I firmly believe e-bikes are a game changer. They make riding possible for people who never thought they’d be able to. They are an excellent car replacement for shorter trips — even more so now that cargo bikes are becoming common. They’re even starting to go down in price, though I look forward to the day when there’s a reliable e-bike for under $1000 on the market. I’ve been riding an e-bike for many years now — I got my first one after moving to the top of a big hill and it’s been a revelation. It’s never too hard to ride my bike instead, and I cut my time behind the wheel of the car in half, at least. With the recent acquisition of a backpack to carry Harley the Dog, well, we’re about to go next level.<\/p>\n
A lot of folks have asked me about my bike, about buying a bike, and yeah, I have advice. Here’s what to consider when choosing your e-bike.<\/p>\n
Range<\/strong>: Probably, like me, you want range. If there’s a place to plug your bike in during your work day, it’s easier, my most recent commute used a single charge. The data on range is unreliable, plus, Seattle hills take a toll on the battery. My commute was 18 miles, my fully charged battery was typically at about 25% when I got home. But that 25% drops fast, and when you’re climbing the last big hill on a 10% charge, you’ll wish you had more range.<\/p>\n The data on my bike says it gets 35 miles on a charge, but that’s probably on the lowest assist level. The way I ride… we’ll see. I’m on a new bike and still figuring it out. If you’re buying a bike that says it gets a range of 50 miles, it might… not. I’d buy for my commute distance + 10, an equation I just made up. Point is, get more than you need and\/or make sure you can charge before your return trip.<\/p>\n Wattage<\/strong>: That’s how much umph your motor has. I didn’t worry about this. I don’t need a whole lot of power, I need — you guessed it — range. Mine’s 400 watts, that means nothing to me. My last one was less, 250 I think, and it was fine too. I’ve ridden a 450 watt bike, man that thing could go. But I want a bike, not a scooter, so it’s not an issue for me. Okay, that boost can be nice when you’re taking off from a dead stop in traffic. But you get used to whatever you ride and plan for it.<\/p>\n Center of Gravity:<\/strong> Some e-bikes have the battery in the trunk rack, which is fine but on wet days or if you’ve added panniers (I did), the bike can be a little slippy and back-heavy. My bike has the battery in the down tube (between the handlebars and the bottom bracket) and I like that better. You can get used to anything, but in the wet, I’d go for a centrally located battery over a trunk rack.<\/p>\n Mid vs. Rear Wheel Drive:<\/strong> I recently switched from a rear hub drive bike to a Bosch mid-drive and yeah, there’s a difference. I have to work a wee bit harder on the mid-drive bike but I prefer the ride over the hub drive. I can’t say which is more reliable, I just don’t know.<\/p>\n Extras:<\/strong> My bike came with lights, a rack, and fenders, standard. Worth it. I think a lot of newer models include lights and the rack, but spring for fenders if you live somewhere rainy. I have a bell and saddlebags, too. Get the shop to fit you to the bike, it will help you be comfortable when you ride. Oh, get the front shock forks. It’s awfully nice to have shock forks if you ride… textured terrain. They’re not required, but it does make for a nicer ride.<\/p>\n Shopping:<\/strong> Unless you’re a super hard core geek, you will need maintenance, so make sure you like the shop and they treat you well. I’ve run through three pairs of brakes shoes, had a flat fixed on the rear tire where the motor hub is, and I had a fussy torque sensor — the thing that makes the motor kick in. You want a shop close to home if at all possible because you will need to take your bike in. Unless you’ve got a minivan or pickup, hauling your heavy e-bike to the shop via a car is a hassle. If you *can* buy within riding distance, do. My current shop says that with enough advance notice, they’ll provide a loaner, which is a nice perk for those of us who are committed to bikes as transportation.<\/p>\n Deals<\/strong>: Don’t hesitate to buy last year’s model. My sense — which could be wrong — is that most of the variation is in how your bike is configured and not so much in the tech. If you want to save a few hundred bucks by getting last year’s model during the winter sales, that would be… smart.<\/p>\n Did I leave anything out?<\/strong> Please ask — I’m happy to help. And with all of this, I *LOVE* my ride. LOVE IT. Riding an e-bike as an adult makes biking the same kind of fun it was when you were a kid and felt like your bike could take you anywhere.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I firmly believe e-bikes are a game changer. They make riding possible for people who never thought they’d be able to. They are an excellent car replacement for shorter trips — even more so now that cargo bikes are becoming common. They’re even starting to go down in price, though I look forward to the … <\/p>\n