Some of the best e-bikes are perhaps European, but one of the best TH-cam channels about biking is definitely American. Keep it up, Propel! Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪
agreed! I have no problems with americans being great at this (or being the best at many other things, IF they are the best and don't try sneaky tactics like I won't go into details about right now). So yeah, I love watching americans give Europe credit where credit is due, and this guy is definitely a great watch since he's not arrogant and xenophobic like many other americans. God bless his good heart!
Yep. The auto and fossil fuel industries’ lobbying and marketing push starting in the 1950s has brainwashed successive generations into believing their car dependency is “freedom.”
ebikes aren't just a cool technology, they're a crucial element in the transition away from fossil fuels. America cannot afford to get left behind in an industry so crucial to the future of the global economy.
Much like with solar panels and wind turbines, the US is too committed to the old status quo, and will be woefully behind the industry in other countries when it finally wakes up to future.
As an expat living in Germany. I cannot fathom leaving this culture and the ability to ride any of my bikes and e-bike. Holding us back, culture, infrastructure and mindset. Many years ago when I lived in the US, many in my town assumed I had lost my license and had to use a bike. Bikes are for kids is the attitude. Furthermore, Stores and commerce are zoned away from housing. Where here, my stores and restaurants are incorporated into our communities. Bike security is also a problem everywhere in world. Jenn from Germany
I would like to give my Lord and Savior credit for leaning into this joke. Christ on a bike, indeed. (Note: I'm a practicing Christian. We aren't all humorless.)
We're very conservative in North America, resistant to change - which is odd given our view of ourselves as innovators. Some people see bicycles, and ebikes (even some analogue cyclists) as a threat of some kind, and the romance of the automobile is still firmly rooted in our collective psyche. That's shifting, but the view of bikes as recreational toys is hard to shake. I am excited to check out the new trends coming from Europe, and some brands I have never heard of. Also kind of envious.
What’s funny to me is that much of the US was designed so it could be as flexible as possible without being able to be changed too radically, but it’s design did not hold up to communication technology and political partisanship. If modern conservatives were actually engaged with conserving the values of this country, we’d be living in walkable cities as the auto expansion of the 60’s was a very liberal and progressive thing for the time. I guess big business transcends all values
Definitely a key difference between North America and most European countries. Bikes are seen as an everyday mode of transport in places like the Netherlands whilst Americans view them almost exclusively as exercise tools.
@@biggibbs4678 I am well aware of the lack of cycling infrastructure in the countries you have mentioned and stating that most European nations are comparable to the Netherlands was perhaps an error but you can surely see the point I’m making. The fact remains that there are quite a few countries in Europe that do in fact support and facilitate cycling in their cities which cannot be said about any regions in North America. It is also worth noting that cities such as Paris and London are making a considerable effort to improve cycling infrastructure and are making significant progress which is more than can be said for any American and Canadian cities. Generally, most European countries are at least beginning to embrace cycling even if they do not yet have a sufficient network in place whilst there are quite a few that have already built out extensive infrastructure.
I’m glad you got the video award… well-deserved! And we can celebrate Europe’s innovation with ebikes. As has been said already, Europe has been focused on bikes for many years. We complain about fuel prices, but the people “across the pond” have been paying far more than we have, for a long time. Thank you Chris, and keep up the great work!
What’s holding us back? The mentality that cars are the first transportation choice whenever the majority of Americans need to travel just a few miles within cities. Once U.S. cities are designed safer for everybody, the innovation in those transportation spaces will accelerate.
Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale could all jump out and build cargo bikes tomorrow and do it really well, too. I don't think it takes a decade of building a long john to build a great long john. Given the success of Rad Power and even the Babymaker (SMH), there is room for a direct to consumer long john too, but I'd really like to see this done through bike shops. The majors in the USA are still staying in the safe space of recreational bikes. I feel like its up to the bike industry to create some demand for new product lines and take a chance. It would certainly help us to rally for better bike infrastructure if people all got excited about bikes for transportation.
I’m a new viewer, but an instant fan! We are lagging behind in many ways to our European friends, but keep putting out these videos and hopefully it will enlighten a few people and we’ll see change sooner than later! Keep up the great work!
What's holding us back? I'd like to know too! I did the first of several European cycle tours at 35. Returning to Toronto, Canada, I tried valiantly to cycle to my job in nearby Brampton but gave up after a few years. Now 62 and retired, the cycle infrastructure I saw in Europe in my 30's is still a distant goal here. Luckily, I now live in a city with a great 25km cycle path that I can safely cycle to from my home. I indulge almost every day. But one still cannot easily and safely travel to specific locations around the city.
I'd say it's mostly that car-centric planning has not just made cycling unattractive, it's made for generations of Canadians/Americans who can't imagine cycling ever being a viable method of transportation. If it were just current urban designs holding people back, we'd be seeing massive support for more bike infrastructure, but what we see instead is that a large percentage of people vehemently oppose it. It's going to take a huge cultural shift that changes not just what we drive/ride but how we get our groceries (smaller trips more regularly), where we live relative to where we work, how much we value comfort vs embracing exertion and the elements, etc. I don't think that will come until the next economic depression makes cars unattainable for the younger generations (we're pretty much there already).
Agreed: Europe is so ahead when it comes to e-bikes for transportation for individuals and families and cargo bikes for business. It’s sad so many people in the United States aren’t aware of the possibilities with bikes and how much we’ve sacrificed to car dominance.
"What's holding us back?" I agree with that sentiment. Why is the US holding itself back from adopting sensible transportation? I think we all have a general idea of why but, heck, if it was that easy to answer we would have already solved it. It's going to be a long journey for us. Let's hope that we can live to see the end of it.
Driving a car has to become EXTREMELY cost-prohibitive, and otherwise aversive as an experience-it could be ANYTHING…just bad enough to serve as the catalyst for a micro-mobility (and public transport) revolution. Rural areas will still be different, since the US does occupy an entire continent, but at the very least, high-population centers should at least “catch up” w/ its counterparts in other parts of the world. In the last few days,, I’ve been hearing about the new 6th St. bridge that connects DTLA to Boyle Heights, and it’s a shame that it was built to cater primarily to fast-driving cars, rather than for the safety & enjoyment of ALL, which should include pedestrians & cyclists. 🫤 The accommodations have been made, but half-assed for anything but motor vehicles-how very LA. 🙄
Thats also depending on how old/healthy you are now, but it took us Dutchies 50 years to where we are now, but sure with real dedication and learning from others it can be done in less time now I guess.
Most US politicians are old/not bike riders and the people who they listen to on the federal and local level are mostly older/ car centric and their concern is where they are going to park their car :(
Having watched Not Just The Bike I believe poor urban planning is one major factor. I have commuted by bike and all of the points he raises I can see here and live in Australia 😳
Minneapolis has a certain amount of bike infrastructure and currently has a major downtown thoroughfare torn up to make much safer bike paths and transit priority. My son is in the Netherlands doing his computer science masters paper on urban transit planning. Glad we got him on a bike early (and he somehow also fell in love with trains). Will he ever want to come back?
phew - i've been riding ebikes (here in Aotearoa / New Zealand) for 6 years - but this Eurobike is making me feel like ebike tech is just getting started - like in a good way. Thanks for the great coverage
Cars and car-centric infrastructure is the obvious answer, but the "biking is a sport" attitude is also a huge barrier for riders who just want to go somewhere on a bike. Twenty years ago, I went to a local bike shop and said "When I was a kid, I had a bike with a basket and handlebar streamers. I want the grown up equivalent of that.". They talked me into a mountain bike with no fenders and no obvious way to attach a basket. Twelve years ago, I went to a local bike shop and asked about cargo bikes. I came in with pictures of the Boda Boda. They told me that they'd never seen such a thing and that they couldn't help me. Five years ago, I went to an LBS and asked about the Tern GSD. They tried to sell me the only ebike on the floor and insisted that a cargo bike would be less useful than a trailer. The whole time I was talked down to because I wanted street clothes compatible mobility. I've been teased for "cheating" by the "real" cyclists in my neighborhood has they pass me in their pickup trucks full of mountain bikes that they will shred downhill. As long as electric bikes are seen as not part of the cycling ecosystem of local communities, adoption and innovation will lag. Pushing the buy button for an expensive bike you haven't been able to test ride is scary. Buying an inexpensive, entry level bike over the internet is going to be easier than buying a Tern or and R&M. Until we can get a Propel in every city, I think we are going to lag behind Europe.
