Have you ever found yourself wishing you could ride your bike to the store, the park, to work, but it’s a little bit too far? Or gone shopping on your bike and ended up buying things that are a little uncomfortably heavy? Or do you need the range of a car, but hate parking in Vancouver? (who doesn’t) If so, an electric bike might be right for you!

Electric bikes have come a long way since their conception. As early as the 1890s, US patents were being filed for electric-assist bikes, and e-bikes were available to consumers in a variety of configurations. These early e-bikes, however, were heavy, due to the materials in use at the time, and specifically due to the lead-acid batteries used to power them.

E-bike 1932 (by Philips & Simplex)

Luckily, today we live in a different world. Advances in materials have made quality e-bikes lighter, more powerful, higher range, and more pleasant to ride than ever before. Modern e-bikes often have frames of high-strength, low-weight aluminum, optimized geometry for the bike’s expected style of riding, powerful, compact motors placed in optimal drivetrain configurations, fully weather-sealed components, and energy-dense, light, fast-charging lithium-ion batteries.

What this means for a potential e-bike user is that not only do quality e-bikes ride like a normal bike, but they also provide the assistance you need, when you need it. Need to go that extra 10 kilometers? You can. Filled your bags too full of groceries? No problem. Want to go on a long bike ride with your fit friend, child, or grandchild? You’ll leave them in the dust. Hills getting you down when you want to go down to Spanish Banks? Leave it to an e-bike to get you back up.

As for maintenance issues, quality e-bikes are built with weather and wear in mind, so maintenance on the e-bike components will be minimal. In addition, the electrical components of all the quality e-bikes we sell come with at least a two year warranty. Legally, an electric bike is considered a regular bicycle, as well, so you won’t need any more safety equipment than you would need with a regular bicycle. However, one thing this entails is that the e-bike motor can take you to a legal maximum of 32.2 km/hr on level ground; if you’ve ever gone this fast on a regular bicycle, you’ll know that is pretty fast.

A modern e-bike (https://www.flickr.com/photos/testlab)

So, to conclude, who are e-bikes good for? In Vancouver, e-bikes are good for everyone! Many of our quality e-bikes come decked out with everything you could need for Vancouver and its weather – most have rain-defeating fenders already fitted, and some come with cargo transportation components ready-fitted. No matter your cycling experience, check out our catalogue of e-bikes, call (604) 559-9494 to book a test ride, or come down to Denman Bikes at 2607 Main Street and try out one of our e-bikes for yourself today!

Does your family have more than one car? Scrap the surplus and make your second vehicle the Townie^® Go!

Everyone can use the Go! Whether you’re a bicycle commuter looking to extend their potential, a new cyclist considering a longer commuting route, a parent hauling kids in the trailer or a” seasoned” cyclist whose joints need a little boost on those tougher climbs, the Townie^® Go! is guaranteed to take your commuting to the next level. This is the perfect bike for handling grocery runs or a quick trip up to Mom’s house, all while getting exercise and barely breaking a sweat.

Patented and Award-Winning Comfort

Enthusiasts of the Go! know full well why the Townie is one of the best selling bikes in North America: it features Electra’s patented Flat Foot Technology , a unique upright-riding frame geometry that allows you to plant both feet firmly on the ground, any time you want! Never feel off-balance again. With the Go! you can stabilize, stop and straddle your bicycle at any point during your ride, without tipping over. Feel confident mounting and dismounting, experiencing complete stability despite the extra weight of the bike and whatever else you happen to be hauling.

While in traffic or enjoying the countryside view, the upright Townie riding position gives you superior visibility to navigate with confidence. The upright ergonomics mean no more numb buns, sore wrists or neck and upper-back pain.

Unsurpassed German Engineering

At the touch of a button, the newly upgraded and ultra-quiet  Bosch motor offers a battery powered, pedal-assisted riding experience with more glide and less effort. On a really hot day, a quick ride to Mom’s for supper won’t have you showing up sweaty in your spandex – leave the technical gear and your worries behind.  Activated only while pedaling, the frame-mounted motor enhances your natural momentum up to 25 km/h, ensuring your safety with a smooth distribution of power that lets you adjust your rhythm based on speed.  The 2016 edition comes with 8 gears in a low-maintenance internal hub that performs consistently in any weather, rain or shine. Shift easily from gear to gear with twist style shifting on the handlebar.

4 Riding Modes, Plus One More!

Hill and headwinds just don’t matter anymore. The new Townie^® Go! is equipped with 4 riding modes to fit your ride as it changes from day to day: Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo. Eco is the slowest speed on the spectrum, saving the most battery life, with Turbo providing the maximum push to get you to your destination well in time.  Sport mode is the perfect choice for off-road adventures and the stop-and-go nature of heavy city traffic, while Tour mode offers consistent support for longer, steady trips. With the Go!, you can ride at nearly 30 kph with an average heart rate of 120, which is a very healthy, low-risk rate for anyone not used to heavy exercise. In the heat, cruise at 20 kph without heating up yourself – let the breeze be your air conditioning. Up for a challenge? You can always turn the motor off, and just ride it like a bike!

