Dudelsack 

I’m a bit late to the party. I “bought this for my wife”.

I didn’t bring my bent down to Florida because I didn’t trust my bike rack to hold up to the 1000 mile journey. This week, while waiting for my wife to get her nails done, I walked into a bike store and rode an e bike.

Riding an E bike is like taking a puppy home to see if you’ll like it. We bought the bike “for the wife”. Yup.

I am concerned about how it will hold up in the South Florida environment. I did have some buyers remorse until I pulled 18 MPH into the brutal North winds we get here. Some drivers couldn’t believe I was going that fast.

KJK

Every time I put a customer on an E-bike for a test ride they come back grinning.

BlazingPedals

I'd be grinning too if I were riding in Florida right about now. It's a balmy 19F right now, and since we were at 40F the other day, there's slick ice everywhere.

Dudelsack 

I’m blessed to be here and I know it. My wife is back in Loovul and it’s around 30 there now.

Iride01 

If I'm ever to get my wife to ride with me I figure it's going to have to be a cruiser style bike like that. I'll have to get one too just so I don't have the psychological need to go go go that I have on a road bike. Hers will still probably need to be an e-bike as I can't get her to understand shifting gears. And we live in an area where rolling terrain requires constant shifting.

So good for you two... You sure you aren't going to get another so there is no argument who's is who's?

Dudelsack 

If I can afford it…

Maintenance will be interesting. I like tinkering and I’ve always done most of my own work. However, the owners manual says:

Care of the motor - take to dealer.

Care of battery - take to dealer.

Care of hub shifter - take to dealer.

Care of hydraulic brakes - take to dealer.

I guess they trust me to air the tires and lube the chain but that’s it.

Iride01 

If I remember correctly, even the little manuals that came with my Schwinn bikes back in the 70's said to take it to the dealer for most anything.

rumrunn6

still remember reading mine. highlights include how to set short goals to help you reach a longer goal & breathing out thru pursed lips to maximize oxygen osmosis

Wildwood 

The Dark Side

If going e-Dark, go all the way!

rsbob 

And getting the tires off to fix a flat requires Herculean force. BTDT with my wife’s e-bike. At least I got the wheel off to take to the dealer. Woopie.

rsbob 

Great looking ride. I hope your wife (and you) will be happy with it, We bought my wife an upright one a year ago since her spine won’t allow her to ride her road bike. She loves it and rides it whenever she can. Good choice.

JanMM

Spouse has been riding a Trek e-assist for two-plus years. We’ve ridden together many many times/miles since getting it - usually I’m riding my Bacchetta ‘bent but we still occasionally ride our RANS tandem. Together. Most often with the tandem club. I plan to never attempt to get inside the Trek’s Bosch motor.

Carbonfiberboy 

Around here, going over to the Dark Side refers to becoming a randonneur.

locolobo13 

We got Glenn's Complete Bicycle Manual in '70. It covered everything we did on our Schwinns; bearings, cassettes, rebuilding the wheel.. Still got it. Haven't looked inside in years.

Dudelsack 

I forgot that one. I asked the dealer how I was supposed to change out a rear flat and he said, “Return it to us”.

VegasJen

Meh, maybe in another 10-15 years. Right now I ride with purpose.

fastcarbon

At 80+ I still refuse to ride an e bike as I know I would like it; I seriously doubt I could maintain my level of fitness if I received help from an e motor. My current plan is to try one when I reach 90+.

Dudelsack 

Say what?

My purpose for riding yesterday was to check out a new fishing spot. My purpose was to get my heart rate up and enjoy the sunshine. I zip tied a MIK adaptor to my YakAttack milk crate with two rod carriers, on purpose so I can take my bass rods with me safely. Just how much purpose must one need these days? Don’t tell me you “just ride” without having a proper purpose, like I do.

Yes, I’m pulling your chain. On purpose.

50PlusCycling

I got a Panasonic Gyutto Anizu (to Japanese this is supposed to sound like Italian or something). It's a power-assist shopping bike with a basket on the front and a kids' seat on the back, which I bought for my wife. As it turns out, I have ended up using it more than here, mainly to take my daughter to ballet, piano, swimming, and Kumon. After nearly 7 years of use it is still going strong, though the battery capacity is about half what it was new. It gets up the steepest hills with ease, and though it's not fast, with a fresh battery it can go a surprising distance before needing to be recharged. But I still like my conventional bikes.

TiHabanero

My wife has a good case of arthritis and only rides around the neighborhood saying that is far enough for her. I want her to get an ebike so we can ride together for long distances, but she has zero interest in sitting on a bike for more than 30 minutes. At least she is honest about it. To think we met in a bike shop the year she rode the California coast starting from Oregon and ending San Diego.

bikemig 

If I were out in the boonies with a flat on this, I'd be tempted to just patch the tube without removing the rear wheel.

Btw, great bike. It reminds me of the very useful utility 3 speeds you see, for example, in the Netherlands; they all come with lights, racks, fenders, and have a comfy upright sitting position. Why mess with a winning formula, right?

rydabent

One great thing about E-bikes is it get the "real cyclist" off the backs of recumbent riders.

Dudelsack 

Chuckle.