If you ignore the fact that a large amount [sometimes majority] of parts in the European bikes are manufactured/coming from Asia, I think you are right that we are leading. For safety it might be because we are not over-allergic to regulation, for innovation it's just a time and priority issue: if for a longer time more than half of the trips made by bike, you attract more momentum, and that in itself attracts more sales. Funny fact; my new bike (automatic gearing kind) got more attention in my workplace than the Tesla a colleague got; people like new(est) development [when it's not crushing the bank (that much)] Hope you had fun at Eurobike, already saw some good presentations/developments (eg motors with build-in [automatic] gears, really see that being the new thing: fewer components and complexity with the same function). If only the development with energy storage would be quicker ;-)
I'm really enjoying my Gazelle Ultimate T-10 +, fit and finish and ride quality are phenomenal my first Electric Bike, no regrets on this purchase at all.
@@biggibbs4678 great idea! Let's build unnecessary cars just to give jobs to people, and also pretend that regional public transportation cannot be improved.
I'm not sure what's holding the US back, maybe it's to do with oil availability, but have you ever been to the Bike Museum in Nijmegen? It's awesome, we went there last week, and it blew our minds. The innovation and development of bikes going back in time was incredible. The first electric bike with battery and a rear wheel hub motor was in 1895, invented by an American! Apparently the Napoleonic wars took horses away, so people began to innovate personal travel, and later in in the 1950's Queen Whilameina of NL ignored royal safety protocol and bought herself a Gazelle bike. That's supporting your own industry! The curator gave us a private tour of the workshop and parts storage, their restoration work and collection is outstanding. The only downside there is that it's on three floors, with no lift, a pity for recumbent users who don't use stairs, but they're working on a plan to share one with the hotel next door.
So professional and beautiful videography. Eagerly awaiting details on the Load and Packster as I am on the verge of buying the current Load model, but unsure if I should hold out to get the newest model 🙃
I’ve been to Friederichshafen several times, Chris (I lived nearby in Switzerland). I’d hardly call it small or intimate, but there you go! Am back in the States now, so I’ll just rely on you for the latest from Frankfurt. Love the content, G
Great to talk about bicycling in this way. I live in the Netherlands, the estimates are that we have around 35000 km bicycle roads and some are even separated completely from other traffic and outside urban area's mostly parallel on the main road. At present time is the number of bicycle "highways" growing, to create shorter travel times between city''s. (great for speed pedelecs) However the Netherlands is a small country, and cycle distances are manageable. I always kept work within a reasonable distance from where I lived, mostly between 5 to 15 km from home. I think that, when living in a big country, and when people are used to work at great distances from home then your infrastructure gets also to much adapted. to the use of cars. It starts with bringing living and working closer together or even better, work from home if you have a job that you are able to do online. Decision makers in city's or somewhat densely populated area's needs to have the awareness and start building something from scratch, then it may grow. However it took decades to get serious improvements in the Netherlands, with easy exces to information now, things can change faster then in the past. And think outside the box of your life. What is my situation, how can I do it differently. If you have to drive every day 50 or 80 km, how much fuel do you need to buy, just for going to work? It's also hours of living lost in traveling time. Maybe a complete other job less money but no need of a car close to home? I own several bicycles and one Kalkhoff E-bike similar to R&M but still overpriced (5000 euro), however a car will keep on draining your bank account.😟 I'm retired, not rich but enough money to waist on expensive bicycles, we have many retired people with to much money I guess. 😀 However we also have a very bleak future here in Europe.🤔 Germany has to walk back sanctions on gas from Russia or will have to shut down much of its industry. The economic war against Russia is heavily backfiring. We are entering a complete other era! That's why I wonder how things will develop, high petrol prices may help the E-bike industry. Especially when people still has the money and start making changes in their way of life. Although I don't see much future for the car industry, if they not redirect to cheap and reliable. Electric is still to expensive, it depends all on how bad things become. Nearby I also see a lot of electric scooters and E-bikes to rent via smartphone by youth. This seems a very popular development too. These people get used to that and keep on doing that with cars later on I guess. I got rid of my car a long time ago and fully adapted to use bicycles for everything. I therefore have also a transport E-bike in use which is my work horse, if needed with a trailer. The Netherlands, a beautiful country but a bad and dangerous regime in power for now, a problem we will solve.😎 Here an channel what shows how cycling in the Netherlands looks like. th-cam.com/users/BicycleDutchvideos
I'm especially looking forward to videos on the enclosed bikes like the Podbike Frikar, and the cargo-truck looking bikes. My ideal bike is the PEBL, from Better Bike, but I live in Australia, where we more or less observe European standards, and Better Bike have been really slow to get their act together. What I want is something legally a bike, but with some of the benefits of a car, like not getting wet in the rain, the ability to carry an adult passenger, and a bit of space for groceries. Some of these new cargo bikes look to be going this way.
The Frikar looks awesome and wish it was coming to Australia. Last I heard it was being modified for the German market and is still in prototype/pre-production form.
@@tonyedgecombe6631 Yeah, it's not about space, or money really... it's all mindset of those in charge. American culture is built around the automobile, and that will not easily change.
The thing holding you back is bikes are seen as kids toys and transport for poor people, you need to get out of that mindset (along with using 6L V8 pickups/SUVs that do 10-12mpg)
We travel full time in an RV and bought 2 Gazelles from Propel. LOVE the bikes. I make it a point to bike in almost every place we go. What’s holding the US back is stupid laws. I continually find bike paths/trails that state that class 3 bikes are prohibited. IMO I can’t imagine buying an ebike that wasn’t a class 3. I never understand why they are prohibited. It would be similar to prohibiting a Maserati from driving on the freeway - merely because it’s capable of going fast! I’m all for speed limits on a bike path, but don’t restrict the class 3 bikes. I need it for the hills:)
same goes for Germany. Bikes that go faster than 25 km/h or 15,54 miles are treated like motorcycles. Not allowed on bike lanes and forced to use the streets. That's why 98% of e-bikes in Germany are not the faster one
@@cyberstonks I think that's even an European Union ruling. Maybe because there is no way to enforce speedlimits on the bikepath. On car-roads you can put cameras for that Maserati going to fast..
I ride up alpine trails with my Class 1 Emtb. Hills need torque and gearing, not speed. Letting riders who ca go 60km/h on bicycle lanes is such a bad idea. If you go 60 you need to drive on the road where that speed differential is basically 0. Taking bike paths through the city here in Munich means I am quicker at the destination than cars. For what except for long distance commuting do you need high speed? By that logic low powered cars should be allowed there too. Amsterdam just did away with the bad idea of letting e-scooters (the Mofa/Moped kind) on bike lanes. So they clearly gained some knowledge in the last years how good that was.
American brands have not embrace "urban" ebike market yet; they are still targeting more sportive users (road and mountain bikes). Maybe change of mind will come from smaller brands, like Benno. Looking forward new R&M models tests...
