Here’s a great article highlighting the global state of electric bike affairs as well as calling for the inclusion of said bikes as bona fide additions to National Drive Electric Week, a weeklong acknowledgement of all things electric and transportation. Its a worthwhile read:
We had a successful launch of our first annual electric vehicle show in town at the Scienceworks Museum a few weeks ago. All the big brand hybrid cars were in attendance (Nissan, Ford, Chevy, etc.) as well as Brammo Electric Motorcycles and a handful of unique one-of-a-kind converted cars and trucks. Senator Jeff Merkely stopped by for a brief walk through of the show.
As it turns out he owns an electric car already and I took the opportunity to encourage him to consider adding an electric bike to his stable (literally) next to his horses! We chatted briefly about the larger challenges facing us as a statewide community and I thanked him for his part in ‘fighting the good fight’ in the crazy and convoluted hallways of Washington DC.
The big event of the day was announcing the winner of the beautiful Biruni Electric Cargo Bike that the Lions Club raffled off as part of their annual fundraising endeavors. The lucky winner came by the shop this past week to pick up her prize and before leaving, her husband bought a second electric bike so that they can ride together!
As part of the day’s activities a handful of us participated in a panel discussion about the proliferation of electric vehicle innovation and interest that is evident here in the Rogue Valley. It was part of a larger project by the Smithsonian Museum which will culminate in a television/video presentation sometime next year. I’m grateful to have been chosen to speak on behalf of the electric bike segment of the movement. I’ll be sure to share the video from this event as well as my private interview with a Smithsonian representative which will occur in the next few weeks. Its great to be able to spread the e-bike/e-vehicle gospel far and wide. The future is in our hands; let’s make a difference!
An Electric Bike Primer
This article first appeared in the August issue of the Ashland Locals Guide.
Oh the pleasures of summertime! Its a chance to be outside drinking in the natural beauty of our fair region. Among the myriad opportunities available to us, Ashland is a great place to ride a bike. If only we didn’t have so many pesky hills to climb, right? Depending on where you live, a ride to the grocery store and back can be an epic workout. If you’re up to the task and you have the time, I salute you. However, if you’re like many of us, you do all your around town traveling by car and your bike is reserved for the occasional weekend pleasure/exercise ride. What if there was a way to bridge the gap between these two scenarios? Enter the electric bike!
E-bikes ride and function like regular bicycles with the addition of an electric motor and battery to provide assistance in propelling you forward. The additional 20-25 lbs. of equipment provides power equal to that of another able-bodied adult helping you pedal. Hills seem to flatten out before you and miles slip by easily. Your bicycle elevates from the level of recreational equipment to alternative transportation. You still need to pedal to navigate our varied terrain but it can take a fraction of the effort that a non-electric bike requires. (Remember the virtual able-bodied adult helping with the work?)
Now you can get as much exercise as you desire or as much assistance as you need depending on the situation; you have complete control over the amount of power that the motor delivers. Imagine running across town for an appointment in the morning, meeting a friend downtown for lunch, and then zooming out once more in the afternoon for a few items at the grocery store. All this and you’re still ready to go out dancing tonight because you didn’t exhaust yourself running the day’s errands. This is what e-biking is all about!
E-bikes are easy to ride, they don’t require a driver’s license, and in a town like Ashland you can make most trips as quickly or faster than you can with your car. With a grin on your face you get to cruise past slowed traffic and parking space woes. E-bikes operate on just a few penny’s worth of electricity each day and they don’t require any special maintenance procedures beyond that of a standard bike. If you compute the savings in gas purchases over time, the payback period for the cost of an e-bike is surprisingly short.
I hope I’ve piqued your curiosity about e-bikes in general. If so, I invite you to come by the shop, see all the bikes, and take a test ride. Just one ride is all it takes. I promise. Come ride the future…its here now!
On rare occasions we have used bikes come through the shop for sale. This one is worth mentioning.
Its a tall frame Specialized Rockhopper, so short riders need not apply. These classic early mtn. bikes are rock solid, made-to-last. Much of the original equipment has been replaced with new components including:
Crankset, front V-brake, rear U-brake shoes, seat, handlebars, 6-speed grip shifter, bell, brake levers, front wheel, and those awesome tires!
It has a lightly used 350 watt geared motor, 22 amp controller, thumb throttle, and a barely used 36V9AH lithium tube battery and charger. I’ve ridden this bike and its a joy to behold. At $1,000 I don’t expect it to last very long. Come check it out!
