No worries, I figured you were asking me
To a degree, yes I did feel Kozy's lived up to some of their bad rep, I walked up to their eBike section and no one was there, it was actually dark, luckily the eBike floor (yes it is a full floor
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
) had motion sensor lights so it all got lit up when I started walking around, but I used to work in downtown Hotels as well as used to work mainly IT helpdesk, still help out the helpdesk from time to time, so I have a high patience tolerance haha. So I just went to front desk and asked for help with an eBike, they linked me up with George who was very helpful. He also mentioned that the milwaukee location for now is the goto for eBikes at least for the kozy chain of stores, he said if any help with maintenance or fixing etc from the other kozy shops they would just send them to the milwaukee location. And once I showed I was serious (meaning I took the credit card out
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
) they got even more accommodating, I say it in jest, they were fine even before that. But they were very helpful moving forward after the down payment, I got a floor model and it had to be setup, tested, etc before they gave it to me. This convo actually reminded me there was an issue with my EZ Pedaler X350 where the display was totally wrong, it was displaying in kilometers per hour instead of MPH and was totally jacked up, it was saying the eBike was going 50kph when it was barely moving lol but kozy's staff worked with EZ Pedaler to resolve the issue and I was pleased with their service on that, I was actually still in talks with Kozy's staff as well as EZ Pedaler post buying it, asking questions etc since I am new to the eBike scene and both parties were very prompt and helpful returning my emails (EZ Pedaler owner Dick himself replied). That I really appreciated even after they got my money
I never heard about that violation from an IL DNR, but if you are worried about it, just carry a printed out copy of Federal and local eBike laws (some cops don't want to see anything if you show them on your phone, they want an actual print out lol), to show the DNR or any officials for that matter. I consider myself more knowledgeable than the average joe when it comes to tech and I had little to no knowledge about eBikes till recently, so would not shock me that many officials are not up to date on the laws.
Don't know of any local eBike hipster hangouts lol but whenever I cruise my eBike in wicker park, bucktown, logan square, etc I get hispters yelling at me "nice eBike bro!!!" haha rather than a lot of the city where they are curious what kind of contraption I am riding without pedaling hehe
What eBike do you currently own
@bob armani ? I'm curious what your experience is riding in Chicago with an eBike hehe. Always nice to hear from another Chicago eBiker!
Take care, ride safe!
Marc V