I fell liked the REI CTY e2.1 the minute I noticed its scorching lava body come out of the field in my storage. The spicy pink coloration and easy-to-ride body screamed “Journey Me Now!” There have been no limitations to entry just like the app I needed to obtain. All I needed to do was flip the bike on and go. (Observe: When you’re uncomfortable assembling a motorbike and you reside close to an REI, the shop will construct one and likewise presents one yr of free tune-ups.)
So I did. I pedaled by the town on a scenic journey, by busy intersections, up a number of steep residential streets, to a motorbike path that led to a rocky seaside on the shores of Lake Superior. The bike’s upright geometry, which allowed me to hunch over lower than different e-bikes I’ve examined, made the world well-known. I seen the scent of lilac on the breeze and the good hues of inexperienced after a moist spring, particulars I do not at all times catch after I’m bent over the wheel.
On the seaside I met my companion who was good and introduced a picnic. We ate cheese and crackers and sipped rosé till the solar sank low over the town hills. I intentionally stayed outdoors till the mosquitoes began buzzing so I might chase the solar and my boyfriend in his automobile to our home. Possibly it was partly the glass of rosé or the great thing about the early summer season night, however the 22-mile spherical journey on the CTY e2.1 made Friday evening particularly enjoyable.
In regards to the metropolis
The CTY e2.1 is an improve to the entry-level CTY e1.1 ($1,299). I believe it is value the additional cash, particularly because it’s nonetheless effectively below $2,000 and goes on sale very often, too. The battery capability of the CTY e2.1 is greater than adequate. That day, after a 1,000-foot, mile-long climb up a steep hill to my home, I had 39 % battery left after biking by all 4 ranges of help throughout a four-hour tour of the town.
For the town commuter, the CTY e2.1 is a properly packaged automobile for the worth. It is a class 1 e-bike with a 250 watt Shimano E5000 motor, accompanied by a 36 volt, 418 watt-hour lithium-ion battery that gives speeds of as much as 20 mph and a variety of round 60 miles in eco mode. . The battery runs the size of the angled down tube and is about the identical weight as a sack of potatoes based on my scales. However it’s nonetheless simple sufficient to drag out with the flip of a key to cost it whatever the bike.
Picture: Stephanie Pearson
The entrance fork dampens the crackle, and the hydraulic disc brakes make stopping extra exact. The Schwalbe Massive Ben 2″ large tires have a robust metropolis bike tread sample that gives good grip on the highway. The bolstered tire sidewalls are additionally reflective to make you extra seen at evening.
Extra facilities embody comfy gel grips and a padded foam saddle, a cockpit with raise bars and a vibrant headlight, and a big stand for once you finally must park. No wings although, which is surprising because it obtained fairly sloppy on the journey after the storm. Nevertheless, the bike is undeniably enjoyable to journey and handles effectively on all metropolis streets, from easy asphalt trails to bumpy roads with potholes. This isn’t a motorbike to journey on gravel roads or singletrack.
Inexpensive and satisfactory
At this value, you may’t anticipate every thing. There are nonetheless some areas that may be improved. First, at 54lbs 8oz (massive), it is not gentle – it will not essentially faze you whilst you’re working round flat city, but it surely does make it troublesome to maneuver across the storage or up the steps. .
Picture: Stephanie Pearson
Additionally, a 250 watt hub motor is fairly commonplace challenge on many e-bikes, however this one solely has 60Nm of torque versus at the very least 80Nm in different e-bike motors. The shortage of torque, which is the acceleration that propels your bike ahead, particularly uphill, makes the CTY e2.1 a weak climber. So it won’t be the best choice in a metropolis like San Francisco (or Duluth the place I reside).
Lastly, I really like that this bike is minimalistic in its electronics, which means it would not require an add-on to journey. However the display screen is the scale of a watch face. And whereas it gives loads of primary knowledge like mileage, mph and energy mode, the buttons are so shut collectively and the display screen so laborious to learn that it is nearly inconceivable to see whereas driving — an element that is not solely irritating, however may be and harmful. Nonetheless, if all you want is somewhat additional push on a multi-mile commute, the CTY e2.1 is an effective possibility, particularly in pink.
