21 minute read
COVER
An energizing ride
Exploring the e-bike option
by Kimberly Rivers
kimberly@vcreporter.com
8 — — MAY 14, 2020 T he wind in your face, the exercise, not having to find parking, no emissions, a great way to get where you’re going: All are common reasons for riding a bicycle. Over the past 20 years or so, many companies have been working to increase access to the joy and health benefits of bicycle riding by adding electricity to the mix. In addition, advances in battery technology have made electric bikes not just feasible, but economical.
“When lithium batteries started becoming affordable, that is when bikes made sense,” said Peter Miller, founder and co-owner of Hill Billy USA, which supplies golf trolleys, bags and accessories. Hill Billy is one of three businesses operated out of a warehouse on Palma Drive in Ventura that rely on electric batteries. Coast Cart sells golf carts and similar four-wheel drive e-vehicles; Dogleg is its electric bicycle brand. The lithium battery option “really reduced the weight so much from the typical lead acid [battery]. 2008 is when we got the first bike in to start testing.”
Dogleg was formed in 2009, and takes its name from a golf term. A dogleg is a bent route between the tee and the hole. Miller attributed the name to his business partner, Robin Gardner, whom he met in the 1980s working at Vandenberg Air Force Base building space shuttle launch equipment.
The two connected again in 1996 to form Hill Billy, which offers battery-powered push trolleys used by golfers. Miller, originally from Scotland, said that “hill billy” is a British term for billy goats.
“We did that through mail order and grew that business as the golf world was growing and Tiger Woods was on fire,” he recalled. Hill Billy would get a lot of calls about fixing golf carts and it seemed a natural move to become a dealer. Miller and Gardner had knowledge of the batteries, and had connections in the industry, so they began designing bikes.
The Hill Billy trolley business is booming at the moment. With physical distancing rules at golf courses disallowing golf carts, the electric-assist trolley for heavy club bags has been in high demand and Hill Billy is shipping multiple units every day.
There’s been a noticeable uptick in interest in electric bikes as well.
Hill Billy’s customers run the gamut, but Miller said that, “We sell to a lot of boomers with bad hips and bad knees . . . the bikes help them stay active.” For one customer in Santa Barbara with multiple sclerosis, “The bike gave her her life back.”
Miller said that a lot of folks first
TOP: Robin Gadrner (left) and Peter Miller of Dogleg bikes in their Ventura shop. (Photo by Kimberly Rivers.)
ABOVE: The Dogleg Smoothie mountain bike (left) and Step Thru cruiser. (Photo by Sun Mountain Films)
approach e-bikes with the idea that they are for “lazy” biking. “It’s not about being lazy, it’s about being smart.” The more we enjoy something, the more we will do it, including exercise. And at least one study (1) has found that the heart rates of those riding electric bikes were comparable to those for standard bikes riders. E-bikes can encourage folks to “get out and exercise” when they otherwise wouldn’t, said Miller.
The frames are built in China and the bikes are assembled in Ventura.
“China can build a better bike than anybody else. China builds more bikes and uses more bikes than anybody else,” Miller said, pointing to the quality of the welds in the bike frame body. “They are not cheap or cheesy . . . China has got it dialed in.”
Dogleg’s concept was focused on affordability as well. Standard e-bike models range from $1450 to $2350. “You can get a $7,000 [standard] mountain bike from Colorado,” Miller noted by comparison. “Originally we were trying to get prices as low as possible to open up to the masses.” It was also important that any bike shop could tune and repair the bikes. “Nothing proprietary . . . We choose to make it simple to do a repair or change out a tube.”
The first model was a fold-up e-bike, still sold today. (“It’s a great option for people with RVs and boats, or you can put one in the trunk of your car,” said Miller.) The Step-Thru beach cruiser was inspired by Ventura’s beach vibe and Promenade. The mountain bike, called the Smoothie, is for the folks who “want to throw around a little bit more. It is a bit heavier” than a standard mountain bike. With the power assist the rider can stop battling steep uphill climbs and enjoy the ride, increasing access to trails that riders might not otherwise choose to tackle. Dogleg also offers a fat-tire model with a motorcycle seat and electric tricycles.
