To load Bikes founder Nick Larsen and product vice president Peter Vallance wanted to reduce the pain points of buying and owning an electric bike to appeal to both everyday people and cycling enthusiasts.
The company offers three models: the Comfort for weekend leisure outings, the City for commuters and the XC for off-road enthusiasts. I spent some time with City and took him on a quick shopping trip to see what he could do.
The bike features a 250W geared hub motor with a top speed of up to 20 MPH, pedal assist and throttle, front and rear lights, a lockable removable battery that can travel 50 miles on a single charge, handlebar and folding pedals, Goodyear resistant to tire puncture, tire pressure sensors, an easy-to-read display with speed selector and power assistance, disc brakes, 7-speed Shimano Tourney gearbox, mudguards, a luggage rack and a practical dandy kickstand. All of this weighs only 45 lbs.
Unboxing was easy and I was glad the company skipped the Styrofoam packaging. I really enjoy working with my hands and building things, but it was all too easy. Just open the handlebars and pedals, connect the front wheel and adjust the seat post. After filling the tires with air and charging the battery, you are ready to go.
I started my run on flat ground and mostly used the throttle to full throttle, why, why not? The seat, grips and driving position were comfortable and I could easily see myself driving longer.
The folding pedals looked weird. There was a bit of flex and bow, which made me think I might lose some crank power by going to the wheel. I was afraid of breaking them. However, the folding handlebar seemed to be securely locked and didn't give me any worries.
One of the company's marketing messages - "Come and go, don't sweat" - didn't quite ring true, at least to me. While it's very fast and offers great help on flat terrain, it's not the hill-smoothing bike I hoped it would be. We have a lot of hills here in Oakland and my route to the local grocery store had several inclines. Some of the steeper ones had me struggling to do five miles per hour at assist level five.
It is much better to have electricity than not. I certainly wouldn't attack any of these hills with my regular bike. I normally go to this grocery store, but having an e-bike gave me the option to leave the car parked and I love it.
Some critical points on the bike, but they aren't brain teaser, are the bumpers. While they're a great feature, they fold out of place often when rubbing against the tires. Folding pedals are a nice idea, but I probably replace them with standard ones with straps.
I ran into gear shifting issues mid-climb which is the worst time to not shift to an easier gear. It was happening with the thumb on the accelerator at full blast. I also had a problem with the charger not charging the battery to 100% overnight. It happened a couple of times and I'm not sure what the problem was. I unplugged everything and plugged it back in, and this seemed to do the trick.
Overall, the City is a great everyday driving utility bike for everyday folks. From buying the bike to storing it, they have really reduced the friction points of owning an e-bike. You can purchase the City bike on their site for $ 1,499.