Bike Durham sure knows how to organize and event. We have been involved with supporting and donating to Bike Durham for over Six Years now. We have attended and supported dozens of events they have held in Durham NC over that period of time.

Their Latest event was eBike Focused. It was held as part of a member meeting and was as a huge success for riders interested in more information, testing and buying an Electric Bicycle or eBike.

There were Two Parts to the event.

Part One was a hosted Panel of Experts discussion with interested riders. Joe Michel, Owner of eBike Central, participated one the Panel with three other area eBike dealers. It was great to answer some of the following questions about eBikes:

• What do you think makes for a great eBike?
  eBike Central: Quality of all the components is what creates the best ‘riding experience’. Also, we carry Four categories: Urban, Off Road, Cargo and Compact; so there is a specific eBike that fits a certain need. 
• What eBike misperception do you hear most frequently?
  eBike Central: That all eBikes have a Throttle. No, in fact most of the eBikes we sell do not have throttles and are Pedal Assist only. Throttles are only found on Class 2 eBike category, while Class 1 (20 mph) and 3 (28 mph) are only pedal assist. All riders that cycle on a regular basis are most comfortable on a Class 1 or 3 where you have to move the pedals to get assistance. Class 2 eBikes are normally for those riders needing additional assistance or require a throttle as a feature. We carry All Three Categories of eBikes. 
• What do you think should be riders’ top priorities when looking for an eBike for commuting? Family rides? Fitness? Keeping up with faster partners?
  eBike Central: Commuters will want more comfort and methods to carry items. Wider tires, Shock absorbers, Racks for Bags, Mirrors and a Faster, Class3, category are common. Family rides are slower and more path/greenway oriented, which can include Cargo, Urban and Compact (20″ wheel) eBikes. Children can ride on or in Cargo eBikes from Infant to toddler ages. Fitness are normally Off Road or Urban eBikes with Active Riding Positions. All our eBikes we refer to as the Great Equalizer when riding with Faster Partners, where levels of assistance provide the power needed to ‘keep up’! 
• What advice do you give eBike riders most frequently in regards to safety?
  eBike Central: Safety checks before each ride is the foundation for safe riding. Check the Tire Pressure, Check the Brakes are working, and Inspect something is different from the last safe ride. Most eBikes have built in lighting systems, so we recommend turning them on even during the day to increase being noticed by everyone around. Mirrors are a recommended addition and Helmets should be worn at all times. Enhancements including Blinking Safety lights, front and rear, as well as LED Helmets to enhance visibility. 
• How would a rider know if the bike they are interested in fits them properly?
  eBike Central: Many eBikes come in sizes, so getting properly sized with the right one is the most important step. We also offer many eBikes models that are One-Size-Fits-All which offer built-in seat and handlebar adjustments to conform to different sizes. The last step is a Test Ride to determine if the eBike feels comfortable and is safe to ride. 
• What are some riding skills that people should know, specifically for riding eBikes?
  eBike Central: The eBikes we offer start with being able to ride a traditional bicycle as the basis for operation. Being able to Shift the gears and Brake Properly are the basis for safe riding. The Pedal Assist Systems operate on the left side of the handle bar, while the gearing is on the right. We recommend a first time rider to get used to operating the Gearing and Brakes prior to adjusting different levels of assistance. 

Part Two of the event was Seeing and Testing eBikes that each dealer brought. We had several on hand that covered a few categories: Urban, Compact and Cargo. We also had a few brands on hand to differentiate the features and components of each one.

Here are some photos from the event:

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – Panel Discussion

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – Panel Discussion

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – Panel Discussion

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – Test Rides, eBike Central Van

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC -eBike Central area at Test Ride

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – eBike Central area

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – eBike Central staff consulting rider on operation of eBike.

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – Cargo eBike from eBike Central going out on Test Ride with precious cargo!

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC – Test Ride area for checking out eBikes.

Bike Durham eBike Event, Durham NC