Mining: The Lithium Triangle is located in the deserts of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, where the element is mined from the brines under the sand. Australia is another hotbed. Mined lithium gets sent to China for processing into battery grade lithium. (www.solar. com). There are carbon emissions related to lithium mining and battery production, but as lithium batteries replace internal combustion engines, there is a valuable carbon offset taking place.
Recycling: Lithium ion batteries do not contain lead or cadmium, so they are not as overtly toxic as other battery types. They are also easier to recycle than other battery types and contain valuable materials such as cobalt, aluminum, graphite and plastics. They should, however, never be discarded in the regular garbage or recycling bin, as they do present a fire hazard in extreme temperatures and under pressure.
Dogleg...continues on Page 14 T hese batteries are in most electronic devices today, from smartphones to cars to gardening equipment, and signal a shift away from relying on fossil fuels for energy. But experts say that by 2025 a large surge of these batteries will be discarded (many incorrectly) in landfills unless major recycling efforts are made.
The main difference riders may notice between electric bikes and standard bikes is the weight. Typical mountain bikes today range from about 21 to 30 pounds, depending on the frame material. E-bikes weigh in at about 50 pounds, with the battery weighing eight pounds.
Things to consider MIchael (left) and Kimberly Rivers of Ojai enjoy the Ojai Valley Trail on Dogleg e-bikes. D ogleg electric bikes are described as “pedal assist,” meaning that they help you along while pedaling. They have gears like a standard bike. The rider sets the gear, the level of assist and pedals along. When you are gliding along on a mostly flat path or trail, it feels the same as a regular bike, only more effortless. It’s similar to a treadmill: You still get a workout, setting the bike to the resistance level you want to make it easier or harder.
The maximum speed for all bikes, before the pedal assist shuts off, is 20 mph. The battery has a range of 20 to 30 miles depending on trail and rider factors.
All three Dogleg models — fold-up, cruiser, mountain bike — have the same power system, a 36 volt, 250 watt brushless geared motor and a 36 volt (12ah) lithium ion battery. The battery has a lifespan of about 700 full charges, and takes three to four hours to fully recharge. One Dogleg customer who bought her first bike 10 years ago has replaced her battery twice. Today, the batteries cost about $400. E-bike 411
Technology and processes for recycling lithium ion batteries are improving all the time, and most e-bike sellers can assist customers with recycling. Dogleg, for example, takes back the batteries (a recycling firm collects them periodically). But right now the cost of recycling these batteries is about five times the cost of mining them. (3)
Consider this: According to a study by The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (www.itdp.org), a global cycling activist organization working to combat climate change, if by 2050, 14 percent of travel on earth is on bicycles and e-bikes (today about six percent of miles traveled are on two-wheel pedaled vehicles) the Earth would see an 11 percent reduction in carbon emissions. (4) Lithium ion batteries:
Together the three businesses — Hill Billy, Coast Cart and Dogleg — employ 12 people and serve as U.S. distributors for Yamaha mountain bikes and a cargo electric bike called Barletta (designed by the Domino’s Pizza company in Australia), which is popular in densely populated cities such as New York. A family test trek
I grew up riding bikes, but it would not be my first choice for exercise or for getting around. When my family recently had an opportunity to test out some electric bikes, I was excited.
First, our family stats. Ages range from 14 to 51, fairly healthy, no major joint or muscle injuries other than some fairly typical middle-age back issues for the oldest.
Over the course of two days, I personally rode about 45 miles on flat paved bike paths, on roads, and on the up-and-down Shelf Road loop that requires a long and steep climb to get to the trail. We also did a battery range check ride to Foster Park and back on the Ojai Valley Trail. My son and I did an evening ride, requiring the use of the bright front and rear lights (connected to the battery). I also did a morning milk run.
