BIKE CHECK: Hannah’s ebike

“I resisted the temptation to build up an e-bike for a long time. They had always tempted me, however I was always worried about the weight of them being a smaller rider, and enjoy pedalling a regular bike. Then I saw the Santa Cruz Vala. It’s not as chunky as some e-bikes, lighter weight and enough battery power for the type of riding I enjoy.

 The bike is built up with all black components as I love the candy green paint and didn’t want to draw away from it.

My favourite parts of the build have to be the Pro 5 hubs. They have amazing engagement, not to mention they sound great. I am running the Fortus rims, having come away from Reserves and absolutely love them. They are light and strong and I haven’t had any problems at all. The E4 brakes are also great, with plenty of stopping power and modulation. I hate brakes that are either on or off. The E4’s stop you quickly, but also allow you to feather your brakes when needed. Finally, I really like the F22 pedals. On my previous bike I had the older style pedals, which were great, however the F22 are much more sleek looking and connect with my feet brilliantly.”

Pictures: Hannah Davies