This summer I put my Aventon Level on a big test - a 900 mile trip down the California Coast, fully loaded. I discovered some of the bike’s limitations, primarily due to the weight of the cargo I was carrying - my clothes, camping and photographic gear. There were some bonuses I discovered, as well.
Limitations:
Most of these are considerations for carrying cargo, rather than issues the normal commuter would experience.
Spoke breakage - A combination of the bike’s torque and the weight I was carrying (my 200 lbs plus 40-50 lbs of gear) were the culprits. The bike’s weight capacity is 350lbs, but if you go that high in my experience there will be issues.
Engine overheating - The steepness of the hills and the cargo I was carrying were almost certainly the cause, especially since the weather was “only” in the 80’s. The engine took 5-10 minutes to recover, but then it would quickly overheat again as the grade continued up.
Frame wobble - Weight of the cargo on the back tends to pull against the frame in the front, leading to the wobble. This was disconcerting, but was also something that disappeared without cargo onboard.
Size confusion - I’m 5’10” with a 32” inseam, while my friend with the other Aventon Level is about 6’ with a 30” inseam. The result is that my Medium frame bike fits him best, while his Large bike fits me best. My seat post is at “3,” which is close to its height limit. I’d rather have the extra 2” and have my seat post a lot closer to the frame.
Bonuses:
Compliments - I get a lot of them. Two-tone paint, integrated battery, frame style, color, smooth welds - all get attention.
Battery Range - The 62 mile distance in PAS 1 was a stage between Ventura and San Fernando and included a crossing of the Santa Susana Pass. I ended the day with 2 bars on the battery graph. A second day took me from San Fernando to Anaheim with a similar distance. The result is increased confidence that I can get to 60 miles with no mid-trip battery charging.
Features - I’m enthusiastic about the brakes. Considering the weight I was hauling around, the brakes gave me confidence. The Kendra tires were great - no flats in 900+ miles. The Shimano derailleur was reliable and smooth. The rack held my cargo just fine and could have carried more.
Would I buy it again? Yes, knowing that it does its daily duties just fine. For another big bike trek I’d likely be easier on any bike I use by carrying much less gear.
Aventon bikes can be found at several dealers through the US and online at www.aventon.com.
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My guidebooks:
Way of St Francis: From Florence to Assisi and Rome (Third printing) Paperback: amzn.to/2DC09aS and Kindle: amzn.to/3i9Ip5O
Camino de Santiago: Camino Francés - from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago, Finisterre and Muxia. Paperback: amzn.to/2Fe80eX and Kindle: amzn.to/3lTNktA
Bike gear:
Ortlieb Classic panniers are unbeatable (the link is yellow/black, but I use black/black) amzn.to/31ZD4rZ
Mirrycle MTB Bar End Mountain Bicycle Mirror is perfect for me amzn.to/3jIrxmW
I love my CatEye taillight for its brightness and reliability amzn.to/2F6Vn5u
Photographic gear:
All filming was done on the Apple iPhone 11Pro with its 3 handy cameras which shoot up to 4k video amzn.to/3btkzzl
Video editing was done on the Apple iPad Pro 11” using the included iMovie software amzn.to/3jRjmVu
My primary lighting source on the road are my dual LituFoto LED Video Lights with built-in battery. The battery allows them to double as a mobile recharging source for my phone amzn.to/3h79uFc
On-camera and voiceover sound were recorded through Apple AirPods Pro amzn.to/3jL3SC8
On the road I use the Joby GorrilaPod Mobile Rig as my tripod, which also wraps onto my handlebars. I like that they hold my phone and my LED video lights securely. amzn.to/322SY4Y
I’ve upgraded my photographic gear, and in my later videos I’m using:
Camera: Sony A6300 mirrorless, but the newer version has a flappable screen that’s better for vlogging - amzn.to/3jUxfSR
Lens: The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 “Contemporary” lens is my new go-to for video blogging on the Sony amzn.to/359sPmT
Microphone: I’ve upgraded to a Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone which really reduces the wind noise of the AirPod Pro amzn.to/320FnLd
Gimbal: I’m not shooting with the Zhiyun Smooth 4 3-Axis handheld gimbal, and what a difference: amzn.to/2F3HR2x
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