On every ride I got exercise. On the longer rides with hills I breathed hard, sweated and used my glutes, core and thigh muscles. I also smiled the entire time. If you hit the mountain bike trails hard and love it, then maybe you won’t be interested, but if you’ve got a knee injury, an ankle problem that makes those shifts in pressure on the pedals painful, or similar issues, an e-bike might keep you riding longer and farther. Step Thru cruiser
The Step Thru has seven gears and is marketed as a unisex bike. The design allows the rider to step through rather than swinging a leg high over the seat and middle bar to get on — helpful for those with limited hip movement.
The electric motor on the cruiser is installed in the rear wheel, which changes the center of gravity just a tad.
The cruiser has a “twist-grip” throttle that allows you to engage the electric motor without pedaling. It’s designed to help get you started from a stop (very convenient) and works even on a hill. The bike has three settings for levels of pedal assist — low, medium and high.
Riding this bike from near downtown Ojai to Foster Park and back, 20 miles, using the low and medium settings for the downhill portion and using high assist all the way back (uphill the whole way) used up the battery. I had one “bar” left when I got home.
All family members liked this bike, even my skeptical husband. He enjoyed the “twist and go” throttle and reported it worked great to cruise up small hills with just the
LEFT: A wheel-eye view of the Ojai Valley Trail.’ (Photo by Sun Mountain Films. )
ABOVE: The Dogleg Tricycle e-bike. (Photo by Kimberly Rivers)
AD PROOF
Client: Safeport Cannabis Ad Executive: Jon Cabreros (805) 648-2244
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: 5/14/20 NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP
353 w channel islands blvd Port huENEME
805-843-3131
CANNABIS DISPENSARY
ORDER HOME DELIVERY OR CURBSIDE PICKUP
Dogleg...continued from Page 13
throttle.
Full Smoothie mountain bike
This slick eight-speed bike is super fun to ride! It has a larger wheel (27.5 inch) than the cruiser and comes with full suspension, air shock (rear) and Rock Shox (front). It only has pedal assist, no throttle option. But this bike seems to have more get up and go than the cruiser, particularly noticeable on inclines.
I tested both the cruiser and the mountain bike up two different steep hills. The cruiser got me to the top of both, but it felt like the engine was straining and it used a lot more charge than the mountain bike, which took me up with ease. For those who think you’re not going to get exercise with pedal assist, I’m here to say — you’re wrong. I set the mountain bike to the proper gear and still had to push; it was just much more manageable (which made it more fun). Being able to get up the Signal Street hill with ease opened up a trail to me on a bike that I wouldn’t otherwise choose to ride on, even on a warm summer evening.
The Bafang motor is in the pedal housing, centered on this bike. On my very first test ride, it felt more comfortable than the cruiser, with the power source being right underneath me — that’s the same as riding a standard bike. This bike has five power levels for pedal assist.
A major difference we all noticed on the Smoothie was the better display compared to the cruiser. It is easier to read the battery power level and includes speed and distance.
Even though this bike has the same range per specs as the cruiser, in our test rides, this bike seems to use less “juice” on the same trail as the cruiser, and got home after the 20-mile trip to Foster Park with more life left in the battery.
All about town Perhaps my favorite jaunt out on the cruiser was a milk run, down the hill to the midtown market on a Sunday morning. A little bit of exercise, out in the sunshine and no use of fossil fuels. I also used the bike for a work-related outing. This bike is perfect for errands about town and local commuting. Take home message: e-bikes are awesome! A lot of fun, and well suited to a variety of needs and activity levels. I’m missing it already, and will be working one into the family budget.
E-bike Adventure: E-bike rentals and tours. 184 Kellogg Way, Ventura, 805-991-6653. www.e-bikeadventure.com
CUrbside only available for a limited time
E-bike Options
SoCal Electric Bikes: Rentals and sales. 3639 E. Harbor Blvd., #110, Ventura Harbor Village. www.facebook.com/scebusa/
1. “Pedal-Assist mountain bikes: A pilot study comparison of the exercise response, perception and beliefs of experienced mountain bikers,” Hall, Cougar; Hoj, Taylor, et al., Department of Public Health and Department of Technology and Engineering Studies, Brigham Young University. www.formative. jmir.org/2019/3/e13643/.
