I'm considering an ebike for my 12.5 mile commute in suburban NJ.

[karen1]

I'm thinking it would force moderate aerobic exercise on a regular basis, plus use less energy than my little Yaris. There are issues: a hill with a 15% grade that ends at traffic light on a local highway, RT 22; some congested areas on a local road that passes over a large highway, RT 287; and a husband that's worried that I'll be hurt in a traffic accident. There are very few people who commute on bikes around here, and some drivers are not very polite. I'll need to carry a back pack with a laptop.

There is a Trek store in my town, but their bikes are a bit pricey. Mid-priced bikes don't seem to be very available around here. I'd need something reliable, relatively safe, and 30 mile minimum range that includes a lot of assistance getting up that big hill. Speed and appearance are not important. I'm a leggy 5'6" and 150lbs, my pack weighs about 15 lbs. I'm fairly technical and handy, but I know nothing about ebikes.

 

[Citycrosser]

I commute in Westchester NY and have similar conditions (and drivers). My Magnum Metro+ has been pretty good and meets your range requirements (I can do about 30 miles on max assist and average about 24 mph). However, it's a big bike. Perhaps one of the juiced bikes? The CrossCurrent S and X both come in a medium frame size that should fit you well and can definitely handle your range. However, if you want a local bike shop (LBS), perhaps that's not a great solution. Should a part fail, Juiced will send you parts under warranty but you'd need to change them out. With an LBS, they'll replace the parts for you under warranty. Sleek Rides in Tarrytown took care of me when my Magnum had some issues.

 

[ebikemom]

Welcome to the forum! Keep in mind that Lithium Ion batteries lose capacity over time, so make sure that you get enough range that even when it starts to lose capacity it will still take you where you need to go.

I love commuting on my ebike. YES, great moderate exercise on a regular basis. Before ebiking I really didn't get any regular exercise. Now, I have my 45-50 minute, 12-13 mile, commute each way. With weather considerations (I don't want to ride on ice), I don't commute daily, but some weeks it is daily, other weeks it's a couple of times a week, some weeks not at all, but the weather is improving so I'm thinking I'll be out there more! I have 2700 miles on my ebike since late April 2018. It's in the shop at the moment with a few little things--warranty work. Great to have that local shop support.

 

[6zfshdb]

The best advice I can offer is to visit as many bike shops as possible and test ride as many bikes as you can. Find one that feels comfortable to you. Even if you don't buy there, the LBS is an excellent place to ask questions and learn about ebikes.

Most bikes on the market will give you a 30 mile range with little or no pedaling. As ebikemom suggests, it's always a good idea to allow a 20 to 30% margin to account for battery age. Your ability to charge the battery while at work is another factor.

The 15% grade you mention may also be a concern. If the hill is a long one, a bike with a rear hub motor may not be the best choice. The hub motor will consume a lot of power and you may have to provide a considerable amount of pedal assist. A mid drive allows the motor to take advantage of lower gears and requires less pedal effort on steep hills.

Rather than a back pack, I recommend a rear bike rack with a tail bag and maybe a set of panniers to carry your gear. Let the bike carry the weight, not your shoulders. There are a lot of bag options and many have shoulder straps for easy carrying.

Security is something else to consider. Is there secure place to park your bike at work? Can you bring the bike inside? A good quality lock might be worth a look.

I worked in South Plainfield, NJ. for many years and I can understand your husbands concern for your safety. The traffic in north central NJ is often a nightmare. For safety sake, wear light colored clothing and use strobe lights front and rear!

In any case, welcome to the forum! You've found an excellent source of information and a great place to ask questions!

 

[karen1]

I commute in Westchester NY and have similar conditions (and drivers). My Magnum Metro+ has been pretty good and meets your range requirements (I can do about 30 miles on max assist and average about 24 mph). However, it's a big bike. Perhaps one of the juiced bikes? The CrossCurrent S and X both come in a medium frame size that should fit you well and can definitely handle your range. However, if you want a local bike shop (LBS), perhaps that's not a great solution. Should a part fail, Juiced will send you parts under warranty but you'd need to change them out. With an LBS, they'll replace the parts for you under warranty. Sleek Rides in Tarrytown took care of me when my Magnum had some issues.

I'll take a look at the Magnum and the Juiced bikes.

 

[karen1]

Welcome to the forum! Keep in mind that Lithium Ion batteries lose capacity over time, so make sure that you get enough range that even when it starts to lose capacity it will still take you where you need to go.

