Hello from Fareham, Hampshire

[Pukmeister]

Hi everybody, my name is Adam and I'm new to the forum.

I am considering a Levo/Kenevo and hope to learn all about them before making a purchase. I'm an occasional rider on a cheap Specialised Hardrock 29er but would like to own an e-mtb, ride a lot more to improve my fitness and have fun at weekends trail riding.

Regards

Adam

 

[miPbiP]

hey buddy.

I'm in similar position, lots of good info on the Levo in the Specialized section.

 

[Terry]

Hi Adam, what part of Fareham do you live in?
I live in Stubbington and ride a Giant Trace E +2 Pro. Awesome bike. Check out the reviews on this site!

 

[Pukmeister]

I'm not far away Terry, I live just off Ranvilles Lane, the RSPCA Ark is about a mile from my house.

 

[Terry]

Know it well, ride up that way when I do a local ride. If you want to get together for a chat or ride let me know.

 

[Pukmeister]

Thanks Terry. I sometimes ride QECP and cycle to work in Pompey two or three times a week in an attempt to get fitter.

 

[Terry]

I'm a trail rider. I don't really like bike parks so only ride through qecp when the route takes me that way. i ride anywhere from Worthing in the east to New forest in the west and Newbury in the north or basically an hours drive from home ish! Distance anything from 15 to 30 miles. Ive been riding and walking on the downs for yonks so know the area quite well!!

 

[Pukmeister]

I'm a trail rider. I don't really like bike parks so only ride through qecp when the route takes me that way. i ride anywhere from Worthing in the east to New forest in the west and Newbury in the north or basically an hours drive from home ish! Distance anything from 15 to 30 miles. Ive been riding and walking on the downs for yonks so know the area quite well!!

I may have to pick your brains, a mate and I are planning to cycle via trails from QECP to Brighton to visit my son, then catch a train back.

 

[Terry]

No problem. Most obvious is straight along the South Downs Way then from Devils Dike drop down.

 

[Terry]

You could ride from your house. Up the Meon Valley railway line, via Wickham, up to Exton and pick up the SDW there.

 

[Pukmeister]

Thats a great idea Terry, thanks. If we ride past Titchfield abbey and then to Wickham via Mayles Lane from Knowle Village, we should be able to avoid a lot of high speed road traffic.

I'm also considering a Giant e-stance/trance as they seem better value than the Specialised models.

 

[Terry]

At the abbey turn right then over the little bridge across the Meon to turn left onto the bridleway. this will take you up to Mayles Lane just before Knowle. If you want to see a Trance E+2 Im happy to come and show you mine.

 

[Pukmeister]

I've just been over to the Giant store at Bitterne this afternoon..... Choices, choices.
Damn I'm now torn between a Spec Levo 29er versus a Giant Trance 27.5, Rockshox versus Fox, Brose versus Yamaha, Shimano versus SRAM, do I wait for 2020 in case of discount or not, buy online or buy local (Rutland have a £300 off promotion, All Terrain Cycles have 15% off so price is down to £3395 on the Trance E+2)..... etc etc etc.

It's not easy is it ???

Thanks for the offer, yes it would be nice to meet up and take a look at your bike and gain advice over what to lookout for, I don't want to get sold something overpriced that I don't need or undersold something that I later have to pay to upgrade.

 

[Terry]

I am riding local tomorrow so i can call in if you like. Poss late morning. Where exactly do you live?

 

[Pukmeister]

Edit: Postcode deleted for privacy. (Bike thieves have computers too.)

 

[Doomanic]

You might wan't to edit that post, you never know who's watching...

 

[AndyH]

Hi everybody, my name is Adam and I'm new to the forum.

I am considering a Levo/Kenevo and hope to learn all about them before making a purchase. I'm an occasional rider on a cheap Specialised Hardrock 29er but would like to own an e-mtb, ride a lot more to improve my fitness and have fun at weekends trail riding.

Regards

Adam

Adam- hi. I am over in Havant so if you fancied an RV at QECP or wherever, I’d be happy to let you have a go on my Levo (base model)....let me know.

 

[Rusty]

Thats a great idea Terry, thanks. If we ride past Titchfield abbey and then to Wickham via Mayles Lane from Knowle Village, we should be able to avoid a lot of high speed road traffic.

