Riding with the Experts: E-Bike Tips and Experience

Have you ever wondered what a good electric bike is OR what a good time would be to ride it OR what type of bike you need for your day-to-day life or your adventures? Whether you’re looking for an eco-friendly commute option, a leisurely ride, or an intense workout, there’s an E-bike out there for you. To help you navigate the world of electric bikes, we reached out to a group of experts and enthusiasts to share their experiences and recommendations.

Electric Bikes also known as E-bikes have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are affordable, require less maintenance, and can go almost anywhere. Also saving you time, money and energy by pedaling around the city and avoiding traffic. A large number of people who used cars and other convenience for traveling including cyclists have now adopted e-bikes.

We asked many e-bike lovers, writers, enthusiasts, riders, and influencers some popular questions like; What e-bike do they ride? What are their maintenance tips? Why do they love electric bikes and so on. We also asked them to share their riding journey and some tips with us.

Let’s see what different bike lovers have to say. And hopefully, you can learn something from them.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

My favorite time to ride is in the late Summer to early Autumn. I like that you can get a cool ride in the morning before it gets to hot out. Then in the evening, it is warmer and you can get a nice sunset ride since the days are still long. 

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

One of my favorite rides where I currently live takes me through the city and then into the forest onto the trails. It is a great mixture of concrete and gravel. I do enjoy riding on roads, gravel or concrete, in the mountains more than a city.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

I enjoy going on small group rides with friends. I feel 3-4 is a good amount of people to go ride with as you don’t take up to much of the road and you can keep the conversation going between everyone. 

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

One of my favorite experiences would have to be riding across the USA with a friend. It was something that I never really imagined being able to do. We set our goals and stuck to them and had a once in the lifetime experience out of it that I will never forget. 

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips 

I don’t have any bike maintenance secrets, I try to keep up with a regular schedule of keeping the bike clean and lubricated properly. Yes tip may be to know a good bike shop or mechanic that could help you when you need something major on your bike. 

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

One particular thing I look at when choosing an ebike I’d like to purchase is how well it rides with the battery off. This helps me feel out how efficient the bike will be with no assistance, so when you do need assistance you will get the maximum performance out of the ebike. 

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

It is hard to choose a favorite as there are so many I have ridden that I have really likes. It varies from cargo ebikes to electric gravel bikes. I really enjoyed the Urban Arrow Family for cargo, the Vvolt Alpha for city riding, and the Niner RLT e9 RDO electric gravel bike. I recommend getting an ebike that excited you and gets you out riding the most. 

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

I prefer riding an ebike for a daily commuter as I can get to where I need to go quickly and with less effort than a traditional bike. It is also a lot of fun and it’s much nicer then being inside a car for short trips. Another perk is usually being able to park your ebike right in front of where you are going instead of searching to park your car somewhere. 

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

The best season for riding bikes is in the spring, summer, and fall–whenever it isn’t too hot but also not too cold. In the hottest part of the year, I love riding in the morning and late evenings when the temperature is cooler, but there’s still some light to see where I’m riding. 

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

I like riding dirt trails in the mountains. This way, you don’t have to worry about cars, and the scenery is best. 

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

I prefer riding with a small group of friends. Solo rides can be fun, as can large groups. But a group of three or four friends is my favorite. There aren’t too many people, so communication and navigation is easy, but there are enough people to keep the conversation, laughs, and good times going all day. 

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

My favorite riding experience was riding a bicycle across the United States. This was a 7,000-mile route that I created myself, starting at the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey and ending at the Pacific Ocean in Southern California. The highlight of this trip was riding along the Pacific coast in Oregon and Northern California. The beaches were beautiful and rugged, and the Pacific Coast highway weaves through beautiful landscapes. 

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips 

Keep your chain lubricated, but don’t lubricate it too often. When you apply chain lube, wipe the excess lube off the outside so it doesn’t attract dirt and road grime. This will make your bike run smoother and your chain last longer.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

Get an E-bike from a reputable bike manufacturer, not an e-bike-specific company. E-bikes are just bikes with an electric motor attached, so it stands to reason that a company that lacks experience making bikes isn’t going to make a great e-bike. The best e-bikes I’ve seen use high-quality bike components, especially for drivetrains and frame materials, and are made by established bicycle manufacturing brands. 

