Retired boomer, out to walk my dogs, ride my bike, and hike the forest paths around Monroe County Indiana. Recently found ADHD runs in my family, and apparently gallops in me…
Today Mike Leonard stopped by to pick up his newly assembled Aventon Level Commuter Ebike. As you might suspect, Mike is a great researcher, and there are a lot of brands out there, so he sifted through them all, and came up with the Aventon Level as the best value proposition for him.
It is really solid, well designed, with plenty of power and pickup, perfect for navigating Bloomington in style. It has a 48V/500W motor, and a big 14 Ah battery, meaning it can go up to 40 miles on a charge. It sports a hydraulic front fork for off-road fun, and the luxury of hydaulic disk brakes. It came installed with a rear rack, and panniers will make it perfect for shopping, work or picnics.
It seems a bit counter intuitive, but riding an ebike is as good exercise as riding a conventional bike! Yes, you may exert less power while riding, but this study published in ScienceDirect shows that ebike riders put on more miles, and thus end up getting as much physical activity, measured in Metabolic Equivalent Tasks (MET), as conventional bike riders.
Highlights:
Ebikers take longer trips by ebike and bicycle, compared to cyclists.
Physical activity gains from active travel are similar in e-bikers and cyclists.
Substituting all car trips with ebike use leads to a gain of 550 MET min/week.
Transport mode substituted by the ebike is still used frequently afterwards.
I’m not sure what will actually happen, but I am certain that e-bikes are one of the steps towards a better, more humane transportation system.
After a couple of years mostly town riding, Jojo (& Charlie) and I went out for one of the finest loop rides in Monroe county. This route tours our three large valleys on the eastside, Kerr Creek, Getty’s Creek, and Brummett’s Creek Roads. Our map is below, 90% of the ride was through quiet countryside, with several miles on ridgetop, but mostly through the valleys. Our total distance was over 23 miles, as we took a 2 mile out and back to the Campbell preserve on Upper Birdie Galyon.
Gettys-Brummetts loop
Over the past 15 years, Jojo, Charlie, and I have ridden on nearly every road in Monroe and Lawrence counties, but lately (due to health and age issues), we have not been riding as in the past. Instead we have been enjoying the city’s growing bike infrastructure and trails. But we missed those long treks through the county…
So now with the use of our Zephyr E-bikes, we are back on track with longer rides! I rode my purple Rans recumbent (which we outfitted a 500Watt front wheel motor), while Jojo/Charlie rode my RadWagon cargo bike that I have been using the past few years.
Purple Rans Stratus
About 90% of the ride was on the nearly empty country roads that crisscross eastern Monroe county. Here is the list of roads in order:
Kerr Creek – 3 miles of country homes along the limestone creek
Getty’s Creek – a quick climb over to SR 46, and a quick dash to:
Birdie Gaylon/Fleenor/Hash – The hill up Lower Birdie Galyon is really steep, but our electric assist made it easy. Right on Fleenor, best to have a hand on the brakes descending to Hash Road, then right to Brummett’s Creek Rd.
Brummett’s Creek – 3.5 miles of beautiful valley riding – farm fields surrounded by green ridges of state forest
Mt. Giliad-Upper Birdie Gaylon-Mt. Giliad. Several miles of ridge riding. Upper Birdie Galyon goes well into the forest, ending at Sycamore Land Trust’s Campbell preserve, well worth the extra 2 miles
Getty’s Creek – Just beautifull as Brummett’s, Getty’s Creek Rd runs for a mile less along Stephens Creek (and meets Mt. Gilead Rd at the confluence of Getty’s Creek and Stephens Creek.)
Kerr Creek – Back up Kerr Creek, usually the hill at the end is a killer when coming home, but this time we were exhilarated rather than exhausted.
Charlie Bird visits Campbell Preserve
We met a local biker riding the same Getty’s/Brummett’s loop we were on who was riding this Magnum Metro. The owner was very pleased with the bike, so I looked up the brand back at the shop, they are priced mid-range ($1600-$2800), so a pretty decent value…except they are out of stock of all models! They do have $1000 scooters in stock…
Magnum City E-Bike
Charlie Bird loves nothing better than stretching his wings will riding up Brummett’s Creek Rd.
Charlie enjoying the breeze.
CORN! Well over knee high well before Fourth of July! I am thinking it has been growing in these valleys for thousands of years.
This is the SONDORS X, their orginal fat tire mountain bike, which is more than enough the handle the gravel roads, off-road trails, and steep hills in our area (look out McGowen Rd!). This is a heavy duty hard tail, with the 4″ fat tires smoothing out the bumps. The controller and battery are well protected from water and mud in the SONDORS proprietary case, making it a great ride in any weather. The SONDORS X is $1300 at Zephyr E-Bikes, plus $200 with the Accessory Kit.
