Pretty great that you have an eBike , or there would be no rides for you at all. They tell me aging beats the alternative, so we will all have some medical issue eventually.
Sounds like you are on your way. I don't find middrives intimidating, they seem like a normal bike (with much stronger legs). Cadence assist is intimidating b/c of all the settings
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Many bikes do not come with bottle bosses, like this purple Public. You can put a VersaMount anywhere for a cage or just use a cupholder. The green bike is an eight speed I made yesterday with a powerful torque sensor, coaster brake, and an extra-strong e-chain.
Intimidating and expensive. I get it.
I think your choice is fine as long as you find the bike to be comfortable. I wouldn't trade my mid drive for a Rad, but for sure a hub drive at half the price makes more practical sense as a commuter. I've never seen much point in having a throttle either...until I fractured my thumb and haven't been able to ride my middrive since I can't shift.
I just made a bike for a person without any thumbs. Her shifter is upside down. You can't see the readout but you don't on road bikes and they work fine. But she can shift up and down with a tap up top.
If you can get to the top riding a non electric bike then any Ebike can easily do it with pedal assist. Odds are whatever bike you choose, you're going to throw a few hundred more into it right away for things like racks, bags, more comfortable seat, suspension seat post, rear view mirrors etc. so figure that into your budget. I have a couple of Rad Power bikes and have been very happy with them.
In State college? I always assumed the crime here is very rare. After all, it's mostly college students... I am planning on leaving my bike for long times unattended, but always in very public spaces (near food hall/Gym) and of course with a good kryptonite lock. I chose this one: "Kryptonite Evolution Mini Integrated 10mm Chain Bicycle Lock." You kind of got me worried a little here
You might want to consider a bike with an easily removable battery. If you can take the battery with you, that drops the attraction for a thief. They would then have a history of looking for a replacement battery and it would increase the cost to them, not just the risk. With things like portable angle grinders and metal saws, any lock or bike rack can be cut. Better to use a bike locker and lock it inside that. Or park by a campus security kiosk or police station.
I will keep the battery with me/in my office. That is for certain. Unfortunately no security or police stations near me. I will see if there is a nice parking space with cameras nearby.
Not trying to worry you, State College is still a very safe place for a major university, but it is a major university, and bike theft goes with university territory.
Good for battery removal. My problem with cameras is that with masks, hats and sunglasses and things like reversible jackets they do not prevent the problem, they only allow you to reexperience the trauma after the fact. And if you tag it then all your movements are tracked. Another option is to make the bike highly identifiable and unique. Here is one others have seen that is one of a kind. I just rode it to make a house call regarding a solar electric pedal buggy for four. That guy was also just given an eight speed handmade Polish IGH with a chromoly lugged frame and a Brooks saddle with leather grips and wants to convert it. That bike looks like 1959 but it is a mint 2019, ridden once for drinks at a Yacht Club in Belvedere, CA and couldn't make the hill back home.
Often times people HUGELY exaggerate the wear. So when maintained properly it isn't much of a factor.Just for some perspective, I have a mid drive (Giant/Yamaha) with over 1000 miles on the drive train and the chain is nowhere near in need of replacement yet.
Learn how/when to shift properly and you're golden.
At that price point you should be able to look a Giant,Trek, Specialized and many others as your not looking emtb or high end road bike. So do your self a favor and check out some of the ones that have actual shops(yes I no they don't have shops in your area).
I would rather just change something out before it needs to be changed. This also applies to things like gym socks. I am not going to brag about how long I have gone without washing my socks or swapping a chain.
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