Going Electric

E-bikes can change lives.

By Kenz Wilson

Let’s talk about e-bikes. What are they? Why does everyone need one? How do you choose one? How are they different from regular bikes?

Simply put, e-bikes are bicycles with some form of electric motor. However, just like analog bicycles, there are many shapes and sizes that fall under the umbrella of “e-bike.” Some can go fast, some can carry a lot of stuff, some can carry a lot of people, some are good at getting you to work, some are good off-road, and some are just really stinkin’ fun to ride.

I think everyone should buy an e-bike.

Now, this may be a hot take for some people, but I fully believe that e-bikes have the potential to change your life for the better. E-bikes get a bad rap in some circles because they are viewed as “lazy” or “cheating,” but I think that is a bit unfair. E-bikes are a gateway drug to whimsy and adventure. I know so many people that would not ride a bike at all if it wasn’t for e-bikes. When you have pedal assist, you’re much more likely to get off the couch and go ride. You’re still doing the work, but you decide how hard the work is. E-bikes make cycling more accessible. People are more likely to go grocery shopping or to the cafe on their bike instead of in a car, and I’d call that a win. Because every time you choose to ride your bike somewhere, you’re exploring your community in a new way, breathing fresh air, seeing the slower side of life. I think this is expressed well by Gil, Owen Wilson’s character from “Midnight in Paris”. It is beginning to rain in Paris and Gil denies a taxi ride, telling his fiancée, “Oh, it’ll be nice walking in the rain! It’s beautiful!” That’s the type of idyllic and whimsical lens that cycling helps us see through.

E-bikes and analog bikes have something else in common: A lot of people are making them. There are pop-up brands on websites like Amazon, mass-produced e-bike companies like Aventon and Rad Power, traditional bike brands (almost all of them at this point) have e-bikes, and there’s also fully custom/handmade e-bikes.

• E-bikes are heavier than regular bikes: start with the pedal assist on low, and get used to the weight of the bike in corners before going faster.
• Check local laws about the legality and safety of riding on sidewalks.
• Wear your helmet.
• Only use the charger made for your bike.
• Have fun!

With so many options, how on earth do you choose one to purchase? Well, luckily for me, bikes have given me some pretty cool friends, and some of those friends just so happen to be the fine folks over at Gnargo Bike Co. in Bentonville*. Elysia Contreras Spurner (she/her) and I sat down for coffee and yapped about e-bikes for a while. If there’s some good info from the following tips, then it probably came from her.

Your bike is not a toy. It is a vehicle and it is a tool. Reframing a bicycle like this will help you on your journey to deciding what is right for you and your needs. The first thing to always think about is budget. Not everyone can or wants to spend thousands on a bike, so if the mass-produced Aventon is all you can get, do it! And enjoy it!

But what about other costs? You have the cost of the bike itself, plus anywhere from $100 to $1,000 of extra gear depending on what you’re doing and if you’re doing it year-round in wet and cold weather. Where the heck does all of this extra cost come from?

The most important thing to buy after you buy a bike is a flat kit (and a helmet). A flat kit includes some form of air like a mini-pump, a CO2 cartridge and a way to activate it, or an electric pump. Then you need a patch or extra tube. Next on the list, you really want tire levers in your flat kit — they will make your life so much easier. Last but not least, you need a way to carry your flat kit. Everyone has their own personal preference.

My pro tip is to put your flat kit inside of a saddlebag. It’s nice and out of the way under your saddle, and it is all together instead of being mixed in with other items. When — not if — you get a flat, you want to reduce stress by needing to grab only one thing.

So how much does it cost? It’s tempting to go online because bike stuff, like most stuff, has gotten more expensive since 2024.

You could buy online or you could go to your local bike shop and get what you need. I went and visited one of my favorite local bike shops, Mojo Cycling in Bentonville. Their customer service is great, and within a few minutes I had everything I needed for $66.20 after tax.

The list of bike accessories goes on: helmet, lights, bike rack, floor pump, rain jacket, bike bags of various shapes and sizes, cleaning supplies, new tires after a while, a new chain, etc.

Let’s talk about the impact of small business. While I was visiting the shop, I ran into my friend Ben the Mechanic. He was actually working on an entry-level e-bike. The rider has some health issues that prevent them from using their right hand at 100%. Ben and the team at Mojo situated all of the controls to the left side of the handlebars so that this rider could keep riding safely. This is why supporting your local bike shops is so crucial.

One more note on bike accessories: You do NOT have to buy new. In Northwest Arkansas, we are blessed to have small businesses like Sturdy Used Gear (@sturdyusedgear on Instagram or sturdyusedgear.com). Sturdy is a consignment shop that takes outdoor gear in good condition and sells it at various pop-up events across the region. Also, check out organizations like Pedal it Forward, and local bike shops can connect you with rides, which connect you with other riders, and those riders always have stuff for sale or trade.

So, what are you going to buy? I don’t use the cargo rack on my Gnargo every ride, but it sure is nice to have when I need it. Maybe you don’t need a cargo bike, maybe a step-thru bike that is easier to mount instead?

Do you know how long your commute is? Does your dream bike have a battery big enough to get you that far? Is this bike going to be shared between two people of similar size? Most importantly, what color do you want?

There’s a lot of small decisions to make. Whatever you choose, I hope you love it and ride it every day. Happy riding!