Hello from VA

[KurtW]

Hello Everyone,

I live in Loudon County, VA (west of Washington, DC) and have begun researching electric bikes with the goal of purchasing a bike this spring for fun and exercise. My commute involves a long mountain climb and crossing a busy highway so I will not be commuting with it. Biking the countryside and trips to the store are what I am looking for. I am in my 50s and overweight so bicycling seems like a good way to get healthier. An ebike will make the hills in my area easier to deal with.

I haven't bicycled in a long time so relearning to ride will be "interesting."
-Kurt

 

[Nova Haibike]

Welcome to EBR. I'm in Alexandria but have ridden out to Purcellville on the W&OD trail. E-bikes are perfect for climbing, so highway crossing aside (and there are a few places on the W&OD where crossings are inevitable) you might even consider commuting. Regardless, good luck with your search/shopping for an e-bike.

 

[Dewey]

I’m in Arlington, Biking the countryside are you looking for something that can handle both on and off road? I’m thinking of some of the unpaved roads out around Wegmeyer farms in Hamilton. As for runs to the store towing my daughter’s trailer is much easier with an ebike and a trailer carries lots of groceries in addition to panniers for shopping bags. Welcome to the forum!

 

[dblhelix]

Hello Everyone,

I live in Loudon County, VA (west of Washington, DC) and have begun researching electric bikes with the goal of purchasing a bike this spring for fun and exercise. My commute involves a long mountain climb and crossing a busy highway so I will not be commuting with it. Biking the countryside and trips to the store are what I am looking for. I am in my 50s and overweight so bicycling seems like a good way to get healthier. An ebike will make the hills in my area easier to deal with.

I haven't bicycled in a long time so relearning to ride will be "interesting."
-Kurt

Greetings from College Park, MD.

Aside from the W&OD, I’ve done a lot of riding in northern Loudon Cty through places like Taylortown and Lovettsville by regular bike. Definitely some challenging spots. There’s also a bridge that’s been out on the other side of the Potomac on the C&O just before Brunswick westbound. That’s meant the climb into Lovettsville for people returning to NOVA from Pittsburgh.

Think I might head out there via ebike once the snow is gone. Such a pretty area.

 

[christob]

Welcome to the forum! Arlington here, on the W&OD near 4 Mile Run. Picked up my ebike last March (first bike in about 25 years) and then closed out 2018 by turning 50, racking up 4,000 total miles biked and 61 pounds lost (sensible diet modification as well as lots of biking!) Started office commutes with it in April, but haven't done much in the way of errand-running on it--a goal for 2019!

 

[Bruce Arnold]

Started office commutes with it in April, but haven't done much in the way of errand-running on it--a goal for 2019!

You'll be glad you did, Chris. There's something really satisfying about errand runs. Biking is fun in any case, and then there's not using the car for a short jaunt, the satisfaction of bringing a bunch of stuff home successfully on a platform that's not specifically designed for carrying loads, etc.

 

[KurtW]

Thanks everyone for the replies. My commute is literally up the mountain west of Purcellville on Rt. 7. Not only do I have to go up the mountain but I have to get across Rt. 7 in the rush hour. Hairy enough in a car in the fog - on a bike I'd just be a bump in the road to some driver in a pickup truck.

Its so beautiful out here; I am really excited about getting out and riding in the warmer weather. Does anyone have any recommendations (or the opposite) of e-bike stores in the DC area? There doesn't seem to be many.

 

[christob]

Spokes Etc carries a few lines of ebikes, but only mid drives I believe, so you wouldn't be able to compare with hub drives.
I grew up in Bluemont for a few years of my childhood, with a year (or maybe two... can't remember) at Round Hill Elementary... just beautiful out there!

 

[Dewey]

Lovely view from the Bluemont Vineyard, followed by ice cream on a hot day at the Bluemont Country store.

Some DC area ebike shops are listed on the Reddit ebikes wiki https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/wiki/ebike_friendly_shops, but two shops near you in Leesburg are Spokes Etc for Trek or Specialized, and Bicycle Outfitters can supply Giant or Trek.

 

[KurtW]

Thanks for the info!

 

[bonefish101]

Hi all, I'd like to add my 2c and leave a comment, I'm a new member, also in Virginia. I live out in Stephens City, lots of great country roads and open countryside out this way if anyone ever wants to come ride. I just ordered an M2S R750, should be here by the end of March and just in time for spring! Are there any NOVA e-bike groups that anyone would recommend? There's a cycling club out here but from what I've heard, e-bike riders are frowned upon...
Anyway, happy to be here, this seems like a great forum.

 

[christob]

Welcome aboard @bonefish101 ! While I am quite a healthy distance away in Arlington Virginia, my dad and stepmom live in Lake Frederick near you. They have an electric bike of some nameless variety, which sadly I don’t think either of them ride anymore… And yes, it is very pretty out there with rolling country roads etc. I’m afraid I don’t know of any clubs or biking social network in that area, myself, but only cuz I don’t know the area well...