2. National Forest Service e-bike info: www.fs.usda.gov/visit/e-bikes.
3. www.instituteforenergyresearch. org/renewable/the-afterlife-of-electric-vehicles-battery-recycling-and-repurposing/.
4. www.usa.streetsblog. org/2015/11/18/how-much-can-bicycling-help-fight-climate-changea-lot-if-cities-try/.
Disclosure: Dogleg advertises in the VCReporter.
Ventura Bike Depot: Rentals and sales. 239 W. Main St., Ventura, 805-652-1114, www.venturabikedepot.com
Here to help life go right. ™
*Loyalty & Bundle Discounts Available
Efrain Cazares
Agent Lic# CA-OF89628
(805) 205-8222
www.teamgoodstate.com LIFE HOME COMMERCIAL AUTO Efrain Cazares
Agent Lic# CA-0F89628
(805) 205-8222
www.teamgoodstate.com Discounts up to
35% * Get more. Spend less. It's that simple when you get car insurance from us.
Like a good neighbor State Farm is there. ® CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7. More coverage. Less spendage. CALL TODAY FOR YOUR
FREE QUOTE 24/7!
Now Open for Take-out!
Limited Menu
Tues., Thurs., Fri. 3-7pm • Sat. 12pm - 4pm
FRONT DOOR IS OPEN!
nAcApAA
AD PROOF
Client: Ventura Highway Ad Executive: Barbara Kroon (805) 648-2244
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom ISSUE: 5/14/20 NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP 472 E. Main St., Downtown Ventura • 805-643-BEER
Brewing co.
0901127.1 *Discounts may vary by state. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL 0901127.1 *Discounts may vary by state. State Farm Mutual Automobile lnsunace Company
State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL
We are Fully Open for Daycare and Boarding: Bring Your Dog for Some Fun! WE Are OFFERING CURBSIDE
DROP OFF and PICK UP TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING With OUR HUMAN CUSTOMERS
This proof is to check for accuracy and is not intended to show quality of reproduction. CHECK LIST: p phone number is correct p address is correct p expiration date is correct p spelling is correct DEADLINE FOR AD CHANGES IS 12:00 NOON THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO THAT ISSUES RELEASE. PLEASE NOTE: All advertising produced by the production department of Southland Publishing, is the copyrighted property of Southland Publish Any use other than the placement of advertising in any of Southland Publishing’s publications is prohibited without the express Southland Publishing, plus any applicable fees. Date: _______________________________ Signature: ___________________________ p OK to run p OK to run with correction This proof is to check for accuracy and is not intended to show quality of reproduction. phone number is correct p address is correct p expiration date is correct p spelling is correct
PLEASE NOTE:
All advertising produced by the production department of Times Media Group, is the copyrighted property of Times Media Group. Any use other than the placement of advertising in any of Times Media Group’s publications is prohibited without the express consent of Times Media Group, plus any applicable fees. Date: ______________________________ Signature: __________________________ p OK to run p OK to run with correction DEADLINE FOR AD CHANGES IS 12:00 NOON THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO THAT ISSUES RELEASE.
ART + CULTURE Life, love, hope
by Mike Nelson
12 — — MAY 14, 2020 A s Ventura County Poet Laureate, Luzmaria Espinosa hopes to bring a greater awareness of poetry to youth, families and all residents of the region.
But poetry — and an awareness of all things artistic — is but a vehicle toward what this native of Mexico and longtime Santa Paula resident sees as her real mission.
“We have a responsibility to life, to this planet, to all the elements of nature, to be in harmony with each other,” says Espinosa. “And a responsibility to respect others, even those who disagree with you.
“Poetry is the language of life, of hope, of love, of nature, of a higher spirit. And poetry, and arts in general, has always been for me a way to understand myself, humanity, life around me, an instrument through which I can say something about what I see, and what our responsibilities are to one another. That’s what I hope to communicate in my new role.”
