My friend recently upgraded his e-bike and sold me his older model. My experience with personal electric vehicles (PEVs) was limited before taking a leap and buying this machine; I had only really ridden one e-bike before while in Philadelphia using their bike share program. Though e-bikes are the most common form of PEV, the moniker also applies to things like electric scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards, and one-wheels, which are a form of electric unicycle. To be honest, I fell into the camp of traditional cyclists who thought PEVs basically ruined one of the main benefits of commuter cycling, which is building exercise into one’s regular routine. That said, I will admit, riding an e-bike is an absolute blast, especially when exploring an unfamiliar city. I probably did 25 miles in Philly without even realizing it. I was ready to change my mind and figure out how this new technology could help me get around Erie and become even less dependent on my car.
E-bikes fall into three categories:
Pedal-assist bikes that largely retain the experience of riding a traditional bicycle and tend to look more like a traditional bicycle with slim frames and hidden batteries…