No, all good thanks Browneye. I can still see the post which you replied toWeird huh? She must have went to delete the quote with no reply and deleted the wrong one.
I can take the quote code off and then you can quote it.
Thank you so much for the details. Need to grow taller I guess! LoL
QUOTE=GitaM, post:
Thank you again everyone. I’ve read all the comments. Summary of learning followed by questions are at the bottom.
I will definitely visit the shops and test many as recommended.
1/ I only plan to ride in the city with short hills at leisure speeds and say max 2 hours of riding. I am 5’ 5”. About 165 lbs. Will buy Straight up comfort style step through frame with wider saddle (preferably seat post suspension).
A perfect candidate for a RadCity.
2/ Belt is better than chain (lower mtce which i would definitely appreciate)
Chain is light, cheap, and simple. It's just the way we've always done it. LOL
3/ Mid-drive would be better (lighter, has gears). If going for hub motor (reliable, powerful, Low mtce) I should go for gearless motor and at least 500 watts
RadCity again...
4/ Should get suspension (full on both wheels if possible) and hydraulic disc breaks.
Less important than balloon tires and a suspension seat.
5/ Wheel size: regular not fat tires since city riding
2-3 inch is fine. Some of the mid-drive premium bikes have smallish tires, some are bigger. They are easy to change out to whatever you want. A good dealer will even do this for you, or change out a saddle if it's not comfy.
6/ Torque sensing type of throttle would be good.
It means the more you press on the pedals the more assist it gives. Without it, the crank sensor just turns on the drive motor if you're pedaling. You need to ride both and decide for yourself.
7/ Stretch cargo model will allow for cargo. Dont think I need this. Available brands: Rad, Yoba, Xtra cycle, Pedego, Red wagon, Reid’s & Muller
These handle like a bloody tank. The 'fun factor' is missing, and they are very cumbersome.
8/ Recommended bikes so far: Giant La Free E+1, Electra Townie Go 7D model <14-34 cassett for hills)
These are like 'beach-cruisers' - make sure you understand the difference. Some like them, some like something sportier.
9/ Recommend to go with top 3: Giant (LIV line), Specialized, or Trek
These are the top of the heap. Everyone else compares themselves to these guys. The best thing is their dealer support and warranty coverage. They stand behind their product - if it breaks they fix it, even if it means replacing the whole bike.
10/ Recommended Stores: LBS, Cit-e-Cycles,
Can't help ya there.
QUESTION: Given the above, any other recommendations??
QUOTE
My answers in red^^^^^
How many have you test ridden??? That is step number one. Good luck and let us know what you find.
Quick steering modern 26" bikes have thrown me on my chin 5 times. Last time I broke it. I hit bump, ridge or stick, fork whips sideways, over the handlebars. Fork with more trail cannot be bought, lawyers of USA prevent innovation. Cargo bike hasn't thrown me yet, has my weight on front tire.
I would not classify the La Free as a beach cruiser. I ride on paved roads mostly, but have also done some hard packed dirt with no problem.QUOTE=GitaM, post:
Thank you again everyone. I’ve read all the comments. Summary of learning followed by questions are at the bottom.
I will definitely visit the shops and test many as recommended.
1/ I only plan to ride in the city with short hills at leisure speeds and say max 2 hours of riding. I am 5’ 5”. About 165 lbs. Will buy Straight up comfort style step through frame with wider saddle (preferably seat post suspension).
A perfect candidate for a RadCity.
2/ Belt is better than chain (lower mtce which i would definitely appreciate)
Chain is light, cheap, and simple. It's just the way we've always done it. LOL
3/ Mid-drive would be better (lighter, has gears). If going for hub motor (reliable, powerful, Low mtce) I should go for gearless motor and at least 500 watts
RadCity again...
4/ Should get suspension (full on both wheels if possible) and hydraulic disc breaks.
Less important than balloon tires and a suspension seat.
5/ Wheel size: regular not fat tires since city riding
2-3 inch is fine. Some of the mid-drive premium bikes have smallish tires, some are bigger. They are easy to change out to whatever you want. A good dealer will even do this for you, or change out a saddle if it's not comfy.
6/ Torque sensing type of throttle would be good.
It means the more you press on the pedals the more assist it gives. Without it, the crank sensor just turns on the drive motor if you're pedaling. You need to ride both and decide for yourself.
7/ Stretch cargo model will allow for cargo. Dont think I need this. Available brands: Rad, Yoba, Xtra cycle, Pedego, Red wagon, Reid’s & Muller
These handle like a bloody tank. The 'fun factor' is missing, and they are very cumbersome.
8/ Recommended bikes so far: Giant La Free E+1, Electra Townie Go 7D model <14-34 cassett for hills)
These are like 'beach-cruisers' - make sure you understand the difference. Some like them, some like something sportier.
9/ Recommend to go with top 3: Giant (LIV line), Specialized, or Trek
These are the top of the heap. Everyone else compares themselves to these guys. The best thing is their dealer support and warranty coverage. They stand behind their product - if it breaks they fix it, even if it means replacing the whole bike.
10/ Recommended Stores: LBS, Cit-e-Cycles,
Can't help ya there.
QUESTION: Given the above, any other recommendations??
QUOTE
My answers in red^^^^^
How many have you test ridden??? That is step number one. Good luck and let us know what you find.
I didn’t delete anything.Weird huh? She must have went to delete the quote with no reply and deleted the wrong one.
I can take the quote code off and then you can quote it.
THIS! Too often we seem to somehow want our purchase to be the best choice and answer with a single choice ours..
Will seriously raise the price,
Silly recommendation. I have them all and very much like them all. I sold my mid-drive motors in favor of Gear Driven.
Wider tires make for a nice ride 2.25" - 2.5" are nicer than the typical 1.95"
Throttle doesn't give you torque sensing. I'm an old gimp and find PAS pedal assist and an active throttle important. I road out to far a couple of times and was able to use the throttle and get home without pedaling
For what it's worth, if you had a favorite bike that you really like the world's (YES) best kit shop is near you. Ebikes.ca a premier reseller of ebike kits and batteriesMuch thanks for all the points.
