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Are You One of These 3 Types of Ebike Riders?
October 15, 2020 by Yi Bell
Ebikes are showing up on the roads, trails, and bike shop showrooms everywhere. You can get an ebike for road cycling, mountain biking, and even casual trips around town. But who’s riding these electric bikes, anyway?
Here are three types of riders you’re bound to see on an ebike:
Experienced Riders (No, it’s not Cheating)
Sure, there are those diehard cyclists who consider ebikes “cheating.” But any experienced rider who has vocalized ebike criticism probably just hasn’t tried one yet. The idea that using an electric-assist bicycle is somehow cheating is an outdated notion. Ebikes can take you faster and further on your rides and, no, the motor isn’t doing all of the work. Ebikes like the Specialized Turbo line give a rider control over how much assistance they use. And, since the assist only kicks in when you’re peddling, there’s still a fair amount of effort and physical exercise that comes along with the ride. Today’s savvy experienced riders are enjoying the benefits of an ebike. If you’ve only got a limited amount of time to ride, who wouldn’t want to travel 4x further in that short span of time? And why wouldn’t you want to speed to the top of the climb so you can get back to the fun part — the descent — even faster? So, unless you’re sneaking an ebike into a competitive non-motor bike race, taking out an ebike isn’t even close to “cheating.” The added speed and distance that an ebike can provide allows even the most experienced riders the opportunity to shake up their normal routines and go further (and faster) than ever.
In a surprising plot twist, you don’t have to be an experienced rider to enjoy an ebike, either. Casual riders may be getting even more benefit from electric-assist bicycles than experienced riders. Longer Rides A study in the peer-reviewed journal Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives found that physical activity levels were similar between e-bike riders and conventional cyclists, in part because e-bike riders had “significantly longer trip distances.” More Time Riding = More Exercise A 2016 study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology published results from a small University of Colorado Boulder study on ebike commuting revealed that participants voluntarily rode twice as much as required: four hours a week on average and almost 200 miles per participant over the four-week study. These participants saw significant health improvements over the course of the study, including improvements in blood pressure and glucose tolerance. Keeping Up with the Pack Ebikes are allowing casual or novice riders the opportunity to keep up with friends or family members who are more experienced.
“…the ebike bridged the gap between my current skill set and athletic ability and what I needed to keep up with the experienced riders I was with.”
– Melissa Z., I Tested a Specialized Ebike. Here’s What I Thought
Casual riders who may only take a conventional bicycle out occasionally are finding that ebikes are making bike trips more accessible, easier, faster, and more fun.
LOHAS is an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. It’s a consumer segment whose attitudes and behaviors place health and sustainability in the foreground. LOHAS typically have a greater awareness of social and environmental responsibility than the average consumer and tend to “vote with their dollars” by purchasing products that will make a difference in their health and the health of the planet. Unlike a casual or experienced rider who chooses an ebike for sport or hobby, a LOHAS is more likely to purchase an ebike in order to cut down on car trips in order to fight climate change. A 2017 paper published in Transportation Research found that ebike use led to 25% fewer car trips on average. According to a 2015 study by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, a dramatic increase (about 20 percent) in cycling worldwide could “cut carbon dioxide emissions from urban passenger transport by nearly 11 percent in 2050.” For LOHAS consumers who place a priority on sustainability and alternative transportation, ebikes are the answer to reducing car trips and cutting harmful emissions.
Should You Ride an Ebike?
Did you relate to one of these three ebike riders? Whether you’re an experienced rider who would love to cover more ground in less time, a casual rider who wants to get more exercise and keep up with more experienced riders, or a passionate environmental activist who wants to take more cars off the road, an ebike is the answer. Shop our collection of ebikes online or visit our Roseville showroom to learn more!	
Filed Under: Ebike Tagged With: Ebike, LOHAS, Specialized Turbo
I Tested a Specialized Turbo Ebike. Here’s What I Thought.​
October 7, 2020 by Yi Bell
I Tested a Specialized Turbo Ebike. Here's What I Thought.
My six-year-old loves to bike. He spends a considerable number of the daylight hours riding his bike around the neighborhood, on and off the beaten path. He spends all of his time “practicing his jumps” on a wooden ramp his grandfather made just for him. On the weekends, he expands his territory, heading out to trails and pump tracks. And he wants me to join him, which I love.
The problem is, I’m not much of a cyclist. I can keep up with him to a point, but my cycling level is novice, at best.
