In late February I did something fairly spontaneous and irrational, which is really unlike me. Usually, my decision-making is well-researched. That’s not to say there isn’t an emotional component to it, but usually I wait until the end to rely on emotion or instinct, after I’ve considered all my options. If something is a limited-time deal and I can’t gather the necessary information in that amount of time, then I let the deal go. But not this time.
We were at my older daughter’s school auction, and although I always bid on a few small things, I don’t usually bid on big items. This year there was an electric bike in the silent auction. I’d thought about an electric bike over the past several years. Once in a while I’d go to a dealer web site, but then the price tag would scare me away before I did any serious looking. But that bike had one bid the entire night. And the more I thought about it, the more I wanted it.
I’ve bicycle commuted in the past. My husband and I have shared one vehicle — now a van — for about twelve years now. We work near each other, and so we each take the van one way. Generally, I take the kids to school then drive downtown and park at my building. My husband rides his bicycle to work. Then after work, he throws his bike in the back of our van, picks up our daughters, and goes home. More often than not, I’ll take the city bus home, although sometimes I catch a ride with a coworker or Uber or Lyft. Five years or so ago I tried biking home. I lasted no more than a few weeks, probably. Between traffic, and idiots honking just to scare me, and idiots at one intersection always filled with foot traffic saying, “Hey, Baby!” I just gave up. Also, it took too long, and I didn’t like getting home all sweaty. Also, my bike was literally 25 years old. It wasn’t comfortable, it hurt my undercarriage, and there was something that scratched the inside of my thigh. I think my helmet was also that old. Consequently, I just didn’t ride that much.
They have a free bar at these charity auctions for a reason. By the time the silent auction was about a half an hour from closing, I’d decided to bid on the bike. I checked with my husband, of course, and he’s much too supportive. So, with three minutes to go in the silent auction, I made my bid. And I “won” the bike!
Now, the actual bike that was physically at the auction was not for me. I’m pretty tall, and it was pretty short. The organizers told me I could go to the local Pedego dealer and have a certain amount of credit toward whatever bike I wanted. About a week later, we went to the Pedego dealership in Carmel. Josh, the owner, was a gem. He showed me a bunch of bikes, told me about how they worked, explained the motor system and the different drive speeds, etc. Then we went out on the nearby trail to try them out.
It took me maybe five minutes to get used to the motor. The way these bikes work, the motor only engages when you’re pedaling. Stop pedaling, and the motor turns off. Hit your brakes, and the motor turns off. There is an automatic setting so the motor goes whenever you pedal, and a clutch if you want a little extra oomph. I quickly learned that I like to use the clutch when I was starting from a dead stop. The extra speed helps me get my balance. It’s also nice when crossing intersections you want to get across quickly, or when going uphill.
I ended up getting the next-nicest bike up, the City Commuter, which was an additional cost, but it felt like the right bike for me. It’s a really gorgeous merlot color, which for some reason Pedego has discontinued. I got the last one Josh had. I also bought a new Sena helmet, which is really easy to fit to my head and has a built-in Bluetooth system. I can connect to other people with this type of helmet and talk rather than yelling at each other from bike to bike. I don’t actually know anyone with one yet, but I’m working on my husband. In the meantime, I like listening to music while I bike, but still being able to hear the noise around me for safety reasons.
Since I got the bike in early March, it was still really cold here in Indiana, but I was able to get one bicycle commute in before COVID-19 forced us all to stay home. Still, the bike was great. I especially loved having the clutch to get me to a light or a turn faster than I’d otherwise be able to. The forecast that evening was for rain in a few hours, but it set in a little early, so I had a few drops hitting me as I rode home. I turned the motor up a little higher to get me home before the deluge, and I beat the rain! Also, I wasn’t sweaty because I let the motor do some of the work. Still, it felt like a decent workout.
The weather has turned warmer in the past few days, and I’ve been able to use the bike when I take a break from work. I’ve ridden each of the past four days, and I LOVE that bike! Going up a hill, which is not a problem for my ten-year-old but used to be a problem for me, is no problem whatsoever. When I get tired, I take a little extra help, and when I feel rested, I turn the motor down and do more of the work myself. I love the seat and the side-view mirror and my pannier that Josh threw in. It’s perfect, and I hope to have it twenty-five years from now.
Sometimes, an illogical, irrational, unresearched decision turns out ok, and I think this is one of those times.
(P.S. Hello, fun! is the Pedego slogan, and although I kind of hate slogans, that’s really how I feel when I ride my Pedego.)
