jojoboltz
New Member
Hello there!
I'm selling the car and buying an Ebike and need your help to choose what to get! I'm a bigger guy at 6'2 255lbs. Weight is going down rapidly, so I'm not worried about limits at this point. I don't want to spend more than about $5000 on just the bike. So, here's my criteria:
1. Reliable and dependable - I currently own a Giant road bike and love it. I like the dealer support from one of the big 3. So, #1 is taken care of by selecting either Trek, Specialized or Giant. Don't like the Specialized Turbo Vado series that much. I do like the Giant Quick-E+, but like Trek's offerings a bit better.
2. Commutable - I will be commuting 3-4 days a week (I work from home 1-2 days a week). 10 miles to the train, and 6 miles from the train to work. 32 miles total round trip on the bike. My 10 mile commute to the train is very flat. My 6 mile commute to the office is a lot of big hills. I've tried on my road bike, and even though it's doable, it's more work than I am wanting to put in before work starts (i.e. shower, etc.). All of this in beautiful San Diego. (Live in Chula Vista. Work in Carlsbad).
3. Useable - Since this will be replacing just my car (we will still have our van) I will be using this to run errands and get places when the van is not available. Most of the time, the bike will either be parked in my office, or in my garage. Occasionally it will need to be locked up in front of a store. Part of usability is comfortability and fit. I like the more aggressive position of these bikes since I currently road bike frequently.
I test rode the Super Commuter, but not the CrossRip yet. I've tested other bikes from Haibike, Bulls, & Riese & Müller. I've preferred the bikes from Giant and Trek.
What I like/don't like about the Super Commuter: It's so comfortable (probably more with an added seat suspension) and very quick up hills. I love the look, and feel great when riding it. It was easy enough to pedal without assist. It felt extremely stable and easy to maneuver around obstacles and traffic. I seriously loved it right away and didn't want to bring it back. What I don't love is the feel of the brakes, but that's a very minor gripe. They have great stopping power and I could get used to the feel if needed. If I wanted to do an extended weekend tour, this wouldn't be the first bike I'd choose. Not that important, but it's a thought.
What I like/don't like about the Trek CrossRip+: I haven't test rode this one, so this is only based on what I've read/watched. I like the road bike feel. I love riding my road bike, and to have something similar would feel very comfortable for me. It seems like the "faster" one of the group. I can see myself flying down the flats in the beginning of my commute. I also really like that I could tour with this one; even a little lite off-road. This is something I would only do about once or twice a year for an extended weekend, so it's nice to have, but not that important in the every day. I don't like having to maneuver around with drop bars in comparison to flat bars. On my commute, I will be with some road traffic for a portion. Navigating through that would probably be easier with a flat bar. Also, I already own a road bike, and this is pretty similar. I guess thats a good and bad thing.
Ultimately, I am wanting something to "replace" my car. Something that I can go to work, and down to the store with. Something I can ride around with the family on. Something that is really fun! We have a van, so big shopping trips and other errands can be done with that. Touring is something that is not a deciding factor for me, but would be a nice addition if it's the right bike. More than anything, I am wanting the right bike for my needs. I'm open to other suggestions as well. I just really like these two. The Trek XM700+ also looks good, but I'm more impressed with the CrossRip+.
So, should I go with the Super Commuter for the perfect commuter bike, or the CrossRip+ for a fast bike with the option to tour?
Thanks for your comments!
I'm selling the car and buying an Ebike and need your help to choose what to get! I'm a bigger guy at 6'2 255lbs. Weight is going down rapidly, so I'm not worried about limits at this point. I don't want to spend more than about $5000 on just the bike. So, here's my criteria:
1. Reliable and dependable - I currently own a Giant road bike and love it. I like the dealer support from one of the big 3. So, #1 is taken care of by selecting either Trek, Specialized or Giant. Don't like the Specialized Turbo Vado series that much. I do like the Giant Quick-E+, but like Trek's offerings a bit better.
2. Commutable - I will be commuting 3-4 days a week (I work from home 1-2 days a week). 10 miles to the train, and 6 miles from the train to work. 32 miles total round trip on the bike. My 10 mile commute to the train is very flat. My 6 mile commute to the office is a lot of big hills. I've tried on my road bike, and even though it's doable, it's more work than I am wanting to put in before work starts (i.e. shower, etc.). All of this in beautiful San Diego. (Live in Chula Vista. Work in Carlsbad).
3. Useable - Since this will be replacing just my car (we will still have our van) I will be using this to run errands and get places when the van is not available. Most of the time, the bike will either be parked in my office, or in my garage. Occasionally it will need to be locked up in front of a store. Part of usability is comfortability and fit. I like the more aggressive position of these bikes since I currently road bike frequently.
I test rode the Super Commuter, but not the CrossRip yet. I've tested other bikes from Haibike, Bulls, & Riese & Müller. I've preferred the bikes from Giant and Trek.
What I like/don't like about the Super Commuter: It's so comfortable (probably more with an added seat suspension) and very quick up hills. I love the look, and feel great when riding it. It was easy enough to pedal without assist. It felt extremely stable and easy to maneuver around obstacles and traffic. I seriously loved it right away and didn't want to bring it back. What I don't love is the feel of the brakes, but that's a very minor gripe. They have great stopping power and I could get used to the feel if needed. If I wanted to do an extended weekend tour, this wouldn't be the first bike I'd choose. Not that important, but it's a thought.
What I like/don't like about the Trek CrossRip+: I haven't test rode this one, so this is only based on what I've read/watched. I like the road bike feel. I love riding my road bike, and to have something similar would feel very comfortable for me. It seems like the "faster" one of the group. I can see myself flying down the flats in the beginning of my commute. I also really like that I could tour with this one; even a little lite off-road. This is something I would only do about once or twice a year for an extended weekend, so it's nice to have, but not that important in the every day. I don't like having to maneuver around with drop bars in comparison to flat bars. On my commute, I will be with some road traffic for a portion. Navigating through that would probably be easier with a flat bar. Also, I already own a road bike, and this is pretty similar. I guess thats a good and bad thing.
Ultimately, I am wanting something to "replace" my car. Something that I can go to work, and down to the store with. Something I can ride around with the family on. Something that is really fun! We have a van, so big shopping trips and other errands can be done with that. Touring is something that is not a deciding factor for me, but would be a nice addition if it's the right bike. More than anything, I am wanting the right bike for my needs. I'm open to other suggestions as well. I just really like these two. The Trek XM700+ also looks good, but I'm more impressed with the CrossRip+.
So, should I go with the Super Commuter for the perfect commuter bike, or the CrossRip+ for a fast bike with the option to tour?
Thanks for your comments!
