About our Electirc Bikes

Yes, we too now have electric bikes! After seeing cycling friends acquire them, much research by Bill, and a scarcity of product in Calgary, they came into our lives in early November.

These e-bikes are pedal-assist only i.e. we must pedal to get any boost. They do not have throttles similar to scooters and some types of e-bikes

There have been a few adventures, such as the the failure of Rose Lynn's controller on our first ride in AZ back on Nov 23. That was easily remedied and we were enjoying our new toys when, just before Christmas, Bill's torque sensor failed. That meant that the system was not recognizing his pedal strokes and therefore was not adding boost to his ride. A month later we are back in business, having spent the interim time riding flat areas where boost is not required!

Here are some other things we have learned so far...

They are heavy (~ 52 lbs with the battery, about 50% heavier than our other bikes). As with our old bikes, they are stored in the box of our truck. However due to the weight and different hub configuration, we’ve had to learn some new techniques to lift them out and in for each ride (the batteries and front wheels are removed for storage). More upper body workout that's for sure!

They are both black – really show the dust in this desert locale!

  Since we are travelling faster down the road, we have found that we need to wear extra clothing on some days.

The Phoenix valley is flat, circled with mountains, so they are great for climbing those hills. As mentioned, we can turn off the boost while travelling flatter sections and when cruising down hills.

Rose Lynn has had to replace the standard seat with a softer version!

The controller can be a little temperamental but we have learned that, just like other computerized devices, turning them off, and back on, usually provides a good "attitude adjustment"!

The controller has many monitoring functions including a visual cue for “most efficient” battery usage. Of course battery life depends on many variables so when Bill uses more battery is that because he is heavier than Rose Lynn?

It's all Good!