Have you been eyeballing e-bikes?

We are not connected in any way to REI. I just wanted to let you know that they are currently selling their e1.1 e-bike for 40% off until the 20th. That means its $900! (which is a steal in the world of e-bikes)

I am speaking from personal experience when I say its more than worth the price if you use it as a commuter vehicle. It will pay itself back when accounting for gas and car maintenance costs you avoid. Combine it with a backpack that can clip onto the storage rack and some fenders and you are more than suited for year-round commuting.

Biking in the winter? What??

You may think biking in the winter sounds miserable. I can tell you from first hand experience its not! Its actually quite pleasant. It takes about as long to warm up your body riding as it does to warm up the inside of a car. You only really need to wear enough to protect you from the wind and wet and your hands and feet from the cold, but not so much where sweat pools up in your clothes. While there’s still much to be desired regarding snow removal service and drainage, Ann Arbor is pretty good about clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and bike lanes. Bikes also tend to do better on ice than feet in my experience. I say try it before you knock it. But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s a video from Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes discussing the topic! (Canadians deal with very similar weather to us!)

There are a few important things you need to do during the winter to keep your e-bike in good shape.

• Keep a rag to wipe off the snow and water from the chain, derailleur, and break mechanisms.
• Don’t forget to clean and lubricate your chain every few weeks. Use WD-40 to remove any excess water, and lubricant to lubricate your chain and keep it from sticking or rusting. Note that WD-40 is not lubricant.
• Take the battery inside if you leave the bike outside. The battery can degrade in the cold weather if its not in-use.