Need some assistance looking for my first ebike for a varied commute

[Daggaroth]

Hi all,

I am at present living in Port Orchard, WA and commuting to Seattle, WA for work each day by the way of two ferries and a bus. I was hoping to find a potential alternative to the bus and possibly one of my ferries as well and reduce my commuting time as well. I have not been on a bike since I was a kid so I honestly have no idea what is good / bad / overpriced / etc in todays market and I am hoping that the people in this forum that know far more than I in this subject can help me break down my commute and find a few ideal options, or atleast help me figure out what I SHOULD look for and what I should avoid. My commute at present is broken up into a few parts.

Part 1:

4.0 Miles down hill from 335 feet Sea level down to 3 feet sea level to take the foot ferry.

Part 2:

Ferry from Port Orchard to Bremerton

Part 3:

Ferry from Bremerton to Seattle (Kitsap Fast ferry which has vertical bike racks so any bikes would need to be hung.(The current design of the existing bike rack (each with inside openings of 2.25") makes it impossible to safely secure bikes with fenders, disc brakes, or balloon tires. Bicycles that do not fit safely in the bike rack will not be allowed on the vessel) - (pulled from http://www.kitsaptransit.com/service/fast-ferry/bremerton-fast-ferry )

Part 4:

At present bus, but if I were to take a bike it would be another 2.6 - 3.1 miles (depending on route) ranging from 10 feet above sea level to 154 feet sea level.


and then the reverse at the end of the day. Biggest challenge I think in terms of biking terrain would be the hill I live on so while going down will be easy, getting back up I am most likely going to need to rely on the electric motor of the bike to help me up without me falling over or having to walk it up. Weather is also a factor as Seattle is known for its rainy days I don't want a little rain or wind stop me from commuting via bike if possible.


Another challenge is I am a fairly large man. 6 foot 4 inches tall and at present weighing approximately 310 pounds without any gear on (Although dropping this number steadily!). and then I carry another 30 - 40 pounds of stuff with me. so any bike I get would need a minimum 350 pound weight limit.


I am hoping to stay within the realm of 2 - 3k for budget but I will happily push that out more for something high quality that will last. I am a firm believer of paying more up front to get an item that will last me longer than a cheaper product that might require more frequent repairs or maintenance.


Please let me know if I can provide any additional information that might be helpful. I greatly appreciate any assistance or recommendations you can make.

 

[Marci jo]

Congrats on your ebike consideration. What an interesting and beautiful commute! Your part 3 looks like a special challenge, most e bikes I’m aware of come with disc brakes. Many will have tires under 2” but I’m not sure of weight capacity on narrower tires. You are fortunate to live close to a large metro area so I suspect there are many bike stores available. The only suggestion I can offer is to ride as many as possible. The best part of your commute will be at the end of a long work day being able to fly up that last hill to home. Post a photo of your new ebike!!

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Hi all,

I am at present living in Port Orchard, WA and commuting to Seattle, WA for work each day by the way of two ferries and a bus. I was hoping to find a potential alternative to the bus and possibly one of my ferries as well and reduce my commuting time as well. I have not been on a bike since I was a kid so I honestly have no idea what is good / bad / overpriced / etc in todays market and I am hoping that the people in this forum that know far more than I in this subject can help me break down my commute and find a few ideal options, or atleast help me figure out what I SHOULD look for and what I should avoid. My commute at present is broken up into a few parts.

Part 1:

4.0 Miles down hill from 335 feet Sea level down to 3 feet sea level to take the foot ferry.

Part 2:

Ferry from Port Orchard to Bremerton

Part 3:

Ferry from Bremerton to Seattle (Kitsap Fast ferry which has vertical bike racks so any bikes would need to be hung.(The current design of the existing bike rack (each with inside openings of 2.25") makes it impossible to safely secure bikes with fenders, disc brakes, or balloon tires. Bicycles that do not fit safely in the bike rack will not be allowed on the vessel) - (pulled from http://www.kitsaptransit.com/service/fast-ferry/bremerton-fast-ferry )

Part 4:

At present bus, but if I were to take a bike it would be another 2.6 - 3.1 miles (depending on route) ranging from 10 feet above sea level to 154 feet sea level.


and then the reverse at the end of the day. Biggest challenge I think in terms of biking terrain would be the hill I live on so while going down will be easy, getting back up I am most likely going to need to rely on the electric motor of the bike to help me up without me falling over or having to walk it up. Weather is also a factor as Seattle is known for its rainy days I don't want a little rain or wind stop me from commuting via bike if possible.


Another challenge is I am a fairly large man. 6 foot 4 inches tall and at present weighing approximately 310 pounds without any gear on (Although dropping this number steadily!). and then I carry another 30 - 40 pounds of stuff with me. so any bike I get would need a minimum 350 pound weight limit.


I am hoping to stay within the realm of 2 - 3k for budget but I will happily push that out more for something high quality that will last. I am a firm believer of paying more up front to get an item that will last me longer than a cheaper product that might require more frequent repairs or maintenance.


Please let me know if I can provide any additional information that might be helpful. I greatly appreciate any assistance or recommendations you can make.

The best way to understand what bike, motor system works best for you is to test ride some bikes.
I suggest you visit G&O Family Cyclery, they are a great team that specializes in commute and cargo ebikes: https://familycyclery.com/

You could also visit Splendid cycles or others in the area. Considering your height and weight, you may need a powerful system yet that has to fit with your commute criterion. The only way to know is to rent a bike for a day and see how you like it, the pro's and con's.