I'm also considering a Giant e-stance/trance as they seem better value than the Specialised models.

Definitely better spec. I was looking at a Trance E+ 0 and thought it was amazing loaded for the price point but after riding one back to back with the Levo Comp I preferred the quietness of the Levo. I also wasn't too impressed with the fluted battery cover as that area is a PITA on my Scott and I could just see that being even worse.

If I was looking again for my first eMTB I think I would probably have made the same decision and purchase the Scott eGenius.

 

[Pukmeister]

Thanks guys for the advice and kind offers, all duly noted. I've edited my address to just the postcode, although not that worried as I have little of value, everything is insured and after some neighbours had a break in early lasy year (first time ever in 30 years) plus nearby streets, our cul-de-sac is now like Fort Knox with hd cctv, alarms and neighbourhood watch.

The only things I dislike about the Giant design is the battery location and the 27.5 rims, I hadn't considered a Scott so its another to look at.

 

[Pukmeister]

Great to meet you this morning Terry and thanks for the spin on your bike, now I see what all the fuss is about and I totally get it, e-mtb are the way ahead for me. Now I have the struggle to resist the urge to dive straight in and buy the first thing I see.

 

[Terry]

Fuss? Fuss? It's the non Ebike gang who make all the fuss as they wallow around in our wake. Good or meet you to. Whatever you get I'm sure you will, like the rest of us, love it!

 

[AndyH]

Great to meet you this morning Terry and thanks for the spin on your bike, now I see what all the fuss is about and I totally get it, e-mtb are the way ahead for me. Now I have the struggle to resist the urge to dive straight in and buy the first thing I see.

As you are in Fareham, pop into Solent cycles at the station end of the high street - Mike the owner is very helpful and will try his damndest to get you a good spec for your budget.

 

[Pukmeister]

As you are in Fareham, pop into Solent cycles at the station end of the high street - Mike the owner is very helpful and will try his damndest to get you a good spec for your budget.

Thanks Andy

I popped in there on Friday (as well as Hargroves). Neither store gave me a warm vibe and Solent only had e-hardtails in stock and were busy servicing bikes. Hargroves seemed to have a lot less stock than I remember and had hardly any specialised.

The Giant store at Bitterne spent about 40 minutes with me, answered all questions without sales pitch and gave a really confidence building vibe.

I think I would be quite happy to buy a Giant bike and trust it to the guys at Bitterne for service and support, unless an amazing deal falls in my lap elsewhere.

 

[Terry]

You could do a lot worse!

 

[Pukmeister]

Finally sorted thanks to Terry and the Giant store in Southampton, got myself a nice blue Trance-E +2 Pro in medium for a good price plus a set of michelin tubeless as an upgrade. Should collect it next week and be out on the trails next weekend. Happy days.

 

[duk916]

All this talk about QECP and the South Downs and Meon Valley railway track making me feel home sick for a moment. Good riding everyone.

 

[Pukmeister]

All this talk about QECP and the South Downs and Meon Valley railway track making me feel home sick for a moment. Good riding everyone.

Homesick ? I know how you feel (having spent many years overseas myself.)
A shame you aren't here to enjoy the Hampshire countryside whilst we have a great summertime available.

 

[AndyH]

Finally sorted thanks to Terry and the Giant store in Southampton, got myself a nice blue Trance-E +2 Pro in medium for a good price plus a set of michelin tubeless as an upgrade. Should collect it next week and be out on the trails next weekend. Happy days.

Shout when you know you are going to be out - may be able to join you one evening.

 

[duk916]

Homesick ? I know how you feel (having spent many years overseas myself.)
A shame you aren't here to enjoy the Hampshire countryside whilst we have a great summertime available.

I was 16 in the summer of 1976. Summer is on its way here soon.

 

[Rusty]

Homesick ? I know how you feel (having spent many years overseas myself.)
A shame you aren't here to enjoy the Hampshire countryside whilst we have a great summertime available.

On most rides where we hit some kind of wet area Duke is known to rabbit on about riding axle deep muck back in the home country with fondness. Me, I prefer warm and dry weather ;-)