One of the biggest if not the biggest of impediments here is the pervasiveness of bike theft and total lack of action to combat it by police and legislators. While I live in a town where there’s a lot of biking and e-biking, taking your bike to the store or anywhere else you have to park it outside is a huge gamble because bike theft is totally endemic. Until you can ride your bike somewhere and there’s not a good chance it will be gone when you return, folks will not be able to rely on bikes as transportation. Bike theft should be the subject of a long mandatory prison sentence and vigorously enforced with stings.
I will say Europe has had a strong bike culture for a long time already. They also have better infrastructure for bikes. Went shopping for an ebike here in Germany and they are impressive. The stores are pretty remarkable themselves too.
What's holding us back in the US is mostly infrastructure, and city councils that just see bikes as an annoyance rather than valid transportation. There are over 200 businesses within a mile of my home, and ONE secure bike rack. I asked our nearby bike shop why they had no rack either, and they said "It's not up to us, the city council decides where they go". It doesn't help that there are no bike lanes or shoulders on our local roads either. In terms of quality, I'll give that to most European companies, even if a few of them could use some welding lessons 😉 I go on more than my fair share of group rides in various part of the country, and I've ridden alongside many of the models shown here. The one thing that European bikes do not have, and I know it's due to regulations, is performance. I purposely avoid being behind a European e-bike when there are hills or ramps, because I know they will struggle at best, or at their worst they will just stall and sometimes fall over due to lack of power. When level ground is rare and the next climb is 8% for over half a mile, I'd rather not have to push my bike.
As an American who is fairly new to bike commuting, Eurobike is exciting. E-Bikes open a world of possibility. What's holding us back? That's an interesting question. Maybe that could be a video essay. I want to know the answer.
very nice video, it was fun to watch. very interesting to get an outside view of the european e-bike scene. but there are also interesting brands from america, for example. keep up the good content! 🙂(subscribed)
What’s holding us back? Well, I’m from Canada and the weather would be one - extremely hot in summer, extremely cold in winter. Something Europe to experience this last week with the extreme heat. But mainly the fact we have much less dense cities and towns, which lend less well to using a bike for everyday use.
This is so cool! I treated myself to a bike for my birthday a couple months ago to help improve my fitness and to use as a commuter bike. I'm enjoying the bike so much that I'm saving up for an electric bike for longer commutes. I'm a musician, so I would either be looking for a cargo bike or a bike trailer so I can haul my guitar and equipment to gigs. My eventual goal, if the electric bike works out like I hope it will, is to get rid of my car, use the regular bike and the electric bike for transportation, and just rent a car or van if I ever need to haul anything substantial (which is hardly ever). I would love to see some electric bikes like these on the market here in the U.S.
As a Canadian mountain biker, I'd love to hear your take on Devinci. But I know they only have a few ebike offerings. Great videos though, keep up the great work!
I ride a two wheeled recumbent, that I have converted to an eBike back in 2019, and it has changed my life. As for all the best eBike's coming from Europe, thats easy. Bikes are an excepted part of the European life style. And now that cargo bikes have E-assist, that has really upped the bar. Simple, in most places, bike's are not taken as serious transportation here in the US. Plus where I live, cities are 50+ miles apart. So there is the fact that the US is a large country, and as others have pointed out, its all about cars here. But when gas goes over 5 dollars a gallon and stay's there, things might change. We can only hope.
Lived in Boston for 7 years and that's where I picked up my bike as sole way of transportation. Then ended up at a job that required a car to get to so ended up ditching the bike and getting quite chubby. Moved to Stockholm and the change was immediate. Bike was the way but even more after I got an ebike. Last Tuesday, we biked for 45 kms dragging my two toddlers ina chariot and O just didn't feel it. We are at the verge of a paradigm switch
What’s holding us back is addiction to v8 pick up trucks. In a country where the Ford F-150 is one of the highest selling vehicles and an aspiration vehicle for many Americans, its no wonder why cycling is generally looked down upon. One interesting thing from the experience of Holland is that their success in converting people to bicycles didn’t come from making the roads better for bicycles, but rather it came from making the roads worse for car users.
Thinking about bikes as (sometimes) sport, exercise & entertainment. Once you shift to thinking about transportation, load capacity, & comfort the game changes, but so do the infrastructure needs. Also incentive programmes, like Ireland’s bike to work scheme. Changing attitudes toward bikes will drive the change of infrastructure. Gazelle owner here, 13 years car~free in Ireland & France
I am fascinated by the European bike market from the standpoint of design and the features, but, I would agree with several of the commenters that the pricing is way out of the reach of many US buyers. While the Chinese bikes are more price friendly, I guess it remains to be seen how they will stack up in the long run with regard to reliability. So far on my two Chinese bikes under the Fabulous E-bike and Ariel Rider brands, I have racked up over 2,000 miles with only minor issues, most of which were my doing. I have a Fabulous e-bike EMX 60v One, which costs half of the cost of a Tern and has a more powerful motor, equal quality brakes, better display, a better suspension both front and rear, and way more range. The Terns are beautiful and of course, the Bosch motors are reliable but way under powered. The killer, as I have said, on these European bikes is the price. I am not sure that you get what you paid for holds true regarding the Chinese vs the European bikes. All of that having been said, the major difference is that the US still lags way behind in bike friendly streets. I am fortunate to live in a city where there are 85 miles of paved bike paths beyond the bike lanes through the city center. Minnesota is a very bike friendly state and I contrast that with Massachusetts where I used to live that has very few paved bike trails/paths and is only now creating bike lanes in the major cities. The US has a lot of catching up to do!
2:00 (ish) - "when it comes to [...] reliability" I may of course be wrong, but I suspect having a legal minimum 24 month warranty on your products (EU minimum, can be higher in individual countries) forces manufacturers to have better reliability on their products, because you can't cut as many corners if you know you're the one paying for repairs later on.
What's holding us in the US back, particularly in coastal urban areas, is that our infrastructure was not built for bicycles or pedestrians. Until we have safe, usable infrastructure, most Americans won't accept riding alongside motor vehicles and *maybe* making it to work without a major collision.
I agree with your view of the European bike market. A few years ago, I decided to build a cargo bike with gross weight of 400+ lbs. (rider, bike and cargo) for everyday use. My daily commute is about 20 miles total with an elevation change of five hundred feet. I didn't feel the EU restrictions on power and speed would work well with my requirements, even the US limitations on power were limiting. I don't mind the sharing the streets with the smokers, but I do enjoy the two miles river bike path. So, I do believe the US market and adoption of e-bikes as a general mode of transportation depends on bicycle specific infrastructure to get the general publics acceptance. P.S. I've planned a trip to your store, but july-sept ride from Riverside to Long Beach and back is a serious day trip!
I think Harley Davidson made a nice commitment with the Serial 1 ebikes. The Serial 1 equipped with the Brose motor and Enviolo Belt drive train makes the best, quietest propulsion system of any ebike I've ridden and I have a also very nice R&M Delite with Rohloff e14 for comparison. I think the US ebike market is still recreation vs transportation focused but your helping this transition of thinking along so keep up the good work. I hope all ebike riders will like you, consider themselves as ambassadors for the technology. We can all help improve the ebike's reputation as a viable transportation option.
I think what is holding North America back is lack of infrastructure, poorly designed towns/cities (many Urbanist channels have looked at this) and sheer American entitlement and laziness. How many eBike channels have I seen from the US were they show themselves freewheeling at 40-60mph on throttle assist so called 'eBikes'. It's almost as if pedaling a bicycle (or making any physical effort) is sacrilegious. This mentality needs to change big time if you want real growth to happen.
I too agree that the most interesting innovations are coming out of Europe. Not surprising when you see thousands of cyclists on the streets in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and most other big European cities. I am very interested in some of the light bike innovation coming out of Europe: the Mahle system 25, and Fazua amongst them. Glad to see some of our north american brands working with this stuff: Specialized Cannondale and Trek all come to mind. Very interested to see your views on some of these this year. We live on the West Coast, and our area is rich in cycling infrastructure and getting better. But it has a long way to go to catch up with the European standards.