SONDORS X with Accessory package: Fenders, Rack, Bag +$200
The Fold XS is the premium version of the Fold X, and is a beast of a machine, ready to hold a 300 pound person and still zip up any hill in southern Indiana. It sports a 750Watt continuous (1000Watt peak) motor, and a 14 Ah 48V battery, so the Fold XS can go the distance. With 4″ fat tires, a suspension fork and a suspension dropper seat, this e-bike smoothes out the bumps in the back country, or the potholes in the city streets! The hydraulic disk brakes with 180mm rotor offer best in class braking power for this heavy duty bike. The 20″ x 4″ tires allow both maneuverability and great traction, while allowing for more torque from the motor, so you have to be careful not to pull a wheelie when starting up!
48Volt, 750Watt motor
Hydraulic 180mm brakes
Adjustable air shocks
Handle bar riser (accomodates taller riders)
Exaform Dropper Seat
Color LCD w/USB
14 Ah Battery
Front hub with sealed bearings
This model is $1800 on the SONDORS website, but earliest delivery date is the end of June. So if you want one now, just let us know, our shop price is $1875, fully assembled and ready to go.
We have the accessory kit (rack, bag and fenders) on order, but it has not yet shipped, it is apparently on the same slow boat from China that the rest of the SONDORS e-bikes are on!
I’ve ridden this one around town a bit, and I like it a lot. It feels big and beefy even though it is a 20″ wheel folding bike. The top tube contains the battery, and is much wider and thicker than on a standard bike, making feel solid and strong. The 4″ x 20″ fat tires add to the sturdy feeling. It has a 500 watt, torquey motor, and this thing jumps forward from a dead stop, and gets to top speed (20 mph) in seconds. It is like a sports car, small and nimble, yet powerful off the line with plenty of stamina for long climbs. This not a beginner bike for sure, but it sure is fun and feels safe due its bulk.
We have assembled our first shipment of Ecotric E-Bikes, and are excited to offer them for sale at our shop. We especially enjoy the size, power and fun of the 20″ folding e-bikes, while the 26″ city and offroad bikes are great for commuting, running errands, or just tooling around Bloomington. They offer a great blend of performance and price value, making them a great first e-bike purchase.
Dolphin 20″ Fat Tire Folding E-Bike – $900.00
Dolphin 20″ Fat Tire Folding Step Thru
The Dolphin has a winning combination of features to make it a perfect bike for just about any activity. Fold it up and put it in the car, it is a step-thru making it easy to mount and control.
Power Sport Folding Fat Tire 48V – $970
Power Sport Folding Fat Tire
This fat tire folding bike is beefier than the Dolphin, and though Ecotric has not come up with a cutsie name for it, but they are selling fast. It has a 48 Volt/500 Watt motor and may be a bit more solid in its geometry when hitting the back forty, or hitting a Bloomington pothole or curb.
Starfish 20″ Folding Step Through – $750
Starfish 20″ Folding Step Through
The Starfish has a smaller frame and wheels (1.75″ tires) than the 2 fat tire bikes above, and is perhaps a bit easier to handle as a result. Perfect for zipping around town on errands, . It has a 36 Volt/350W motor, and disk brakes front and back. The rack will hold a pair of panniers, and the bike is rated for 220 lbs. payload, and it is easily transported. It is a great way to started with e-bikes both in affordiblity and ease of use.
Peace Dove 26″ City Bike – $700.00
Peace Dove 26″ City Bike
This step-through city bike is another great value for the new e-bike rider. It is easy to mount and control, with a 36 Volt/350 Watt motor will travel from one end of town to another and back again with no problem. With a rear rack, it can handle a rear bike bag or panniers, great for shopping and other errands.
Rocket 26″ Mountain Bike $1000
Rocket 26″ Mountain Bike
The Vortex’s beefier brother, the Rocket has a 36 Volt/500 Watt drive train, matched with 4″ fat tires, and suspension fork, the Rocket can take on trail riding as well as the toughest city streets. With front fork suspension, 2″ tires, and sleek design, it is ready to hit the back country for hours of fun riding.
Vortex, Value Mountain Bike – $675
Vortex, Value Mountain Bike
The Vortex sports a 36V, 350W motor, enought power to climb most of our hills with pedal assist. With straight handlebars, short body and knobby tires, it is meant to make easy work of the toughest terrain.
