Ellington

Writer: Drew Streip

Riding bikes is my hobby. I’ve ridden in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina. Biking is great exercise, and a great way to explore.

Bikes are guilt-free transportation using the ultimate sustainable energy—legs. So won’t strapping a motor to a bike vanquish that virtue? The folks at Chattanooga Electric Bikes don’t think so. Since opening on Frazier Avenue last year, they have rented about 10 bikes a week and sold enough motor-assisted cycles to become a fixture on the North Shore.

Now it’s time for me to see if a bike with an alternative power source—a battery rechargeable by pedaling— can compete for a spot in my garage. I’m wearing bike shorts under my street clothes, prepared to sit on this loveseat of a saddle for four hours while maintaining my decency. Repairs-expert Mitchell Bowman has tried to ease my mind by answering the most critical questions: How long does this battery last? At what point do I lose all credibility as a real cyclist?

I ease the bicycle, a Pedego Comfort Cruiser, out the front door. A young woman watches pityingly as I mount it. It takes forceful pedal strokes to get the 60-pound bike going but I keep it upright and, well, it rides like a normal bicycle as I start to cross the Walnut Street Bridge. I can practically hear the freshly treated wood creaking under its weight.

The bridge has a not-insignificant gradient of about five percent and I quickly realize that pedaling is much more difficult than usual. This is a moment of truth. I find the Easy Button and red, yellow and green lights illuminate when I press it. My right-hand grip becomes a throttle, which I give a slight twist. The motor engages and I’m propelled forward. Pedestrians stare incredulously at my ability to coast up the incline. Or maybe they’re confused by my race-worthy helmet and hydration backpack, which are out of sync with my ride that now feels more Buick than bike.

Cresting the bridge, I turn off the motor and return to pedaling. I quickly establish ground rules for myself:

Rule #1: No battery unless the hill is too steep to pedal.

Rule #2: Ride on the roads, not on the sidewalks like a nuisance.

Rule #3: Try not to break a sweat.

I coast to a low-traffic area downtown to master the throttle before attempting the motor’s most practical application: accelerating from a stop. The Pedego weighs almost half as much as I do, and even my well-developed cycling muscles will struggle through intersections without a boost from the battery. Rule #1: broken.

Riding down Market Street isn’t awful until I reach the Choo Choo. I hop up on the sidewalk, and then realize I’ve become “That Guy” by breaking Rule #2. Even bike advocates despise “That Guy” so I drop back into the street, cushioned by the massive cruiser tires.

The shiny windows of the new Blue Cross building beckon. I’ve never been up Cameron Hill, because, well, it’s Cameron Hill. but my quads beg for the pain and I unleash 450 watts with a twist of my fist. The guard at the top asks how—and why— I rode up without even breathing hard. Because I can.

To put the power into perspective, pro cyclists can maintain 450 watts or more without battery assistance—enough to power several light bulbs, a laptop, or my portable shiatsu massage chair. Bowman says this battery lasts an hour, so I get down to business. I maneuver up the riverwalk zig-zags to the Hunter museum, leaving a dime-sized patch of elbow skin on the brick wall as evidence of my only near-accident.

I follow the Riverwalk almost to the dam but turn around when storms threaten. Back across the river Forest Avenue looms ahead, presenting the final challenge. The 20-percent incline is no joke—members of my high school cross country team nearly lost their lunch fighting the precipitous slope. But it’s no match for the Pedego, and I ascend like a roller coaster being winched skyward. Fittingly, at the summit, I allow momentum to carry me down, stomach in my throat. The disc brakes effortlessly stop every one of the bike’s 60 pounds.

The bottom line? Even as a leg-shaving, Lycra-wearing, longtime cyclist, this is a fun and practical ride. I can commute 20 miles on one charge—and still adhere to rule #3. For $1600, this bike is an intriguing alternative to a car, motorcycle or scooter. Bowman says one owner uses his as his only transportation—for work, errands and pleasure. Just don’t expect to see one at the starting line of a race.

Specifications

Make : Pedego

Model : Comfort Cruiser

Price : $1,639

Range : 20 miles

Speed : 18 mph (without pedaling)

Weight : 60 lbs

Power : 36V battery, 450W motor

Charge time : 4-6 hours