The expense of e-bikes can’t be dismissed, but to frame the e-bike concept as ‘alternative transport’ rather than a ‘luxury bicycle’ might be helpful. You’ve featured some people in your videos for whom an e-bike is a tool for their work or way of life, and that’s important I think. Here in the UK we’re exposed to a lot of the European innovations, although we’re a bit behind the continent in terms of urban bicycle infrastructure. What does help though are ‘cycle-to-work’ schemes that let you purchase a decent bike via monthly payments on a tax-exempt salary sacrifice basis, thus actually saving a bit of money.
Price is probably one of the biggest factors. My first two used cars I ever purchased were both under $10,000. I notice many of the brands you've mentioned as being the "best" ebikes are near or above that. 8, 9, 10 grand. Some even crossing the $15,000 mark for a cargo bike that could be a legitimate car replacement. That is a steep price to pay considering our infrastructure is far from bike friendly for the most part. For instance here in Alaska I wouldn't be able to ride most of those bikes for a majority of the year. Could I justify 10K on something that will sit unused for 7 months? In some distant future, when the US has viable trail systems and protected bike lanes leading to all parts of every city, I think quality ebike adoption will be much more reasonable. Essentially its as if we are asking people to buy an expensive boat when they have no easy access to the water.
How do we get more info on those bikes, and can we buy them in Europe and bring them back to the states. I also think the price is a lot more then in the States. I would like to see more information on individual bike Co. And their bikes.
Howdy from MN! I have a 6 year old Raleigh Sprite e bike. It is too heavy for me as I get older (65). I am looking for an e bike that is light weight and has a range of up to 80 miles/charge [even it I have to add a booster]. Looking to spend under $2500. Any suggestions? I met a gal several summers ago who ordered a bike from Europe-but I don't remember the brand. She was quite happy. Maybe ordered from Netherlands? Thank you!
US brands are focused on value, its hard to beat a Letric, Radpower, or Aventon bikes. An entry level Riese & Muller bike costs 3-5x more than the more mainstream US bikes.
Could it be the US has a shortage of people willing to spend 5K+ on a first Ebike? Brands like Rad Power, Aventon and Magicycle may not be cutting edge or innovative, but they're all under 2K and a lot of folks in the US are getting a good introduction to Ebikes this way.
@@ninetendopesaitama2107 that's a false equivalence. I'm a bicyclist and I have two nice bikes, but have never spent more than $2K on one. A $5K+ Ebike may very well be worth it. My point is a LOT of folks will not want to soak that kind of money into a first Ebike before figuring out if an Ebike will work for them. Especially when good less expensive options are available
@@ninetendopesaitama2107 A couple things. One, it is hard to find a car that costs much less nowadays. Second, part of the hesitancy in buying an eBike that costs thousands of dollars is the worry that it will get stolen.
Bikes are seen as kids toys and transport for poor people, that’s one change that’s got to be overcome, before you can even start doing anything else. Fuel prices need to become very very expensive to tempt Americans out of the 6L V8 pick up/SUV
A new Ebike doesn't have to cost 5k. At least not in Europe. For 2k you have a good brand new one. If it's your first one you could also get a used one for much less than that. The top models cost 5k or more.
Hello, I will be in The Netherlands, Germany and Austria with Viking River cruise. I will be riding E-bikes in all of those countries. Do they have standardized wrenches? On my last trip 2 years ago, they weren’t able to lower the seat on my bike. It was an unnerving adventure, because I had to hop off of the bike and climb back on as the seat was too high. Hoping to bring the correct size wrench(es) myself this time.
Sign of the times, the IAA car show has been replaced by EuroBike! I've been to the car show many times in the past, the exhibition area is huge! Looking forward to the videos from it.
It is fantastic and exciting to see innovation and I guess it doesn’t matter where that come from. It is manafacturing which needs to be ‘in contintinent’ to keep with the etos of green travel.
I like your channel. 👍 A big issue along with infrastructure is theft. Do you want to leave a $3000 eBike locked up outside while you are in the grocery store and have it gone when you come back? Or ride a $150 non e beater bike which will probably still be there when you get back to it? I keep my more expensive bike for weekend rides (mtb) and use my old klunker for going to the market.
It’s innovation that made America the most powerful economic country in the world. It has to keep innovating and producing to keep the number one spot. If not, there are those countries who are eagerly waiting in the wings to happily fill their boots.
Hey. A word from Europe. Let me start from another angle: when we were driving 1.5L engine cars, America was like „I need my V8, not going to drive a V6”. Same with bikes, we’re cycling more and more, next to smaller cars, on smaller roads.
Agree with many people. Extremely car centric infrastrucuture and sprawl. Even when they add bike lanes, in many places it's on 6,7,8 lane stroads. Just added as an afterthought so the city/state DOT can say "look we added a bike lane, but no one is riding on it". Who feels safe riding on that kind of infrastructure?
Cargo bikes need a lot more local bike shops carrying them and those shops need to get their logo on the side and get their staff riding them back and forth to work/home. If people see these, they'll be inspired to figure out what they hell they are. Big opportunities to market them instead of wait a decade or more for people to learn through a friend.
Thanks for watching!
To learn more about some of these bikes, check out the links in the description.
What's holding us back? The country needs properly built separated bike infrastructure that's safe.
Some of the best e-bikes are perhaps European, but one of the best TH-cam channels about biking is definitely American. Keep it up, Propel! Greetings from Belgium 🇧🇪
Go watch
Not just bikes,
One cyclist in Lisbon
agreed! I have no problems with americans being great at this (or being the best at many other things, IF they are the best and don't try sneaky tactics like I won't go into details about right now). So yeah, I love watching americans give Europe credit where credit is due, and this guy is definitely a great watch since he's not arrogant and xenophobic like many other americans. God bless his good heart!
I'd say what's holding us back is, the way cities and suburbs are planned to be car dependant.
We've become very car centric
Agreed. Watch Not Just Bikes?
@@mooneepondsmassive7016 I've been one of his subscribers for a few years now, thanks for the suggestion though 👍👍
You nailed it! Carcentric society!
Yep. The auto and fossil fuel industries’ lobbying and marketing push starting in the 1950s has brainwashed successive generations into believing their car dependency is “freedom.”
@@timdowney6721 exactly 👍👍
ebikes aren't just a cool technology, they're a crucial element in the transition away from fossil fuels. America cannot afford to get left behind in an industry so crucial to the future of the global economy.
Much like with solar panels and wind turbines, the US is too committed to the old status quo, and will be woefully behind the industry in other countries when it finally wakes up to future.
Nuclear powered ebikes a wise move.
@@TheGreatOldOak why nuclear
As an expat living in Germany. I cannot fathom leaving this culture and the ability to ride any of my bikes and e-bike. Holding us back, culture, infrastructure and mindset. Many years ago when I lived in the US, many in my town assumed I had lost my license and had to use a bike. Bikes are for kids is the attitude. Furthermore, Stores and commerce are zoned away from housing. Where here, my stores and restaurants are incorporated into our communities. Bike security is also a problem everywhere in world. Jenn from Germany
Let's be clear, you're not an expat you're an immigrant. There's no such thing as "expats"
Love you man. Love your content. Meeting you literally changed my life in such a positive way.
Does Jesus Christ also ride an e-bike or are you still skating for our sins?
@Zaydan Naufal he phases through the solid stone of a cave
Hey Jesus, I'm a big fan! 👏
For the love of money
I would like to give my Lord and Savior credit for leaning into this joke. Christ on a bike, indeed.
(Note: I'm a practicing Christian. We aren't all humorless.)
