ERIK'S TOP PICKS: ELECTRIC BIKES

An e-bike provides assistance to your pedaling. The assistance automatically kicks in as you pedal and gently adds power to your stroke. The amount of assistance depends on a setting that you can control. Most e-bikes have settings such as Eco (20% boost), Sport (50% boost), and Turbo (100% boost), making you that much faster!

The assistance feels gentle even though it can provide plenty of power. Many e-bike riders tell us they hardly notice the boost, despite the added speed, fun, and ease of riding it provides. An e-bike's pedal assistance helps make hills seem smaller and distances seem shorter.

Customers often ask us if they'll still get a good workout when riding their e-bikes. The answer is, definitely!

There have been a number of studies about physical exertion on e-bikes. A study out of the University of Colorado-Boulder found that e-bikes are an effective workout. Another study out of Norway found that electric bike riders experience physical exertion 95% of the time. These studies come to similar conclusions: e-bikes are an excellent form of fitness and exercise.

It's easy to say that e-bikes are for everyone who wants to ride a bike, but why is that? Put simply, they're just like normal bikes, only they make you feel more powerful. They give every rider that extra oomph to ride further, faster, and more often.

There are many reasons why someone might choose an e-bike. If biking isn't as fun as it used to be, or you want to commute to work without getting all sweaty, or your legs feel spent halfway through a day of trail riding, an e-bike is for you. Because they're great modes of exercise and transportation for people experiencing mobility difficulties, e-bikes also allow a variety of people with differing fitness and physical abilities to ride together.

No matter where you'll be riding or what type of cycling you want to do, there is an e-bike for each style of riding—which means there's an e-bike for everyone!

Yes! Most e-bikes are designed to be ridden in the rain and other types of inclement weather. You can even ride them all winter through the snow. However, you should not ride through puddles so deep that your e-bike's motor or battery are submerged. If you plan ride in the rain often, there are a few things that will make it more enjoyable, like fenders and wearing rain apparel. After your e-bike gets rained on, be sure to clean and dry it off before storing it to keep your bike in its best shape!

E-bikes are separated into three different classes: Class 1 and 2 e-bikes have a maximum speed of 20 mph (with Class 2 e-bikes equipped with a throttle), while Class 3 e-bikes have a maximum speed of 28 mph. You should always check with local regulations to see which kinds of e-bikes are legal in your area.

Electric bikes are generally heavier than conventional/analog bikes. While weights vary significantly based on motor and battery types, frame construction, and other factors, most e-bikes weigh between 45 and 60 pounds. This should be kept in mind when storing or transporting your e-bike.