Why?
No, we don’t offer conversions. We have a wide selection of electric-assist bicycles (EBikes) in store and to order. An e-bike is equipped with a smart motor, which only activates when the rider pedals. This is called pedal-assist. Do you love cycling, but climbing hills or pedaling for long time periods exhausts you? An electric-assist model could give you the boost you’ve been missing. See the selection criteria to consider to find the best road, mountain, or hybrid bike.
Electric-assist bicycles may be more suitable for urban use, leisure use, mountain biking, or road use. Performance and feel on the handlebars also depend on the type of frame and equipment used on the bike.
In general, neither the electric motor nor the batteries require any special maintenance. Only the chassis needs to be maintained, as any conventional bicycle. However, the battery of an electric bicycle is sensitive to temperature differences. Generally speaking, bicycles sold in supermarkets all have small (and sometimes major) defects, such as lower-quality parts, less efficient brakes, heavy weight, shorter warranties, etc. In addition, the service offered in department stores will never be as personalized as that provided in specialist shops. However, even if the bicycles in supermarkets do not perform as well as those sold in boutiques, certain models may be suitable for you.
EBikes have been around since the 30s. They reappeared in the late 1970s and have seen a resurgence in popularity since 2000, with the evolution of performance in line with that of batteries
PEDELEC (pedal electric cycle) – This is a true electric bicycle. The electric assistance only works when you pedal, which means the bike cannot be propelled solely by the motor. For example, the Specialized Turbo / Levo / Vado / Como / Tero sold in Canada are PEDELECs, with the electric assistance limited to a maximum of 32 km/h – if you exceed this speed, the additional effort comes from the rider. This is required by law, because if the assistance reaches higher speeds, it is considered a motorized vehicle and requires a license. Once you reach the famous 32 km/h (legal limit), you can still push on the pedals and get your exercise!
Don’t get me wrong; you can’t avoid putting effort into a pedelec. It can help you up a hill, or allow you to maintain a higher speed over a longer distance, but you still have to pedal!
There are different classes of eBikes approved by the BPSA:
- Class A – Pedal assist up to 32 km/h
- Class B – Pedal assist and throttle (trigger on the handlebars) up to 32 km/h
- Class C – Pedal assist up to 45 km/h: NOT AUTHORIZED IN CANADA
- Class D – There are no limits…
Electric scooter… – Sometimes also called an electric bike, which can be confusing. Although there are pedals, the machine can be propelled strictly by the motor using a throttle (trigger on the handlebar). Some bikes sold in the US and Europe have this capability as an option up to about 20 km/h, and higher, it is strictly a pedelec, although the electric assistance reaches 45 km/h.
- Hub motor: Easy to install, it fits in place of a front or rear wheel axle.
- Remote motor: The drive is via a belt or chain acting on a drive chainring placed on a wheel axle. The motor can be positioned freely.
- Crank motor: It acts directly on the bicycle’s bottom bracket. It consists of a single unit that includes all the electric drive components: the motor, sensors, and control electronics. It can only be installed on a specific frame.
- Friction motor: A motor that operates on a roller friction on the tread of the front or rear tire. There are many so-called “electric bikes” that are essentially scooters with an electric motor instead of a gas motor (some reportedly go as fast as 60 km/h). Technically, these require a license and cannot be used on cycle paths, but this is often ignored…
FOR WHOM ?
For all cycling and nature lovers who value a healthy lifestyle.
Although many cyclists shy away from electric assist systems, it really makes sense for users with limited mobility, those who use bicycles as a means of transportation, or recreational cyclists. For example, many people don’t commute by bicycle because they don’t want to show up to work sweaty and out of breath, sometimes due to the distance or the elevation changes, such as the hills in our region.
It is difficult to give figures regarding autonomy, because it depends a lot on the use that the cyclist will make out of it, plus the relief of the region and the weight of the user (without counting the wind force, the outside temperature, the air pressure in the tires, etc.).
Due to their optimal battery life, Li-ion batteries are ideal for e-mountain bikers, road racers, and commuters. Lithium-ion batteries offer superior energy density, a lower weight, and smaller sizes.
We can calculate around 700 to 1000 charge cycles… around 5 years of use for a normal person.
Specialized Turbo, Norco, Shimano, Bosch, and more: these are market leaders. The products they offer allow us to guarantee quality, customer service, and reliability.
Frame-mounted motors, mid-drive motors, or rear-wheel motors? Range, power, battery life—we have all the answers to your questions. Call us, contact us, and come try our bikes. We guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