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

My favorite E-bike is the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0. This high-quality, well-designed daily use bicycle is almost as light as a standard bike but has an electric motor. 

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

I use a standard pedal bike for daily commuting, but my daily commute is only a few miles each way. If I had a longer commute, I would use an e-bike for daily use. E-bikes make that 10-mile ride after a long day fun and easy instead of feeling like a chore to pedal home. 

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

All of the time! I use my bike for daily transportation, so any time someone would be getting in a car to ride, I’m getting on my bike!  

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

I love mountain biking but like to do it on a traditional bike. For city riding however, an e-bike is the way to go. I’m able to haul groceries, kids, a dog, and so much more than would be nearly impossible with a traditional bike.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

Both, on different days. Solo rides are great for training and for my mental health. Group rides are a great way to make friends with like minded people and be a part of the larger cycling community.

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

My favorite experience on a bike was doing the Smoke N Fire 400 self-supported bike packing race. I was able to ride my bike for days on end without having to worry about normal life.  

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips 

Learn how to work on bikes yourself rather than taking them to a shop. First, it will save you a ton of money. Secondly, you’ll know how to fix your bike if you’re out on the trail or road away from help. Finally, it’s super empowering to know how your bike works and how to fix it.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

The quality of the components. There are a TON of e-bikes flooding onto the market, a lot with off-brand components. These might be great for a while but consider the long-term story. You don’t want to buy a bike that’s going to end up in a landfill. Also, consider the customer service component. Are you going to be able to get replacement parts when something inevitably breaks? A lot of bike shops won’t even work on cheaper e-bikes.  

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

I love the Radpower bikes. I think that they are sort of the sweet spot between price and quality.  

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

Yup. With traffic and parking, it’s usually faster just to bike somewhere than to drive. I also end up being in a better mood when I get there because I just got a little exercise and fresh air.  

1) Which Bike Do You Ride? – How many Kilometers / Miles have you covered?

In terms of e-bikes, the model I’ve ridden the most is the Aventon Abound, a small cargo bike released earlier this year. I’ve taken it a couple of hundred miles now around Providence.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

Personally, I’m an all-season rider. Ice-cover is dangerous, of course, and rain is lousy for any bicycle, e-bikes in particular. But unless you live in a climate so cold or hot that it affects the battery, these vehicles are great just about anytime. That said, I suppose I prefer warmer months, just because the pedal-assist doesn’t require much physical effort and you don’t warm up in the frigid air as easily as you would on a traditional bike.

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

E-bikes are best in urban and suburban environment. Even a long-range battery is fairly limited, so you can rarely ride 50 miles, say, far into the countryside, the way you can on a traditional bike. You also want to be close to an electrical socket, in case the battery runs out, which rules out long rides through true wilderness. The real joy of e-bikes is that you can more easily keep up with traffic, zipping around neighborhoods with aplomb.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

I usually like to ride alone, especially on an ebike. The motors come in a wide range, and it’s harder to synchronize the speed of my current bike, which tops out at 20 mph, with a bike that can hit 28 mph. However, the most fun I have with the Aventon is when my son is riding in the back. There’s a special seat with foot reads and a handle, and the bike handles incredibly well when we’re both aboard. We have a blast riding together, and I’ve kept this model largely because of him.

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

Providence recently opened the Broad Street bike lane, a mile-long route through one of the city’s more under-served neighborhoods. I’ve meant to take my son there, because it’s a huge swathe of the city we’ve never had reason to visit before. However, the lane is still too long and busy for him, since he’s new to urban riding. So the ebike was a safe, efficient, and thrilling way to explore this new network, along with several other segments he’d never seen before. It’s important to me that my son sees all of our city, not just the familiar or privileged parts, and the ebike provided the perfect means to break the ice.

