Originally Posted by
tpreitzel
Cathy -
People HAVE to use the motor on flats due to environmental factors, e.g. wind.
I don't get this. It's flat. It's a bicycle with multiple gears. You downshift a little and just plug along. If the bike only had one gear, ok maybe you could say people "have to" use the motor. But if you are in good enough shape to ride a regular bike up a slight incline (even if you're kind of slow doing it), you should be able to pedal this heavier bike on flats. Sure, if there is a very strong headwind, that might change things, but I'd think that's the exception, not the norm.
Originally Posted by
tpreitzel
Most people won't even approach 12 miles on a full charge under most environmental conditions. And again, draining the battery more than 75% will significantly shorten the life of the batteries. I'm pleased that you and your husband get the range that you do, but most people will not even come close to that distance if they maximize the life span of the batteries.
There is no real way to tell when the battery is depleted 75%. Usually, at the very end of my commute, I say to myself, "Yeah, the motor seems to have a little less pep than at the beginning of the ride" but it is NOT totally drained. So I refuse to accept that I'm destroying my battery by using it this much.
We're all going to get different results, but I want potential buyers to know what is possible with this bike, and this is my experience. BTW, I exercise 3 times a week, but I'm not a fitness buff or anything. If I go out jogging, I plod along at maybe a 10 minute mile. I usually don't get more than a mile and a half before stopping to walk a bit. I say this just so you don't think I'm a triathlete or something.
Cathy