11-23-2025, 05:23 PM
Not to bicycling, been at it for 66 years. Nor even to E-bikes, although I'm now on my second.
The first was a Trek Verve, as a buddy noted, there's nothing else legal that makes you feel 20 years younger.
Had the Verve for 3 years, generally liked it, but not without reservations:
-It always seemed inherently unstable, and had to be 'minded' all the time. I'll attribute that, somewhat, to lousy balance (goes with the gray hairs), but it still wanted a lot of managing.
-It wasn't step-through; at my age, throwing a leg over a bike is more challenge than it once was.
But it was reasonably comfortable, and gave decent range. Two twenty mile rides still left plenty of charge, and a third was possible. It always had plenty of power, good brakes, and it came with about everything you needed; fenders, headlight, rear rack, hardpoints to mount things. The battery was easily removed for loading the bike.
The new bike is a Cannondale Mevaro, with an updated Bosch drive system (same brand as the old one), belt drive (!), and a Shimano gear hub in the freewheel.
These last two are an unknown quantity, though if motorcycles and camshafts can be driven with belts, I guess it should work on a bike.
The internal works of the rear hub is a mystery, but it can be shifted when standing still, so you don't get caught in an unexpected stop.
Anyway, it will see lots of our Westsylvania rail trails, the GAP and Ghost Town especially.
Hope to have some fun here, as well as there.
Thanks,
Dan
The first was a Trek Verve, as a buddy noted, there's nothing else legal that makes you feel 20 years younger.
Had the Verve for 3 years, generally liked it, but not without reservations:
-It always seemed inherently unstable, and had to be 'minded' all the time. I'll attribute that, somewhat, to lousy balance (goes with the gray hairs), but it still wanted a lot of managing.
-It wasn't step-through; at my age, throwing a leg over a bike is more challenge than it once was.
But it was reasonably comfortable, and gave decent range. Two twenty mile rides still left plenty of charge, and a third was possible. It always had plenty of power, good brakes, and it came with about everything you needed; fenders, headlight, rear rack, hardpoints to mount things. The battery was easily removed for loading the bike.
The new bike is a Cannondale Mevaro, with an updated Bosch drive system (same brand as the old one), belt drive (!), and a Shimano gear hub in the freewheel.
These last two are an unknown quantity, though if motorcycles and camshafts can be driven with belts, I guess it should work on a bike.
The internal works of the rear hub is a mystery, but it can be shifted when standing still, so you don't get caught in an unexpected stop.
Anyway, it will see lots of our Westsylvania rail trails, the GAP and Ghost Town especially.
Hope to have some fun here, as well as there.
Thanks,
Dan
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