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips 

Good question, because maintenance is the biggest concern with an ebike. Most of the design matches any other bicycle, but the battery and electronics require special care; if anything goes wrong, the bike is useless. I suggest corresponding with the manufacturer as soon as possible, to make sure you know what to do if a part needs to be replaced. They should have a protocol in place, and you’ll want to know what it is before something (inevitably) malfunctions or breaks down.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

I would read the reviews, because they’re worth their weight in gold. People tend to write reviews only if they love or hate a bike, but they often notice things the manufacturer won’t think to mention. Speed is important, as are the types of tires and the distance one can ride on a single charge.

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

The smartest decision a customer can make is a folding ebike. As a rule, E-bikes are heavy and relatively cumbersome, and a lot of things can go wrong on the road. There are many folding models, such as the Engwe EP-2 and the Lectric XP. They may not necessarily look as cool, but you’ll be glad you can throw it in the back of an Uber when all else fails.

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

The truth is, I prefer a traditional bike in almost all circumstances, because it’s better exercise and because I love the elegant simplicity of a regular bicycle. However, e-bikes are extremely fun, and they’re handy for errands that would otherwise require a car. For a commute, an ebike is a terrific option when you’re tired or not feeling great. You cut down on your carbon footprint, you don’t get stuck in highway traffic, and you get to be outside. And for people with limited or declining mobility, and it’s an absolute game-changer.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

The best season to ride in our opinion is during an autumn morning because of the beautiful fall leaves, cooler temperatures, and not as much rain/wind as spring and winter! 

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

Our favorite route to ride is by the beach! We live in California, so our favorite place is to ride the beach! 

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

We prefer to ride in a group to make the experience more fun and we love the community aspect of riding. 

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

Our favorite riding experience has been riding our bikes through the fall colors in Michigan UP. The leaves were so orange and red around us that it made for a magical day. 

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips 

We like to do a quarterly bike cleaning that includes lubricating the chain, inflating the tires, and wiping down the frame to keep it in good condition. 

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

We like to look at the range and weight of the e-bike before purchasing. Our favorite is the Aventon Sinch because it is a fat tire bike, collapsible for easy storage, and long range for our adventures. 

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

We love our Aventon Sinch E-Bike because it can fold up and fit in almost any car, as well as it has great suspension and fat tires to ride almost anywhere! 

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

We always use our e-bike for our commute because the weather is so nice in California and we are so close to everything. It saves time and money for us, so it is a win win! 

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

I do love biking after dark in the summer especially when it’s still warm out and the sprinklers are going in the park and the stars are out in the sky.

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

I’m a city bicyclist, primarily, but a good country ride is also wonderful.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

My commute is mostly a solo affair, but I love going for a ride with my husband or kids.

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

Biking Highway 1 when it was closed to cars a few years ago because of a bridge failure. We hiked around the bridge closure, then rented e-bikes on the other side. The stunning ride down Highway 1 was made even more special by a pod of whales frolicking just off the coast.

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips

When the commute feels sluggish, it is time to put air in your tires (my husband always needs reminders about this).

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

The options for carrying stuff.

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

We are happy with our Rad bike – a step-through with solid racks good for carrying groceries.

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

I use my e-bike for commuting when it’s exceptionally windy, it’s unbearably hot, or I’m unforgivably late.

1) Which Bike Do You Ride? – How many Kilometers / Miles have you covered?

I have 7 ebikes and 2 e-scooters. My main bike is a 2004 Norco VPS downhill bike. I converted it into a 4200w mid-drive ebike in 2018. It had over 10,000 miles before I broke the display. Since then there’s thousands more on it and my other bikes.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

I ride year-round. The best season is probably Fall because of cooler weather but not the mud of spring. Winter is also great because it gets me outside for exercise. Evening is when I ride the most. I like seeing the sunset and the animals that come out at night. 

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

I like and ride them all. If I had to pick a favorite I’d say curvy/hilly paved bike trails in public parks. I ride mostly off-road and gravel/dirt isolated from people. It’s fun to just relax and get into a grove surrounded by happy people just out enjoying the day.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

Both but very different experiences for me. I prefer solo because I love wearing headphones, I feel like I’m dancing and every turn goes with the music. Group rides are fun but I prefer a small group. 

