By David Beers
Photo by David Beers

On the evening of May 20 there were a bunch of cyclists going up hills in town while giggling—part of the ebike workshop at the Norfolk Hub, organized by West Lowe and Berkshire Bike and Board. The bicycles looked a bit different and certainly the cyclists were acting strange. When pedaling up hills, the average person around here is more likely to curse and gasp for breath.

There are a growing number of ebikers in town whose pedaling is assisted by a battery powered motor. Most of the motors power either one of the wheels or the pedal crank. The motors get their power from a rechargeable lithium battery that is either attached to the bike frame or a bike rack. The battery is locked to the bike and can be removed to bring inside for charging. The power is delivered two different ways. First is a traditional throttle like on a motorcycle or ATV that disengages upon braking or release. Second is the more common pedal-assist that delivers power to your pedaling based on the torque and cadence of your feet, with no power provided if you are braking or not pedaling. The assist can be adjusted to low, medium or high with a switch on the handlebar. A display lets you know how much charge the battery has and how fast you are going.

According to a recent Connecticut State law, there are three ebike categories that are allowed without registering them as a motor vehicle. All classes must have operable foot pedals and an electric motor rated at less than 750 watts. Class 1 is a low-speed pedal-assist bike with a top assisted speed of 20 miles per hour. You can go over 20 m.p.h., but the motor shuts off after that speed is reached. Class 2 is a low-speed throttle bike with the same 20 m.p.h. limit. Class 3 is a high-speed pedal-assist bike with a top assisted speed of 28 m.p.h.. There are currently no legal restrictions on classes 1 and 2. Class 3 bikes are not allowed on public bike paths. You have to be over 16 years old to ride a class 3 bike.

Ebikes have been in existence since the 1990’s but have only taken off in popularity in the past decade due to exponential improvements in battery size, power and weight. Batteries have gotten so small that even professional racers have been caught with battery-assist motors hiding in their feathery racing bikes. In Europe, where commuting with a bike is common practice, more ebikes are sold than regular bikes (aka acoustic bikes). 

The cost of ebikes is decreasing every year as the technology improves and more manufacturers enter the market. However, ebikes are still more expensive than most comparable acoustic bikes. A base model costs about $2000 and the price goes up from there as you add features, improved motors and better batteries. With the batteries being removable, you can upgrade your battery without getting a whole new bike and most new bikes come with a two-year warranty on the battery. Just like the battery in your cell phone, bike batteries do slowly lose their ability to hold their charge over time. The distance you can go on a battery charge depends on how much you pedal, your weight, the terrain and the condition of the battery. Most ebikes are able to hold their charge for at least 50 miles under typical conditions.

Norfolk residents rode to the workshop on a variety of ebikes. Rick Schatzberg came to the workshop on a full suspension electric mountain bike he purchased a couple of months ago to allow him to continue mountain biking despite knee problems. West Lowe also rode in on an electric mountain bike that allows him to continue to ride strong with a group of much younger mountain bikers. Nash Pradhan rented ebikes on a trip to Costa Rica and now is considering buying one as a way to time-travel back a few decades to the long hard rides he did in his youth. 

After the indoor presentation about ebikes, anyone who wanted to could try out an ebike provided by Berkshire Bike and Board in Great Barrington. The generally middle-aged plus crowd at the workshop sees ebikes as a way to get back into biking without frustration or discouragement. Ebikes are an equalizer that allows less fit bikers to keep up with more fit acoustic bikers. Jay Elling of Berkshire Bike and Board summed it up nicely when he said, “Some people may not get out biking because of the hills, and now ebikes gets them out biking again.”