Aug 08

Electric Bike

All summer I’ve been talking about electric bikes and riding the one I bought in late June. I’ve learned a lot , and many people seem curious, so I’ve pulled together some thoughts–plus a little advice :).

Tina Bessias riding bike in Upper School parking lot
The author on her bike. Photo credit: Kate Auger

Why get an e-bike?

I suppose there are as many answers as people to this one, but I wanted to get exercise and continue reducing my environmental impact. I also really enjoy riding and wanted to do more of it. Though most of my destinations are <5 miles from home, all involve climbing a steep hill that I can only manage once per day on my own steam. With an e-bike, I expected I could climb it twice or more. I could also carry more cargo in the form of growing grandchildren,  groceries, and miscellaneous items (not all at the same time). 

Motors

Motors come in two locations on e-bikes: the rear hub or the pedal hub. The rear hub type generally comes with a throttle, which gives a faster, jerkier start that’s more like a moped.

The motor in the center of the bike, the “pedal assist” model, gives a smoother start–like a stronger version of you on a regular bike. Shop owners that I trust recommend the pedal assist type, and that’s what I went with. 

There are also differences in power. A Level 1 bike gives assistance up to 20 mph; a Level 3 goes up to 28 mph. I’m no speed demon, so it was an easy choice to go with Level 1. 

Before you get in too deep

People tend to ride e-bikes more than a regular ones, so it’s important to have a plan for getting it serviced (assuming you don’t plan to do it yourself). Starting your search at your favorite bike shop is a good approach. Ask them which brands they service and sell. You’ll learn a lot, and maybe you’ll like one of their bikes well enough to end your search right there. If, like me, you want to look further, just keep maintenance in mind. 

Shopping around

Looking online is good, of course, but you have to ride a few bikes to know which one is for you. That means going to multiple stores: there’s no one place that has everything in this expanding market. When you take a test ride, be thorough. (This was something I didn’t do the first time around, and it made my process lengthier and messier than it might have been). Try out the gears and brakes in a flat area first, then go for hills. Try all the gears. Build up speed and brake hard to see how it feels. 

Accessories can be important depending on the uses of your bike. Ask about racks, baskets, panniers, whatever you might need. Note that e-bikes tend to come with racks that can’t be switched out because they’re tied in with lights, fenders, etc. For me, it was important to be able to be able to put a basket on the front and a child seat or a cargo basket on the back. 

Price point

E-bikes cost considerably more than regular bikes, but they do more, too: they replace car miles. How many car miles? That’s hard to predict, but it’s worth making an estimate and factoring in the savings on gas and maintenance.  Might your e-bike replace a gym membership, too?

The bikes that cost $1500 or less are generally not made to be repaired. They quickly end up in landfills–not a sustainable choice. Durable e-bikes start at $2000 or so and go up from there. They do need maintenance, but it’s far less complicated and expensive than for a car. 

My results

I bought a Gazelle Ultimate C8 from E-Bike Central in Greensboro. I really tried to be rational about the choice (see chart below), but once I tried the Gazelle, it was hard to take anything else into consideration. That’s why there are gaps in the chart below–rational comparison kind of went by the wayside. 

So far, I have ridden 180 miles. I’m satisfied with that distance given the heat (over 90 degrees is too much for me) and the fact that I was out of town for a while. At least 130 of those miles would have been in a car if I didn’t have the e-bike. I’ve ridden it to work, to meet friends, and to shop for groceries. Plus the grandchildren ask for rides 🙂. I’ve charged it 3 times. When I get to 1000 miles sometime this fall, I’ll begin to feel I’m really reaping benefits from this purchase.

The bottom line is that I’m excited about my bike. And if you’re in Durham, you’re welcome to give it a test ride! Just send me a message or catch me on campus.

Resources

And here’s my incomplete chart of locally available options:

Tina Bessias