Help me shop!

Posted by Think_Shop2928@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 17 comments

Ok friends, I'm looking for an ebike with the following features, help me shop!

Commuter bike, 15 miles each way, mix of gravel, path and road, one HUGE hill (honestly if there were no giant hill i'd be just riding my road bike). So only 30 mile range but I only need it to haul my fat ass up one big hill.

Budget is $2k or less. If I feel in love with a cool fit/design/feature of course the budget goes out the window. Totally open to used if I find a target brand/style (and in Southestern PA fwiw)

I strongly prefer a road bike style frame (drop or flat handles). Need to carry a change of clothes/laptop on me, so some luggage but nothing CRAZY heavy, I could carry in a backpack especially if the bike is helping me on the hills. Would explore panniers/storage.

I like to ride with kevlar tires and just go over all the things, don't care about speed but need an all terrain set up. Not sure if the bikes that are very available/well priced (the cruiser style low step) would be too cumbersome? I assume they are pretty heavy.

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Dependent_Stop_3121@reddit

I’d probably check the incline of the hill first because some e-bikes can’t even do big hills at all.

You can check what the percentage of incline the hill is with your smart phone. If you have an iPhone it’s in the utilities section with the calculator. Choose the measurements app and click on the level one.

Then when you’re on the hill all you need to do is put your phone done on the hill and it will tell you the % of incline you’ll have to deal with.

E-bike manufacturers usually list the % their bikes can overcome like 15% or whatever. Check this out first because I’d hate for you to buy an e-bike that can’t even handle that hill.

Big hills can be extremely hard on the motors if they aren’t powerful enough for it. YouTube has lots of hill climbing e-bike videos to compare.

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Think_Shop2928@reddit (OP)

cool thank you! I can certainly 'help' get up it but I just don't want to 1) start my day by blowing my heart to max for an extended period or 2) even attempt it when I'm tired and zoned out on the way home.

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Dependent_Stop_3121@reddit

Hills are the worst. They always have defeated me on my other bike. Not anymore though. Shit even the wind could take me out in a second.

I think my power pedal wattage is in the minuses on a normal bike. I’m weak as fuck. 😂

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arenablanca@reddit

Thx! Not OP but I didn’t know my phone could do that. Now I have a few hills to measure.

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Dependent_Stop_3121@reddit

It’s pretty cool. I have a 22% incline out front of my place. 😂🏔️ 🚲

riseg12@reddit

Have you checked out the Electric Bike Report YT channel? They have tons of reviews on e-bikes and have like annual top e-bikes. They also use same test for every e-bike they test, including hills. When I was looking, I watched their annual top e-bikes vid, picked couple of them out, watched their individual review vids, narrowed it down to a couple and went to their website to compare the numbers. I’m not affiliated with them but they really helped me out.

Strict_Second_1922@reddit

There an ebike store in Pittsburgh called Fierro Bikes 412 that sells different brands by appointment.

samuraipunch@reddit

... Pittsburgh is on the other (western) side. SE PA, is Philly.

Misread it as Southwestern.

TheLawIsSacred@reddit

Following - last month I received the state and city rebate, totaling nearly $1,000 in credit, I'm looking to use it and spend no more than an extra few hundred dollars, similar use case, really could use some help finding a local shop, even though I'm an REI member, I wouldn't mind going with somewhere closer to the Baker/South Broadway neighborhood

Banquet_Killer@reddit

Check out Upway.co they have great deals usually 50% off of MSRP. I've bought two bikes from them. As far as your question I'd go for a mid drive. I have 3 E bikes all with the Bosch CX line great powerful motors.

Delicious-Length7275@reddit

check out these bikes at upway

the bulls iconic and bianchi e-omnia are a nice setup with plenty of torque.

surfyogi777@reddit

If you look ride1up, they have lots of bikes that would fit your price range; they are sturdy bikes, but may be hard to find anyone else to work on it but yourself.

Wind_Advertising-679@reddit

The price point of less than $2,000.00 is probably 80% of ebike shoppers. ***Online, certified used is Upway dot com. Carrying stuff for 15 miles in something like a backpack can get gruelling. What about the rain day's? Lectric, Aventon, Ride1Up. There's some cargo bikes that make it easier to use Panniers.

Xxmeow123@reddit

I bought a Kona Dew-E and it has a mid drive, Shimano 9 speed, and hydraulic disc brakes. Should work.

PwnBr0k3r@reddit

If you can find any lbs with Yamaha deals still available, they would be a good match. Crosscore RC and Wabash RT are the newer models and Cilantre is the 2020 model.

SE PA... Philly? The only really big assed hills coming to my mind is like Manyunk and the SRT and up towards Ridge Ave, or across the river in Bala... I'd probably look for an E-gravel to get that gearing, and comfort, but you'll likely blow out the budget for something like a Trek Domane+ or Specialized Creo..

To me, your budget, and your stating that you have a road bike already makes things difficult. As you likely don't want a step down or worse biking experience, which a less expensive/drop-shipped bike would provide. So for me, I'd want to stick with something comparable, instead of a step down. You could look at Canyon for a DTC bike, along the other smaller brands that have been around for a while.