Hi From Ohio!

[gonyere]

So, I'm from Eastern Ohio, and have been interested in e-bikes for a long time, but also, very skeptical. My dads been big into bicycles for many years, as he commuted 7-10 miles each way into work for years. I quit driving a couple of years ago due to epilepsy, and have taken up riding my bike since then, and gotten my kids into riding some too. But riding into town (that same 7 miles), with around 1200' of climbing each way, is quite a work out. A couple of weeks ago now, he drove me over to finally actually try out an e-bike at E-Bikes of Holmes County, and I was hooked. A few days later, after trying out several others, he bought me a Magnum Metro LS as an early Christmas/birthday present. I've put just shy on 200 miles on it since then, and am absolutely in love... after being more or less 'stuck' here for the last couple of years, being mobile and able to leave at will is absolutely amazing. Yesterday, I rode all the way into the nearest city and back (42+ miles round trip), which was awesome. I'm now hoping to get a couple of folding e-bikes for my boys (12.5 & 10) in the spring so that they too can become mobile and get around.

 

[Mtl_Biker]

So, I'm from Eastern Ohio, and have been interested in e-bikes for a long time, but also, very skeptical. My dads been big into bicycles for many years, as he commuted 7-10 miles each way into work for years. I quit driving a couple of years ago due to epilepsy, and have taken up riding my bike since then, and gotten my kids into riding some too. But riding into town (that same 7 miles), with around 1200' of climbing each way, is quite a work out. A couple of weeks ago now, he drove me over to finally actually try out an e-bike at E-Bikes of Holmes County, and I was hooked. A few days later, after trying out several others, he bought me a Magnum Metro LS as an early Christmas/birthday present. I've put just shy on 200 miles on it since then, and am absolutely in love... after being more or less 'stuck' here for the last couple of years, being mobile and able to leave at will is absolutely amazing. Yesterday, I rode all the way into the nearest city and back (42+ miles round trip), which was awesome. I'm now hoping to get a couple of folding e-bikes for my boys (12.5 & 10) in the spring so that they too can become mobile and get around.

Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of e-biking!

That 42+ mile ride is pretty cool... did you have any battery power left when you got back? Looks like a pretty neat bike!

Ride safe!

 

[indianajo]

Welcome to the site. Glad electricity has increased your mobility without the risks of an auto.
When I was 12, the parents cut me loose from neighborhood restriction and I had about a 10 mile (one way) range pedal powered. My brother with a 10 speed bike took it to about 20 miles at that age. If the boys are not disabled, I'd let the them build up their strength naturally. No knee problems in the teens; as long as they are watching traffic and following the rules I wouldn't worry. Boys these days have electronic adventures or try out the drugs. My brother & I explored the city of Houston, that was our adventure. There was no "Mom's taxi", we were expected to get to our appointments by bus, bike, or foot. Both of us had summer/weekend jobs by age 11, me in a boat shop then at 16 in a factory, him helping a carpenter then later roofing.
Full face helmets protect the chin from rips & breakage. I've hit my chin on pavement age 11, 58, 60, 62 & 67. Needed stitches twice & broke it once. Never hit the back top or side of my head. Now I ride a Fox Rampage helmet from competitive cycle.

 

[gonyere]

Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of e-biking!

That 42+ mile ride is pretty cool... did you have any battery power left when you got back? Looks like a pretty neat bike!

I still had 2 bars left when I got home and was at around 46.7-8volts on the BMS, so I wasn't worried. On the way in, I took it pretty easy and stayed in PAS 2 for a good bit, before eventually bumping it up to PAS 3. Rode PAS 3 and 4 on the way back. I don't use my throttle much at all, though I did use it for a good stretch flying past one dog who chased me and scared the crap out of me and made me really wish I had some mace (and for which, I nearly detoured a mile on the way back to Dollar General... if I'd thought about in the city I'd have totally dropped down to Walmart, but totally forgot till I was nearly back and then just didn't feel like making the detour. But was very thankful for my throttle!). I've never ridden anywhere nearly that far on a bike before, and was pretty happy I made it so easily and quickly (about an hour and 15-20 minutes each way - takes around 30 minutes to drive there in a car, for reference).

While I know my boys can ride into town and to visit friends (and they have done so with me over the past couple of summers occasionally), it is quite a work out, and takes a long time to do so. And, due to my not driving, it makes bike riding an impractical mode of basic transportation for them for after school activities, riding to school, etc. I'm sure they *could* ride to school, and it *would* cut down on their commute /some/, particularly in the afternoons, but it would also just be a lot of commitment. An e-bike would simply make it an easy choice - and make them able to participate in an after school sport, and other activities. As it is now, finding rides for them is a constant problem for any activities they want to do. (My husbands a firefighter and works two jobs - so he's just gone a lot.) So, while I understand a normal bike /seems/ like it should be sufficient for kids to get around on, when your parent(s) simply cannot drive you to sports practices/games/school stuff its just a little different... does that make sense?

 

[Marci jo]

So, I'm from Eastern Ohio, and have been interested in e-bikes for a long time, but also, very skeptical. My dads been big into bicycles for many years, as he commuted 7-10 miles each way into work for years. I quit driving a couple of years ago due to epilepsy, and have taken up riding my bike since then, and gotten my kids into riding some too. But riding into town (that same 7 miles), with around 1200' of climbing each way, is quite a work out. A couple of weeks ago now, he drove me over to finally actually try out an e-bike at E-Bikes of Holmes County, and I was hooked. A few days later, after trying out several others, he bought me a Magnum Metro LS as an early Christmas/birthday present. I've put just shy on 200 miles on it since then, and am absolutely in love... after being more or less 'stuck' here for the last couple of years, being mobile and able to leave at will is absolutely amazing. Yesterday, I rode all the way into the nearest city and back (42+ miles round trip), which was awesome. I'm now hoping to get a couple of folding e-bikes for my boys (12.5 & 10) in the spring so that they too can become mobile and get around.

Congrats on you new ebike! Looking forward to a photo.
Ebikes make cycling fun again. Many happy miles.
KUDOS to your Dad!! Great early xmas present.