- Pedals, droppers, warranty and rims.
- It can only be one thing and that's the Ask EMBN Show.
- Topsey Kretts, clip less or flat pedals?
(shushes)
- Is it--
- Listen
- More of a ...
- Oh you go first.
- More of a personal opinion or what is best?
You know personally, I just use flat pedals
for 95 percent of my riding.
Occasionally, I'll stick a set of clips on
if I'm riding a long distance or more cross country,
just pure cross country miles.
- Topsey, I think it depends on the type
of terrain you ride.
Also, I think the climate comes into it as well,
'cause I, we tend to slide around a lot
in the northern hemisphere,
especially between October and April,
and I've been riding flat pedals for a long time.
However, last February we went to France
and rode with double World Downhill Champion, Fabien Barel.
And I was convinced that flat pedals were the best thing
for e-bikes until went riding with Fabien.
And he went up the most ridiculous climbs,
with clipped-in pedals and I can see that that is
that split second where you can get
that little bit more out of the motor.
I think it's possible to do slightly more
technical things on clips.
- I'd agree but I think you definitely
need to be that higher skilled level rider.
You know Fabien's obviously a high level professional.
I think as a beginner, if you're starting off
on an e-bike, I would probably err towards flats.
I mean you can get away from it, you can stick a foot down.
I think to be a good clipped-in rider,
you really need to be quite a high level--
- Really?
- Of riding. Yeah, I think especially
on an e-bike, I do more flats.
- Interesting, but do you know another thing?
It's a big topic, actually 'cause I was speaking
to the Don, Don's our colleague on GMBN,
and I've been quite a lot of tension
in my hamstrings and apparently
if you ride flat a lot of the time,
and we do ride flat a lot of the time,
you do tend to cramp up there a little bit,
so I've got to constantly stretch
out my hamstrings if you're riding flat pedals.
- I don't think it's quite such a big thing
on an e-bike as it is on a normal trail bike.
A lot of people ride clipped-in purely
for keeping that cadence nice and smooth
and the power output but I think
on the e-bike, obviously with the motor,
I don't think it's such an essential bit
of kit in my eyes.
- Chris, we could go 'round in circles all day.
In the meantime, Chris, Andy Sintes is asking,
"Hi guys, what is the height difference
"between a 27.5+ 2.8 and a 29 by 2.35 tire?
"Not much maybe so roll over would be very similar
"but would have better side wall stability on the 29."
Now that really depends, ultimately,
on what tire you are using,
whether you're using a downhill casing tire
or a cross-country casing tire
so you know what will weight there,
you could be having a 1.5 kilo tire work,
versus a 800 gram tire.
- Yep.
- Ultimately the roll over on both tires
is actually pretty good, but I think
you might find that if you're in really
worn out trail center terrain, where a lot of
the finer material has been washed out,
then that big 27.5 2.8 tire actually goes over
the square edges a little bit easier than
a lower profile 29 tire.
At the same time, a 29 inch tire in
the mud in slippery conditions is absolutely incredible.
What are your thoughts Chris?
- [Chris] I think the sidewall stability, definitely on
the bigger plus tires is something I know a lot more,
especially on the softer tire pressures, you know,
kind of like the more recommended low tire pressures.
You get a lot more flex in those sidewalls I think
with the 29 it offers you a skinnier tire to start with.
Less tall isn't as prone to tire flex in the berms, so--
- At the same time, I just want to add to this
is that on the rear of an e-bike it's really good
to have 227.5 2.8 tire, unless, of course,
you've got a really good angular 29 tire.
But, if you see more about e-bike tires,
then I've done a pretty in depth video
about just that topic.
More talk, increased use, and heavier weights mean
that we need more stability, more durability,
puncture protection, and of course grip on our e-bike tires.
Though, how on earth do you choose what type of tire to get?
This is our fundamentals into tire choice.
We're gonna cover everything from width, tire compound,
tread pattern, weight and much, much more.
- Do you have and suggestions for
a good quality, not super bike quality,
dual suspension e-bike for my wife?
She's only 146 centimeters tall
and currently rides a Merida Juliet 7.100
in extra small size even though that is a bit big for her.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
- Yeah, hi Connor.
I think good quality and super bike quality
is probably different when you measure e-bikes
to when you measure, like, classic mountain bikes,
because performance is measured in such things
as range, liability, rather than, saving
a couple hundred grams here and there
or having carbon fiber.
But, yeah--
Wow, so, that height--
146 centimeters, now I do know someone who's
that very same height and rides a small specialized Levo.
