Fuel EX Gen6 vs Sentinel carbon vs Hightower.

[weeksy]

Random Friday musings.

I've owned the Fuel now for a year.. well, just over.. So i'm tempted to do some swapping.

Untitled by Steve Weeks, on Flickr





So the what and the why.
https://geometrygeeks.bike/compare/tran ... -3-2022-l/

They're all fairly similar in terms of reach, with 6mm difference between the longest (Sentinel) and shortest (Fuel).
Sentinel is the slackest head angle with the Hightower having the highest stack (only by 3mm over the Sentinel).

The 2 i don't own are both carbon frames if that changes anything, possibly a weight thing as they'll deffo build up lighter than the Fuel. the Fuel is quite a heavy frame in the Gen6 in it's own right.

I don't know if either will 'change' a great deal in terms of what i can or can't do, or ride or can't ride.. possibly/probably not.... But both could be an interesting change maybe.

In terms of costs.
Keeping the Fuel £0
Hightower frame £1250
Sentinel full bike £1600

The Sentinel is a 21/22, the Higher is a 24 but 23 model and the Fuel was 25 bought but 23 model.

If i get the Sentinel i'd sell the Fuel, it only cost me £1400 on C2W and is worth that all day. If i got the Hightower i'd use the bits off the Fuel and then sell the Fuel frame...

[Numnut]

Of the two, I'd go for the Sentinel - nice long wheelbase and slack HA for going downhill fast and I'm sure it'll pedal absolutely fine too.

I remember you didn't much get on with your Bird, but pinkbike has a nice Aeris AM frame in ML which is very similar to the Sentinel. It's a Bird staff member selling it... (https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/4142792/)

[weeksy]

Well according to PB, the Hightower guy is a scammer anyway

[mboy]

Everyone I know who’s had a Hightower hasn’t kept it all that long…

I know a few people with Sentinels and they have had them a loooooong time…

Read into that what you will.

[weeksy]

Everyone I know who’s had a Hightower hasn’t kept it all that long…

I know a few people with Sentinels and they have had them a loooooong time…

Read into that what you will.

Interesting... i noticed the other day that the Megatower i was looking at was a pressfit BB, which put me off that, i'd deffo prefer threaded. Even if it's not a major hassle, it's still a bit more of hassle.

I must admit, this Chaser at £1800 is tempting me more.
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/4135614/



Slightly older tech, but serviceable motor decent geo is tempting me. With the only downside being his location of up in North Wales... which is funny really as i've been there every bloody weekend for months, but at the moment due to our plans, i'm not actually due there for a few weeks yet.

But i'm still very much in the if/but/maybe camp on the Ebike thing. I just worry i'll like and use it too much when i should really use a manual. But there's times when i'm on the manual where i really wish i was on the eeb and could hit 3-4 more laps.

[Mr Moofo]

TBH, you reach a stage when you get older when you can no longer do faster times on strava - either up or down hill. You wish you could, you coinvince yourself that it is just you being idle/ lazy/ having a bad day. But that the turns into "I can't be bothered tp fo out as I have stuff to do afterwards".
I get the "I hate e bikes, it cheating" - I have one and still think that.
But it does allow me to go out when I don't really want to, go a bit further etc ...

I really don't get the "lets ride 1000w of power around the countryside whilst barely pedaling" thang

[weeksy]

Oh absolutely i'm past the Strava thing or setting faster times, although i still think downhill i've got more to find and more to give.

But i 100% love being out there and sometimes it's a little frustrating that the climbs are a bit OOOOOOFT for the reward...

That said, i very rarely use/have a day where i won't go out due to tiredness etc, i just pace the ride differently.

[Mr Moofo]

Oh absolutely i'm past the Strava thing or setting faster times, although i still think downhill i've got more to find and more to give.

But i 100% love being out there and sometimes it's a little frustrating that the climbs are a bit OOOOOOFT for the reward...

That said, i very rarely use/have a day where i won't go out due to tiredness etc, i just pace the ride differently.

Just buy a e bike and stop fanny arsing about

[weeksy]

LOL one of them is in Denbeighshire, the other is in Nottingham. Nottingham is more viable as i could get @Couchy to pick up and meet up with him.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336445940832

[mboy]

Everyone I know who’s had a Hightower hasn’t kept it all that long…

I know a few people with Sentinels and they have had them a loooooong time…

Read into that what you will.

Interesting... i noticed the other day that the Megatower i was looking at was a pressfit BB, which put me off that, i'd deffo prefer threaded. Even if it's not a major hassle, it's still a bit more of hassle.

I must admit, this Chaser at £1800 is tempting me more.
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/4135614/



Slightly older tech, but serviceable motor decent geo is tempting me. With the only downside being his location of up in North Wales... which is funny really as i've been there every bloody weekend for months, but at the moment due to our plans, i'm not actually due there for a few weeks yet.

But i'm still very much in the if/but/maybe camp on the Ebike thing. I just worry i'll like and use it too much when i should really use a manual. But there's times when i'm on the manual where i really wish i was on the eeb and could hit 3-4 more laps.

£2k gets you a lot of eBike these days… I’ve got a Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 with less than 100 miles on I’m selling at the moment (would be ideal for you, but it’s a medium not a large) … Just needs a fork upgrade really but a 2nd hand 36 for £250 or so would be ideal. Anyway…

Guy Kesteven posted a bit of clickbait about “artificial fitness bikes” the other day on Facebook, so I replied with a slightly more factual answer about how and why eBikes do work well for fitness and how and why so many pros use them so much these days as part of structured training plans… He actually responded with a bit of an apology for the clickbait title, said he’s currently working on a video based around what I had just said, asked if I didn’t mind being quoted in the video and agreed broadly that they can be a fantastic fitness tool if used correctly…

Either way… Knackered shoulder aside at the moment… I know I ride further, faster and more often these days because of eBikes, and that’s good enough for me! Just don’t default to turbo all the time, still ride a manual bike occasionally to build muscle mass (or go down the gym) and enjoy the benefits!

