Long
popular in Europe, electric bikes are catching on in America. Here's what you
need to know
by Sarah Max | July 31, 2018
Sure,
the Trek Super Commuter+ 8S will set you back around $5,000, but it can also
have you cruising along at about 28 miles per hour.
At age 67, Gary
Fisher still logs around 250 miles a week cycling near his home in Marin
County, up and around the same Northern California hills where in the 1970s he
helped launch a new sport called mountain biking. But while he relies solely on
human power for his regular workouts, he tends to power on his Trek electric
bike to commute into San Francisco.
“As you pedal, it
matches the energy you put in, so you feel like Superman,” says Fisher, who
sold his eponymous company to Trek Bicycle, where he is now a product
executive. “It’s an amazing feeling, but it’s still riding a bike.”
Long popular in
Europe, electric bikes (a.k.a. e-bikes) are starting to catch on in the U.S.
Parents use them to haul kids and cargo; commuters zip to work quickly without
needing a full wardrobe change; non-elite mountain bikers can master
high-elevation terrain.
And older riders are
embracing e-bikes as a way to continue cycling without having to fight
headwinds or suffer up hills—or simply to keep up with faster friends.
Why you feel less
burn
As the name suggests,
e-bikes have small electric motors that give you a little more pedal power.
While they are heavier than their non-powered equivalents, e-bikes are
generally very quiet and, with the exception of bikes with throttles, still
require some effort on your part.
“It’s like when
you’re late for a flight and have to run on the moving walkway. That’s what
it’s like to ride an e-bike,” says Erik Saltvold, 54, who is the founder and
owner of ERIK’S, a specialty bike retailer with 29 stores in five states.
“You’re still pedaling, only you can go a little farther and faster.”
“It’s
like when you’re late for a flight and have to run on the moving walkway.
That’s what it’s like to ride an e-bike.”
Erik
Saltvold Founder
of specialty bike retailer ERIK’S
Like Fisher, he is an
avid cyclist with a quiver of bikes, but he generally opts for his Specialized
Turbo Vado for his 20-mile commute from his home in Minnetonka, Minn. to his
office in Minneapolis. (You can read ERIK’S guide to e-bikes here.)
While e-bikes are
available on a wide range of bike types, including commuters, cruisers,
mountain bikes, and, though less commonly, road bikes, the industry categorizes e-bikes into three classes based on the type of
motor.
Class 1 bikes are
pedal assist with a top motor assist of 20 miles per hour; you can go faster
but on your own accord. Class 2 bikes have an assist up to 20 MPH and have a
throttle, which makes it possible to move without pedaling; these are
increasingly being banned from bike paths. Class 3 bikes split the difference,
with an assist up to 28 miles an hour but no throttle.
How to pick your ride
As with any bike
purchase, start your e-bike search by thinking about how and where you plan to
ride it, and then test different models.
As with traditional
bikes, prices run the gamut from less than $1,000 to more than $10,000. For a
quality bike from a reputable brand, figure on spending at least $2,000 to
$2,500. You can find e-bikes online for as little as $500, but be careful about
bargain hunting.
“You want to buy
something you know has been tested and can be easily serviced,” says Saltvold,
noting that specialty bike dealers warranty their bikes, including the motors,
typically for a year, and can help with ongoing service and repair.
For a quality bike
from a reputable brand, figure on spending at least $2,000 to $2,500.
Before you invest in
an e-bike, understand the rules of the road. States and municipalities have
only recently begun offering a clear path about where you can and cannot ride
e-bikes. (Check out PeopleforBikes to see how your state stacks up.) Under the
most widely-used guidelines, Class 1 bikes are legal on bike paths but Class 2
and 3 bikes are not.
In the case of mountain
bikes, the landscape is varied and changing. In some areas, e-bikes aren’t
allowed on non-motorized vehicle trails. Many areas, including Mammoth Bike Park in California, have opened up trails,
rentals, and other resources to e-bikers.
And when it’s time to
start riding? If you’re new to cycling or haven’t been on a bike since you were
a kid, it helps to know bike-handling and safety basics, especially if you plan
to power your bike to its full assist.
The sales staff at
the store should show you how to use the different features, and for more help
search for e-bike clubs or workshops in your area. But essentially “you’re just
riding a bike,” says Travis Ott, a brand manager for Trek Bicycle.
Keep in mind that
battery life is a consideration; while range varies by terrain, the level of
assist, and the weight of the rider, many quality bikes can go around 50 miles
between charges. A heavy bike isn’t as fun to ride without the assist, “but if
you run out of battery it’s not the end of the world,” says Fisher. “Most
people will be able to pedal it back.”
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