 

[christob]

Have you studied the bike racks closely on one of your ferry rides, to see just how the hardware holds the bikes? (ie, would disc brakes truly be an obstacle, or is it more the width of the tire on the wheel, etc.) I can't imagine you wouldn't find at least one ebike already being shuttled on that commute, perhaps, to get a sense of what fits into the rack in reality, vs. the written description...?
I started my ebiking a year ago, at 6'2", 303 pounds, plus probably an additional ~20 pounds of accessories/carried stuff... I ran into a mysterious electrical problem on that bike a few months in (that bike was subsequently replaced by the manufacturer) -- they never entirely pinned down if they thought perhaps the extra weight in the early months was a contributor -- They continually said "We don't think so."
I've lost 61 since then (with the biking being my principal form of exercise) I'm happy to report!
So certainly keep the bike's rated "loaded weight limit" in mind as you inquire on test rides, at shops, etc.
I'm afraid I don't have any specific brand or model experiences to pass along to you, however; my mind was made up, and I test rode just a few others a year ago, which didn't sway me enough to alter my preset decision... Even though that meant I was buying my bike unseen, unridden!

EDIT: Oops -- according to that ferry link you sent, ebikes are prohibited
"If you would like to test the bike rack and see if your bicycle fits, you may do so using the bike testing rack located on the Bremerton Dock gangway. Chaining your bicycle to the rail of the vessel is prohibited. Vessel weight restrictions also prohibit electric bikes."

 

[Daggaroth]

Have you studied the bike racks closely on one of your ferry rides, to see just how the hardware holds the bikes? (ie, would disc brakes truly be an obstacle, or is it more the width of the tire on the wheel, etc.) I can't imagine you wouldn't find at least one ebike already being shuttled on that commute, perhaps, to get a sense of what fits into the rack in reality, vs. the written description...?
I started my ebiking a year ago, at 6'2", 303 pounds, plus probably an additional ~20 pounds of accessories/carried stuff... I ran into a mysterious electrical problem on that bike a few months in (that bike was subsequently replaced by the manufacturer) -- they never entirely pinned down if they thought perhaps the extra weight in the early months was a contributor -- They continually said "We don't think so."
I've lost 61 since then (with the biking being my principal form of exercise) I'm happy to report!
So certainly keep the bike's rated "loaded weight limit" in mind as you inquire on test rides, at shops, etc.
I'm afraid I don't have any specific brand or model experiences to pass along to you, however; my mind was made up, and I test rode just a few others a year ago, which didn't sway me enough to alter my preset decision... Even though that meant I was buying my bike unseen, unridden!

EDIT: Oops -- according to that ferry link you sent, ebikes are prohibited
"If you would like to test the bike rack and see if your bicycle fits, you may do so using the bike testing rack located on the Bremerton Dock gangway. Chaining your bicycle to the rail of the vessel is prohibited. Vessel weight restrictions also prohibit electric bikes."

I've seen a few people bring ebikes on so I don't think that rule is strictly enforced. Although I wouldn't want anything that would rip the mount off the ship. I could alternatively take the slow ferry which has no such restrictions if I can make the time up from taking the longer ferry in getting to work via bike instead of bus.

here are a few pictures of the bike mounts. if that might give a better idea:

https://1p40p3gwj70rhpc423s8rzjaz-w...p-content/uploads/2017/07/bicycleRacksRP1.png

https://1p40p3gwj70rhpc423s8rzjaz-w...m/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/mountedBike1.png

 

[christob]

I've seen a few people bring ebikes on so I don't think that rule is strictly enforced. Although I wouldn't want anything that would rip the mount off the ship. I could alternatively take the slow ferry which has no such restrictions if I can make the time up from taking the longer ferry in getting to work via bike instead of bus.
here are a few pictures of the bike mounts. if that might give a better idea:

https://1p40p3gwj70rhpc423s8rzjaz-w...p-content/uploads/2017/07/bicycleRacksRP1.png
https://1p40p3gwj70rhpc423s8rzjaz-w...m/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/mountedBike1.png

Interesting -- It looks like it could come down to wheel diameter, as to whether the rack would truly come into conflict with disc brake hardware.. a wider diameter tire placing the disc further from the diagonal edge of the metal rack... If you get a chance to test ride some, it would be good to go try the "sample rack" at the dock they mention, just to know in advance if the tested bike will fail in the rack.

EDIT: the guy in the back of your 2nd photo doesn't appear to have caliper brakes on his front wheel -- so either no front brakes at all, or else he has front disc brakes (just out of frame of the pic) -- interesting!

 

[JRA]

Interesting handlebars on that Cannondale in the second pic.

Electric and Folding bikes in Ballard has been there forever and might be a good reference also. Good luck with your search, there is something out there that will work for you!

 

[ebikemom]

I vote for the slow ferry!

In terms of getting up the hill back home, what is the grade percentage? Up to 14% presents no problem for most ebikes. I go up much steeper grades also, but with less load.

I suggest you visit ebike stores where you can try different bikes and ask them about your hill. Methinks they might recommend a cargo bike for you. Wheels are a bit smaller so that gives more ooomph on the hills, and of course the motors and such are stronger. I think a Class 2 bike would best fit your needs, in case you need to stop and re-start on a hill.

So, my best advice is to test ride, test ride, test ride! Maybe you can make a little weekend of it, get an air bnb in Seattle or a suburb, and spend the weekend having fun test riding?

Happy shopping!