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

I wouldn’t know where to start. My riding experiences and story are posted on social media. I really don’t know where to start or a short story that wouldn’t require a lot of contexts.

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips

Cheaper parts and replace them more often. Often times they’re heavier built than the expensive lightweight parts and last longer. With an ebike weight isn’t as important. 

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

I’d look for information on how the company deals with after sales support. As an influencer, I always have excellent communications with brands. I can accurately speak on features and give my opinions on different ebikes. But because I have business relationships and not a customer relationships, I’ll never know what a customer goes through if something breaks. 

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

My favorite e-bike is the one I built. Even if it was for sale I wouldn’t recommend it. 4200w + DIY is a recipe for broken parts. I love recommending people e-bikes but it’s totally dependent on their needs and price range. 

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

I do not use my bikes for transportation just recreational riding. 

Impact of Ebikes on Your Life / Your Thoughts on Ebikes

The impact on my life was huge. I built my 4200w bike as an electric dirt bike I could get away with riding in public parks. But in a couple of months I had the bike before making it electric I started enjoying pedaling it. It was a last minute decision to even add a pedal assist. Once I built the bike I really started to enjoy the pedal assist set at 200w. I found I liked how it got my heart going in a way I had never experienced before. I started using the bike regularly for exercise this way and lost close to 100 lbs since I built my bike. It added exercise to my life, something I never cared about. The bike didn’t turn out the way I had intended it turned out to be the thing I needed.

1) Which Bike Do You Ride? – How many Kilometers / Miles have you covered?

I started off riding my first e-bike after 40 years of not riding bikes. I saw the Aventon Aventure and I fell in love with its looks. Since I live in Chicago, I figured I could use the bike to get around the city easier since I hate the traffic here. When I told my wife I was going to purchase an ebike, her response was, “You are never going to ride that thing.” In 2 years I have put over 2k miles on various bikes.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

Living in Chicago can be challenging when it comes to riding a bike. We only get a good 3-4 months of excellent riding weather. I have found a passion for riding bikes so I ride all year round. The coldest I have ridden a bike has been in 19 degree (F) weather. Fat tire bikes are great for riding in inclement weather. You have just to layer up properly. Like anyone, my favorite seasons are Spring–Fall. I use my bike for 90% of the errands I run in the city. Because of that, I ride at all times of the day or night. If I need to run an errand, and I can fit it in my backpack or the rack on the bike, I am taking the bike.

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

I really enjoy riding single track trails. Something about all the twists and turns, nature, the one with the bike during hard turns or challenging trails really gets to me. Although I enjoy that the best, there is something about riding a bike in the city. I feel more connected to it, the surroundings, the people.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

I do enjoy a group ride but those are few for me. Since I am retired and also work from home making Ebike youtube reviews, I ride at various hours and most often alone, but every time I can a buddy to ride with me, I take it!

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

My favorite riding experience is probably me riding an emtb for the first in Saanen, Switzerland. The views and unrealistic and the trails are fun. I can’t wait to do more rides in amazing places such as this, in the states or overseas.

I started off with just wanting to get more exercise and ride around the city. It has become more than that. I now ride various styles of bikes in various situations.

I have recently just purchased my own emtb and plan to learn how to ride mountain bike trails with a bike that is built to do it. I am excited about this new journey and will be sharing it on my youtube channel. @scotthardesty

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips

I know this is taboo, but it is totally possible to powerwash your ebike. Many people say they would never do it, but I have done it dozens of times with no issues. Just make sure you stand back (3-4 feet) a little farther when getting around the electronics or battery of the bike. Nothing gets that road grime off your tires and wheels more than a good powerwash. Just make sure you dry the bike off completely when done, especially the chain.

I would also strongly recommend you find a Local Bike Shop (LBS) that can service your bike. I have one that will service all the various bikes I have. The knowledge I have also picked up from just talking to them is invaluable. I have also learned many things just by watching Youtube videos on the subject as well.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

I have reviewed many (15 or more) e-bikes. This is a must when looking for a ebike.

