Giant Rider's Forum
Caroline K., Salt Lake City, UT
I just want to let you know (along with anyone who might be considering purchasing an electric bike) that I LOVE my Suede E (weird name, great bike!). I've had my bike for over a year and have used it as intended for several hundred miles of errands. I am a 5'4" woman and the 18" slope frame (yes, slope not step-thru) is a perfect fit for me and very easy to get on and off.
I previously rode a Trek 720 women's frame (now for sale) and was a little unsure about the slope frame. I bought the SuedeE because I love to pedal but hate the steep hills between the shopping centers and my home. Now I turn the motor on to help me up the hill, then turn it off when I'm on level or fairly level ground. This way I can get my errands done and choose how much exercise I want at the same time! I found some nice, inexpensive grocery-style (open at the top) panniers. My dog loves the bike because I can start out really fast (with the motor) with him at a dead run. My husband loves the bike because I ride it a lot. I'm fit, fifty (nearly), having great fun and happy to talk to anyone in our area who is considering buying an e-bike.
Dan Wyman
Here's a posting from another accomplished Lite rider and photographer in Southern California:
I've been riding my pedal-only bike lately. This morning, however, I had "serious" business, the morning commute. I altered my normal routine of a bike/train combination. I drove 1/2 way to work and rode the rest of the way in my Lite, approx. 17 miles.
I wanted to do this because the route includes the notorious Torrey Pines Hill. It's a moderately steep hill that is more than 1 mile long. I figured I'd take it in 3rd gear. As it turned out, I used 3rd and 4th gears, passing three other cyclists along the way. All three had road bikes and two were perhaps 25 years younger than I am. They probably didn't know what hit 'em. I wouldn't call this climb easy, but even at my relatively high speed, I expended approximately 3/4 of the energy that I would put out going slower on my road bike.
As a bonus, I saw several dolphins in the ocean this morning. All in all, it was a great way to start the day.
Tom Decker
+ Click images to enlarge. Tom Decker © 2007
Here's a posting from an accomplished Lite rider and photographer in Virginia:
“The USS Wisconsin, still commissioned, at her Emeritus duty station in Downtown Norfolk. She receives guests, above decks only, and today her visitor is a Giant Lite lugging her skipper on a leisurely 41 mile ride around town, leaping six bridges in the process. The Lite's regular duty is an all-out, full power round trip to the office, either 10.7 or 16.7 miles each way, the route depending on the skipper's mood. The Lite works days, nights, midnights, and rides in wind, fog, sub-freezing temperatures, and moonlit nights and through forested shortcuts filled with deer on the commute to a job that knows no regular hours.”
Copyright © 2006 Folding Bikes West