I recently converted a Trek Pure comfort bike using an 8Fun 500 W kit from em3ev. I have ridden this bike more in 3 weeks then in the 5 years prior to conversion. 15 to 30 miles a trip for local errands and to fill the growler. My bride has the same bike in a step through. She has never really used it or has been into bikes. She expressed to me today she wants me to convert hers so we can ride together. I would love to do this, but realistic reflection of her skill set gives me pause. She never could quite get the shifting thing. Not sexist, just her observation and mine too. I did the mid drive because of the killer hill to either side of our house. I could rack up the bikes and take them 2 miles to a rail trail taking the hill out of the equation. Then her bike would perform nicely with a rear or front hub motor, and I could remove the front 3 chainwheel and replace with one giving her 7 speeds using one shifter. Then shifting would not be any issue both with simplifying the gearing and using a hub motor. Which hub motor gives most bang for the buck and front vs. rear? Or perhaps we sell the $500 when new bike at a wicked loss and get her a straight pelalec purpose built bike? Then $1500 becomes a price point we could live with and maybe we could find a left over cruiser style for reasonable money. They seem far and few between. Thinking out loud. Your marriage consuling based on experience welcomed. Cheers.
So, now my bride wants one too
- Thread starter Bud Baker
- Start date
stevenast
Well-Known Member
My marriage advice + bike advice = spend a bit more.
Right now, as of this morning, crazy lenny has a used Haibike advertised for $2450. You could also check around with some other shops for bargain prices. Keep her older bike, you'll still find times to use it, and instead buy something like this because the "shift sensing" will make it a lot easier for her to ride.
Nothing more important than keeping the wife happy!
Right now, as of this morning, crazy lenny has a used Haibike advertised for $2450. You could also check around with some other shops for bargain prices. Keep her older bike, you'll still find times to use it, and instead buy something like this because the "shift sensing" will make it a lot easier for her to ride.
Nothing more important than keeping the wife happy!
NoDTMF
Active Member
Well, after I bought my bike, I had to buy one for the spouse. She sounds exactly like your spouse. I bought her mid-drive class1-pedelec (it was a demo bike) and the Class-1 seems to be the correct answer in that the bike only helps when she pedals. That seems to be the "safest" mode for an inexperienced biker. On flat ground she leaves it in the middle of the gears. I wish she would down shift when stopping, but that doesn't seem to happen. She also doesn't like to go to fast...so the Bosch 15 mph limit isn't an issue.
The good new is she will ride now. We ride into town on the week-ends for breakfast. The ride has a pretty steep gravel-dirt hill, my gps program says between 12-16% over 365 feet. She doesn't like it but she can do it (in both directions), so that's cool.
Her bike is a hardtail step through. I would like to put a suspension post on it. I have a Thrudbuster and that would be fine, but you need 6" of seat height. She puts her seat up about 3". So in endless searching, it seams the only option is the suspension post with the spring in the post, and all of them require a min of 3 inches. Thus lowering the seat for downhill would not be an option. Maybe a springy seat is the way to go(?)
You may want to consider frame geometries and seat heights if you care about seat suspension.
The good new is she will ride now. We ride into town on the week-ends for breakfast. The ride has a pretty steep gravel-dirt hill, my gps program says between 12-16% over 365 feet. She doesn't like it but she can do it (in both directions), so that's cool.
Her bike is a hardtail step through. I would like to put a suspension post on it. I have a Thrudbuster and that would be fine, but you need 6" of seat height. She puts her seat up about 3". So in endless searching, it seams the only option is the suspension post with the spring in the post, and all of them require a min of 3 inches. Thus lowering the seat for downhill would not be an option. Maybe a springy seat is the way to go(?)
You may want to consider frame geometries and seat heights if you care about seat suspension.
Mike Smith
Active Member
Same dilemma. My wife has the same issue with shifting so I would not recommend a mid drive. Rear hub motors work great. My wife found the bike she loved, Raleigh Cameo, seven speeds and only one twist shifter and we converted it with a 350W Bionx kit and she Loves it, total about $1900 with 2014 Bionx kit. I tried to talk her into a pre-built ebike but she found the bike she liked and is very happy with the results. If mama's happy, everyone is happy. If your wife loves her current bike, see if it can be converted, I'd recommend Bionx. Now my wife Loves riding, and thinks she's cool passing me sometimes.
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What I have done is copy Court's information on motor classes such as 1-2 or 3 and motor differences, hub, mid drive etc into my Evermore in a reader view and she is going to read them and then we are going to our LEBS and try a mid and a hub pedlec only and class 2. Then she should be armed with knowledge and comfortable left in making a choice for the conversion of her comfort bike. My goals for riding shouldn't be hers, but I want to make sure the investment will not sit in the garage due to level of frustration with gearing, shifting, or lack of power to climb some hills. Or just the bike thing. Cheers
Mike Smith
Active Member
Ditto. Great advise in any situation dealing with the wife, lol.
Performance Bikes has a 2014 Izip path+ for $1799 right now, $400 off for a very nice commuter type bike. The 2015 is 2500 I think. 48v , nicely put together bike. Only thing I don't like is the rack mounted battery but it looks it would fit on the frame no problem, so I'm planning on doing that if I buy. Looking for the GF too. Mens only model, but not real high stepover.
Mike Smith
Active Member
The Path is a very nice bike, good reviews, and unless you are mountain biking the rear battery is no problem. My wife has no issues with hers. I actually think it looks more stealthy than the tube mounted battery, plus you get a rack and plenty of room for a water bottle. Have you girlfriend look at the Diamondback Lindau EXC at Performance Bike...500w, she'll love the power, very similar to the Path. They might even be able to order the ladies step through izip Path, and then you'd have the same ebikes....how sweet, lol. My wife really liked the Lindau but went with a custom Bionx setup instead (she liked that her bike was purple, lol). PB is not the most knowledgeable ebike store, but you get free shipping and assembly, a 2 year service contract for about $160, plus 10% back in store credit by joining the Team Performance buying club...I waited until they had 20% weekend for club members and got 20% in store credit. The clerk was amazed at how much credit I received, almost $500...I wouldn't be surprised if they change the club rules for ebike purchases sometime soon, but so far so good. I'm very happy with my purchase and service and helpfulness of my local PB store. The prices are very good, the ebikes are very good, and the club credits are icing on the cake. So what's stopping you...get out and ride. And the best part is once you have your ebike, you'll have all those club points to accessorize it or buy more stuff.
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