Large guy looking to be less large...

[Mike P]

Working behind a desk has taken a toll. I'm 6'4" 270 lbs. and want to use an electric bike for my 18 mile round trip commute and start to get back into shape. According to Google Maps my house elevation is 950 feet and work is around 150 feet. So needless to say the challenge is getting home. If you've ever seen the iconic new years day view of the Rose Bowl game with the mountains in the back ground you'll understand some of my commute terrain.

I've used this great site to help with my research. Seems to me the key components are: powerful battery, disk brakes, large frame and comfort. At least for my needs. I also think that the pedal assist and full throttle feature would be of benefit.

The bikes that seem to stand out for me, given my limited online research are: Pedego Classic City Commuter, EZ Motion Neo City and the Currie IZIP E3 Path+.

I would love to hear what Court and others in the community think. BTW, going to a Pedego dealer today to check out CCC in person.

 

[Brambor]

Whichever way you go I would probably opt for an extra charger and extra battery. Leave the charger at work to recharge your battery.

 

[Craig]

Mike, as a fellow heavier rider I bought the E3 Dash for my (smaller) hill climb home - my daily ride is only 1/2 the elevation gain of yours. I liked the balance of the Dash better than the up-high rack mounted batteries in the Pedego/Path+, and when I added a Topeak Explorer rack and Trunkbag EXP I got a pretty nice commuter.

The good news is that I can make it up most any hill with the Dash at PAS4 and pedaling steadily in lowest gear and I'm not in the best shape. The bad news is that you likely will have to pedal to make the climb, but my hill climb home only uses up about 15-20% of my battery/climb. I haven't really used the throttle only capability as the PAS means steadily pedaling can be as easy or hard as you want to make it.

All said you may not need to double up on batteries/charger - I'm charging my battery every 2 days of commuting which for me totals ~13 miles with 800' vertical. In PAS1 on the flat I hardly use any battery at all if I pedal along a bit.

 

[Mike P]

Thanks Brambor and Craig for your input. Good suggestions by you both. Craig I will look into the Dash. I just road tested the Pedigo Interceptor and City Commuter. Both incredible bikes. Interceptor rides like a beach cruiser on steroids. City Commuter different feel. More like how a road bike should feel in my view. Although, a guy my age (smaller build) that was also road testing bought the Interceptor while I was there. Proves there's something for everyone.

My research will continue.

 

[Admin]

Hi Mike, the Interceptor came to mind when I read your initial post, glad you got to test ride it! Given your height I'd aim for something that feels good to ride and not too squished or pedaling will feel uncomfortable. Given Craig's testimonial about having to pedal when climbing those grades it's better to find the correct fit than go for style or specs.

So the Interceptor is large and powerful (sounds like you also liked the beach cruiser style?) I like the Dash balance and it also comes in large but the frame might not be quite as large as the Interceptor. Depending on your budget the Specialized Turbo comes in many sizes, is very powerful and well balanced. It also has regenerative braking and downhill regen which could save your brakes coasting to work. The 2014 model has an upgraded 14 amp hour battery pack (up from 9ah for 2013) and this bike is awesome for larger people. Another guy here in the forums called Brambor has one and he's a bit larger as well. The Stromer ST1 Platinum is similar with a solid frame, high end system and powerful gearless motor.

Do you have any thought to share on style, budget or other factors to help narrow in? Here's some real world feedback from a 260lb rider who got the Turbo (he comments a few times and talks about riding hills as well).

 

[Mike P]

Hi Court,
Thanks for the reply. Btw, you are doing an incredible job on this site and all your reviews. Obviously a labor of love for you.
To answer your questions, I do like the non-mountain bike handle bars(like cruiser style), dual pedal assist and throttle, disk brakes and solid frame. I'd like to keep price under $3000.00. That eliminates your two suggestions, Specialized and Stromer. I was leaning a bit towards the Pedigo City Commuter over the Interceptor. I will ride both again. I'm still going to test ride the Izip line(Dash and Path+). I also see how the fat, slimed tires are a real plus. Have I missed anything?

 

[DashRiprock]

Since your budget is defined, I would see what kind of price you can find up here on the Dash (hint: search is your friend) and spend the rest outfitting it to that level (it won't take long).

 

[Admin]

Hi Court,
Thanks for the reply. Btw, you are doing an incredible job on this site and all your reviews. Obviously a labor of love for you.
To answer your questions, I do like the non-mountain bike handle bars(like cruiser style), dual pedal assist and throttle, disk brakes and solid frame. I'd like to keep price under $3000.00. That eliminates your two suggestions, Specialized and Stromer. I was leaning a bit towards the Pedigo City Commuter over the Interceptor. I will ride both again. I'm still going to test ride the Izip line(Dash and Path+). I also see how the fat, slimed tires are a real plus. Have I missed anything?

I owned a 48 volt City Commuter and used it for commuting to work for about a year and really enjoyed the setup. Eventually I put a Thudbuster on it because the frame is a bit stiffer but the large tires are great and it does have throttle and assist. The neat thing about the new Interceptor is that it offers the same control system (assist and throttle) as the City Commuter but I find it more relaxed due to the Cruiser design. In recent years I've gone towards full suspension ebikes because I ride so much, the extra support goes a long way when you ride every single day and also do some off roading

 

[MarcD]

Mike,

Here is something I have learned that you might want to consider as you ride: the total elevation is less important as to the grade, or steepness of the climb. I rode a Stromer St-1 Platinum and a Specialized Turbo up the same 10 percent-ish grade hill, and the Stromer bogged down. It doesn't like climbing under 8-10mph. The Turbo flew up without a problem. The Platinum has 30Nm of torque which is lower than a lot of 500w direct drive hub motors, which tend to be 40Nm. On another 4% grade both bikes climbed the same.

In other words, there is a tipping point in terms of grade where gravity simply overcomes the available energy and torque of the bike. The E3 Dash is a 40Nm bike, so it would be a bit better than the ST1 Platinum. I think the E3 Path+ is also 40Nm. The E3 Peak is 65Nm center-drive if you are really interested in climbing. Here is a web site that will simplify the grade calculation if you need: http://www.csgnetwork.com/inclinedeclinegradecalc.html

I am in the same situation in a lot of ways (and weighs) of clocking in at 260lbs. When I started cycling last August I was 310lbs. I think e-bike commuting is a great way to get a workout most days. Good luck in your search!

 

[MarcD]

Mike: also found this video on the City Commuter. From NZ, where he climbed 1,500 (not sure if it was ft or meters) and got 45km with energy left.

Looks like it climbs like a champ.

 

[Mike P]

Marc,
Congrats on your increased fitness. Hopefully I can match your results. Your info on climbing various grades is very interesting to me. In reviewing my route luckily most of my climb is gradual. There is one killer grade for about a block. That will definitely eat some battery. Again great info.

 

[Charly Banana]

I am in the same situation in a lot of ways (and weighs) of clocking in at 260lbs. When I started cycling last August I was 310lbs. I think e-bike commuting is a great way to get a workout most days. Good luck in your search!

Congratulations, that is so awesome!
The nice thing about e-bikes is you can get as much of a workout as you want, but when you need a little help or want to take it easier you can. That makes much more fun to ride. For me, the result is I can't wait to get back out and ride some more.