We're very conservative in North America, resistant to change - which is odd given our view of ourselves as innovators. Some people see bicycles, and ebikes (even some analogue cyclists) as a threat of some kind, and the romance of the automobile is still firmly rooted in our collective psyche. That's shifting, but the view of bikes as recreational toys is hard to shake. I am excited to check out the new trends coming from Europe, and some brands I have never heard of. Also kind of envious.
What’s funny to me is that much of the US was designed so it could be as flexible as possible without being able to be changed too radically, but it’s design did not hold up to communication technology and political partisanship. If modern conservatives were actually engaged with conserving the values of this country, we’d be living in walkable cities as the auto expansion of the 60’s was a very liberal and progressive thing for the time. I guess big business transcends all values
@@bobbirdsong6825 walking is unconstitutional, woke, and probably communism also.
Definitely a key difference between North America and most European countries. Bikes are seen as an everyday mode of transport in places like the Netherlands whilst Americans view them almost exclusively as exercise tools.
@@biggibbs4678 I am well aware of the lack of cycling infrastructure in the countries you have mentioned and stating that most European nations are comparable to the Netherlands was perhaps an error but you can surely see the point I’m making. The fact remains that there are quite a few countries in Europe that do in fact support and facilitate cycling in their cities which cannot be said about any regions in North America. It is also worth noting that cities such as Paris and London are making a considerable effort to improve cycling infrastructure and are making significant progress which is more than can be said for any American and Canadian cities. Generally, most European countries are at least beginning to embrace cycling even if they do not yet have a sufficient network in place whilst there are quite a few that have already built out extensive infrastructure.
I’m glad you got the video award… well-deserved! And we can celebrate Europe’s innovation with ebikes. As has been said already, Europe has been focused on bikes for many years. We complain about fuel prices, but the people “across the pond” have been paying far more than we have, for a long time. Thank you Chris, and keep up the great work!
What’s holding us back? The mentality that cars are the first transportation choice whenever the majority of Americans need to travel just a few miles within cities. Once U.S. cities are designed safer for everybody, the innovation in those transportation spaces will accelerate.
Putting small grocery shops more in the neighborhood instead of 1 big place outside where you only can go by car is a good start
@@marinusk67 This!
Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale could all jump out and build cargo bikes tomorrow and do it really well, too. I don't think it takes a decade of building a long john to build a great long john. Given the success of Rad Power and even the Babymaker (SMH), there is room for a direct to consumer long john too, but I'd really like to see this done through bike shops. The majors in the USA are still staying in the safe space of recreational bikes. I feel like its up to the bike industry to create some demand for new product lines and take a chance. It would certainly help us to rally for better bike infrastructure if people all got excited about bikes for transportation.
Cannondale lightweight front loader sign me up!
I’m a new viewer, but an instant fan! We are lagging behind in many ways to our European friends, but keep putting out these videos and hopefully it will enlighten a few people and we’ll see change sooner than later!
Keep up the great work!
What's holding us back? I'd like to know too! I did the first of several European cycle tours at 35. Returning to Toronto, Canada, I tried valiantly to cycle to my job in nearby Brampton but gave up after a few years. Now 62 and retired, the cycle infrastructure I saw in Europe in my 30's is still a distant goal here. Luckily, I now live in a city with a great 25km cycle path that I can safely cycle to from my home. I indulge almost every day. But one still cannot easily and safely travel to specific locations around the city.
I'd say it's mostly that car-centric planning has not just made cycling unattractive, it's made for generations of Canadians/Americans who can't imagine cycling ever being a viable method of transportation. If it were just current urban designs holding people back, we'd be seeing massive support for more bike infrastructure, but what we see instead is that a large percentage of people vehemently oppose it. It's going to take a huge cultural shift that changes not just what we drive/ride but how we get our groceries (smaller trips more regularly), where we live relative to where we work, how much we value comfort vs embracing exertion and the elements, etc. I don't think that will come until the next economic depression makes cars unattainable for the younger generations (we're pretty much there already).
It's great to be a European e-biker and watch the best e-bike channel from America on TH-cam! Thank you Propel.
Agreed: Europe is so ahead when it comes to e-bikes for transportation for individuals and families and cargo bikes for business. It’s sad so many people in the United States aren’t aware of the possibilities with bikes and how much we’ve sacrificed to car dominance.
"What's holding us back?" I agree with that sentiment. Why is the US holding itself back from adopting sensible transportation? I think we all have a general idea of why but, heck, if it was that easy to answer we would have already solved it. It's going to be a long journey for us. Let's hope that we can live to see the end of it.
It doesn’t use oil that’s holding us 🦖 burning Americans back
Driving a car has to become EXTREMELY cost-prohibitive, and otherwise aversive as an experience-it could be ANYTHING…just bad enough to serve as the catalyst for a micro-mobility (and public transport) revolution.
Rural areas will still be different, since the US does occupy an entire continent, but at the very least, high-population centers should at least “catch up” w/ its counterparts in other parts of the world.
In the last few days,, I’ve been hearing about the new 6th St. bridge that connects DTLA to Boyle Heights, and it’s a shame that it was built to cater primarily to fast-driving cars, rather than for the safety & enjoyment of ALL, which should include pedestrians & cyclists. 🫤 The accommodations have been made, but half-assed for anything but motor vehicles-how very LA. 🙄
Thats also depending on how old/healthy you are now, but it took us Dutchies 50 years to where we are now, but sure with real dedication and learning from others it can be done in less time now I guess.
Most US politicians are old/not bike riders and the people who they listen to on the federal and local level are mostly older/ car centric and their concern is where they are going to park their car :(
Having watched Not Just The Bike I believe poor urban planning is one major factor. I have commuted by bike and all of the points he raises I can see here and live in Australia 😳
Minneapolis has a certain amount of bike infrastructure and currently has a major downtown thoroughfare torn up to make much safer bike paths and transit priority. My son is in the Netherlands doing his computer science masters paper on urban transit planning. Glad we got him on a bike early (and he somehow also fell in love with trains). Will he ever want to come back?
phew - i've been riding ebikes (here in Aotearoa / New Zealand) for 6 years - but this Eurobike is making me feel like ebike tech is just getting started - like in a good way. Thanks for the great coverage
Great work Chris and Tara. Well said and great coverage. And great edit Tara. That's a lot of time in the chair. Well done. And really nice shots.
Cars and car-centric infrastructure is the obvious answer, but the "biking is a sport" attitude is also a huge barrier for riders who just want to go somewhere on a bike.
Twenty years ago, I went to a local bike shop and said "When I was a kid, I had a bike with a basket and handlebar streamers. I want the grown up equivalent of that.". They talked me into a mountain bike with no fenders and no obvious way to attach a basket.
Twelve years ago, I went to a local bike shop and asked about cargo bikes. I came in with pictures of the Boda Boda. They told me that they'd never seen such a thing and that they couldn't help me.
Five years ago, I went to an LBS and asked about the Tern GSD. They tried to sell me the only ebike on the floor and insisted that a cargo bike would be less useful than a trailer.
The whole time I was talked down to because I wanted street clothes compatible mobility. I've been teased for "cheating" by the "real" cyclists in my neighborhood has they pass me in their pickup trucks full of mountain bikes that they will shred downhill.
As long as electric bikes are seen as not part of the cycling ecosystem of local communities, adoption and innovation will lag. Pushing the buy button for an expensive bike you haven't been able to test ride is scary. Buying an inexpensive, entry level bike over the internet is going to be easier than buying a Tern or and R&M. Until we can get a Propel in every city, I think we are going to lag behind Europe.
Can't wait to see all the content from Eurobike. Looks like some great advancements in this area!
If you ignore the fact that a large amount [sometimes majority] of parts in the European bikes are manufactured/coming from Asia, I think you are right that we are leading.
