Hi all, I am a new member,and this is my real name (Art Barton). I tried out an Aventon Level bike last week at a dealer, and this was my first ride on an ebike. My primary objective in getting an ebike is to drive less when buying groceries or when going out for coffee without the hassle and extra sweat of taking out a regular bike every time I skip the car. I should explain that I am both an avid road cyclist, who has pedaled (without a motor) over 60,000 miles since I turned 40 years old, and also now definitely a Senior, as I will turn 70 in December. So my needs are changing. And I am looking for some experienced advise on choosing an ebike.
I should note I live on an extremely steep coastal California hill, "only" about 170 feet up from the main road, but that's the equal of 17 stories of a building to cycle up in about 400 yards. Which I do all the time on my regular bike, but mostly without groceries in tow. Also there are numerous long and sometimes steep hills along my usual grocery shopping routes, not just the steep hill I live on. However this is a place with no snow or ice where it only rains notably from late November through early April, so this ebike shopping usage would be very regular, even when accounting for my ongoing recreational road biking.
So I want to pack 25-35 pounds of groceries in panniers on a regular basis. And FYI, while my Trader Joes run may be only 17 miles round trip, it involves about 1200 vertical feet total. So I am looking for an ebike that is optimal for that, assuming I pedal more than most ebikers would, and which does not require a lot of mechanical skills to keep going, as I do only the basic bike maintenance on my own.
Note I found 16-17 MPH plenty fast on my test ride of the Aventon for my intended purpose.
And I think I'm in the right ballpark of price/performance with either the Aventon Level or the Aventon Pace 500, or perhaps the new REI Co-op basic bike https://www.rei.com/product/172495/co-op-cycles-cty-e21-electric-bike. But I also want a bike that will last at least 6 to 7 years of regular (125 trips a year or more) usage, assuming some replacement of chains, cassettes, etc would be necessary. .
So I'm looking for advise on whether that regular usage goal is realistic with those roughly $1400-1800 bikes I'm looking at, given their motor quality?
Also I'm looking for advise on whether front shocks make a big difference in ride comfort for my intended use (the Level has them, the Pace 500 does not) ?
Finally I have a 2nd electric bike envisioned use. There are times when i want to go into our amazingly beautiful mountain reservoir system without having to climb (and descend) 3500 vertical feet on my own power. And that ride is about 45 miles round trip.
Is that a realistic ride in terms of range and hill climbing ability for either of those Aventon bikes, or the new REI one, or similarly priced ebikes for relatively light-weight person, assuming I will pedal a lot more than your average e-biker up and down hills, and also assuming I use the lowest speed/lowest pedal assist mode on all the uphill parts?
Thanks all for answering
I should note I live on an extremely steep coastal California hill, "only" about 170 feet up from the main road, but that's the equal of 17 stories of a building to cycle up in about 400 yards. Which I do all the time on my regular bike, but mostly without groceries in tow. Also there are numerous long and sometimes steep hills along my usual grocery shopping routes, not just the steep hill I live on. However this is a place with no snow or ice where it only rains notably from late November through early April, so this ebike shopping usage would be very regular, even when accounting for my ongoing recreational road biking.
So I want to pack 25-35 pounds of groceries in panniers on a regular basis. And FYI, while my Trader Joes run may be only 17 miles round trip, it involves about 1200 vertical feet total. So I am looking for an ebike that is optimal for that, assuming I pedal more than most ebikers would, and which does not require a lot of mechanical skills to keep going, as I do only the basic bike maintenance on my own.
Note I found 16-17 MPH plenty fast on my test ride of the Aventon for my intended purpose.
And I think I'm in the right ballpark of price/performance with either the Aventon Level or the Aventon Pace 500, or perhaps the new REI Co-op basic bike https://www.rei.com/product/172495/co-op-cycles-cty-e21-electric-bike. But I also want a bike that will last at least 6 to 7 years of regular (125 trips a year or more) usage, assuming some replacement of chains, cassettes, etc would be necessary. .
So I'm looking for advise on whether that regular usage goal is realistic with those roughly $1400-1800 bikes I'm looking at, given their motor quality?
Also I'm looking for advise on whether front shocks make a big difference in ride comfort for my intended use (the Level has them, the Pace 500 does not) ?
Finally I have a 2nd electric bike envisioned use. There are times when i want to go into our amazingly beautiful mountain reservoir system without having to climb (and descend) 3500 vertical feet on my own power. And that ride is about 45 miles round trip.
Is that a realistic ride in terms of range and hill climbing ability for either of those Aventon bikes, or the new REI one, or similarly priced ebikes for relatively light-weight person, assuming I will pedal a lot more than your average e-biker up and down hills, and also assuming I use the lowest speed/lowest pedal assist mode on all the uphill parts?
Thanks all for answering