I love commuting on my ebike. YES, great moderate exercise on a regular basis. Before ebiking I really didn't get any regular exercise. Now, I have my 45-50 minute, 12-13 mile, commute each way. With weather considerations (I don't want to ride on ice), I don't commute daily, but some weeks it is daily, other weeks it's a couple of times a week, some weeks not at all, but the weather is improving so I'm thinking I'll be out there more! I have 2700 miles on my ebike since late April 2018. It's in the shop at the moment with a few little things--warranty work. Great to have that local shop support.

I think I would like riding an ebike to work on fine days. A long time ago, when I was a gradual student, my bike and my feet were my only transportation in a mid sized city.

 

[karen1]

The best advice I can offer is to visit as many bike shops as possible and test ride as many bikes as you can. Find one that feels comfortable to you. Even if you don't buy there, the LBS is an excellent place to ask questions and learn about ebikes.

Most bikes on the market will give you a 30 mile range with little or no pedaling. As ebikemom suggests, it's always a good idea to allow a 20 to 30% margin to account for battery age. Your ability to charge the battery while at work is another factor.

The 15% grade you mention may also be a concern. If the hill is a long one, a bike with a rear hub motor may not be the best choice. The hub motor will consume a lot of power and you may have to provide a considerable amount of pedal assist. A mid drive allows the motor to take advantage of lower gears and requires less pedal effort on steep hills.

Rather than a back pack, I recommend a rear bike rack with a tail bag and maybe a set of panniers to carry your gear. Let the bike carry the weight, not your shoulders. There are a lot of bag options and many have shoulder straps for easy carrying.

Security is something else to consider. Is there secure place to park your bike at work? Can you bring the bike inside? A good quality lock might be worth a look.

I worked in South Plainfield, NJ. for many years and I can understand your husbands concern for your safety. The traffic in north central NJ is often a nightmare. For safety sake, wear light colored clothing and use strobe lights front and rear!

In any case, welcome to the forum! You've found an excellent source of information and a great place to ask questions!

Thanks for replying.

I work in South Plainfield and live in Millington, the 15% grade is Warrenville Rd. in Green Brook, about 0.6 miles. I would need a lock; I doubt I would be allowed to bring the bike inside. The intersection where Stelton Rd. goes over 287 is not nice. Crossing 22 could be interesting also.

 

[indianajo]

The 15% grade you mention may also be a concern. If the hill is a long one, a bike with a rear hub motor may not be the best choice. The hub motor will consume a lot of power and you may have to provide a considerable amount of pedal assist. A mid drive allows the motor to take advantage of lower gears and requires less pedal effort on steep hills.

I got up a half mile of steep grade last Tuesday with my 1000 W 48v hub motor. No problem. The gross weight was 240 lb. Cargo bike shown at left. I helped a little by pedaling, but not a lot.
The faster you go with a DD hub motor up hill, the less they heat up.
Spikert Knob road in New Albany IN if somebody wants to look at the grade on a map.

 

[6zfshdb]

I got up a half mile of steep grade last Tuesday with my 1000 W 48v hub motor. No problem. The gross weight was 240 lb. Cargo bike shown at left. I helped a little by pedaling, but not a lot.
The faster you go with a DD hub motor up hill, the less they heat up.
Spikert Knob road in New Albany IN if somebody wants to look at the grade on a map.

It's true that higher wattage motors are better hill climbers. However, there aren't many street legal 1000 W class 1 or 2 bikes on the market. Current NJ law limits wattage to 750. This will certainly limit the OP's choice of bikes since most are in the 250 - 500 watt range.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking hub motors. I have three bikes with 500 W hubs and they serve me well. The only complaint I have is they won't climb the 1.25 mile, 14% grade hill near my house. Either the controller cuts out or I run out of steam pedaling. Since I don't ride from home much and don't encounter many similar situations, this isn't a big deal for me. For someone like the OP who will encounter a 15% grade on a .6 mile hill every day, it's something to think about.

This is of course just my opinion. All the more reason to visit bike shops and talk to the pros.

 

[6zfshdb]

Thanks for replying.

I work in South Plainfield and live in Millington, the 15% grade is Warrenville Rd. in Green Brook, about 0.6 miles. I would need a lock; I doubt I would be allowed to bring the bike inside. The intersection where Stelton Rd. goes over 287 is not nice. Crossing 22 could be interesting also.

I worked at the Verizon training center on Hadley Rd. near Stelton and am very familiar with that Rt 287 intersection. You certainly won't have an easy commute. Do you have the ability to charge your battery at work? If so, it might be worth looking at a safer route even if it's longer. It's been a while since I've been down there though and it might not be possible. Any way you look, it won't be easy getting over 287.