Long involved in writing and performing poetry, theater and dance, as well as social activism, Espinosa was recently inaugurated by the Ventura County Arts Council as its third poet laureate, a position previously held by Phil Taggart and Mary Kay Rummel.
As defined by the arts council, the Ventura County Poet Laureate is a county resident and “distinguished poet who advances awareness of and appreciation for literary arts and humanities within the county.” Espinosa will serve a two-year term, during which she will represent and celebrate the diversity and history of Ventura County, promote literary arts, and participate in ceremonial, educational and cultural activities.
Foremost among her goals is bringing the arts to youth. “I want to help young people express themselves,” says Espinosa. “It’s been proven that when children are exposed to the arts, they do better academically. Da Vinci was a great artist, but he was also a great scientist and engineer.”
Espinosa’s own artistic awareness and involvement began as a kindergartner in Mexico, where the curriculum is tied to the arts.
“You don’t get out of school not knowing arts and crafts,” she says. “So we had to recite poems, as my mother had done. And that inspired a love of reading that continued when my family moved to Santa Paula. From first grade on, I read everything, from biographies to novels to poetry — even the words on medicine boxes,” she smiles.
She read Arata Osada’s Children of the A-Bomb: The Testament of the Boys and Girls of Hiroshima, as well as books about Helen Keller, Anne Frank, Louisa May Alcott and Susan B. Anthony. “Women were my motivation,” she says. “But I also read Ghandi and Aristotle. I couldn’t get enough.”
While attending Santa Paula High School, Espinosa participated in a student exchange program in Mexico, becoming involved in theater and performance poetry. She was influenced by writers from José AD PROOF
Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244
Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. ISSUE: 4/23/20 NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP
2520 E. Main St., Ventura • 805-641-2020
VENTURA’S BEST BILLIARDS
Thank you Ventura County!
LEFT: Espinosa at a Cesar Chavez march in Oxnard. ABOVE: An artistic rendering of Espinosa by Miguel Rodriguez, community outreach manager for the Port of Hueneme. (Photos submitted)
Martí to Herman Hesse. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree from Antioch University. Her travels took her from Latin America to Europe to Africa.
“Travel really opens your eyes and broadens your horizon,” she says. “I speak English and Spanish, but in Germany I realized how hard it is for people not to know those languages, because I didn’t know German. Travel humbles you in a way that’s very positive.”
Through art, Espinosa became an activist for social change, inspired by activist artists José Montoya, Javier Pacheco and John Trudell. In 1979, she became a member of the Royal Chicano Air Force, a Sacramento-based art collective which advanced the cause of the United Farm Workers movement.
She also taught and performed with Danza Azteca on the Central Coast and in theater productions with Los Mascarones of Mexico City, Teatro Gusto in San Francisco, Teatro de la Calle in Sacramento, and Teatro In Lak ‘Ech of Oxnard.
California State University, Channel Islands, recently installed her archives, including an extensive collection of rare art. It features original pieces by Chicana/o artists of the 1970s (José Montoya, Gilbert “Magu” Luján, Estebán Villa and more), plus original documentation of the Chicano Teatro movement and her own works of poetry and Danza history.
For Espinosa, art is inseparable from culture and the advancement of civilization.
“Being able to express what you see, to give hope, is essential,” she asserts. “Art always has been at the forefront of change throughout history, because it connects to all of life.”
And through art, Espinosa hopes to bring others, especially youth, not simply a better appreciation of art, but a better understanding of and respect for humanity.
“In this day and age, with so much division and inequality, it’s important for those who are older to pass along to those coming after us not just a skill but an attitude that promotes compassion, love and respect for others,” she says, softly but firmly.
“The beauty of all art is that it crosses all cultures. Woody Guthrie, John Lennon, Bob Marley — they all crossed boundaries of culture to express themselves through art. When you broaden your scope and take off your blinders, you grow as a person.”
