The Best E-Bike for Every Type of Rider, According to Experts

A story by Sal Vaglica and Jordan Bowman – New York Magazine.

“An electric bicycle is the perfect mode of transportation, whether you’re cruising around town, commuting to work, or riding trails through the woods. With the electric assist, you can ride uphill or haul heavy groceries with relative ease. Although you still pedal an e-bike, it has a motor for help when you need it — like your very own extra set of superstrong, never-tired legs to pedal right along with you.

With all the added technology, it’s no surprise that e-bikes are more expensive than traditional bikes and that buying one involves considering a few more factors, including motor wattage, battery voltage, and top speed. You also need to choose one of three classes of e-bike: Class 1 boosts you to a maximum of 20 miles per hour as you pedal, and Class 3 gets you to 28 miles per hour. Class 2 is a little different: It peaks at 20 miles per hour as you pedal, but it also has a throttle-only mode, in which the bike takes over and pedals for you.

To make the buying process easier, we asked five e-bike riders and experts to recommend the best electric-bicycle options for a wide range of riding styles, from nimble commuter bikes to burly mountain bikes. They all agreed that Class 1 is the safest option for new riders; these bikes also generally cost less and have the fewest regulations. Here are the experts’ picks for every type of rider.”