[weeksy]

I have a 36 in loft

[Couchy]

Everyone I know who’s had a Hightower hasn’t kept it all that long…

I know a few people with Sentinels and they have had them a loooooong time…

Read into that what you will.

Interesting... i noticed the other day that the Megatower i was looking at was a pressfit BB, which put me off that, i'd deffo prefer threaded. Even if it's not a major hassle, it's still a bit more of hassle.

I must admit, this Chaser at £1800 is tempting me more.
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/4135614/



Slightly older tech, but serviceable motor decent geo is tempting me. With the only downside being his location of up in North Wales... which is funny really as i've been there every bloody weekend for months, but at the moment due to our plans, i'm not actually due there for a few weeks yet.

But i'm still very much in the if/but/maybe camp on the Ebike thing. I just worry i'll like and use it too much when i should really use a manual. But there's times when i'm on the manual where i really wish i was on the eeb and could hit 3-4 more laps.

£2k gets you a lot of eBike these days… I’ve got a Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 with less than 100 miles on I’m selling at the moment (would be ideal for you, but it’s a medium not a large) … Just needs a fork upgrade really but a 2nd hand 36 for £250 or so would be ideal. Anyway…

Guy Kesteven posted a bit of clickbait about “artificial fitness bikes” the other day on Facebook, so I replied with a slightly more factual answer about how and why eBikes do work well for fitness and how and why so many pros use them so much these days as part of structured training plans… He actually responded with a bit of an apology for the clickbait title, said he’s currently working on a video based around what I had just said, asked if I didn’t mind being quoted in the video and agreed broadly that they can be a fantastic fitness tool if used correctly…

Either way… Knackered shoulder aside at the moment… I know I ride further, faster and more often these days because of eBikes, and that’s good enough for me! Just don’t default to turbo all the time, still ride a manual bike occasionally to build muscle mass (or go down the gym) and enjoy the benefits!

A lot of people have one go on an ebike around a car park and think it does it all for you, it’s pointless explaining to them you can get a workout on one. When I ride mine I’m at 100% all the time, HR is same as on a manual bike for the flat out hour or so ride, only difference is the average speed and distance covered. Of course you can ride them slower and then they do a lot of the work but that’s not how I use one

[weeksy]

Well the Sentinel guy didn't reply at all. The Hightower and Megatower are both still somewhat considerations.

But tickling my fancy the most in a weird way is
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406809976861


and

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336503318862


The observant amongst you will work out these are the same as i have now... but carbon.

The bottom one also has carbon wheels as well as the carbon frame.

Will the carbon frame make ANY difference at all... i really don't know... but it's shiny and cool (and nearly 2kg lighter). This would all hinge upon me being able to sell mine longer term though as there's little point owning the same bike in both carbon and alu.

[Mr Moofo]

Buy an eeb.
You are getting old

[weeksy]

Buy an eeb.
You are getting old

I'm already old

I was passed by older(slightly) people this weekend on manuals... (and on Ebikes too admittedly).

It's not just my age.... it's my fat too

[Mr Moofo]

Buy an eeb.
You are getting old

I'm already old

I was passed by older(slightly) people this weekend on manuals... (and on Ebikes too admittedly).

It's not just my age.... it's my fat too

I often think I would love a 999 or and SP2, or even a 911. But i am never going to use them as they should be.
You hanker after manual bikes when you would be far better to buy as do everything eeb. Esp if you live in the FOD

[weeksy]

Buy an eeb.
You are getting old

I'm already old

I was passed by older(slightly) people this weekend on manuals... (and on Ebikes too admittedly).

It's not just my age.... it's my fat too

I often think I would love a 999 or and SP2, or even a 911. But i am never going to use them as they should be.
You hanker after manual bikes when you would be far better to buy as do everything eeb. Esp if you live in the FOD

Better, hmmm that's open to debate. Easier, shit yes.
Me and @crust were chatting when out together today
He says "eco is like a manual bike but just compensating for the extra weight"
I was cynical and tried a trail on his and him on mine, even eco you get sooooo much assistance. It may only be 100w maybe slightly more. But 100w when you're putting out 250w of your own, turns that to 350w. Which is huge, just huge.

As i say, I like the reward for effort context of manuals, but I have no doubt I'd 'enjoy' the extra laps, climbs, etc much much more

But at the consequence of feeling a little disappointed too.

I'm sure a lot of that is just me and me will change as the years pass, but for now, I'll continue with the punishment

[Mr Moofo]

But you can tune the power assist on the more modern bosch motors, on Crust and mine it is set as it is set … But you can always dial in power uphills and turn it off elsewhere (bosch drag is not that great)

[weeksy]

But you can tune the power assist on the more modern bosch motors, on Crust and mine it is set as it is set … But you can always dial in power uphills and turn it off elsewhere (bosch drag is not that great)

Of course, but we're human. So we'd just push less hard

[Mr Moofo]

But you can tune the power assist on the more modern bosch motors, on Crust and mine it is set as it is set … But you can always dial in power uphills and turn it off elsewhere (bosch drag is not that great)

Of course, but we're human. So we'd just push less hard

When you get to 50 plus you just can’t push as hard. even if you want to