Electricity gives bicycles whole new spin

Jim Thomas looked as if he was riding a bicycle in the Sands Expo and Convention Center on Wednesday, but a 500-watt motor inside an electric-powered bike trailer connected to the two-wheeler was actually propelling the electric-bike shop employee from Philadelphia.

Thomas was testing the Ridekick Power Trailer, and he liked what he saw.

"It pushed me straight and smooth," said Thomas, 61, who works at the Philly Electric Wheels retail store and was among the thousands of participants in the bicycle industry's 30th annual Interbike trade show that ends today .

Interbike set aside more space than ever for electric bike demonstrations in recognition of the growing interest in "e-bikes" in the U.S.

While there is always some tension between e-bike makers and the traditional human-powered bicycle retailers, the e-bike category is gaining steam. Even retail bicycle powerhouses such as Trek sell the product as Americans seek transportation alternatives amid high gasoline prices and as the bicycling population ages.

"There had been some resistance, but we've been noticing more interest from the retailer," said Rich Kelly, Interbike communications director.

Ed Benjamin, of Fort Myers, Fla., chairman of the e-bike trade group Light Electric Vehicle Association and a former bike shop owner and racer, said his "educated guess" is that 200,000 e-bikes will be sold this year.

There are 35 e-bike exhibitors out of 1,200 showing at Interbike this year, said Sid Kuropchak, Light Electric vehicle Association executive director.

E-bike prices range from about $600 to $2,500, with the top-of-the-line models costing $8,000, Kuropchak said. By comparison, a traditional pedal-powered bike retails from $200 with a bike made for regular road rides starting at about $600.

Benjamin acknowledged a "visceral reaction" -- meaning negative reaction -- to e-bikes by hard-core bicycle purists. But e-bike advocates say their customers can use the product even if they're physically disabled.

For example, e-bike retailer Mike Majors said customers with maladies such as multiple sclerosis can use e-bikes when they cannot ride a human-powered bicycle.

E-bike retailers also sell kits that can retrofit conventional bicycles as e-bikes. China-based Noconia Motor sells those kits for $400, and a lithium battery costs $300 to $600, said Jan Wright, a Niconia Motor sales manager.

In the U.S., e-bikes are not supposed to exceed 20 mph. An e-bike traveling at 12 mph should have a range of 30 to 50 miles, Wright said.

E-bikes come in two types -- ones that has a throttle like a motorcycle and ones that are assisted by the user's pedaling motion, Kuropchak said.

The Ridekick Power Trailer that Jim Thomas was trying out Wednesday has a 500-watt motor and retails for $699, said Chelsey Walker, a Ridekick marketing specialist. She called it the first commercial bike trailer of that type on the market.

The bicycle industry generated $6 billion in sales in 2010, according to the National Bicycle Dealers Association. Benjamin, the Light Electric Vehicle Association chairman, said his group is still working on collecting e-bike sales data.

Bicycle retailer Jerry Hiniker, who owns a bike shop in Grand Marie, Minn., and is a National Bicycle Dealers Association board member, said his shop has "dabbled" in e-bikes and noted an "aging population will be a real target" for the e-bike.

Though not everyone in the bicycle industry may like e-bikes, Kuropchak said all retailers play on the same team.

"We both have the same goals," Kuropchak said. "And that's get people on bikes."

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. drdunc1000 Oct. 5, 2011 | 9:10 a.m. Report Abuse

   I have had an ebike since April 2010 and used it to commute until I retired in June.
   
   Now have nearly 2500 miles on it and love the feel of arriving someplace refreshed and relaxed.
   
   I built a small trailer for it to move around tomato plants on stakes (too tall for my van!) and other items.
   
   My favorite aspect of the ride is being able to hear the sounds of birds and to be able smell things while I ride. Oh, and yes, parking issues are gone.

2. hekdude Sep. 22, 2011 | 7:18 a.m. Report Abuse

   I commute by ebike for the exercise. I bought a conversion kit after my car died. I pedal all the way, and get 35 minutes of exercise. Without the motor it takes me 50 minutes.

3. local_voice Sep. 16, 2011 | 5:22 p.m. Report Abuse

   @Derek, The reason the monorail failed was because it doesn't go to the airport and down the strip. The taxi-cab union had the politicos in their pockets. If there was light-rail, or even a convenient bus route between me and my job, I'd take it in a minute. I hate driving here.

4. Hkilofer Sep. 16, 2011 | 5:21 p.m. Report Abuse

   Derek-
   
   The Vegas Monorail is not, exactly, my idea of an extensive (or efficient) public transportation system. Where else does the monorail reach besides the Strip? It was, and is, intended for tourists. Why is there no rail service on Tropicana? Or Flamingo for that matter? Or any other busy street? But you know, it is a good start, and it deserves some praise. Yet, if you think the Vegas Monorail sums up the entirety of my thoughts, I would encourage you to think on a larger, more productive scale, say...Copenhagen, NYC, etc. etc. adapted to the needs of the Las Vegas community. Thank you and goodnight.

5. derek.marlowe Sep. 16, 2011 | 4:29 p.m. Report Abuse

   Hkilofer,
   
   Read the story in todays paper about the Vegas Monorail filing for bankruptcy-Nobody rides these cute toy trains that you GreenWeenies want.

6. rent.strike Sep. 16, 2011 | 11:41 a.m. Report Abuse

   Motor-assisted pedal-powered bicycles can bring the benefits of bike commuting to people who live too far from their jobs to bicycle unassisted all the way or those who live in mountainous regions where they can't quite make it up super-steep hills on their own steam but could bike the rest of the way. The external energy usage would be quite small in such cases, and would be sustainable if they are plugging in at a home that uses wind or solar power.

7. American values Sep. 16, 2011 | 10:32 a.m. Report Abuse

   The best option of all is lower gasoline prices. Drill and process OUR abundant energy resources and we would not have sky high gasoline prices. I don't know many that will be riding bikes. Besides, they take into account bad weather for larger parts of the year in most of the country.... Sure, some will use them but - the real answer is Drill baby Drill - Vote RIGHT!.

8. Nicholas.Wolaver Sep. 16, 2011 | 10:21 a.m. Report Abuse

   Great story by contributor Alan Snel. Would be good to see the Review-Journal also report on other innovations unveiled at Interbike, including the (client of mine) new WingFlyer, which combines the ride of a bike with the motion of a stair-stepper (great for fitness). This and many other new products presented at Interbike are interesting additions to the e-bike angle already pursued. Thank you to the Review-Journal for reporting on this industry and show.

9. Mac Sep. 16, 2011 | 8:30 a.m. Report Abuse

   This way we can all remain fat!
   They used to call these mopeds.

10. Hkilofer Sep. 16, 2011 | 7:05 a.m. Report Abuse

    *sigh* A traditional bicycle (yes, the two-wheeled, human propelled variety) uses the least amount of energy possible. At the same time it offers health benefits that a motorized vehicle cannot. For a prime example of this, look at the obesity statistics in the U.S., the number of cars owned, and the number of miles walked daily. I highly doubt an 87 year-old person will opt for an e-bike. A better option: an extensive, high-speed public transportation system both locally and nationally. It benefits everyone, cuts down on the use of energy, and we don't have spent bicycle motors & batteries added to our already unmanageable landfills.

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