For safety it might be because we are not over-allergic to regulation, for innovation it's just a time and priority issue: if for a longer time more than half of the trips made by bike, you attract more momentum, and that in itself attracts more sales.
Funny fact; my new bike (automatic gearing kind) got more attention in my workplace than the Tesla a colleague got; people like new(est) development [when it's not crushing the bank (that much)]
Hope you had fun at Eurobike, already saw some good presentations/developments (eg motors with build-in [automatic] gears, really see that being the new thing: fewer components and complexity with the same function). If only the development with energy storage would be quicker ;-)
Tesla doesn't make e-bikes
I just bought a gazelle after watching your videos! Thanks to your videos!!
I'm really enjoying my Gazelle Ultimate T-10 +, fit and finish and ride quality are phenomenal my first Electric Bike, no regrets on this purchase at all.
I really love my Gazelle Ultimate C380+
Spot on Chris. Looking forward to future video drops from your perspective @ eurobike 2022. Thanks for the great info!
Nice you enjoyed your visit here and a great edit too
Love your coverage of Eurobike and all the cool new bikes, can’t wait to see what new things they have in store! ✌️🚴♂️🚴♀️🚴
Its the car. The car is holding you back.
@@biggibbs4678 great idea! Let's build unnecessary cars just to give jobs to people, and also pretend that regional public transportation cannot be improved.
I'm not sure what's holding the US back, maybe it's to do with oil availability, but have you ever been to the Bike Museum in Nijmegen? It's awesome, we went there last week, and it blew our minds. The innovation and development of bikes going back in time was incredible. The first electric bike with battery and a rear wheel hub motor was in 1895, invented by an American! Apparently the Napoleonic wars took horses away, so people began to innovate personal travel, and later in in the 1950's Queen Whilameina of NL ignored royal safety protocol and bought herself a Gazelle bike. That's supporting your own industry! The curator gave us a private tour of the workshop and parts storage, their restoration work and collection is outstanding. The only downside there is that it's on three floors, with no lift, a pity for recumbent users who don't use stairs, but they're working on a plan to share one with the hotel next door.
Just moved to France and looking to buy our first ebikes so can’t wait for your upcoming recommendations!
That Tern award was well deserved. Your Tern HSD Vs GSD sold me on their platform and I love the bike.
So professional and beautiful videography. Eagerly awaiting details on the Load and Packster as I am on the verge of buying the current Load model, but unsure if I should hold out to get the newest model 🙃
Keep up the good work. You´re always welcome in Europe and Germany ;) best regards, Sebastian
I’ve been to Friederichshafen several times, Chris (I lived nearby in Switzerland). I’d hardly call it small or intimate, but there you go! Am back in the States now, so I’ll just rely on you for the latest from Frankfurt. Love the content, G
Great to talk about bicycling in this way.
I live in the Netherlands, the estimates are that we have around 35000 km bicycle roads and some are even separated completely from other traffic and outside urban area's mostly parallel on the main road.
At present time is the number of bicycle "highways" growing, to create shorter travel times between city''s. (great for speed pedelecs)
However the Netherlands is a small country, and cycle distances are manageable.
I always kept work within a reasonable distance from where I lived, mostly between 5 to 15 km from home.
I think that, when living in a big country, and when people are used to work at great distances from home then your infrastructure gets also to much adapted. to the use of cars.
It starts with bringing living and working closer together or even better, work from home if you have a job that you are able to do online.
Decision makers in city's or somewhat densely populated area's needs to have the awareness and start building something from scratch, then it may grow.
However it took decades to get serious improvements in the Netherlands, with easy exces to information now, things can change faster then in the past.
And think outside the box of your life. What is my situation, how can I do it differently.
If you have to drive every day 50 or 80 km, how much fuel do you need to buy, just for going to work?
It's also hours of living lost in traveling time.
Maybe a complete other job less money but no need of a car close to home?
I own several bicycles and one Kalkhoff E-bike similar to R&M but still overpriced (5000 euro), however a car will keep
on draining your bank account.😟
I'm retired, not rich but enough money to waist on expensive bicycles, we have many retired people with to much
money I guess. 😀
However we also have a very bleak future here in Europe.🤔
Germany has to walk back sanctions on gas from Russia or will have to shut down much of its industry.
The economic war against Russia is heavily backfiring.
We are entering a complete other era!
That's why I wonder how things will develop, high petrol prices may help the E-bike industry.
Especially when people still has the money and start making changes in their way of life.
Although I don't see much future for the car industry, if they not redirect to cheap and reliable.
Electric is still to expensive, it depends all on how bad things become.
Nearby I also see a lot of electric scooters and E-bikes to rent via smartphone by youth.
This seems a very popular development too.
These people get used to that and keep on doing that with cars later on I guess.
I got rid of my car a long time ago and fully adapted to use bicycles for everything.
I therefore have also a transport E-bike in use which is my work horse, if needed with a trailer.
The Netherlands, a beautiful country but a bad and dangerous regime in power for now, a problem we will solve.😎
Here an channel what shows how cycling in the Netherlands looks like.
th-cam.com/users/BicycleDutchvideos
I'm especially looking forward to videos on the enclosed bikes like the Podbike Frikar, and the cargo-truck looking bikes. My ideal bike is the PEBL, from Better Bike, but I live in Australia, where we more or less observe European standards, and Better Bike have been really slow to get their act together. What I want is something legally a bike, but with some of the benefits of a car, like not getting wet in the rain, the ability to carry an adult passenger, and a bit of space for groceries. Some of these new cargo bikes look to be going this way.
The Frikar looks awesome and wish it was coming to Australia. Last I heard it was being modified for the German market and is still in prototype/pre-production form.
We are constrained on many fronts... but mostly infrastructure.
Which is really strange as you have plenty of room to build better bike infrastructure.
@@tonyedgecombe6631 Yeah, it's not about space, or money really... it's all mindset of those in charge. American culture is built around the automobile, and that will not easily change.
Can’t wait for your videos about Eurobike!
The thing holding you back is bikes are seen as kids toys and transport for poor people, you need to get out of that mindset (along with using 6L V8 pickups/SUVs that do 10-12mpg)
We travel full time in an RV and bought 2 Gazelles from Propel. LOVE the bikes. I make it a point to bike in almost every place we go. What’s holding the US back is stupid laws. I continually find bike paths/trails that state that class 3 bikes are prohibited. IMO I can’t imagine buying an ebike that wasn’t a class 3. I never understand why they are prohibited. It would be similar to prohibiting a Maserati from driving on the freeway - merely because it’s capable of going fast! I’m all for speed limits on a bike path, but don’t restrict the class 3 bikes. I need it for the hills:)
same goes for Germany. Bikes that go faster than 25 km/h or 15,54 miles are treated like motorcycles. Not allowed on bike lanes and forced to use the streets. That's why 98% of e-bikes in Germany are not the faster one
@@cyberstonks I think that's even an European Union ruling. Maybe because there is no way to enforce speedlimits on the bikepath. On car-roads you can put cameras for that Maserati going to fast..
I ride up alpine trails with my Class 1 Emtb. Hills need torque and gearing, not speed. Letting riders who ca go 60km/h on bicycle lanes is such a bad idea. If you go 60 you need to drive on the road where that speed differential is basically 0. Taking bike paths through the city here in Munich means I am quicker at the destination than cars. For what except for long distance commuting do you need high speed? By that logic low powered cars should be allowed there too. Amsterdam just did away with the bad idea of letting e-scooters (the Mofa/Moped kind) on bike lanes. So they clearly gained some knowledge in the last years how good that was.
Does anyone know what that drive train with the extra pulley is called? And what the point of it is? At like 6:34 ish
Thank you for this channel, the videos are amazing, and definitely help spread the good word about bicycles.