So, I think she wouldn't have a problem with that.
However, I would say that in terms of what bikes
are available, now Canyon do a really good women specific
e-bike Spectral:ON. They also do the non-women specific
if your wife might prefer a standard,
all around bike. My wife rides that as well.
Vitus do a really good bike at just over 3000 pounds.
So, there's quite a few bikes out there.
Cube do them. I think the lower end specialize--
- Yeah, Haibike as well.
- Yeah, Haibike's have got a massive range.
You best just go for the size small or extra small.
I think for the reach she should look at
the reach numbers on these bikes.
Down around, I'm thinking about 420 millimeter reach.
- Yeah, a lot of these manufactures, on their websites,
will actually have a geometry part of
the website where you can look--
- Recommended sizing.
- Yeah, measure those sort of seat tubes.
Main thing, when your measuring a bike
is going to be that seat tube height
and the reach as well. Just have a look
at those figures and make sure they all look pretty good.
- I also think, Connor, maybe you go into your bike shop
and get on a size small or extra small bike
and get the people in the shop to roll the bars back,
put the seat forward, so you can get a better idea
on just how the fit is on that e-bike.
And remember fit is something you can change on a bike.
- Kay, so we got this one in from Alex Kurkin Ask EMBN,
"How did you film the rock? Did you have to take
"a few passes to get different angles? Did you break
"it down into sections to take shots from above
"and following versus regular camera shots?"
- We can't give information like that away.
- "Super interested to learn about your process."
- Can't give information like that away.
- So, those videos are pretty hard to make,
you know, me and Steve might do multiple shots
on things, multiple takes--
- So you are going to give away the information.
- Yeah, especially when you make a mistake
and slide off and slip a pedal.
- [Steve] But there was no sliding off
in the making of the rock.
- [Chris] If we got it wrong on the rock,
it pretty much would be game over.
- [Steve] So, we had to get it right, basically.
- [Chris] Definitely, yeah.
We had a separate drone operator, camera man,
four Gimbals, multiple shoots
and not attempts, but shots, basically.
- Plus the other thing is you have to deal with
the banter between everyone in the group.
- That's a big part, you enjoy that, right?
- Right. Have a check out the rock video down here.
Was a great day out.
The rock. A real mountain rock face challenge.
(heavy metal music)
Woah, the exposure to my left is insane.
(screams)
(heavy metal music)
This is from Cleber Tonus, or Cleber Tonus,
or Tonus Cleber, sorry. Apologies for that.
"Have you guys experienced the app Blevo?
"Besides managing the level of support called into
"it's cardiovascular and muscular fitness,
"it manages in three dynamic levels,
"generating a pedaling closer to that of
"a muscular bike and consuming much less battery.
"It has a completissimo and customizable panel.
"It generates statistics of everything
"and exports the roots to the straw of a top.
"You should try."
Whoa, cardiovascular and muscular fitness.
Chris, that's your completissimo, that's your department.
- Definitely sounds just up my street.
- I have not tried the app Blevo.
However, I do know that Chris Smith has.
- Yeah, I do use Blevo now and again on my Kenevo.
It's a pretty good app and you can adjust that
all the way down, but it's pretty similar to
the Mission Control app. It's obviously quite easy.
Where if you want to de restrict that bike
you can just swipe it and totally change that.
- But why would you de restrict your bike? Big jumps?
- If you wanted to ride, maybe some big jumps,
limited run up, things like that.
Or if you were just riding on private land
on flat tracts of--
- How does that affect the warranty on your Kenevo?
- I believe it invalidates the warranty,
but I'm not 100 percent clear on that,
but it's up to you. You know, you guys,
if you want to run that stuff.
- I'd rather keep my Kenevo.
- It is a good app, but yeah.
- Moving on. To Sarah Dobb. "Hi, I have only
"been mountain biking for four weeks
"and had my first crash nearly three week ago
"and I'm now nursing a chipped bone in my elbow.
"Do you have any recovery suggestions?"
- Elbows, yeah. I've broke the radial head off
my elbow, so one of the big bones in the radius.
So that's floating around. Had that screwed back on.
Probably one of the nastiest crashes,
the worst injuries I've had is,
because the elbow isn't just a bending joint,
it actually is rotational as well.
So when you spin that it actually spins around.
It's a really hard one to get moving again.
Best advice for me was to actually go swimming,
so you got non weight bearing and a lot
of just resistance training without--
- What about physio stretch bands?
