E-Bikes Have Arrived

In mid-summer of 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic changed anything that might be considered routine, a friend and I crossed into Canada at Beebe Plain on what would be the last of several annual bicycle tours on the excellent rail trails and bike routes created by our neighbor to the north.

We hadn’t pedaled too many kilometers when we noticed that something had dramatically changed since the previous year: E-bikes were everywhere and in abundance. When we stopped in a bike shop in Sherbrooke, the shop owner said that an explosion in e-bike sales had begun the year before.

This year, e-bike adoption has seen a similar, abruptly rising curve in the sales — and prevalence — of e-bikes. In addition to the hills or mountains almost every road or trail in Vermont will inevitably climb, the state’s population has swollen at the older demographic as the Boomer generation embraces retirement and discovers pedaling isn’t as easy or inviting as it had been.

Kip Roberts, co-owner of Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier, recalls that his mom was the first person to buy an e-bike through the shop. Boomers have been at the forefront of those moving to one of the many varieties of bicycles now available. But young families are also embracing electric cargo bikes for the utility and low carbon footprint they provide, he said.

Which Class are You?

In the bicycle recreation world, where most trail systems continue to prohibit e-bikes, Class 1 pedal assist bikes are now being allowed on the Kingdom Trails network in East Burke, Roberts said. Kingdom Trails policy allows riders to “use a class 1 eMTB or electric assist aMTB. A Class 1 eMTB/ e-bike is defined as two-wheeled cycles with fully operational pedals and an electric motor assist of no more than 750 watts (1 horsepower) and (i) are incapable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of more than twenty (20) miles per hour; and (ii) disengage or cease to function when the rider stops pedaling or the vehicle’s brakes are applied.”

Although the interest in e-bikes has inspired many brands and types of bicycles, some industry standards are in place: In addition to the Class 1 described above, Class 2 + pedal assist provides assist up to 20 miles per hour with a throttle; Class 3, also with a throttle, provides speeds up to 28 mph. Concern about speed and safety have generally precluded the use of electrics on off-road trails, Roberts added, noting that Onion River Outdoors’ focus on trail and gravel riding has sustained those more conventional bikes as sales leaders. Sales of road bikes and fat bikes have been comparatively declining, even at the annual used bike sale.

Keeping Pace

For many of those adopting e-bikes, one motivation can be to keep pace with friends or spouses who are more experienced cyclists. Another is a combination of environmental and convenience aspirations. Andrea Stander’s first e-bike ride replicated the joy and sense of freedom she recalled from learning to ride a bike as a child — although she said she is approaching her new conveyance with some caution: the wheels are smaller and the center of balance has a different feel than her previous bikes. She opted for the middle-level, foldable version, which has a top speed of 20 mph and can be stored in her vehicle when traveling. 

Adam Eiklor, a staff mechanic at Slopestyle Ski and Ride on River Street in Montpelier, said this year has brought a five-fold increase in e-bike sales over previous years. One factor is that e-bikes are available in an increasing variety of bicycle types, including around-town, gravel bikes, cargo bikes, folding bikes for travelers, and of course, Class 3 bikes that have throttles and a higher top speed.

Bridgit Masur, mechanic and sales manager at Vermont Bicycle Shop in Barre, where both interest in and sales of e-bikes have grown this year, personally uses a Class 3 bike, with its higher top speed, to commute to work from her home in Websterville. “In addition to strong sales, we’ve had a huge surge in the number of people investigating e-bikes” for personal use, she said. The primary line they carry is Orbea, manufactured in Spain by a co-op established in the 1950s.

Phoenix Mitchell, an experienced bicycle mechanic who oversees operations at Freeride Montpelier on Barre Street, often rides an e-bike himself, along with others that pedal conventionally. He explained that a few years ago, the shop had used available kits to convert standard bikes to e-bike operation but has suspended that service because of the fire and safety liability concerns that surround lithium batteries. 

“A proper, safe storage locker for lithium batteries starts at $1,000,” he explained.

Freeride is a nonprofit organization focused on encouraging bicycle use as an environmentally sound alternative to fossil fuel propelled conveyance. The shop sells used, reconditioned bikes on a sliding scale that is also applied to repair services and parts.