1. You have to love how it looks.
2. 8 speeds
3. Trigger shifters
4. Hydraulic brakes

I was going to say things like big battery and high-output motor, but different types of bikes need variations with it comes to those things. Although important, if the bike is light and the tires are thinner, smaller batteries and less powerful motors can still take you down the road just fine.

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

I have it narrowed down to my 2 favorites. The Aventon Aventure 2 and Velotrics latest bike, the Thunder 1 ST. They are completely different bikes. The Aventure 2 is a fat tire heavy bike, 73 lbs, and rides like an expensive SUV, and the Thunder 1 ST is lightweight, 36 lbs, thin tire, super nimble racehorse.

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – What are the Impact of Ebikes on Your Life / Your Journey with Ebikes)

Chicago has made many improvements over the years to become a bike-friendly city. Although not perfect, I find it to be excellent for commuters getting to work and running errands. There are many trials throughout the city for bikes and people alike.

I feel the people who have great weather all year round are extremely lucky. The more people who ride bikes for errands, daily commutes are normally healthier, more active, and just happier people. I know that from personal experience. I love riding thru my city.

It’s funny how I went from not riding a bike in 40 years (when I was young, I used to race BMX bikes) to being retired from the military, now 54 years and reviewing e-bikes on YouTube. The experience over the past 2 years has been mind boggling to me. But I love it.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

I ride year-round and pretty much the only conditions I don’t like riding in is slushy snow, I think it’s called “snurt”. It’s the black slushy snow made dirty by car pollution. It makes it difficult to handle the bike, especially while pulling kids.

If I had to choose a favorite season to ride in, I’d say Fall. The air is crisp, you don’t have to worry about getting a sunburn, the pathways are clear and I love riding through the natural beauty as the trees change color.

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

When I first got my e-bike I thought I would use it like I did my old mountain bike – for recreational rides to get exercise. But I found myself looking for reasons to ride it and started to prefer riding my e-bike instead of driving my car, even while transporting kids.

My favorite route to ride is along the Bow River in Calgary, usually on our way to a community event, to grab ice cream as a family, or meet up at a park with friends. Before getting e-bikes, we used to avoid riding down there because we dreaded the steep climb back up the hill on the way home. But it’s not an issue with our e-bikes.

I like riding along the Bow River because it’s a nice long stretch of separated bike infrastructure with little interaction with vehicles. The city is where I ride most often. I use my e-bike as a form of everyday, active transportation.

Occasionally we will get out to the mountains (Banff area) and enjoy riding Alberta’s Bow Valley Parkway up to Johnson’s Canyon when they close it off to cars. It’s a beautiful 50 km stretch of open road with stunning mountain views and fresh air.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

I rarely get the opportunity to ride alone. It’s just the season of life I’m in with 3 young kids (ages 6, 4 and 2). I really enjoy family rides with my husband and 3 kids. We like to explore the city to find new parks, go get ice cream or meet friends at community festivals.

Since getting e-bikes it feels like we’ve been able to build a life we don’t want to take a vacation from. We get to be tourists in our own city. Especially with rising costs these days, integrating both exercise and fun into our everyday life with the kids is what keeps us going. E-bikes have allowed us to reduce our spending and live more simply without compromising on making family memories.

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

One of my most memorable rides was last summer. We met up with over 20 other families who ride cargo bikes and e-bikes in Calgary. It was a group of people that met over Twitter and someone just decided to organize a ride.

We stopped at various local cafes along the way and at our second last stop there was a sudden crazy shift in the weather. We were over 20 km away from home so just embraced the torrential downpour. At one point the rain was coming down so hard that we had to take cover under a bridge next to the river. We were immersed in a refreshing summer rain! The kids still talk about it.

That’s something I love about e-bikes. The weather affects my decision to ride much less than a regular bike because no matter how far I am from home or how bad the weather gets, it’s memorable, fun and you can “turbo” home.

