Ryan Van Duzer is the first one to get me interested in the Priority 600X but I too am an old man (70) on a bike living on the Southern Oregon Coast where rain is commonly on the menu. You have the exact setup I have envisioned as I progress in my riding abilities. I had TKR on both knees in the summer of 2019. I finished my formal rehab in early 2020. We live just a mile from the ocean (Coos Bay to be exact) at about 200 ft elevation. The Coastal Range is to the East and then further East are the Cascades. In April of 2020, I bought my first ebike and loved being able to ride again. Being able to conquer the smaller hills made daily riding possible when it wasn't raining. I rode that bike for 4000 miles and sold it to buy a bigger, better ebike. I got that bike in April of 2022 and now have 2900 miles on it! My legs are getting stronger all the time and my new knees are less sensitive to pressure from pedaling. I am thinking that I'm ready to give up the ebike and the limitations posed by battery range (it is almost impossible to ride an 80 pound bike without the motor's help) and start planning some long range rides. I would like to do the Oregon Coast Bicycle Route as one of my first goals. So my point is: Thanks for your inspiration and explanations of your various setups. I always look forward to a new chapter!
Great story. I actually got into serious bike touring following a heart ablation to take care of an electrical issue… rode from CT to VT and half way back. E-Bikes definitely have their place in the cycling landscape. I am considering one for making short 5-6 mile trips to various stores. All of my rides from home end with a very steep hill. My initial inspiration was Darren Alff (Bicycle Touring Pro) as he was using a Co-Motion touring bike with Pinion Gearing. Darren kind of fell off the map when the pandemic hit and has yet to come back to touring. “Duzer” is a hoot and he got me looking at the Priority 600 Pinion bike - much more cost effective for me. He has since moved to the 600X but it is made more for off road bike “packing” and my riding is mostly rail trail with crushed pea gravel… bike touring. I have also taken “Miss Pinion” down some pretty sketchy trails with mud and stones and it gets through them just okay. Getting ready to slap some gravel tires on for my summer tour through NY, VT, NH, and MA. So… thanks again and keep in touch as I am interested in how you make out with your knees on a regular bike. Don’t discount the 600 as an option - about 1K cheaper and it carries gear very well.
@@cc103acs I meant to say that the X model looks great for someone younger like Duzer or someone who doesn't care about the lack of fenders or rack, but the bike Dave has and his setup are much more practical for someone like me. Yes, ebikes do have their place and are wonderful for a lot of shorter distance recreational riding. Great for many things! My biggest concern is if the lowest gear will be low enough to climb the hill to my house. I can ride up it on my ebike but it's very hard, to the point where I have to zig-zag my way up. I have a Jamis regular bike but it has a 32 rear low gear and a 30 tooth sprocket and I do hike-a-bike on any sizable hill, especially my own! Thanks and good riding!
Excellent video and excellent stamina ! Thanks for posting and sharing. Re: @ 09:00, years ago I went hiking with a friend in Sleeping Giant State Park. If I recall part of the trail was in an old rock quarry.
The stamina needs to improve for sure and that is why I climb these New England mountains. I figure if I can ride 1.7 miles up this “hill” at those grades unloaded and not wheeze too much I have a fighting chance of not doing too many hike-a-bikes when I am weighed down with camping gear. I’m on track.
Great video. Thank you
Thanks so much for watching.
Thanks for watching… appreciate the feedback.
Ryan Van Duzer is the first one to get me interested in the Priority 600X but I too am an old man (70) on a bike living on the Southern Oregon Coast where rain is commonly on the menu. You have the exact setup I have envisioned as I progress in my riding abilities. I had TKR on both knees in the summer of 2019. I finished my formal rehab in early 2020. We live just a mile from the ocean (Coos Bay to be exact) at about 200 ft elevation. The Coastal Range is to the East and then further East are the Cascades. In April of 2020, I bought my first ebike and loved being able to ride again. Being able to conquer the smaller hills made daily riding possible when it wasn't raining. I rode that bike for 4000 miles and sold it to buy a bigger, better ebike. I got that bike in April of 2022 and now have 2900 miles on it! My legs are getting stronger all the time and my new knees are less sensitive to pressure from pedaling. I am thinking that I'm ready to give up the ebike and the limitations posed by battery range (it is almost impossible to ride an 80 pound bike without the motor's help) and start planning some long range rides. I would like to do the Oregon Coast Bicycle Route as one of my first goals. So my point is: Thanks for your inspiration and explanations of your various setups. I always look forward to a new chapter!
Great story. I actually got into serious bike touring following a heart ablation to take care of an electrical issue… rode from CT to VT and half way back. E-Bikes definitely have their place in the cycling landscape. I am considering one for making short 5-6 mile trips to various stores. All of my rides from home end with a very steep hill. My initial inspiration was Darren Alff (Bicycle Touring Pro) as he was using a Co-Motion touring bike with Pinion Gearing. Darren kind of fell off the map when the pandemic hit and has yet to come back to touring. “Duzer” is a hoot and he got me looking at the Priority 600 Pinion bike - much more cost effective for me. He has since moved to the 600X but it is made more for off road bike “packing” and my riding is mostly rail trail with crushed pea gravel… bike touring. I have also taken “Miss Pinion” down some pretty sketchy trails with mud and stones and it gets through them just okay. Getting ready to slap some gravel tires on for my summer tour through NY, VT, NH, and MA. So… thanks again and keep in touch as I am interested in how you make out with your knees on a regular bike. Don’t discount the 600 as an option - about 1K cheaper and it carries gear very well.
@@cc103acs I meant to say that the X model looks great for someone younger like Duzer or someone who doesn't care about the lack of fenders or rack, but the bike Dave has and his setup are much more practical for someone like me. Yes, ebikes do have their place and are wonderful for a lot of shorter distance recreational riding. Great for many things! My biggest concern is if the lowest gear will be low enough to climb the hill to my house. I can ride up it on my ebike but it's very hard, to the point where I have to zig-zag my way up. I have a Jamis regular bike but it has a 32 rear low gear and a 30 tooth sprocket and I do hike-a-bike on any sizable hill, especially my own! Thanks and good riding!
Excellent video and excellent stamina ! Thanks for posting and sharing. Re: @ 09:00, years ago I went hiking with a friend in Sleeping Giant State Park. If I recall part of the trail was in an old rock quarry.
The stamina needs to improve for sure and that is why I climb these New England mountains. I figure if I can ride 1.7 miles up this “hill” at those grades unloaded and not wheeze too much I have a fighting chance of not doing too many hike-a-bikes when I am weighed down with camping gear. I’m on track.
Zero miles per hour, I've done that a few times myself.
Great views made it worth the effort.
Luckily it didn’t last long. When going up steepness I sometimes wonder at what speed will my bike simply fall over like in a bad cartoon.