Arwen's meanderings

Hi everyone and welcome to my dinghy cruising blog about my John Welsford designed 'navigator' named Arwen. Built over three years, Arwen was launched in August 2007. She is a standing lug yawl 14' 6" in length. This blog records our dinghy cruising voyages together around the coastal waters of SW England.
Arwen has an associated YouTube channel so visit www.YouTube.com/c/plymouthwelshboy to find our most recent cruises and click subscribe.
On this blog you will find posts about dinghy cruising locations, accounts of our voyages, maintenance tips and 'How to's' ranging from rigging standing lug sails and building galley boxes to using 'anchor buddies' and creating 'pilotage notes'. I hope you find something that inspires you to get out on the water in your boat. Drop us a comment and happy sailing.
Steve and Arwen

Monday, 18 February 2019

Ebike TREK powerfly 4 electric mountain bike

I have managed to notch up 100 miles in six days on my new electric mountain bike. I was getting frustrated on my other mountain bike which I adored, another TREK. I was struggling to get further than around 25 miles in a day, a combination of lack of fitness and dodgy knees.

trek powerfly 4 electric mountain bike

What a difference uphill assist makes! Now I have spent two days cycling around 35 miles on each day. On a regular favoured route from Plymouth to Tavistock along one of the Sustrans cycle tracks, I have managed to do it both times in two-thirds of the time it would normally take.  We recently completed a very hilly route up onto the moors from our home in an hour and it was a fifteen mile route.

https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/mountain-bikes/electric-mountain-bikes/powerfly/powerfly-hardtail/powerfly-4/p/23192/


I am not at the review stage of the bike yet. I haven't taken it onto rough Dartmoor tracks yet although I am about to brave some local Forest mountain bike trail routes in the next few weeks. However, I have been initially impressed by the build quality, the power of the Bosch motor, the simplicity of operation. Potential disadvantages? Well it is certainly heavier than my other TREK bike that's for sure. It only has nine gears and whilst these are good quality Shimano ones, I miss my 21 gears on the old bike. Going up hill without the power on - you certainly notice the weight factor!


It is early days, but at this point, so far, I'm a convert. I even invested in new Ortlieb pannier bags ready for when we nip on the ferry and go touring Brittany canals and coastline in the summer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZpZBCrWT3A

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