We sell and service Human Power Augmented a.k.a. Electric bikes and ride them enthusiastically ourselves. See also our folding bikes at Folding Bikes West.
We invite you to visit our store, phone or email us. We are one of the last Internet shopping cart-free sanctuaries.
Electric Bikes Northwest
4810 17th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107 - Map
ph: 206/547-4621
Email form
Summer Hours:
Monday thru Friday: 11–6
Saturday: 11–4
Listen to a KOMO radio interview with Eric Sundin.
You may have noticed elsewhere on this web site references to "augmenting, not replacing human power", "designed as if human power matters", "hybrid electric bikes" and "blending human and electric power"? What are we talking about?
We begin by asking whether one actually wants and needs to take the step from 100% human power as in walking or pedalling a regular bicycle, to 0% as in driving a motor vehicle. We are not aware of any means of adding power to walking. If we were to add a human's fractional HP to the 150 HP of a 3,000 lb car the effect would not be noticeable. On the other hand the efficient and light bicycle is ideally suited for hybrid propulsion as in human and machine together.
Only about 80 Watt (746W=1HP) of pedaling is required to maintain a bicycle at around 14 mph on level ground, a task considered non-strenuous and agreeable by many cyclists. Were the course always level, head winds never stirring, temperatures pleasantly cool, and as riders we were forever young, fit, motivated and without ailments or injuries this whole discussion might be superfluous.
But as those ideal conditions are only fleeting enjoyed we realize quickly that up to several times 80 W shall be needed to ride up a steep hill and we must still accept cresting at a modest pace: The light pedaling that propels us with such ease on level ground has thus become woefully inadequate riding up hill.
In no way, however, do we need to abandon the human power component. Adding only a modest amount of motor power makes again our pedaling perfectly agreeable. Consequently the hybrid electric bike is designed around a modest-to-moderate rider input as a partnership component. It 'abolishes head winds', and 'flattens hills'. We can now ride at the heart rate that our trainer or doctor recommends or pedal no harder than our recalcitrant knee may allow. We have the option of arriving at our destination after a full workout or crisp and presentable without a single bead of perspiration on our brow.
No words (at least not ours) can convey the feeling of ease and elation as we blend human and electric power. We are jolted, but gently, under way and quietly we surge down the road…
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