New member from Detroit Metro area

[Stromer2work]

Hello,

I've been a cycling enthusiast since my early teens. I currently mountain bike every day or commute to work. Looking to change jobs and will have a longer commute. I have been eyeballing the Stromer line, and finally pulled the trigger on the ST1X with the gold battery and added a suspension fork and seatpost. Looking forward to the growing community of eBikes.

Also love the work that Cory has done on his website and youtube.

Bill.

 

[Over50]

Excellent. Another Metro Detroit e-bike commuter. I'm hoping the community grows. Where are you commuting? I'm commuting Royal Oak to downtown Detroit on a Haibike and a Riese and Muller - about 2 to 3 times per week. If I see a Stromer with suspension I'll assume its you and say hi.

Just curious since I don't think we have any Stromer dealers locally: who did you choose to order your bike from?

 

[Stromer2work]

Hey there Over50. I to am in just into my 50's this month. Glad to hear I have company in the metro area haha. I will be commuting from 29/mound to Hall Rd and VanDyke. The path I plan to take is 13.5 miles one way and would take over an hour at average normal human speeds with luggage as I normally would ride a mt bike and not a fast road bike in this situation. I could do that commute without battery assist, however, I do plan to ride during dry winter, and inclimate wet weather with baggage, so I prefer the battery assist and to not be exhausted and overly sweaty when I arrive at work. When I lived in Grosse Pointe in my 30's, I commuted daily, even in the snowy winter, to my job in St Clair Shores. Right now I'm in Gainsville FL and commuting to work on a bike or driving to work so I can hit the trails after work 7 days a week. I got a job offer in my home state of Michigan days before I accepted a new assignment here in FL 6 weeks ago. I decided FL isn't for me, and I'm moving back to Michigan after 6 weeks here in FL.

I ordered from a well known place in Wisconsin having it shipped to my house in Michigan.

I assume you're familiar with the three eBike bills that just passed the Michigan state government legislature last month? Unlike all the elitists who say eBikes have no future and no place other than on the road, I disagree. My mother is into her 70's and enjoys cycling but has hard times getting up hills and with distance keeping up with her kids and grand kids. I also have a girlfriend who has Asthma issues every now and again and I prefer we ride together, so I ride a human powered fat tire mountain bike (makes me slower), and I intend on getting her a small battery assist for bad Asthma days so she can keep up. And then there's me who would prefer there's one less car on the road and who enjoys doing what I can to better my health, who is fanatical about cycling, and to support different solutions to issues.

 

[Over50]

...I will be commuting from 29/mound to Hall Rd and VanDyke. The path I plan to take is 13.5 miles one way and would take over an hour at average normal human speeds with luggage as I normally would ride a mt bike and not a fast road bike in this situation...

I'm a Texas transplant so there is still a lot of the metro Detroit area I don't know too well. But I've been up your way a number of times and it seems that Hall Rd area is really busy and high traffic. Do you have bike paths up there or are you able to ride on some trails?

Well maybe we'll have to get together sometime for a weekend ride since we commute in different areas and opposite directions. But I bet I can't keep up with that Stromer .

There's a lot of new bike infrastructure around the Cass Corridor into and out of downtown and along my commute. The new lanes combined with street resurfacing has really improved my commute in a short period of time (just started this experiment in February). I'm wondering if any of the other metro Detroit suburbs have been adding any bike lanes/trails so I'd be interested to hear what kind of infrastructure you have for your commute.

 

[Stromer2work]

Texas, awesome. I moved to ATX from Grosse Pointe in 2007 and moved back in 2016 because my job dried up due to government over-regulation and other economic factors. There's a non-bike path route which are more direct, but I'm going to do the "mostly" bike path route, knowing that the legislature is legalizing Class1, 2, and 3 eBikes on paved trails. I have a couple or three sketchy intersections or roads to navigate thru but what can be done? I'll take it easy and won't scare any pedestrians or other cyclists, as well as signaling when passing but crank hard as I can on the lone stretches. I doubt I'll see any significant traffic on the trails on the way in (6am) except maybe for some early runners, but the way back could have some traffic, especially in the prime weather months.

When I commuted by Mt. Bike back in early 2000 from GPF to SCS, it was all city streets and sidewalks with no bike lanes. ATX was a short 5 mile ride from my house to my office with a large shoulder on Parmer Ln, but traffic was going 50 ~ 65 MPH and I didn't like that. We shall see what this new commute holds for me. It's good to see that Detroit is adding infastructure. The infastructure here in Gainesville FL is incredible, I just don't like the weather and there's many other personal reasons for wanting to come back to MI like family, friends, a home that didn't sell this fall, etc.

Yes we should get together sometime. Also for human powered Mt Biking on the many great state parks and metro parks.

 

[Over50]

Hi Stromer2work - did you get your Stromer yet?

I posted some commute video from last Friday. Should show you a bit of downtown and Cass Corridor infrastructure:

 

[Stromer2work]

Got a call mid last week, it's in final assembly, perhaps even in transit. The suspension fork delayed shipment some. Awesome video, lots of pedaling. People who claim that ebikes are no different from mopeds or motorcycles or golf carts have no clue.

 

[Over50]

Got a call mid last week, it's in final assembly, perhaps even in transit. The suspension fork delayed shipment some. Awesome video, lots of pedaling. People who claim that ebikes are no different from mopeds or motorcycles or golf carts have no clue.

I'm sure you are eager to get it and I'm eager to see some pictures and read some ride reports.

I heard some encouraging news on the way home from work. I selfishly have to hope that Mayor Duggan gets reelected. This would be huge for my commute if it ever comes to pass. I would have a full 60% of my commute via greenway/bike path:

http://www.freep.com/story/news/col...detroit-greenway-project-joe-louis/792102001/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...ooks-to-name-greenway-project-after-joe-louis