21ST CENTURY E-BIKESattention to the environmental issues associated with clothing production and what With e-bikes, you can explore further and you can even push past your typical limits. Mountains are no match for a little battery boost.You never have to be intimidated by steep hills again. They have made it easier than ever before to get outdoors and experience the world around you. For those who are recovering from injuries, or have limited mobility, e-bikes can eliminate the barriers that once prevented people from riding. With the help of the electric assist, these riders are able to get back on a bike and continue their adventures. Electric bikes can also level the playing field for those who may not be as mobile; with an e-bike, they can keep up with speedier friends and family. With our fragile environment, e-bikes are also helping to keep cars off the roads. As traffic, congestion, and eco-
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concerns are on the rise, e-bikes have begun to be a smart replacement for cars. They have solved countless commuter problems in some of the world’s most congested cities. Instead of fighting traffic, commuters can breeze past bumper-to-bumper cars, feel the wind in their faces and enjoy the ride. With the assistance of the electric boost, office workers can arrive fresh, poised, and full of energy, rather than exhausted and sweaty. E-bikes may sound intimidating, but well-built electric bikes are so intuitive, you ride them just like you would a normal bike. Built in sensors adjust automatically to give you the boost you need when you start pedaling harder. Whenever you engage the brakes, your bike will kick into regenerative mode and send the power back to recharge the battery, much like an electric car.
Quality electric bikes typically start at $2,000 and can go up dramatically from there. However, a local Pacific Northwest Bike Company, PIM Electric Bikes, has a mission to make the benefits of e-bikes available to the masses. In the caffeinated congestion of Seattle, their bikes are empowering commuters all over the city to leave their cars at home. Their factorydirect bicycles start at $995 with a standard battery and go up to $1,795 for their extra-rugged models with extended batteries. Unlike a lot of other electric bikes on the market PIM designs their bikes to integrate perfectly with the electrical system. This has allowed them to build a proper bike around the electrical system to provide a seamless integration between bicycle and electric assist modes.