Comments on: Bicycle Commuting Links: Choice, weather, e-bikes

By: Pedego

Pedego — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:25:44 +0000

Did you catch this article from the NY Times this morning? Electric bikes are reaaly gaining traction!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/business/global/01ebike.html?pagewanted=1

By: kmcdade

kmcdade — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:44:14 +0000

That’s a really good point, Jess. I was fortunate that the people at Clever Cycles explained things to me very well, and in a completely fair (as far as I know) fashion. For instance, they explained to me why an Electra Townie was more expensive than a Radish (different brakes, possibly sturdier components, etc). One thing that helped was when one employee expained that this might mean I’d have to replace certain parts sooner than I would with the Townie. I decided I was OK with that.

I still don’t know all of the bike-babble, and I don’t know how to do mechanical things myself. So while I can patch or change a tire myself, I pay for other maintenance.

And now I’m babbling. But I guess what I’m saying is that lack of information can be a barrier — but it’s not insurmountable.

By: Jess @OpenlyBalanced

Jess @OpenlyBalanced — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:20:43 +0000

My interesting bike reading for the week –
http://www.urbanophile.com/2009/01/24/i-almost-got-killed/

Personally, I find the information factor to be more of a barrier to entry than the price point, not just for e-bikes but for all bikes. But I also know that I am extremely fortunate to be in a financial situation where I can say that. I feel like if I knew more about bicycles, the price point would be lower. Not knowing, I am at the mercy of people who speak bike-babble at me.
.-= Jess @OpenlyBalanced´s last blog ..The State of the Union and What Clean Isn’t =-.