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips

The best maintenance tip I have for you is to buy an e-bike with a carbon belt drive as opposed to a bike chain. I never have to deal with frequent or greasy bike chain maintenance and it’s awesome. It’s a smoother ride, I never have to worry about my chain falling off or breaking and I get to ride maintenance-free riding for 10 times longer than a regular bike chain.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

Two things: Start with asking yourself “what kind of e-bike do I need to fit my lifestyle needs” and test ride a handful of e-bikes before you buy.

The first e-bike I bought was Giant’s Momentum Vida e+. It was around $3,000 and a great entry level bike. It had a mid-drive motor was my base requirement for an e-bike (I would recommend to anyone looking for an e-bike – If your budget allows, go for a mid-drive motor as opposed to a hub-motor. It will handle better on hills and is overall a better quality machine).

It was such a fun test ride, I bought it on the spot.

But after a few weeks of riding it, I realized it wasn’t going to fit my lifestyle needs. For example, I was always worried about running out of battery (I was surprised at how far and how often I rode it
compared to a regular bike!). And it didn’t have fenders (which was a big deal with how temperamental Calgary’s weather is, my clothes were always getting dirty). I had a hard time finding a rack and a basket that fit to carry extra layers or my purse etc. And I wish it was a more upright riding position because my upper back would start to pinch after long rides.

During a test ride you’ll also get a sense of the company and how you will be treated as a customer long term. If you’re considering buying from a company online, make sure you talk to someone and/or understand the warranty agreement and service requirements.

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

My favoruite e-bike is the TuffHill ebike. The main reason I prefer it to any other bike I’ve tried is that it’s comfortable to ride, I never have to worry about running out of battery (it has a large 840wh battery), it’s built with premium parts that don’t rust and require very little maintenance and it comes complete with all the practical features that make biking an easy choice over driving for me. It’s a Dutch-inspired design built to last.

I love the Urban Arrow Cargo bike too but I feel more stable riding the TuffHill e-bike in the winter.

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

Yes, I prefer biking over driving in most cases. With 3 kids it’s hard to find time to get a good work
out in. Being able to integrate exercise into my everyday life makes staying active and healthy much easier. I know that I’ll at least get a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate movement every day just by going somewhere I already need to go anyway. Parenting life hack 😛

Impact of Ebikes on Your Life / Your Thoughts on Ebikes

My story is a bit unique in that my husband and I started an e-bike company with our friends.

After a year of riding our e-bikes almost every day, my husband and I began to see our community and our city from a new perspective. E-bikes have the opportunity to change the world. People can live happier, healthier, more financially resilient lives if we traded even just one car trip a day with an e-bike.

When we bike, we feel connected to ourselves, to each other (they are a great equalizer!), and to our community.

We also started to notice things we didn’t like about our first e-bikes and made a list of all things we would look for in our next bikes. When we couldn’t find those bikes, we started to dream of making our own. And so we did and our company TuffHill eBikes was born.

We are the Tuffs and together with our friends, the Hills, we designed the perfect e-bike for year-round urban and recreational biking in Calgary.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

Since I live in Virginia, Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons because the weather is milder and there is less humidity. However, I ride year around utilizing the best time of day. In the summer, I get out early to beat the heat. In the winter, I ride around 1:00-4:00pm.

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

For years, I was just a road rider then in 2019, we moved to Roanoke VA which is home to some of the best cycling I have seen anywhere. (I have cycled 15 states so I’ve seen a variety of terrain). I really love the local back country roads that take you past pastoral farms while looking at the mountains but have recently become a passionate gravel rider. Within 30 miles of my home, there is over 1,000 miles of gravel roads that are varieties of hilly to rolling and super fun to ride!

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

Without a double, group riding is my favorite. When you are out there alone, you can have flashing lights and neon colors on but sometimes it’s hard (especially for the elderly) to see you. When you are in a pack, the visibility factor improves dramatically.

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

I love descending off of a mountain and having the wind in my face.