Especially when his escapades involve leaving the pavement for uneven terrain.
So when I got the chance to demo an ebike through Roseville Cyclery, I was half-excited and half-terrified. Ok, mostly terrified. Because I realized that we would be heading off the pavement on a route easily 4x longer than what I would typically ride with my son.
What, exactly, was I getting myself into?
Ebike Demo Day
Ebike demo day started early, with a little fuel (and a couple of butterflies) in my stomach. I met with my fellow demo-riders in Folsom, a short distance from the lake. The Specialized van sat tall in the parking lot, a gleaming row of Specialized Turbo Levo ebikes lined up beside it.
As I was fit for my bike, I had my first lesson for the day:
I’ve been riding my bike with my seat way too low this entire time.
Getting into a proper seat position felt completely different on my knees. In fact, it felt great! I had a brief moment of embarrassment that I’ve been riding incorrectly up until this point.
Next came a demonstration of how the ebike motor actually worked.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized just how much control I actually had over the motor. There was no way I would go careening out-of-control on the bike. For starters, the motor only kicks in if I’m peddling. No peddling = no assist. Secondly, I could control how much pedal-assist I wanted. Which, as a novice cyclist, was a lot.
The Specialized Turbo Levo was heftier than my hybrid bike. Considerably. But once I was on it and peddling around the parking lot, I couldn’t really tell the difference in weight.
Feeling moderately comfortable on the bike, our group headed out towards Folsom Lake. First on a paved bike lane, and then off the pavement and on to the trail.
There are two words I would use to describe my experience riding an ebike:
Physically and mentally, the trail we took was just beyond my current skill set. If I had been on my non-electric bike, I wouldn’t have made it very far at all. But the ebike bridged the gap between my current skill set and athletic ability and what I needed to keep up with the experienced riders I was with.
I wasn’t intimidated by uphill climbs, because I was able to use the pedal-assist to help power me up the hills.
And the distance, which was easily 4x longer than what I’m used to, also felt manageable because of the assistance of the ebike motor.
What I was most surprised about, however, was how much fun I had.
Would I Get an Ebike?
Right now, I’m still riding my standard bike. I’ve been empowered a bit by my ebike experience: now that I know I am capable of getting off the paved paths, I’m feeling more confident and bold about taking to the trails and pump tracks.
But every time I hop on my standard bike now, I remember what it felt like to have that pedal-assist to give me the extra push to make it up the hill. How much further and longer I was able to ride with the help of the motor. And how easy it was to keep up with more experienced riders, allowing me to meet new people that I otherwise would never have met.
My six-year-old easily outrides me, but the ebike makes me feel like I could keep up with him on his adventures. As a mom, its important to me to be make fun family memories together and encourage activities (like cycling) that promote an appreciation for exercise, movement, and an appreciation for the outdoors.
Would I get an ebike after taking one for a test ride?
Filed Under: Ebike Tagged With: Ebike Demo, Specialized Turbo Levo
August 31, 2020 by Yi Bell
Ebikes are helping riders go faster and further than ever. How fast, you ask? Tighten your helmet and join us, because we’re about to explore the top speeds you can expect when you take an ebike out to conquer the streets or trails.
One of the leading electric bikes on the market today is the Specialized Turbo. We’re going to look at the top speeds you can expect from the road and mountain versions of the Turbo to answer this question.
On the road, the Turbo CREO or Turbo Vado are capable of achieving top speeds of 45 Km/h while you pedal. That’s about 28 miles/ hour.
If mountain biking is your passion, the Turbo Levo can quadruple your efforts (or get you up the hill 4x faster) at top speeds of 20 miles/ hour.
Pedal Assisted Power
Electric bikes like the Specialized Turbo aren’t motorcycles in disguise. You won’t sit back and let the motor do all of the work.
These are pedal-assist bikes, and the pedals need to be moving before the motor begins assisting. They amplify your output when you want it.
Electric bikes like the Turbo offer varying levels of assist and will disengage when you’re over top speed.
So don’t worry about flying too fast.
If you only want a small assist and prefer to let your legs do most of the work, you can choose from one of the multiple levels of assist. Or, pump it up and get ready to experience the top speeds.
Can You Ride Faster than Your Ebike?
20-28 miles per hour will get you some seriously enjoyable speed on your electric bike before it tops out. But what if you want to go faster?
Will an electric bike stop you from reaching your top speeds?
If you’re like IAM Cycling sprinter Leigh Howard and can hit 75mph on a road bike, you can keep powering yourself to top speeds, even after your ebike assist has called it quits.