Great opinion sharing, keep them coming!
American brands have not embrace "urban" ebike market yet; they are still targeting more sportive users (road and mountain bikes). Maybe change of mind will come from smaller brands, like Benno.
Looking forward new R&M models tests...
One of the biggest if not the biggest of impediments here is the pervasiveness of bike theft and total lack of action to combat it by police and legislators. While I live in a town where there’s a lot of biking and e-biking, taking your bike to the store or anywhere else you have to park it outside is a huge gamble because bike theft is totally endemic. Until you can ride your bike somewhere and there’s not a good chance it will be gone when you return, folks will not be able to rely on bikes as transportation. Bike theft should be the subject of a long mandatory prison sentence and vigorously enforced with stings.
I will say Europe has had a strong bike culture for a long time already. They also have better infrastructure for bikes.
Went shopping for an ebike here in Germany and they are impressive. The stores are pretty remarkable themselves too.
Go go go! No channel gets down to what matters best.
What's holding us back in the US is mostly infrastructure, and city councils that just see bikes as an annoyance rather than valid transportation. There are over 200 businesses within a mile of my home, and ONE secure bike rack. I asked our nearby bike shop why they had no rack either, and they said "It's not up to us, the city council decides where they go". It doesn't help that there are no bike lanes or shoulders on our local roads either.
In terms of quality, I'll give that to most European companies, even if a few of them could use some welding lessons 😉
I go on more than my fair share of group rides in various part of the country, and I've ridden alongside many of the models shown here. The one thing that European bikes do not have, and I know it's due to regulations, is performance. I purposely avoid being behind a European e-bike when there are hills or ramps, because I know they will struggle at best, or at their worst they will just stall and sometimes fall over due to lack of power. When level ground is rare and the next climb is 8% for over half a mile, I'd rather not have to push my bike.
Q: What's holding us back?
A: Not just bikes*
*The channel is really good; I'm saying we need lots of changes besides just using bikes more
Really looking forward to the upcoming videos! Exciting stuff!
Looking forward to the videos.
Awesome to see all the cool footage you're getting. I am super close to your shop on LB
Love it. That you for filling the void for mobility reporting (from Euro Bike and beyond) in the North American market.
As an American who is fairly new to bike commuting, Eurobike is exciting. E-Bikes open a world of possibility.
What's holding us back? That's an interesting question. Maybe that could be a video essay. I want to know the answer.
very nice video, it was fun to watch. very interesting to get an outside view of the european e-bike scene. but there are also interesting brands from america, for example. keep up the good content! 🙂(subscribed)
What’s holding us back? Well, I’m from Canada and the weather would be one - extremely hot in summer, extremely cold in winter. Something Europe to experience this last week with the extreme heat. But mainly the fact we have much less dense cities and towns, which lend less well to using a bike for everyday use.
This is so cool! I treated myself to a bike for my birthday a couple months ago to help improve my fitness and to use as a commuter bike. I'm enjoying the bike so much that I'm saving up for an electric bike for longer commutes. I'm a musician, so I would either be looking for a cargo bike or a bike trailer so I can haul my guitar and equipment to gigs. My eventual goal, if the electric bike works out like I hope it will, is to get rid of my car, use the regular bike and the electric bike for transportation, and just rent a car or van if I ever need to haul anything substantial (which is hardly ever). I would love to see some electric bikes like these on the market here in the U.S.
Can't wait for the video on the new R&M products
As a Canadian mountain biker, I'd love to hear your take on Devinci. But I know they only have a few ebike offerings. Great videos though, keep up the great work!
I appreciate propels Spirit and believes
Loving those new colors! 🎨
America loves the car and SUVs even more. 😉
that back seat at 04:28 what is that?
I ride a two wheeled recumbent, that I have converted to an eBike back in 2019, and it has changed my life. As for all the best eBike's coming from Europe, thats easy. Bikes are an excepted part of the European life style. And now that cargo bikes have E-assist, that has really upped the bar. Simple, in most places, bike's are not taken as serious transportation here in the US. Plus where I live, cities are 50+ miles apart. So there is the fact that the US is a large country, and as others have pointed out, its all about cars here. But when gas goes over 5 dollars a gallon and stay's there, things might change. We can only hope.
Lived in Boston for 7 years and that's where I picked up my bike as sole way of transportation. Then ended up at a job that required a car to get to so ended up ditching the bike and getting quite chubby. Moved to Stockholm and the change was immediate. Bike was the way but even more after I got an ebike. Last Tuesday, we biked for 45 kms dragging my two toddlers ina chariot and O just didn't feel it. We are at the verge of a paradigm switch
What’s holding us back is addiction to v8 pick up trucks. In a country where the Ford F-150 is one of the highest selling vehicles and an aspiration vehicle for many Americans, its no wonder why cycling is generally looked down upon. One interesting thing from the experience of Holland is that their success in converting people to bicycles didn’t come from making the roads better for bicycles, but rather it came from making the roads worse for car users.
Thinking about bikes as (sometimes) sport, exercise & entertainment. Once you shift to thinking about transportation, load capacity, & comfort the game changes, but so do the infrastructure needs. Also incentive programmes, like Ireland’s bike to work scheme. Changing attitudes toward bikes will drive the change of infrastructure. Gazelle owner here, 13 years car~free in Ireland & France
Love the Carla Cargo train at 6:13
I am fascinated by the European bike market from the standpoint of design and the features, but, I would agree with several of the commenters that the pricing is way out of the reach of many US buyers. While the Chinese bikes are more price friendly, I guess it remains to be seen how they will stack up in the long run with regard to reliability. So far on my two Chinese bikes under the Fabulous E-bike and Ariel Rider brands, I have racked up over 2,000 miles with only minor issues, most of which were my doing. I have a Fabulous e-bike EMX 60v One, which costs half of the cost of a Tern and has a more powerful motor, equal quality brakes, better display, a better suspension both front and rear, and way more range. The Terns are beautiful and of course, the Bosch motors are reliable but way under powered. The killer, as I have said, on these European bikes is the price. I am not sure that you get what you paid for holds true regarding the Chinese vs the European bikes. All of that having been said, the major difference is that the US still lags way behind in bike friendly streets. I am fortunate to live in a city where there are 85 miles of paved bike paths beyond the bike lanes through the city center. Minnesota is a very bike friendly state and I contrast that with Massachusetts where I used to live that has very few paved bike trails/paths and is only now creating bike lanes in the major cities. The US has a lot of catching up to do!
I have an Electra Townie ebike and it's great, but I keep looking at brands like Riese & Müller and envying the features.
2:00 (ish) - "when it comes to [...] reliability"
I may of course be wrong, but I suspect having a legal minimum 24 month warranty on your products (EU minimum, can be higher in individual countries) forces manufacturers to have better reliability on their products, because you can't cut as many corners if you know you're the one paying for repairs later on.
I have been looking for accesible bikes for so long!!!!! I would love one of those four wheeled ones!!!
What's holding us in the US back, particularly in coastal urban areas, is that our infrastructure was not built for bicycles or pedestrians. Until we have safe, usable infrastructure, most Americans won't accept riding alongside motor vehicles and *maybe* making it to work without a major collision.
@@biggibbs4678 I sell bikes for a living. Laziness definitely contributes but safety is absolutely an issue.
I agree with your view of the European bike market. A few years ago, I decided to build a cargo bike with gross weight of 400+ lbs. (rider, bike and cargo) for everyday use. My daily commute is about 20 miles total with an elevation change of five hundred feet. I didn't feel the EU restrictions on power and speed would work well with my requirements, even the US limitations on power were limiting. I don't mind the sharing the streets with the smokers, but I do enjoy the two miles river bike path. So, I do believe the US market and adoption of e-bikes as a general mode of transportation depends on bicycle specific infrastructure to get the general publics acceptance.