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips

My tips are nothing new, just keep your tires pumped up, your chain lubed and your brakes maintained. I’ve never had to upgrade a bike because I bought what I wanted the first time. I would rather wait than buy a bike that isn’t right for me.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

Buy a quality bike built from a well known manufacturer where the motor is on the hub, not the back tire. The difference is stunning.

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

I LOVE my Specialized Vado Turbo! It’s so smooth you don’t even feel the motor kick in, you just feel smoothness as you pedal. Because of the wider, smoother tire, it’s suitable for road and gravel riding. If you wanted to do mountains, you just need to switch the tires to knobbier. With 250 watts, I have tried but haven’t found a mountain that I cannot climb.

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

My bike is actually classified as a commuter bike but I use it for so much more. Again, get a good quality bike that is predictable. I have ridden many e-bikes that surge on you or the motor doesn’t kick in until after you have hit the pedal for 3-5 seconds. Because my bike engages automatically, I almost fell because I was in high grass and forgot to downshift. A lesser experienced cyclists would have been hurt. You would not want to be on a city street with an unpredictable bike and fall into a car.

Impact of Ebikes on Your Life / Your Thoughts on Ebikes

This is my first year in business so I can’t really answer this one honestly. However, e-bikes have been a game changer! They allow people with injuries or health problems to get out and get active. I bought my e-bike in 2020 after moving to the mountains. I tore all the ligaments in my right foot and had two surgeries before moving here but could still ride on the flats. When we moved to the mountains, I thought my days of climbing them were over but thanks to my bike, I’m still out there having a blast!

INTRODUCTION TO MAGICAL MYSTERY BIKE TOURS, LLC- After managing large cycling events for six years and taking bike tours myself that were just pedal, eat, sleep and repeat, I decided to start my own bicycling touring business that features the best that Virginia has to offer (which is a lot). This is our first year so I am offering a variety of experiences from rail trails, gravel and even traveling through time from the old state capital, Williamsburg to the new state capital, Richmond VA.

Our tours are cycling tours but we offer so much more such as experiences such as visiting wild horses, covered bridges, traversing pastoral landscapes where the Amish live (you would be surprised how many are in Virginia!) as well as staying in the middle of the towns that we visit so you can take in local culture, festivals, cuisine, visit breweries and wineries if you so choose and listen to live local music. I try to offer experiences, not just rides.

1) Which Bike Do You Ride? – How many Kilometers / Miles have you covered?

I have two, a YT Jeffsy (muscle bike) and Specialized Turbo Levo (eMTB). The YT has 4,700 miles ridden, and the Levo has 2,500. In 2022, I rode 1,800 miles and 226,000 feet of climbing on my eMTB. I ride nearly all my miles on dirt and very little on roads or bike paths.   

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

I ride year-round. Usually in the mornings. I’m in California so we can ride 12 months a year.

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

Mountains and hills. I like to get away from people and deep into nature. We live in hilly terrain with mountains close by. Most of my rides are within a 30 minute drive.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

I ride solo a lot because I like the zen of grinding away and letting my thoughts wander. I ride group rides 1 or 2x per week. Friends and a social riding club.

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

One of my friends and I took our bikes up to Mammoth Mountain in So Cal. Took the wives, rented a condo and explored the mountain. It was amazing starting way above the tree line, almost like riding on the moon with the desolate rock terrain and riding down to the town. Fun and beauty all in one. I like to explore new trails. Another was the Cannell plunge with my MTB riding group. Epic trail.

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips

Wipe down and lube my chain, and check the air in the tires every ride. Not much of a secret but I have very few mechanical failures.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

I’d avoid the SLs and get a full-power, large battery. I have a growing group of friends with eMTBs and several have smaller batteries (5,000 vs 7,000). We can empty out one of their batteries on a long ride.  But my larger battery always goes the distance with plenty to spare. I also rented an SL and rode with a friend on vacation. He had a regular eMTB. The SL just couldn’t keep up the pace or the distance of the regular bike. So if you are going to ride with other eMTBs, I’d avoid the lightweight, smaller battery editions because you will hold everyone else back.

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

The Specialized Levos are really amazing. I prefer them to a bike like a YT Decoy because they are more solid and rattle-free. Handle better too.

