My employer is ending wfh in one month. I have been going into the office for the last month or so to use hardware I cant take home. I have biked to work in past years but never more than a few days per week for a month or so. In the last month I have ridden into work 5-10 times, it is 6 miles each way, no showers at work, I can clean up in my office and leave some things there. Here we get rain year round and can have weeks of 30-80% chance of rain while it is stupid hot and humid. My main athletic focus is indoor rowing and I dont want ridding to work to meaningfully detract from that. In the last month it was hot while ridding home and I could really feel it during my row. I dont think I will ever ride five days per seek so shopping by bike is not really needed.
Public transit is not a viable option here. Short of doing loops around a block I could not make the commute longer to make it a proper workout.
I have looked at ebikes in the past but was always put off by the price and the esthetics, I can be a bit of a bike snob - having ridden road for 20+ years. 6 miles in the heat is enough to take the edge off my real workout hence the ebike. I have never been good about working out in the morning, it just does not happen as regularly as pm workouts.
Looking around I think I have found three viable ebikes, I wanted to write out a pro/con list and see what the community has to say.
All are belt driven, I think that is the price point I want to say at.
Babymaker pro:
https://flx.bike/products/babymakerPro:
>> comes with drops (vs flat handle bars)
>> fender/rack mount holes
>> disk brakes
>> max speed 28mph
>> 700x28c tires
Con:
>> cost 1769$
>> 350 watt hub motor
>> would not ship for several months ("mid summer")
>> single speed
>> cadence sensor
>> company seems newer to the bike game and pushing a IG/hipster vibe
Roadster v2:
https://ride1up.com/product/roadster-v2/?wpam_id=18Pro:
>> 1045$
>> lightest weight
>> 500w peak, 350watt nominal
>> 700x28c tires
>> fender/rack mount holes
>> 24mph
Con:
>> Single speed
>> flat handle bars
>> pivot brakes
Luna Fixed Stealth ebike:
https://lunacycle.com/luna-fixed-stealth-ebike/Pro:
>> 3 speed internal hub gearing
>> torque sensor
>> 500watt
>> disk brakes
>> 24mph
>> fender/rack mount holes
>> torque sensor
Con:
>> 700x35c tires - seems a bit wide, easy to change
>> 1750$
I have lights and a rack I can put on anything I get. Also would probably put road peddles on it.
I do have an older road bike I could modify but I sort of like having the option of a trainer bike and all the above have belt drives reducing maintenance. And I do like the look of a hidden battery they all have.
Financially I am basically FI and still gainfully employed so I dont need to go for the cheapest option but I want to be smart with the money. Between my per mile insurance and gas I worked out that driving my car to work costs ~5$/week so an ebike will only save money if it significantly delays replacing my 2003 toyota.
If I missed other good options please let me know.
Thanks for any help figuring out what to do!