Custom bikes

E-BIKE TIPS

E-bikes make up half the business at central Minnesota bike shops. The bikes are gaining in popularity as riders purchase them to keep up with friends and family who train for races or long-distance rides. The bikes also provide riders with confidence, allowing them to travel as far as they would like knowing they can be assisted on the ride back.

Purchase an e-bike from a reputable dealer who carries well-known brands. Less expensive and lesser-known models can come with batteries more prone to fires.

Take care when charging the battery for an e-bike. Batteries should be charged inside a fire proof box and charged under supervision, not overnight. Batteries should not be charged longer than recommended by the manufacturer.

What you need to know

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

Today’s bike options are as customized and different as today’s bike riders. There are bikes to fit every body type and athletic ambition.

“It’s so different than it was back in the ‘80s; there was a bike and it was a bike,” said Logan Hanson of Jake’s Bikes in Alexandria. “Now, there are enduro bikes and cross-country bikes and gravel bikes. People are finding the things they really enjoy doing, and com- panies are creating bikes that do that really well.”

Staff in local bike shops are experts in their field, knowledgeable about today’s options and there to answer customer questions to find the best fit for each person.

“Our job is to help solve people’s problems,” Hanson said.

Those challenges could range from balance issues to back pain to people who pedal with their hands instead of their feet.

“There’s really no limit to how we can adapt and figure out bikes for people,” Hanson said. “That’s my favorite part of the job. We deal with people who don’t feel comfortable and don’t feel confident and have given up on bikes. That’s a cool part of our industry. It’s very inclusive, and it’s continually adaptive.” Road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid comfort bikes make up three of the largest bike categories. Each category has subsets and branches and offer e-bikes, which Hanson said are allowing families, couples and friends who have never ridden together to do so.

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Class one electric bikes do not have a throttle but assist up to 20 mph. Class two have a throttle and assist up to 20 mph, and class three assist up to 28 mph with no throttle.

Dave and Susan Sperstad own Touright Bicycle Shop in Little Falls. There, Sperstad works to figure out what type of riding his customers like to do so he can find the right bike for their use.

Road bikes are built for people who want to ride hard, fast and for long distances for exercise. The bikes are light and create an aerodynamic position for the rider. Fitness bikes within this same category offer a more upright seated position and flat handle bar so the user can get a good work out without being bent over. These bikes are offered in carbon fiber, steel and aluminum frames. Mountain bikes focus on the width of the wheels and the size of the flat handle bars. The bigger the tire, the more equipped the bike is to climb over ruts and rocks. The gears are different on a mountain bike and may offer the rider up to 12 speeds in the back and one or two in the front. These bikes typically have a shock to aid in comfort and efficiency. Brands of- fer a shock in the middle of the frame, known as a full suspension bike, that helps riders maintain control on trails, keeping the back wheel on the ground. Styles offer a dropper post with seat positioning, allowing the user to switch easily between sitting and standing while riding.

Comfort bikes place the rider in a seated, upright position. These bikes are easier to pedal and provide added stability for the rider to pedal more slowly, making it easier to keep pace with younger children. Comfort bikes may have up to seven speeds or have gears in the back and are built for smooth riding. Pedaling is less efficient when it comes to revolutions per minute.

When it comes to choosing a bike material, Sperstad said carbon fiber is the lightest and most efficient material that absorbs shock but is also expensive.

Sperstad said steel frames are made out of an alloy steel mixture to make the frame heavier than carbon. The bikes absorb some shock, making the ride a little easier.

Aluminum frames are in between carbon fiber and steel when it comes to weight, but the shock is felt more by the rider.

Sperstad said companies offer aluminum frames with a carbon fiber fork to bring the cost down and absorb more of the impact of the road.

When it comes to repairs, there are a number of things for riders to keep in mind. Carbon fiber is expensive to repair, and it is almost always cheaper to purchase a new bike, according to Sperstad. Carbon fiber cannot be recycled. Aluminum and steel can be recycled and repaired.

Sperstad said the user gets what they pay for, and inexpensive bikes purchased at big box stores cannot be repaired.

No matter the type of bike, getting the right fit for the right use is important, and experts said the correct choice can extend the enjoyment of the ride and keep people biking longer.

“I start by wanting to know where they’re going to ride and how they’re going to ride,” Sperstad said.