ISO an Electric Bike

I’ve been doing quite a bit of research on electric bikes lately because I’m in the market for one.  The type of electric bike I’m looking for is one with pedal assist for those killer hills but I still want to get a nice workout and not just ride around as if on a scooter, unless I’m totally pooped and can’t get back home.

That’s my biggest problem with bike riding.  We have a great bike path that snakes through some scenic areas but I’m not able to ride the entire distance.  If you’ve watched many of the reviews I’ve done, you’ve probably seen the path but I have health problems which make riding a bike for miles and miles impossible.

For one, I have asthma and secondly I have tachycardia and bradycardia and well – basically, I have an all-around funky electrical system in my heart that does weird things sometimes.  That’s why an accurate heart rate sensor on my fitness trackers / GPS watches is an absolute must and why I test the heck out of them.  I have to keep an eye on what my heart is doing.

I’m just not comfortable riding a bike for 10 miles+ up hills and out in the middle of nowhere in case I’m not able to continue riding.

So, I thought an electric bike would be a good idea because I want to be able to enjoy riding longer distances and have the power assistance there if I need it.

The two bikes below, the Speedric Electric Folding Bike (On Amazon) and the DJ City Bike (also on Amazon) are a couple that I’m looking at right now and doing much more research on before I make a decision.  Of course, price is a major consideration, with the first bike being about half the price of the second.  However, the step-thru bike is probably the most practical option for my 5’1″ height, as long as the seat adjusts low enough for my short legs.

Then there are the electric bikes that are much more compact, lightweight, and easily foldable for transport.  That’s important to consider as well because I’d like to be able to  fold the bike up and have it fit in the back of my compact SUV.

The problem with many of these ultra compact electric bikes is that some don’t even have pedals, which for some is no problem, but I want to be able to pedal along to get exercise and to extend the distance each charge will get me.

Plus, technically motorized bikes aren’t allowed on the bike path near my house.  I could probably get away with an electric assist bike since they’re so quiet and I could turn off the electric motor.  One without pedals might get me in trouble with the park police!

Still, if you’re looking for a compact bike like the SwagCyle looks like a good option.  You can check out their site here.

The SwagCycle Pro, pictured above, is very portable and so far has had mostly positive reviews.  This would be a good option for camping trips.  When my parents dragged me around the country with their camper when I was a dopey teenager, I’d often see others with bikes similar to these.  They weren’t electric back then but if you had a large dog they could provide mobility assistance.

I’ll never forget seeing a man being pulled by his dog with the leash wrapped around the handle bars.  Everything was fine until the dog saw a rabbit off the side of the road and darted after it near a street sign. Of course the leash wrapped around the post.  Dog, man, and bike met at full speed and head-on as they swung around opposite sides of the sign post.

So, electric is a better option than dog power! I can only imagine what my dogs would do along the bike path.  I’d probably end up in a body cast.

So, over the next few days I’m going to put together a specs guide on the top 10 electric bikes I find on Amazon and elsewhere.

I’m looking for something in the $450-$700 price range for myself.  Considering how much a good quality non-electric bike costs, the prices for many of the electric bikes aren’t bad.

My must list for an electric bike:

• good reviews
• pedals with pedal assist
• replaceable parts/replaceable battery/on-going customer support/warranty (VERY IMPORTANT)
• lightweight
• foldable and able to fit in the back of my RAV4
• battery that can go 25-30 miles with pedal assist
• adjustable seat for short people like me
• quiet and reasonably fast charging

After doing a lot more research today, I came across Magnum Classic and it’s more than I want to spend but it has many of the things that I’m looking for.  I also discovered electricbikereview.com.  This guy knows electric bikes! A great resource if you’re in the market for an e-bike.

Here’s the new version of the bike: https://www.magnumbikes.com/product/magnum-classic-36/

Another bike that has caught my eye is the Enzo Folding Electric Bike.  It’s the one I’m leaning to the most right now.  It compares very well to the Magnum Classic above. Either way I go, I’ll have to convince a lot more people to buy fitness trackers before I can afford either.  I just haven’t found anything in the $500-$700 range that I’d be happy with long-term.