The gym and lack of going.

[sc00ter]

So I discovered that a gym membership isn't working for me. I just can't get motivated for it. So I've decided to resume commuting to work again on a ebike. As some know my commute is 14 miles each way and crosses 3 war zone intersections. My commute is not speed restricted (not that I'd buy a ONYX or a Surron and ride it as a ebike) so 28mph is a option. No hills either. I have totally secure parking at work so theft isn't a concern. So this is my dilemma:

Do I really need 28mph top end? I was totally happy on my single speed RadRunner when doing this commute.

I still don't care for torque sensors. That being said I've never rode a powerful quality one that hit its top end easily (Looking at you slow Shimano Steps.).

Throttle, or the "T" word, is required.

I don't care for phone integration. I like simple and don't care to track my metrics or participate in distance logs.

Of ALL the ebikes I've owned the only one I regret selling is the RadRunner single speed. Cheap, cheerful and bulletproof once you put better tires on it.

I wish I had a reliable Specialized dealership in my area. The only one even remotely close are snobby roadies. Do have a good Trek dealer down the road but I know nothing about their ebike models.

I'm happy with 20" but do agree that 26" or taller are just better for commuting.

Finally, step-thru only. I recently replaced my low step Genuine Buddy scooter for a mid-step Honda PCX. Not willing to do this with a ebike.

Toss any ideas or options at me. I'm trying to keep this under $3000. I still dream about how a Globe Haul LT could be my one and only forever ebike but them I have to deal with the snob shop. Ugh, decisions......

 

[indianajo]

I joined a nearby gym when I lost endomorphine during 3 consecutive respiratory diseases over 2 months. I could not hardly walk. The gym had a arm-mill where I could get my heart rate up enough. 25 minutes 3 days a week, and the endo-morphine level returned to normal so I could ignore the pain from my Army damaged knees.
The various machines allowed me to build my other muscles quite a bit, over the cycling. Unfortunately in the next 6 months I caught 3 more respiratory diseases down there. When a fever develops, I remember back where I was 3 days before. It was not the sweat on the equipment, I never touch my face when I am out. It was the breath of other people in a confined space that infected me. I dropped the gym membership. People related to Presidents tend not to believe in the necessity of vaccines because the process of running screens out people like me. My native looking grandfather died of a bad cold age 42.
Back to biking in the outdoors. Mostly I do not catch diseases on the street, although I caught covid-19 outside on a bike trip to the hardware store, or in the store wearing a 3M brand N95 mask. The hardware store clerk later asserted he never had Covid. Covid-19 was vicious, and numerous excess North Koreans died in 2020 even though both the China and South Korea borders were closed. News media spotted the extra graves by satellite.
I use a throttle and not the PAS sensor on which all the settings are too fast and accelerate too fast. I can't buy a controller on ebay that has torque sensor input. Forget the phone, I cannot even use a display without it shorting out in the rain. The previous phone shorted in the rain in a plastic bag inside the pannier. So the new phone lives in a Pelican pouch looped to my belt, to follow me through the air if I am knocked off the bike by a car into the ditch. Pelican pouch asserts it is waterproof to 3' under the sea. Due to the fingerprint sensor, phone will not work inside the pouch. If I am expecting an important call when I am out, I stop and unpack to view who called. Otherwise people will have to wait for a call back.
Cargo bikes are a great one size fits all bike. The weight, well I built up to it. I only perspire over 96 deg F. I parked the car in 2017 and rent U-haul trucks if I need to haul somthing big. I ride 26" wheels, as I cannot see pot-holes when I am following cars through a traffic light, or rain water or snow covers them. 20" fat tires require power all the time, which would reduce the aerobic benefit of riding a bike for every errand. Cargo bikes with bosses welded in the frame for front cargo balance the load much better than all the load in the back. I believe Globe-Haul has that. That is a reason I have the motor and battery mounted on the front. The white triangle in my avatar is the battery wrapped in insulation and rain protection. You cannot buy that setup, you have to build it. Only disadvantage of front hub motor, you cannot power up an 8 degree or steeper grassy slopes after a rain. Advantage of front hub motor, my chains wear out in 5000 miles or 2 1/2 years. I have never worn out a sprocket in 7 years of this setup.

 

[McApple]

We just purchased an Aventon Level 3 for DW, it is a torque sensor, but other than that seems to hit most of your desires. We got to do test rides, and we're impressed.

 

[DaveMatthews]

Tried the gym thing as well... BORING...
Have you looked at East Coast Bicycles? They seem to have a mix of ebikes ala Trek, Giant, Momentum etc. Not sure about the throttle though...
Personally I've been all good with 20mph on a Mid drive torque sense machine, but that's just me.

 

[scottsdalecommuter]

used to do a 10-12 mile one-way commute, my only advice would be get something really comfortable that you really like spending a lot of time on. sometimes by the end of the week, my butt and shoulders were pretty sore. if you are looking to get a workout sometimes but not all the time, i wish i would have bought a mid-drive rather than gone cheap and got a hub motor. depending on the day and weather and how i felt, sometimes i would want a workout, and sometimes i would want to just cruise with the motor. i would also get front shocks, i've never been able to fully verify it, but i'm convinced with an ebike you hit the bumps/sidewalk cracks a bit harder and faster, and that my shoulders have taken a bit more of a beating. (couple other fun commuting tips: i used to take a frozen blended protein shake in a mason jar and it would usually melt by lunch or mid-afternoon on my desk, on really hot days in the summer, i would freeze a water bottle and on my ride home it would melt at almost the perfect pace and be ice cold, also would use coconut water ice cubes for some electrolytes.) stay safe!

 

[sc00ter]

Tried the gym thing as well... BORING...
Have you looked at East Coast Bicycles? They seem to have a mix of ebikes ala Trek, Giant, Momentum etc. Not sure about the throttle though...
Personally I've been all good with 20mph on a Mid drive torque sense machine, but that's just me.

I knew the original owner of East Coast Bicycles, Mike Shipp, a little bit. Shame when he passed but I think it's his son who took over and the small business, helpful, non-judgmental vibe is still there. It's literally right down the street from me.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I knew the original owner of East Coast Bicycles, Mike Shipp, a little bit. Shame when he passed but I think it's his son who took over and the small business, helpful, non-judgmental vibe is still there. It's literally right down the street from me.

Try a few demo rides! Can't hurt! Well... maybe the wallet...

 

[mschwett]

your post seems a little contradictory - do you want exercise while commuting, or do you just want a fast easy commute on a bike?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I still dream about how a Globe Haul LT could be my one and only forever ebike but them I have to deal with the snob shop. Ugh, decisions......

Talk to these guys; they live off the sales anyway. They can order the Haul from their B2B system, setup it in the store and let you collect.