P.S. I've planned a trip to your store, but july-sept ride from Riverside to Long Beach and back is a serious day trip!
Looking forward to your videos from Eurobike
What do you think is the lightest/smallest ebike with a frame mounted front rack? I have a tern HSD and it's pretty decent.
I think Harley Davidson made a nice commitment with the Serial 1 ebikes. The Serial 1 equipped with the Brose motor and Enviolo Belt drive train makes the best, quietest propulsion system of any ebike I've ridden and I have a also very nice R&M Delite with Rohloff e14 for comparison. I think the US ebike market is still recreation vs transportation focused but your helping this transition of thinking along so keep up the good work.
I hope all ebike riders will like you, consider themselves as ambassadors for the technology. We can all help improve the ebike's reputation as a viable transportation option.
I think what is holding North America back is lack of infrastructure, poorly designed towns/cities (many Urbanist channels have looked at this) and sheer American entitlement and laziness. How many eBike channels have I seen from the US were they show themselves freewheeling at 40-60mph on throttle assist so called 'eBikes'. It's almost as if pedaling a bicycle (or making any physical effort) is sacrilegious. This mentality needs to change big time if you want real growth to happen.
I too agree that the most interesting innovations are coming out of Europe. Not surprising when you see thousands of cyclists on the streets in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and most other big European cities. I am very interested in some of the light bike innovation coming out of Europe: the Mahle system 25, and Fazua amongst them. Glad to see some of our north american brands working with this stuff: Specialized Cannondale and Trek all come to mind. Very interested to see your views on some of these this year. We live on the West Coast, and our area is rich in cycling infrastructure and getting better. But it has a long way to go to catch up with the European standards.
The expense of e-bikes can’t be dismissed, but to frame the e-bike concept as ‘alternative transport’ rather than a ‘luxury bicycle’ might be helpful. You’ve featured some people in your videos for whom an e-bike is a tool for their work or way of life, and that’s important I think.
Here in the UK we’re exposed to a lot of the European innovations, although we’re a bit behind the continent in terms of urban bicycle infrastructure. What does help though are ‘cycle-to-work’ schemes that let you purchase a decent bike via monthly payments on a tax-exempt salary sacrifice basis, thus actually saving a bit of money.
Price is probably one of the biggest factors. My first two used cars I ever purchased were both under $10,000. I notice many of the brands you've mentioned as being the "best" ebikes are near or above that. 8, 9, 10 grand. Some even crossing the $15,000 mark for a cargo bike that could be a legitimate car replacement.
That is a steep price to pay considering our infrastructure is far from bike friendly for the most part. For instance here in Alaska I wouldn't be able to ride most of those bikes for a majority of the year. Could I justify 10K on something that will sit unused for 7 months?
In some distant future, when the US has viable trail systems and protected bike lanes leading to all parts of every city, I think quality ebike adoption will be much more reasonable. Essentially its as if we are asking people to buy an expensive boat when they have no easy access to the water.
Anyone know what cargo bike is featured at 52 seconds into the video? Thanks
Strange that in the US they still design urban planning just for cars with also 70% driving a SUV or a Pickup. The ineffectiveness is mind blowing 😮
How do we get more info on those bikes, and can we buy them in Europe and bring them back to the states. I also think the price is a lot more then in the States. I would like to see more information on individual bike Co. And their bikes.
Howdy from MN! I have a 6 year old Raleigh Sprite e bike. It is too heavy for me as I get older (65). I am looking for an e bike that is light weight and has a range of up to 80 miles/charge [even it I have to add a booster]. Looking to spend under $2500. Any suggestions? I met a gal several summers ago who ordered a bike from Europe-but I don't remember the brand. She was quite happy. Maybe ordered from Netherlands? Thank you!
US brands are focused on value, its hard to beat a Letric, Radpower, or Aventon bikes. An entry level Riese & Muller bike costs 3-5x more than the more mainstream US bikes.
Could it be the US has a shortage of people willing to spend 5K+ on a first Ebike? Brands like Rad Power, Aventon and Magicycle may not be cutting edge or innovative, but they're all under 2K and a lot of folks in the US are getting a good introduction to Ebikes this way.
But spending 25k on a car you mostly drive alone seems smart? What a waste of resources. And the waste continues through the gas.
@@ninetendopesaitama2107 that's a false equivalence. I'm a bicyclist and I have two nice bikes, but have never spent more than $2K on one. A $5K+ Ebike may very well be worth it. My point is a LOT of folks will not want to soak that kind of money into a first Ebike before figuring out if an Ebike will work for them. Especially when good less expensive options are available
@@ninetendopesaitama2107 A couple things. One, it is hard to find a car that costs much less nowadays. Second, part of the hesitancy in buying an eBike that costs thousands of dollars is the worry that it will get stolen.
Bikes are seen as kids toys and transport for poor people, that’s one change that’s got to be overcome, before you can even start doing anything else.
Fuel prices need to become very very expensive to tempt Americans out of the 6L V8 pick up/SUV
A new Ebike doesn't have to cost 5k. At least not in Europe. For 2k you have a good brand new one. If it's your first one you could also get a used one for much less than that. The top models cost 5k or more.
What bike is at 52 seconds please?
Live in Murcia Spain and looking for e...trikes any ideas please
Good content!
Hello, I will be in The Netherlands, Germany and Austria with Viking River cruise. I will be riding E-bikes in all of those countries. Do they have standardized wrenches? On my last trip 2 years ago, they weren’t able to lower the seat on my bike. It was an unnerving adventure, because I had to hop off of the bike and climb back on as the seat was too high. Hoping to bring the correct size wrench(es) myself this time.
4,5,6mm hex keys are most common. But I would recommend a bike multitool
Sign of the times, the IAA car show has been replaced by EuroBike!
I've been to the car show many times in the past, the exhibition area is huge!
Looking forward to the videos from it.
It is fantastic and exciting to see innovation and I guess it doesn’t matter where that come from. It is manafacturing which needs to be ‘in contintinent’ to keep with the etos of green travel.
Can you recommend some affordable e-bikes available in Europe? Around euro 1,000 or under?
I like your channel. 👍 A big issue along with infrastructure is theft. Do you want to leave a $3000 eBike locked up outside while you are in the grocery store and have it gone when you come back? Or ride a $150 non e beater bike which will probably still be there when you get back to it? I keep my more expensive bike for weekend rides (mtb) and use my old klunker for going to the market.
Gates, Fox, Sram/Rockshox, etc.. There are pretty good components from the US too that are used in e-bikes.
It’s innovation that made America the most powerful economic country in the world. It has to keep innovating and producing to keep the number one spot. If not, there are those countries who are eagerly waiting in the wings to happily fill their boots.
Hey. A word from Europe.
Let me start from another angle: when we were driving 1.5L engine cars, America was like „I need my V8, not going to drive a V6”. Same with bikes, we’re cycling more and more, next to smaller cars, on smaller roads.
So, what is your point?
Agree with many people. Extremely car centric infrastrucuture and sprawl. Even when they add bike lanes, in many places it's on 6,7,8 lane stroads. Just added as an afterthought so the city/state DOT can say "look we added a bike lane, but no one is riding on it". Who feels safe riding on that kind of infrastructure?
Congrats for the prize!
Can you make a critique/highlight of US bike manufacturers, their pros/cons?
Also, what do you think of DIY ebikes?
Cargo bikes need a lot more local bike shops carrying them and those shops need to get their logo on the side and get their staff riding them back and forth to work/home. If people see these, they'll be inspired to figure out what they hell they are. Big opportunities to market them instead of wait a decade or more for people to learn through a friend.
That fully-loaded KTM Macina Multi looking 🥵🥵