We are proud to offer SONDORS electric bikes! We are the only dealer/repair shop in our area, and currently have 3 models in stock, the SONDORS X, the Fold X and the Smart Step. All 3 are extremely sturdy, elegant and well built. With plenty of power on the SONDORS X and Fold X (48V/500W motors), they will conquer any hill in southern Indiana, while the fat tires will smooth out any bumps or pot holes with ease. The Smart Step is built to mount easily, and with 36 V/350W motor, it is sized perfectly for city use, or cruising our county roads in style. The SONDORS line is a bit more expensive that our Ecotrics, but we feel they are well worth the extra cash ($200-300).
Sondors Fold X
The Sondors Fold X is a sleek little machine to look at, but feels like a beast once you are on it. Like all Sonodors models, it will handle up to 300 lbs, and has a ton of power to get you going, quick, even up hill. The 20″ fat tires grip the road, and the smaller wheels mean you have more torque than standard 26″ wheels. Try one out, they are a true values at $1300 at Zephyr Bikes.
Sondors X Mountain Bike-Fat Tire
This is the SONDORS X, a fat tire mountain bike, which is more than enough the handle the gravel roads, off-road trails, and steep hills in our area (look out McGowen Rd!). This is a heavy duty hard tail with no front suspension, which is no problem due to the fat tire’s ability to smooth out the bumps. The controller and battery are well protected from water and mud in the SONDORS proprietary case, making it great in all weather. The SONDORS X is $1300 at Zephyr E-Bikes.
SONDORS Smart Step
The SONDORS Smart Step is the right choice for those of us who prefer the ease of mounting that a low step bike affords. It is a full sized bike (27.5″ wheels) that will hold large humans up to 300 lbs, yet with its low step design, is easy to manage for just about anyone. It has a 36V/350Watt motor good for 25-40 miles before recharging. Use it for cruising around town on errands, or with 3″ tires and front suspension, hit the gravel/dirt roads and hills in our area. $1300
I recorded this song just as the Inauguration (2021) began. As Amtrack Joe seems to be the first president with a sense of what good transportation looks and feels like, I was feeling paticularly hopeful for the future. I am hoping our e-bike initiative will help bring ever more folks to the biking lifestyle, and foster postive change in our transporation system.
First recorded (and composed?) in 2005 by Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders on their “Singing in the Bathtub” album, it apparently made its way to England, where this cute video has emerged. Both versions are superior to mine, but I just had to give it a try!
Williamsburg Center, Suite 13 121 S. Pete Ellis Drive Bloomington Indiana 812-219-1324
We (Mitch Rice & my son-in-law Emmanuel Wefunya) run an e-bike shop in Bloomington, Indiana. We are located on the eastside of Bloomington IN, near College Mall. We sell, assemble, service, and upgrade all models and styles of e-bikes. Sondors and Ecotric are the new e-bikes we sell, brands which we see as good values in the $800-$1600 price range. If you purchase online from another brand, we can assemble and tune it for you, or meet with you to make sure you order the best bike for your circumstance.
Folding E-bikes
Fat Tire Mountain E-Bikes
Ecotric Lark 36V/500W
SONDORS Fold X
All of our e-bikes feature 3-5 levels of power assist, which means you can adjust just how much assistance you use at anyone time, from none, to up to 3-4 times your input energy. So an average commuter cylist might produce about 150 watts at 10 mph. (Bike athletes can produce 200-300 watts average over 4 hours, and even more during sprints) So it is like having a couple of extra rider your bike, but without the extra weight and wind resistance. Most models have a throttle as well, which is especially useful when starting up and moving throught city intersections. It overcomes your initial inertia, allowing you to cruise easily through the toughest intersections.
Indiana, seen from a bike…
We are sure that e-bikes have a great potential for improving our national transportation system, as well as for personal growth, health and well-being. E-bikes make commuting comfortable and accessible for a wide range of people with the added benfit that e-bikes are fun, easy to ride, and eco-friendly. E-bikes chill the hill, no sweat, really, and distance is no problem while an averaging 15/mph in the city. No need for fancy riding clothes, and you will arrive at your destination calm, cool, and ready to go, while feeling mentally/spiritually refreshed by your ride to work.
Recreationally, e-bikes can really extend your range, and with 3-5 levels of assist, you don’t need to worry about our abundent hills; in fact you can look forward to them. All models have a power indicator, allowing you to guage the milage left, and for the really long rides (over 50-60 mi), you could carry a second battery. We recently converted Mitch’s classic Rans recumbent, which was used for over a decade to roam all over Monroe, Brown, and Lawrence counties. Here’s to the many miles ahead!
Mitch's Btown Blog 