On April 25, 2025, Lincoln South Rotary Club heard about E-Bikes in Lincoln from Alex Aistrope.
Forget shopping online! Though you can research and review online, there is nothing like some personal help and the opportunity to test drive before you buy. That is what you can do at Speedy Pete's. Speedy Pete's offers sales and rentals and they service E-Bikes.
Alex shared that she has become an E-Bike commuter. She lives hear the East Campus of UNL and commutes to work near 48th & Van Dorn. It takes about 30 minutes during busy hours. She stated that Lincoln is a great place for riding bikes. There is a great trail system. And, you can get from one place to another easily because you can go across town diagonally - don't have to follow the streets - because of the placement of the trails.
Being a commuter has improved her life - it makes her a happier person. It allows her a chance to get out and get some air and be healthier as well.
She educated us on the components of an E-Bike. The most expensive item is the battery. They are lithium batteries which are made up of man small batteries. It is important to get a good quality battery to increase life and reduce fires. Any one cell can go bad and then the battery is no longer effective. The cost of the battery can be around $700. Battery life depends on how you use your E-Bike. If you use the throttle feature (discussed later) it will last about 1/2 as long as when you only use pedal assist.
There is also a motor on an E-Bike. Most have the motor in the pedal area while others will have them in the rear wheel - those are generally more powerful.
E-Bikes are generally heavier than a regular bike. The battery might be 10 pounds and the motor another 10 pounds. And, the frame is heavier - sturdier - to support the additional weight of those components.
You can use an E-Bike like a regular bike - you can pedal, shift and brake just like a regular bike. The basic improvement over a regular bike is that the motor provides some pedal assist - a little boost for each pedal stroke. There are 4 to 5 levels of assistance - to just make pedaling easier or to help you get over obstacles.
You can also use the throttle which functions like a gas pedal. It propels the bike without pedaling. This can be a little tricky because the throttle is located in the handle bar. It can be selected in error - and cause confusion on the part of the biker. But, with experience, you can gain comfort using all functions of the E-Bike.
There are 3 classes of E-Bikes. There is some controversy about regulations - if they are motorized should they be treated like a motorized vehicle? Some states and municipalities allow only Class 1 E-Bikes.
- Class 1 - equipped with pedal assist and are limited to a top speed of 20 mph
- Class 2 - come with both pedal assist and throttle assist but still have a maximum of 20 mph
- Class 3 - feature a speedometer and assistance up to 28 mph
Within Lincoln all classes are allowed wherever a bicycle is allowed. Helmets and pads are not required. All bikes are required to have a head lamp, a rear lamp or reflector and working brakes.
Alex said that citizens in Lincoln that like E-Bikes are often people who are on their feet all day and would like an easier ride home. They are also popular with young families - when the parents want to haul a trailer for a child behind the bike. She stated that a person should not travel over 28 mph on trails. The City of Lincoln states that bikes, scooters and mopeds are not allowed on sidewalks.
We learned a little about fires caused by the lithium batteries of E-Bikes. Care should be taken to protect the battery. Alex suggested that you should bring the bike indoors when there are extreme temperatures - cold or hot. The battery should not be plugged in for a continual period of time - similar to a cell phone - it can get hot. If they are damaged they need to be disposed of properly. And recycling is important - if they are crushed like in a garbage truck - they can start fire.
She again mentioned the individual cells and any one of them can go bad reinforcing the need to purchase a quality battery. She also showed an image stating that fires caused by E-Bikes are not among the top - cooking, heating, electrical, arson, etc. - with E-Bikes being in the "other" category with is 2% of all fires.
When asked about the life of a bike she said it is probably about 10 years. They were first introduced in the late 1990s or early 2000s and there have been many technological improvements since then. She said the average price for a good E-Bike is $6,000 - $7.000. She has seen them for as low as $200 online - only to find that they basically don't function.
She said that most bike companies also make E-Bikes. Almost all styles of bikes are also available as an E-Bike - example fat tire bikes which as very popular now. There are other companies such as Ford that recently contacted her about carrying their E-Bike "the Bronco". And, she said they currently have an E-Bike from Harley Davidson which is part of a raffle at Speedy Pete's.
BIO:
Alex is the current store manager at a local E-Bike store called Speedy Pete’s E-Bikes. We love to help people find the joy of cycling.