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Why E-Bikes?

Category: Bike Trends, DBS Community, Pro Tips

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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)

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)

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!

So what is a Performance “Commuter” Bike?

Category: Bike Trends, Featured Items, Pro Tips

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THE COMMUTER BIKE IS YOUR TICKET TO COMMUTING PERFORMANCE & PLEASURE!

When you think of commuting, what comes to mind? Are you stuck in traffic inside your car, or trying to find a seat on an overcrowded bus? What if we told you there was another way…a faster, more economical and hands-down FUN way to commute? There is – it’s on a bike. But not just any bike – the commuter!

So What is a Performance “Commuter” Bike?

A commuter ride is light, fast and equipped with a large gear range. Also, instead of cycling with an upright posture, as with a city bike, the rider is angled slightly downward. This is termed a more “aggressive” position, where the angle is all about power.

This angled riding posture allows you to really dig down into your pedals and get a much more effective stroke each time around. It is also  a better position to tackle those hills that are probably somewhere along your route (while making use of all those gears!) – Vancouver doesn’t always make it easy, but the commuter does!

Some commuters have flat bars and a slight angled posture:

The Brooklyn Roebling is a lightweight commuter bike with 24 speeds and a derailleur – easy to ride and perfect to customize.

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The Brooklyn Lorimer comes in matte ivory, boasts 25 speeds and a lightweight frame that comes in smaller sizes to accommodate petite riders.

 Other Commuters are Sporty and ready for the Trail:

 

kona_dew_pluskona_dew_deluxe

 

The Kona Dew Plus and Kona Dew Deleuxe are great examples of quality Kona bikes with a broad gear range, high performance hydraulic brakes that offer consistent, superior braking ability in wet conditions.

Some Have Drop Bars – These Make Great Touring Bikes, too!

 

kona_rove_al kona_jake

The Kona Rove AL and Kona Jake are sporty, performance-oriented bikes that can tackle just about any adventure, be it the route to work or a weekend tour. The drop bar orients the rider in an “aggressive” riding position, angled downward.

Why Ride a Commuter?

SAVE MONEY Switching your car out for riding a bicycle is an amazing way to save 100’s, even 1000’s of dollars a year! Bikes are free to ride and inexpensive to maintain and repair. If you’re looking for a budget hack, this is it!

GET OUT OF TRAFFIC – Don’t spend a minute more in the car than you have to! Starting or ending your day on the bike is energizing, instead of infuriating. With most Vancouver buses equipped with bike racks, you’re always good to go no matter what.

GET IN TO SHAPE – Commuting by bike is the easiest way to get in shape without spending time (or money) in the gym. Cycling is a excellent cardiovascular exercise, known for building endurance and burning fat. Set the pace you’re comfortable with – and be amazed at how quickly your strength grows.

HAVE FUN!!! – The best part! At its core, riding is fun. Getting to and from work doesn’t have to be a chore – enjoy yourself and experience the pleasure of cycling!