Just got back on a bike. Out of shape and over 60. What to do? Start off E-asy with an E-Bike! Thanks to @friendlymoose for the invite and running the group!
I haven't been on a bicycle for probably a decade (or two). While of course we lived on them as kids, I used to even take a bike on long hunting trips into the woods at public conservation areas to get back where it was too far for others to walk.
I'm pretty out of shape for normal bike riding, and don't jog because of knee / ankle injuries. I started looking at all the e-bike options since we moved into a subdivision area with a lot of quiet streets. I thought it was time to give it a try.
I went with an Aventon Aventure2 model. They were running a special over labor day that included a free extra battery. This was just too hard to pass up.
I've only been on a few rides so far, but loving it. Even as a newbie, I went on a 12 mile ride without any issue (other than my butt falling asleep around the hour mark). I've since replace the stock seat with the "Wittkop" extra padded memory foam model in the first pic.
I've been going back to more regular rides of 6-8 miles. This takes me about 30 minutes of very casual cruising, just enough to keep the heart pumping without over-exerting.
This model is a step-thru, which is easier for us folks with short legs and limited mobility to get on and off without having to throw our legs way up over the seat.
It came with a little screen that tells you the speed, distance, and boost mode (Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo).
I also added a cellphone holder that can display mapping and trail apps.
It has Shimano gears and a little thumb shifter on the right side handlebar just like a regular 10 speed bicycle from the old days.
The battery is locked in with a key required for removal (see the keyhole just above the battery). This helps prevent theft (batteries are expensive!), but makes it very quick and easy to pop the battery out to charge or swap out for super long rides. It can also be charged while still on the bike.
I added the adjustable water bottle holder later.
This is what's called a "fat tire" bike. The tires are 4 inches wide. This supposedly provides better traction for off-road trails and sand. I haven't tried this out yet, but one of my eventual desires is to ride it on the beach.
There is a basic map that can zoom in and out for more or less detail included in the free Aventon app. I found it very adequate for riding the streets around the subdivision and not get lost in the maze of cul-de-sac roads here.
There is also an "Alltrails" app and I'm sure others available for the more adventurous. I may get out to some of the nearby trails eventually.
Other specs and info:
The Aventure2 is a "torque sensor" bike. This means that in pedal assist mode, it automatically adjusts the level of boost to your pedaling effort and feels much like a normal bike (except easier).
You can manually choose from 4 different levels, Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo that you can then either simply use the thumb throttle on the left handle bar to power you, or will automatically adjust to your pedaling effort.
I found in Eco mode, and about third gear just barely having light, slow pedaling effort cruised me around at about 12 mph. In Sport mode about 15 mph. If I increased my pedaling to a faster mode, it would easily bump me up to 20 mph. 20 mph is the limit out of the box. However if you use the Aventon app to change the settings, you can bump that up to 28 mph. I was easily able to hit 30 mph with some faster pedaling on flat pavement.
The bike is powered by a 750 watt motor and is rated at 60 miles distance on a charge. In theory, if you strap the free extra battery on back and swap it out, you could go 120 miles. This will of course vary depending on which mode, how much you pedal vs. just push the button, etc.
In my real world usage, I made two 6 mile trips and an 8 mile trip in eco mode and still had over 85% battery remaining.
I'm impressed and loving it so far. I really like the distance I can cover vs. the short distances that walking exercise provides, and this seems like it will be great to help rebuild the supporting knee muscles without over-exerting them or my stressing my ankle which starts to ache after a couple miles walking.
Stay tuned for more updates and another review after a few months usage.