Ok, so I admit I’m in my 60s, but I practice yoga regularly, often walk 5 miles, bike 10 miles, and last year I took a bike trip in Italy, so I’m pretty fit. I’ve never owned an E-Bike, but I did ride one for a week in Italy on my trip and it was a game changer. My boyfriend has an E-Bike and I’m getting frustrated biking with him, as I obviously can’t keep up! I would like to get an E-Bike but the more research I do, the more confused I get.
Here are some of my questions:
1) folding or not folding? My preference is folding because my bf lives in NYC and loves riding along the river and I’d like to be able to put the bike in the car to join him. From my research I have determined that I would prefer 20” wheels, not 16”. My purpose for the bike is purely recreational, not commuting, so I am looking for comfort. However, even the 20” folding bikes I have looked into don’t seem to be so comfortable. I also read one review that said with the low step through bikes, she couldn’t stop the bike to take a photo because the bike would just fall down (because the bar on the bike was so low). On the other hand, the step through apppeals to me because I am short.
2) size: I’m only 5’0” so I need the bike to be small enough to be comfortable, but also large enough to be comfortable.
3) weight: I found a couple that looked interesting, such as the Tern and and Blix Vika+, but either I’m too short or the bike is too heavy. I’m trying to find something 30 lbs or lighter. Most of the small, light ones have 16”:wheels and I don’t think that would be comfortable enough for long rides. The Vika + has 20” wheels but it’s 56 lbs! I am thinking about the Bike Friday New Tourist, Which also has 20” wheels, but I’m concerned that it looks something like a clown car and I would want to test it first. Not easy, since I live in NY.
4) test ride, seeing bike in person: I live on Long Island in NY and there are pretty much no E-Bike stores here. Some of the bikes I am interested in are built elsewhere. Are people just buying these from internet research sight unseen, without test riding? There are a few stores in NYC but I’m not sure they have the models I am interested in.
It seems from what I’ve seen that most of these bikes are geared toward men..too big and heavy for older short women like me
! Any helpwould be appreciated! I’d like to keep the price under $2k, but would be willing to go as high as $3k if I could find the perfect bike!
Here are some of my questions:
1) folding or not folding? My preference is folding because my bf lives in NYC and loves riding along the river and I’d like to be able to put the bike in the car to join him. From my research I have determined that I would prefer 20” wheels, not 16”. My purpose for the bike is purely recreational, not commuting, so I am looking for comfort. However, even the 20” folding bikes I have looked into don’t seem to be so comfortable. I also read one review that said with the low step through bikes, she couldn’t stop the bike to take a photo because the bike would just fall down (because the bar on the bike was so low). On the other hand, the step through apppeals to me because I am short.
2) size: I’m only 5’0” so I need the bike to be small enough to be comfortable, but also large enough to be comfortable.
3) weight: I found a couple that looked interesting, such as the Tern and and Blix Vika+, but either I’m too short or the bike is too heavy. I’m trying to find something 30 lbs or lighter. Most of the small, light ones have 16”:wheels and I don’t think that would be comfortable enough for long rides. The Vika + has 20” wheels but it’s 56 lbs! I am thinking about the Bike Friday New Tourist, Which also has 20” wheels, but I’m concerned that it looks something like a clown car and I would want to test it first. Not easy, since I live in NY.
4) test ride, seeing bike in person: I live on Long Island in NY and there are pretty much no E-Bike stores here. Some of the bikes I am interested in are built elsewhere. Are people just buying these from internet research sight unseen, without test riding? There are a few stores in NYC but I’m not sure they have the models I am interested in.
It seems from what I’ve seen that most of these bikes are geared toward men..too big and heavy for older short women like me
! Any helpwould be appreciated! I’d like to keep the price under $2k, but would be willing to go as high as $3k if I could find the perfect bike!
