@cam my LBS has an arrangement with Klarna whereby they can arrange financing on the spot.

As for the bike, I’m sure you know this but if you want something that feels like a real bike, I suggest you go for light weight and a torque sensor. eg Specialized Vado SL. I tested the SL and it was superb. I ended up buying the heavier non-SL for the bigger battery and I wish I’d bought the SL. My bike is a little too heavy for my taste, and it turns out I never use the full battery capacity. It’s still great though! But the experience has made me more pro test rides before purchase. I ordered the non-SL without testing it because I figured it’d be nearly identical to the SL, but I was wrong.

Fwiw lots of ebike makers have been expanding their brick and mortar presence, eg Rad, Aventon, etc.

@avi yea the main thing I’d want is something I’m not sure I can have: a bike I can put on the bus rack. Add I understand it e-bikes are too heavy for that

@avi oh wow those are pretty high-priced and don't really hit the commuter-ness i'm going to be using it for. good call i should see what's available on some of the transit options i'm looking at.

@cam here’s another option: the Ride1Up Roadster: ://ride1up.com/product/roadster-v it’s 33 pounds, single speed, belt drive, fast, has mount points for racks + fenders, and costs $1,095 — seems like a good value.

If you’ll need to take it up a lot of hills and/or on light trails, there’s a gravel version for $1,245. (Personally I’d get that one just for the upgraded brakes, as I’m pretty heavy and I like to ride fast.)

@avi looks pretty sweet. I’m in Florida so no danger of hilly terrain

@cam oh right sorry 😬

FL does seem like it could be good for a single speed, as long as you don’t need to go super fast.

🤔 actually this one might have a throttle, in which case you might have the option to get somewhere quickly when necessary.