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

I would if I commuted but I do not.

Impact of Ebikes on Your Life / Your Thoughts on Ebikes

I’m a big fan of eMTB. I turned 60 this year and while I can ride my regular MTB, my recovery time is a lot longer and my body takes much more of a beating than my eMTB where I control how much augmentation I want in my ride. In my experience eMTBs let you ride 20-30% longer and higher. You don’t have to hit your max heart rate on every ride unless you want to.

Also, you get to do a lot more exploring. You can easily down-level the power and work very hard if you plan to get a big workout in, or you can up the power and get more great downhills into your ride. It’s kind of like being a downhill skier and carrying a chair lift on your back – let’s go down that again! I also don’t feel that they do any damage to trails beyond a regular MTB.

Yes, it weighs 20 pounds more, but that’s it. Many of my friends weigh 20 pounds more than I do so there is no added wear on the trails than me gaining some weight. I do not like seeing the boy-racer ebikes on the trail that can go much faster and have throttles. Those are electric motorcycles in my mind and they should not be allowed. My bike is a Class 1, so it’s pedal-assist, no throttle, with a maximum speed under power of 20 mph. I think Class 1 bikes are great and I’m sure in 5 years many of the most ardent muscle bike holdouts will be riding them too and forget they were critical of the eMTBs.   

1) Which Bike Do You Ride? – How many Kilometers / Miles have you covered?

I ride 33c3 ebike 33lb 33mph 33mi range.

2) The Best Season /time to ride – Please tell us why?

I sold my car live off my ebike rain or shine, winter and summer day and night. Use toggs and rain pants for rainy days and night ride in Fullerton.

3) What’s Your Favorite Route to Ride on – Please tell us why? 

My favorite is taking ebike on Amtrak to Berkeley and testing SF hills. But just the simple enjoyment of biking to and from work is very relaxing.

4) Group Ride or a Solo Ride – What do you prefer and Why?

Prefer solo as others cant keep up.

5) Your Favorite Riding Experience

Passed one driver 4 times and he passed me 5 times. The driver would pass me and then get stuck at the next light. After 5th time he passed me close to 3 ft and was very angry. Then I was riding experimental 40c3 and I turned on the turbo and caught up with him as he was parking in his driveway. We had a “chat” he was flustered and said I should ride on sidewalk. I said sir the law is to share the road. Sir we can go to police station and ask them. Anyway he got the message. Unfortunately no video.
Another time I raced 2 monstrous dump trucks with trailers on Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Beat them both.

6) Your secret Maintenance & Upgrading Tips

Added rain guard on front and back. Else bike spews water during rain.

7) A Particular thing to look for in an E-bike before purchase

Ebikes are very heavy make sure you can lift it before buying.

8) Your Favorite E-bike / The Bike you recommend

40c3 is my favorite ebike 40lbs 40mph and 40mi range but it is semi legal. The 33c3 is legal as dmv says it’s a moped.

9) Do you prefer an e-bike for daily commute? – Why

I use ebike and metro for commutes. When on ebike it’s exercise wind in hair fun. When on train read talk on phone etc. One day I missed my primary train and took the alternative which entailed an 11 mile run through OC. When I compared it with google maps the 30c3 beats a car over 11 mi.

Impact of Ebikes on Your Life / Your Thoughts on Ebikes

Some of the most fun has been putting some clothes in a backpack and taking ebike on Amtrak to SF.

Sitting in Amtrak with a desk wifi no interruption for 4 hours with a bathroom around the corner was more productive than I had in some full work days. I took the Amtrak leaving work a few hours early and got to Berkeley in 9 hrs. 2 hours more than driving but I got almost 5 hours of unbroken quality time to work do emails and surf. And when you get there your ebike is with you so is your mobility. No taxi, uber etc.

And by the way once you get to your destination you can still do cheating. Its faster than a car. The only irritating thing is I get looked down by road bikers and e-bikers for cheating (bike too fast). And I get looked down by cars for cheating (not knowing my place). And you know what I am Cheating and I love it.

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