curtis73
New member
- Local time
- 12:18 AM
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2020
- Messages
- 2
I was always an avid rider. As I got older, I rode less. Then I became (gasp) an adult with a real job and real responsibilities. I hadn't ridden in years. I dug my trusty Trek out of the weeds a couple years ago and tuned it up and quickly realized that I'm just old and fat
I gave the Trek to my nephew.
I started reading about e-bikes and thought owning one would kill two birds with one stone: 1) a little help to get me back on two wheels without blowing an artery, and 2) a great way to get local trips done without firing up a gasoline engine to drive 1 mile. I am a certified tree hugger, after all.
What I would use it for:
- quick 1-2 mile trips to the store to grab something, go to a friend's house, or just clear my mind
- exercise using varying degrees of pedal assist
- commuting to work from the suburbs to the urbs. Where I live is a mixture of neighborhoods with sidewalks and some not. Roads are poor, sidewalks even poorer. Most of the commute ranges from 4-lane boulevards with malls and fast food joints down to 2-lane city streets with stop signs, but I have several options of routes I can take.
- I could imagine using it for a gentle trail ride, but I'm far from a hardcore mountain biker.
- I'm not phased by weather much. I'll ride my motorcycle as cold as 40F as long as it's not snowing.
- I'm also not a hardcore bicyclist. I imagine using this a few times a week, maybe every day, but not like someone whose mantra is "live to ride." It's a utility for me, not a hobby or passion.
About me:
- broke as a joke (ok, not that bad, but furloughed and no unemployment)
- 6'1" 200 lbs
- always research the crap out of everything so I can find the right bargain for me
Tell me if I'm looking in the right direction. Here's what I was thinking:
- 500w (or should I go to 750w with my weight and the hills around here)
- I don't think a huge range is necessary. Short jaunts to the store, and even the commute to work is 8 miles one way... and I could plug it in while at work. 11-14 Ah?
- most have disc brakes, but I don't need hydraulic. Like I said, not riding down any mountains
- I don't need fitness tracking, speed displays, weather reports, and collision warning. I need a battery meter.
- lights would be nice, but they're easy to add
Am I looking at a fat-tire beach/snow? That could eliminate the desire for suspension but still give me some cushion.
So, if my research has pointed me in the right direction, I'm looking for.... (edit this list at will)
- [insert bike style]
- discs but not hydraulic
- torque-sensing pedal assist instead of resolution. (senses my input instead of waiting for a full turn of the pedals)
- 11+ Ah
- 500w or 750w?
- can't imagine I would benefit from a folding bike, but feel free to convince me.
Budget is around $1000, not afraid to go Chinese if it has a good track record.

I started reading about e-bikes and thought owning one would kill two birds with one stone: 1) a little help to get me back on two wheels without blowing an artery, and 2) a great way to get local trips done without firing up a gasoline engine to drive 1 mile. I am a certified tree hugger, after all.
What I would use it for:
- quick 1-2 mile trips to the store to grab something, go to a friend's house, or just clear my mind
- exercise using varying degrees of pedal assist
- commuting to work from the suburbs to the urbs. Where I live is a mixture of neighborhoods with sidewalks and some not. Roads are poor, sidewalks even poorer. Most of the commute ranges from 4-lane boulevards with malls and fast food joints down to 2-lane city streets with stop signs, but I have several options of routes I can take.
- I could imagine using it for a gentle trail ride, but I'm far from a hardcore mountain biker.
- I'm not phased by weather much. I'll ride my motorcycle as cold as 40F as long as it's not snowing.
- I'm also not a hardcore bicyclist. I imagine using this a few times a week, maybe every day, but not like someone whose mantra is "live to ride." It's a utility for me, not a hobby or passion.
About me:
- broke as a joke (ok, not that bad, but furloughed and no unemployment)
- 6'1" 200 lbs
- always research the crap out of everything so I can find the right bargain for me
Tell me if I'm looking in the right direction. Here's what I was thinking:
- 500w (or should I go to 750w with my weight and the hills around here)
- I don't think a huge range is necessary. Short jaunts to the store, and even the commute to work is 8 miles one way... and I could plug it in while at work. 11-14 Ah?
- most have disc brakes, but I don't need hydraulic. Like I said, not riding down any mountains
- I don't need fitness tracking, speed displays, weather reports, and collision warning. I need a battery meter.
- lights would be nice, but they're easy to add
Am I looking at a fat-tire beach/snow? That could eliminate the desire for suspension but still give me some cushion.
So, if my research has pointed me in the right direction, I'm looking for.... (edit this list at will)
- [insert bike style]
- discs but not hydraulic
- torque-sensing pedal assist instead of resolution. (senses my input instead of waiting for a full turn of the pedals)
- 11+ Ah
- 500w or 750w?
- can't imagine I would benefit from a folding bike, but feel free to convince me.
Budget is around $1000, not afraid to go Chinese if it has a good track record.