For the rest of us not-quite-so-super-humans, an electric bike’s top speed is typically faster than the average speed of a standard cyclist.
Electric bikes can add some serious speed to your cycling routine. If you’ve been dreaming of going faster than ever, it’s time to see how an ebike can take you there.
Filed Under: Ebike Tagged With: Pedal-Assist, Turbo CREO, Turbo Vado
How to Choose Your First Ebike
June 25, 2020 by Yi Bell
Every day, more and more riders are buying their first ebike. Some are dedicated cyclists who want the chance to ride farther and faster. Others are looking to an ebike to keep up on rides that were previously too far or too hilly. Whatever your reason, choosing the right electric bike can feel a bit overwhelming at first. The rising popularity of electric bikes brings a wide range of options. So, how do you choose your first ebike?
How Will You Use Your Ebike?
The first thing to consider when choosing an ebike is how you will use it. Just like conventional bicycles, ebike are available in various styles:
Tired of getting shuttled to the top of a mountain? Maybe an electric mountain bike like the best-selling Specialized Turbo is your answer to getting yourself to the top of the peak.
Some electric mountain bikes will do double-duty on the street as a road bike, too. Others, like downhill electric mountain bikes, are better suited for extreme dropoffs and hitting jump after jump.
Electric cruiser bikes are all about comfort. From their seats to their handlebars and even pedal position, an electric cruiser bike is perfect if your ideal day of biking is a leisurely ride around town.	
Electric road or electric commuter bikes belong to a broad category that covers any ebike meant for road riding. This includes commuter bikes that are more lightweight, racing bikes, and hybrids. Most ebikes in this category are more forward-leaning, have narrower tires and saddles, lack of suspension, and an emphasis on lightweight design.	
Electric cargo bikes can help you take it all with you on the go, helping you haul it all with innovative solutions ranging from large front baskets or pods to rear cargo boxes and a wide range of cargo accessories. Cargo ebikes trade lightweight design for the extra cargo capacity.	
Portable folding ebikes, large-tired fat ebikes, tandem ebikes, and even electric recumbent bikes are more examples of the wide range of electric bicycles available.	
Once you’ve settled on how you’ll want to use your e-bike, it’s time to decide on the mechanics of the bike.	
A basic understanding of how an ebike works can help you decide what type of electrical components you’re looking for.
We carry e-bikes with mid-drive motors that send power to the centrally-located drivetrain are the most popular. Mid-drive motors offer a more natural feel to riders, as well as numerous other advantages, which is why you’ll find this motor style exclusively in our Roseville e-bike shop.
Other options for motors include hub motors that supply power to either the front hub (pulling the rider along by the front wheel), or the rear hub (pushing the rider from the rear wheel).
Like standard bicycles, electric bikes come in price points ranging from low to ultra-premium. The bicycle components themselves will factor into the price of an electric bike. Then the electrical components (motor, battery, drivetrain) will further contribute to the price of an electric bike.
Primarily for regulatory reasons, ebikes are also categorized into classes that denote their level of motor assistance.
Class 1 eBikes, or low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycles, are legal on any paved surface that a regular bike is allowed to operate. Class 1 ebikes are equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and stops assisting when the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
Class 2 eBikes, or low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycles, are legal on any paved surface that a regular bike is allowed to operate. Class 2 throttle assisted ebikes are equipped with motors that can exclusively propel the bicycle, but that cannot provide assistance when the ebike reaches 20 mph.
Class 3 eBikes, or speed pedal-assisted electric bicycles, are prohibited from Class I multi-use bike paths unless specifically authorized by a local ordinance. Class 3 ebikes are equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and stops providing assistance when the ebike reaches 28 mph.
Most new riders start out with a class 1 e-bike. Class 1 ebikes are the most affordable and, from a regulatory standpoint, the most universally accepted. You can ride one on city streets, bike paths, and even a growing number of mountain bike trails.
To keep up with ebike regulations in your state, check out People for Bikes’ state-by-state guide to e-bike regulations around the country, and check with local cities where you plan to ride.
Need Help Choosing an Ebike?
If choosing an ebike still feels like an overwhelming task, let Roseville Cyclery help guide you. We’re Northern California’s premier ebike sales and service shop and our team members can help you find the right bike for your needs and budget. Call us today to schedule a demo and you can ride before you buy to ensure you’re getting the perfect ebike for you.