- Yeah, physio stretch bands and swimming.
That's the best way to get around any sort of elbow--
- No, e-biking though?
- Maybe gently e-bike riding.
- Gently e-biking.
Okay, this from Fluflo. Fluflo? Fluflo. Floflu.
"Hi guys, great show--" Thank you very much,
"What do you think about the specialized Roval rims?
"I've got a Kenevo and did damage both them
"many times. Which kind of rims
"are better for rocky trails?
"I live in North Garter Lake, you know
"of the area and the rocks there."
Garter, that's a pretty brutal place for rims.
Now, in a way you almost, rims and wheels,
you almost need to have them custom built
depending on where you ride
and your weight and your riding style,
but yeah, your right. Garter, what's
that crazy one on the east side of the lake?
Its absolutely mental. I don't know what its called,
but its brutal on bikes. When it comes to Roval,
are you talking carbon fiber?
Are you talking alloy on those rims?
If you get back to us on that, we can answer you.
But I think on e-bikes we tend to ride mostly
on alloy rims because of the slightly heavier weight
that Chris is carrying about with him.
And, yeah, but like loads of companies do them.
Obviously, like you say, Roval do good wheels.
DT Swiss have a great range, Mavic, Stan's.
But how about checking out
the 24 hole specialized Roval wheel.
That could be a good option for you
to get more sort of flex in the frontsies.
It's a far softer ride amongst
those brutal limestone Garter rocks.
- Just got this one in from Ian Webster.
- Ah, the weber.
- Ask EMB--
- What you laughing at?
- "I'm looking at a 2019 Levo FSR
"in aluminum, but I've seen an offer on
"a 2018 Levo Comp Carbon for the same price.
"Which should I go for?"
- Oh yeah, nice choice to have.
- It is.
- I think we can remember, Ian, is that
the 2018 is 135 month travel, whereas
the 2019 is 150. Obviously know, but
the 2019 does the 29 inch wheels,
2018, 27.5.
- Battery size? What are we talking on about
the same battery size?
- Battery size, yeah obviously you got 700 watt
there on the new specialized bikes,
but I think what's quite critical here
is that, depends how tall you are.
I think if you're a taller rider
the new Levos are slightly bigger
in range so you can get a bike that fits
you better. If you like, over six foot.
When it comes to alloy versus carbon,
I wouldn't worry too much about that
because the performance on an e-bike,
maybe you should be going for
the bigger battery rather than the carbon fiber.
But, yeah, I'd think about sizing
before anything, first and foremost.
- We've actually done a video on the new Levo.
- Yep.
- Check it out here.
- It's a good one.
(rock music)
- And finally, it's Tomy Boy, Tomy Boy.
"If I wouldn't ride the bike during the winter,
"what is recommended? Fully charge
"the battery to 100 percent, or just leave it
"at around 40 percent? And would be best to unplug
"the battery or leave it plugged into the bike?"
- I think your answer for that one is best
to leave it between 60 to 70 percent charged.
Just try to bring it inside if possible.
Batteries don't like extreme temperatures,
especially the cold or extreme heat.
Bring it inside somewhere nice cool
and quiet, like it's a battery,
like a nice temperature around 20 degrees Celsius
is a really good temperature to keep them at.
When it comes to leaving it plugged in,
it is not a good idea because that
battery charger could malfunction
or overheat, you know. It's not a good idea.
Very nice tip for charging them
is just actually buy a wall timer
so you can plug that into a socket,
leave it to charge for four or five hours
and then it will turn off if you
are going to leave it plugged in.
But best to remove it, bring it inside
the house. Nice and safe.
- Wow, wise, wise words from Christopher Smith.
So that's it guys, thanks so much
for sending your questions in.
We really look forward every week
to answer, or attempting to answer some
of the questions you send in.
Now, remember it's a two way thing,
so if you think you can add to
the conversation, please do leave
your comments down below.
In the meantime, if you want to
be inspired, check out this video
with double World Downhill Champion, Fabien Barel.
Which, he's riding clips and I'm riding flats
down in south France. Absolutely awesome.
- And one of the questions in this weeks show
was about the rock. Be sure to check
that one out if you haven't had a chance to see that.
A real epic climb that me and Steve did up in
the middle of North Wales. Really cool one.
Don't forget to--
- You can like, can you subscribe.
- Yeah, like and subscribe. Don't forget,
if you got any questions hashtag Ask EMBN.
Drop it in the comments, we'll get back
to you on next weeks show.