Hauling Power on the “Go”

This is the perfect bike for getting a boost for extra weight.  Never think twice about that 4-gallon of milk on your way home – fill up your panniers and let the Go! do the rest. Parents love the pedal-assist when packing kids into a rear trailer, and younger riders can actually keep up with the pack when you lend them your Go! for a family ride around the sea wall.

Dependable Specs and Warranty!

Now for the technical details: Featuring a 2 year warranty, the Go!’s  36 volt Lithium-ion battery has an average 3 ½ hour complete charge time (1 ½ hours for 50%) and up to 120 km of ride time depending on your mode and terrain. The Bosch Performance electric-assist system is located mid-frame and packs a 250 watt punch. Other specs include a lightweight aluminum frame, Schwalbe Fat Frank Tires for a luxuriously soft ride and low-maintenance Shimano eBike-approved roller brakes. Sweet extras include a Bosch battery charger, alloy rear rack, LED front and rear lighting set, matching rims and fenders, anti-rust hardware and an ABUS frame lock.

Come in for a Test Ride, we have them in Stock!

With so many features loaded into one bike, the Townie^® Go is one of the most intuitive and luxurious rides on the market. If you aren’t curious yet, you should be. Check them out on our website. Better yet, come in and take a rest ride at either of our 2 Vancouver shop Locations and feel the difference for yourself. Ditch the car, and ride!

Ah e-Bikes. “The closest you can get to a motorcycle without makin’ yo mamma cry.”

Thanks to Electra, I don’t need one anymore! With a 32 kilometer top out speed I’m moving faster than I normally pedal uphill all without having to break my “don’t go any faster than the speed you’re willing to crash at” rule.

The Townie Go!, much like it’s non-electric counterpart still comes with a lightweight aluminium frame and the same great flat foot technology that has made the regular Townies the best selling bike in North America. Couple that with the new mid-drive motor from Bosch, and you’re so balanced the Dalai Lama is coming to you for advice.

If you got the chance to take last years model for a spin, let me tell you, the new Townie Go for 2016 is a whole new animal. This year Electra has partnered with Bosch to bring you a compact but powerful 250 watt mid drive motor with an Intuvia control center and 4 different modes of assist; Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo. That mid-drive motor also means you get to keep the Shimano 8 speed rear internal hub  and roller brakes for greater cruise control. Clean, compact and low maintenance, we love internal hubs!

The breakdown for the four modes of assist are as follows:

Eco: Effective support at maximum efficiency
Tour: Steady support for long tours
Sport: Immediate, powerful support for athletic riding off-road and in city traffic
Turbo: Direct, powerful support up to maximum cadence for athletic riding

This addresses my only complaint with the 2015 version, having multiple modes and a way to see them makes all the difference. Like the 2015 version it still has the “Get On and Go” throttleless system that adapts assistance based on cadence, but with the Intuvia control system you can also see your speed distance and battery power giving you a greater control over your ride.

And of course all the things that have made the Townie the best selling bike in North America are all still there, as well as integrated front and rear lighting powered by a Dynamo hub, fenders and rack and an Abus frame lock that is keyed alike with your battery for extra convenience.

Exciting, no? These babies are so hot Electra is already sold out until April in the US – the only way you’re going to get to see or try one of these before spring would be if we could get our hands on a demo unit before then…Which of course we did! It’s here now for the next week so DON’T WAIT!

This ride is visiting us for a limited time only so don’t delay! Come on down to our 2607 Main Street location between now and Christmas and give the future a spin!

Townie Go! 2016 models have now started to arrive in store but supplies are limited so don’t miss your chance! You’ll want to make sure you pre-order yours before it’s too late!

At Denman Bikes,   we’re excited to announce that we now have Toba Electric Bikes in Stock!

Technology has finally caught up with consumer demand for a
TRUE pedal-assist bike, making life easier for cyclists, with more challenging needs.

With a solid Canadian warranty, we’re ready to present these Electric bikes to you.

TOBA has been providing quality Canadian bike accessory design for years.  Now, they’ve teamed up with Bionx, the industry leader in electric conversion to bring you Electric Bike options that are ready to take you anywhere!

The Toba Edison (classic frame) and Toba Edwin (step-thru) are equipped with dashboard and handlebars controls. The 4-mode throttle allows you to adjust the amount of pedal assistance from light all the way to full-assist mode (no need to pedal).  Depending on your settings and battery choice, the system can provide you with 60 – 105km of distance and have you flying up to a max of 32km/hr!

Toba Edwin

The battery automatically generates each time you apply the hand brakes. When descending a big hill, just set the bike to regenerative mode. The system will automatically slow you down while descending, without the need to apply the hand brakes. This saves both your brake pads, and your grip strength, and furthermore regenerates the battery!

You’ll be turning heads as you speed by on one of the stylish Toba bikes that have been engineered specially to handle the torque of the electric motor and weight of the battery.

Lightweight aluminum frames, are equipped with quality Shimano components and double-walled wheel rims with reinforced spokes, made specifically for E-bikes.  The improved cassette body has proven strength-gauge sensoring and provides more precise shifting than ever before.   The high output, removable Li-Ion batteries are lighter and will keep you rolling for miles of smiles.

Disc brake upgrades are available on both models.

Come in and Test Ride a Toba Edwin E-bike today at our Vancouver Denman Bikes on Main at 10^th location.

See what our DBS staff  is so excited about!