You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I normally have 27.5 2.8 minions on my 29 E bike and it flies along. The top speed is slightly down due to the smaller diameter.
I’m planning on doing a 40 mile flat gravel loop. Is there any point whatsoever of putting on my spare 29 wheels with summer tyres?
If the bike was just human powered it’s the first thing I’d do.
Im assuming battery life might be extended but I’ve got plenty of battery anyway.
Well, I'm not an eeber, but I'd have thought the bigger wheels would give you a higher speed at cutoff point, since the speed detection is wheel-size agnostic?
So worth it from that POV alone, for a gravel ride surely? But yeah, the summer tyres sound better too.
On a flat route you are going to be bumping off the limiter and pedalling a lot.
So the options are;
Whichever has the biggest rolling diameter.
If you are staying under the limiter then fit whatever is comfiest
Cost is also a consideration - seems a shame to round off some Minions just on a gravel ride
I think it makes a massive difference, I have a Merida e160, which is normally 27.5+ with 2.8 Minions. I also have 29" wheels with semi-slicks for commuting and 29" wheels with 2.4 Dissector F and 2.4 Rekon R for more XC rides. The minions I can't pedal faster than cut-off speed on the flat, but the XC tyres make this much more doable, even though the cut-off speed is higher. Bike feels faster, more agile and must be more battery efficient.
I swapped a 2.4 DHR2 for a Dissector in the back of my Rise and noticed a big difference. Faster rolling, lighter weight made it easier to pedal, particularly over the limiter. It changes how the bike feels just like it would a normal bike.
I guess it depends how you ride. If you treat it like a mountain bike with a bit of assistance then you'll notice that it'll be easier to pedal. If you ride it on boost everywhere then you might notice a small increase in battery life?
I don’t run fast tyres but I don’t run super slow ones either - because I commute on my Levo and about 1/2 that is on tarmac, as well as using it for gnarlier riding. I’m usually on Hillbilly 2.6 front, Butcher 2.3 rear, both T7 Grid, so similar to Maxxis Exo Dual in rolling speed. On tarmac I’m above the limiter unless it’s uphill or there’s a big headwind, so lower rolling resistance makes a big difference.
Running higher pressure for the commute helps a lot - I’m at about 30psi then. For proper riding in the dry I’m at about 24/26psi and in the wet right down at 21/23. Riding home with the tyres that soft on tarmac feels v slow!
Compared to friends running heavy casing tyres like DoubleDown or SuperGravity on their e-bikes, my bike rolls way faster when coasting downhill.
I did the full High Peak Trail (first incline being a grueller on a normal bike), part of the PBW and the full Monsal Trail, with a bit more road/gravel to/from home on a 50lb Kenevo with a 27.5 2.8 Eddy Current on the rear and 2.6 soft Magic Mary on the front the other week - 43 miles. All in Eco and averaged 12mph, felt absolutely fine.
Would it have been quicker/easier with different wheels and tyres? Maybe a little. Worth the hassle? I doubt it. None of it was a slog
I put the 29 wheels on but the "gravel" ride turned out to have a very sandy section.
Should have left my fat tyres on!
I don't know if tyre noise is an indicator of anything but the 29ers are noisier than my minions.
<p style="text-align: left;">Yes....</p>
I've 2 sets of wheels for the OH's ebike....
One with chunky tyres, one with gravel tyres...
The ride and power use is MUCH better on the gravel tyres when on the road
DrP
I swopped the rear wheel out temporarily on my reign e due to a wheel issue, the one I put in had a 2.6 rock razor on it and I couldn't be bothered changing tyres, it felt way faster and more fun the than eddy current and easier to push above the limit, couldn't see any drawbacks in the dry other than it was only a standard casing and I was worried about flatting it.
Back on double magic mary now but I keep thinking about changing the rear.
Shame they don't make a super gravity rock razor anymore.
I suspect reduced rolling resistance will make the bike feel a little livelier, but if you're happy with the bike as it is and don't need increased range, then it seems a bit of a moot exercise. I've ridden an older Levo with both 29" and the original 650b+ wheels and it felt - predictably - slightly taller and slightly 'quicker' with the 29" wheels and narrower tyres, but if you're happy with things as they are, why bother?