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I've got a test ride coming up this weekend in the Storrington / Arundel area. Although I'm pretty familiar with the South Downs, this is a bit further east than my usual riding.
I'm hoping for something fun (not out and back on the SDW) but as I'll be riding new-to-me trails, I don't need built DH tracks. I'm thinking Whiteways, but there seem to be some recent reports of logging...
Forecast is either cloudy or showers, so assume it'll be damp ish. Local suggestions would be great!
Whiteways for sure. There's a fair amount to keep you occupied for a couple of hours. Then head over the road through the woods to slindon. Look on trail forks
Sounds like Plan A it is then - cheers!
but there seem to be some recent reports of logging…
If you look at Trailforks and see ‘3 Amigos’ that is the area that has been lost. The trails further north are fine. Over the A29 heading towards Slindon there is more fun stuff as said above.
Also, from Storrington, you have time to reach the Steyning trails.
What are you demoing?
If you’re getting it from South Downs bikes, your best bet is to head up chantry lane (ooof...) onto the SDW then head towards the STEYNING trails (turn left) or Whiteways (turn right)...
I would show you around, but the GF and I are heading out on a. Ride in East Sussex way this weekend!
DrP
your best bet is to head up chantry lane (ooof…)
Best bet for easy navigation.......no probs so long as you are testing an ebike
Whiteways is good fun, wave if you see a bloke on a blue cotic muttering angrily at the climbs! There's a good newish trail (kookaburra?) Possibly?dropping down from the south downs way ish side.
I still need to check out the steyning trails actually. Work just outside Arundel but still exploring.
Cheers all, some good tips there.
so long as you are testing an ebike
I've been rumbled... yeah a Kinesis Rise, the Fazua drive e-hardcore-hardtail. I'm quite keen for something a bit different but it has to be fun on trails out the door, normal single track stuff.
I would show you around, but the GF and I are heading out on a. Ride in East Sussex
Ha, that would have been ace! It sounds like I should go up, then left or right - consensus being on the right! That's my kind of navigation. I've checked Trailforks and if it's just the one trail that's been removed then all is good. I'll follow my nose and see what I find, hopefully the assist will mean I won't be too bothered if I go a bit wrong.
Yeah I was up there a few days ago and it's really just the 3 amigos section that's been trashed. Rest is running well, think the rain did it good.
Unfortunately the café is now a weird mini mart but the bread pudding is good and the coffee is, well it's brown and warm.
@OwenP. Can you let us know what you think of the Kinesis, intrigued by the concept.
I've test ridden the gravel bike with fauza motor... neat concept, and a bit lighter, but NOT as powerful as the bosch cx line motor...
is like an "e bike lite"...
DrP
Happy to share my ill-informed reckon after the ride!
I'm conscious that it cant compete on the power stats with the big Bosch motors, but I'm hoping for something "different" rather than just "weaker" in the power delivery if that makes sense? This will also be my first ebike purchase, so I won't be comparing directly...it's the geometry and approach they've taken to the bike as a whole that has taken my interest on the Rise.
That's pretty much my line of thinking, look forward to your thoughts.
Thanks for the trail suggestions. I got out this morning on the Kinesis Rise, headed up onto the SDW and then out and round Whiteways. It was drizzly, windy and greasy/puddly out, but not full-on rain. Good testing conditions.
I covered 30km in about 2.5 hours messing around as well as covering ground, and climbed about 650m over that distance. Battery dropped into it's limp power mode just before the last descent, about 10 minutes from the end.
I weigh about 85kg and used a mix of all modes - most specifically I blasted the first 200m climb on greasy wet trail in the highest Rocket mode, to test the battery impact and for fun. After that I used mostly the lowest or middle models for riding around, until the last 250m ish climb, when I thought I'd finish off the battery and used a mix of the highest two modes.
I liked the bike. High points for me were the geometry, which fitted me well and felt well balanced in the slidey conditions, and the surprising lack of harshness on those trails from the alloy hardtail back end thanks to the big tyres. Dont get me wrong though, it was clear that if you had lots of rocky riding or lots of cobbles etc it would be harder work.
There isn't a perceptible point where you hit the limiter. That's a big deal to me, so you can pedal through and over the assist limit without needing lots of gravity or it being noticeable.
I rode the longest L4 size with 510mm reach. I was worried it might feel a bit long on a hardtail, but nah, the opposite. The low rise bars and 35mm stem combined with the steep ST angle made it feel super short and low at the front, to the point it hurt my hands on normal sat down riding. 50mm stem and proper rise bars need to be on there for me for sure to address this without messing with the handling while stood up. Saddle was all the way back too.
I obviously flatted the rear Maxxis Agressor EXO WT, as I do all their EXO tyres for some reason. It had a foam rim protector in it, but as it didn't have any sealant all that did was make the tyre a pain to get off in the woods. After I put my only tube in I rode a bit more gently, but yeah get forward on the bike and ride light is the message there...
The forks were also a nice surprise. Currently on Fox 34 FIT4, but the xfusions (apparently with 2 tokens in) just worked nicely and felt a good complement to the frame stiffness-wise. I also really liked the TRP brakes, having been on XT for years. On wet grass the better modulation (feels lower power but clearly isnt) was brilliant.
So it was fun. Not hop on and Brraaaap fun, but obviously boosted in a nice way that offsets things that would otherwise be a big compromise like big grippy tyres and a solid, planted feel. I'd plan to ride mostly in the lowest mode (maybe slightly upped in power via the app) to get the most out of the battery. I can also see me buying a second battery, as at the moment longer rides would need some careful management. You could go and climb some stupid things on it in a high power mode, but it would eat the battery life a lot and I dont think it's aimed at that.
I think I am going to buy one, in full knowledge of the compromises, as it is an awesome "go for a thrash on your local trails" bike for moderately fit riders, and that's what I ultimately want. I think. 🙂
Thanks for the review, very interesting. Looks like I might have to take one out for a demo.