you-buy.
I shall now duck and await the incoming.
Magic pastime, magic people (when you help me), magic bike and Im loving every single moment of it.
