Ebikes
Why We Switched to E-Bikes
Pat and I have always enjoyed riding bicycles.
To be honest, we’re not serious cyclists. I’ve participated in a couple of organized rides over the years, but I always chose the 30-mile route. We ride for fun, to get some exercise, and to explore the places we visit.
Most of our rides are leisurely trips through the neighborhood, around the campground, or on nearby bike trails.
The Ride We’ll Never Forget
Each year we spend some time in Florida, and one of our favorite day trips is to Sanibel Island.
A few years ago, my daughter Kelsey and I decided we’d ride bicycles on the island.
Traffic getting onto Sanibel is always heavy, and you have to cross a toll bridge to get there. We thought we had a brilliant idea.
Why not park before the bridge and ride our bikes onto the island?
We’d save the toll and get some extra exercise.
It sounded great.
Well…we made it to the island, rode to several of the attractions we wanted to see, and eventually made it back to the truck.
It was definitely an adventure.
We drove for quite a while without saying much. Finally, I looked at Kelsey and asked, “What were we thinking?”
We both burst out laughing.
To this day, we still tell that story every time we visit Sanibel…
…by car.
Discovering E-Bikes
Last year, Pat and I decided to rent e-bikes while visiting Sanibel.
I’m glad we did.
It completely changed the way we looked at bicycling.
For anyone unfamiliar with e-bikes, they generally offer three ways to ride.
- Traditional pedaling with no motor assistance.
- Pedal Assist, where you pedal normally and the electric motor helps as much or as little as you choose.
- Throttle Mode, where the motor does all the work and you simply steer.
We spent most of our day using Pedal Assist.
It allowed us to ride farther than we normally would, see more of the island, and still enjoy the exercise. We could stop whenever something caught our attention, have lunch, explore the sights, and continue without feeling exhausted.
At the end of the day, our legs felt fine.
Our backsides were another story!
Buying Our Own
By the time we returned home, we knew we’d be buying e-bikes.
We visited several local bike shops and spent quite a bit of time researching different brands before settling on two Bintelli e-bikes.
They were very similar to the Rad Power bikes we had rented in Florida, felt comfortable to ride, and had seats that suited us much better than our traditional bicycles.
Another deciding factor was that the dealership is only a short ride from our home. Knowing service is nearby if we ever need it gave us additional peace of mind.
Finding the Right Bike Rack
With a busy camping season ahead, we also needed a way to transport the bikes.
That turned out to be more complicated than I expected.
Each bike weighs about 55 pounds, making them much heavier than standard bicycles. Our old bike rack simply wasn’t designed to carry that kind of weight.
I spent hours researching RV-rated bike racks.
One thing quickly became clear.
Many manufacturers specifically state that their racks are intended for passenger vehicles or Class A motorhomes only. Others approve their racks for Class C motorhomes but not for travel trailers or fifth wheels.
The reason is the amount of movement at the rear of a trailer.
Travel trailers and single-axle fifth wheels experience much more bouncing and “whip” than a truck or motorhome, placing tremendous stress on both the rack and the bikes.
If you’re shopping for an RV bike rack, make sure it’s specifically approved for your type of RV.
Don’t assume that because it fits the receiver hitch, it’s designed for the forces involved.
Our Choice
After a lot of research, I narrowed the choices to two racks.
- Hollywood Racks HR1700
- Hyperax RV Volt Bike Rack
Both were rated for use on a tandem-axle fifth wheel like ours and had very similar specifications and reviews.
Ultimately, availability made the decision for us.
The Hollywood rack was on backorder, with one dealer telling me it might not be available until fall.
The Hyperax was in stock, so we ordered it.
It arrived a few days later, and assembly was straightforward. I adjusted it to fit our bikes, and everything feels solid and secure.
Now we’re just waiting for Minnesota to cooperate with the weather so we can put everything to the test.
An Alternative Worth Considering
If you own a travel trailer or a single-axle fifth wheel, transporting heavy e-bikes on the rear bumper may not be your best option.
During my research, I found several owners who built storage systems inside their trailers.
Besides avoiding the stress on a rear-mounted rack, the bikes are protected from road grime and the weather.
It’s another option worth considering depending on your RV and how often you travel.
Final Thoughts
We’re looking forward to putting some miles on both the bikes and the new rack this camping season.
As the summer goes on, I’ll post updates on how the Bintelli e-bikes perform, how the Hyperax rack holds up, and whether we’d make the same choices again.
One Last Thought
We bought our e-bikes because we wanted to see more without wearing ourselves out.
If they encourage us to explore one more trail, ride through one more campground, or discover one more small town we might have missed otherwise, they’ll be worth every penny.
After all, that’s what this RV lifestyle is all about—getting out there and enjoying the journey.