Pedego Electric Bikes
JOIN THE CROWD Purchase (or rent!) your very own e-bike from Pedego Electric Bikes, located at 621 Asbury Avenue.
WITH EVERYONE WANTING to make their life more convenient and stay healthy while at home, it’s no surprise the popularity of electric bikes has risen. E-bike sales grew by 145 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, outpacing sales of all bikes, according to the NPD Group, a market research company.
If you’re looking to try out this rising bike trend that uses an integrated electric motor and batteries to assist in pedaling, head over to Pedego Electric Bikes, located at 621 Asbury Avenue in Ocean City. This e-bike rental and sales shop opened in May of this year and is offering customers an expedient way to travel and sightsee while getting a workout in, too.
“Our primary goal is to make riding a Pedego Electric Bike the highlight of their vacation and most times, we succeed,” said owner Rich Bastian. “When customers purchase Pedego Electric Bikes, the fact that they have a store that will service the bikes, give them a loaner when necessary, pick up bikes at their homes that need repairs, and offer them a full line of accessories for the bikes is something that very few bike stores offer.”
Pedego sells a line of 20 different e-bikes – from cruiser to city to off-road options – so you can find one to fit your needs and style. The Platinum Editions of the Step-Thru Interceptor and the Boomerang are the most popular bikes that “typically move pretty quickly,” said Rich. “These bikes are the quintessential beach ‘cruisers’ that are extremely comfortable to ride and are great looking bikes,” he adds. “Customers also love the wide variety of color packages that are available for both of these models.”
Not looking to make a commitment yet but want to take out a bike for a trial run? Rental options are available for around $50-$75 for half day and $75-$110 for a full day, depending on the bike selection.
“If you are new to the e-bike trend, testing one out during a rental can show you how easy it is and allow you to get a sense of the ease and comfort when riding this different kind of bike,” said manager Angelo Canuso.
When you’re ready to buy, you won’t be alone.
“E-bike sales have been in a growth mode for over five years in the United States,” says Dirk Sorenson, Sports Industry Analyst at the NDP Group. “With a growing general interest in cycling because consumers were looking for healthy stay-at-home activities to engage in during the lockdown, e-bikes, in particular, experienced tremendous growth. E-bikes appeal to a broad set of consumers – from the new rider to someone who wants to conquer a hard ride or the returning rider that is uncertain of their riding skills.”
Going Somewhere
The e-bike trend is going places, with more than 130 million e-bikes expected to be sold between 2020 and 2023, according to a study by Deloitte, an audit, consulting, tax, and advisory company, adding that by 2023, the total number of e-bikes in circulation around the world should reach an estimated 300 million, a 50 percent increase over 2019’s 200 million.
The study also notes the one draw of e-bikes is the “battery assist that makes bicycling a less physical effort,” and “translate into faster speeds; easier acceleration after a stop, and a power boost when going uphill, facing headwinds, carrying heavy loads, or some combination of the above.”
“Customers have two misconceptions about electric bikes,” said Rich. “The first one is that they are too fast and that they won’t be able to control them. The fact is, at the lowest pedal assist setting, the bike is going to go about three miles per hour over what speed you would be riding on a conventional bike. The second is that they won’t get any exercise riding an electric bike, which is completely untrue.”
Rich adds that studies show that most people get more exercise riding an e-bike over a conventional bike because “they take longer rides and they ride on days that they would not take out their regular bike, especially on windy days at the shore when a lot of people don’t want to deal with headwinds.”
“E-bikes are a good option for exercise. In particular, they are an excellent source of exercise for individuals who may otherwise have difficulty working out. This includes individuals with orthopedic conditions, such as arthritis, limiting mobility and people new to exercise with limited workout capacity,” said Dr. Brian Sokalsky of Jersey Shore Sports Medicine in Somers Point.
“We have had the pleasure of getting customers, who never thought they would never ride a bike again due to a variety of reasons – knee replacements, hip replacements, breathing issues, back problems, etc. – back in the saddle and enjoying the outdoors again,” said Rich, who had both his hips replaced in 2017 and credits Pedego with helping him get back on a bike and maintain a healthy lifestyle, as well as allowing his father, who battled physical challenges due to cancer, to safely and comfortably ride a bicycle.
“It brought him a lot of joy during a tough time in his life.”
Rich, who owns five additional Pedego locations (Cape May, Wildwood, Lambertville, as well as Lewes, Del. and Manayunk, Pa.), adds that 99 percent of the people who come back from riding a Pedego Electric Bike come back with the biggest smiles on their faces. “It is hard not to enjoy what we do,” he said. “when that is what we see day in and day out.”
Find this story and more in our August magazine.