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Great points. I just bought two eBikes in the last six months and I love them so much. One thing that I really hate though is how hard it is to change flat tire

Great points. I just bought two eBikes in the last six months and I love them so much. One thing that I really hate though is how hard it is to change flat tires and dealing with the bike shops. I can't imagine an older person being able to change the tires on either of my eBikes. I swapped out one pair for a pair that is somewhat easier to work with but it can still take me 20 minutes to put on a new tube. The bike shops in my area are horrendous. There are three that I just don't visit anymore. I'm trying to find good ones to use but they are so slammed right now due to covid that it can take 2 to 3 weeks for a large repair. And they have told me they won't do anything for my eBikes if I didn't buy them there. I love riding bikes but there is so much about the bike industry that I find infuriating.

patrickk 6y ago
If you have a hub motor ebike, installing puncture resistant tyres are essential in my opinion. I also have had bad experiences with local bike shops, and the cost of replacing a normal tyre with puncture resistant ones is made up as soon as you roll over glass (very common on my commute). Battling to get the rear wheel off and back on correctly again on my rear hub motor bike isn’t something I want to do again! https://ampedcycling.com/puncture-resistance-what-can-i-do-to-protect-against-glass-thorns/ https://ampedcycling.com/puncture-resistance-what-can-i-do-t...
portlander52232 6y ago
Haven’t gotten a flat since I went tubeless, you might want to give it a try. Changing and setting up the tire is more involved but once done you’re much less likely to have to do it again.
- johnwatson11218 6y ago
  Yea both of my mountain bikes are now tubeless and I agree that it is much less of a hassle. My main point is that everybody is talking about how eBikes can get the older folks back out on the bike but when you start talking about tubes and tires you are right back at that ultra-competitive space where people are shaving grams etc. That is part of the bike culture that I do not like, I wish it was more like the Netherlands here in the US. I imagine lots of utilitarian bikes and decent shops all over the place. Here in the US the shops tend to focus exclusively on the high end. It reminds of high school athletics where the varsity football team gets 90% of the budget all to help out 5% of the students, just one more lopsided aspect of the US and our approach to physical fitness.

patrickk 6y ago

If you have a hub motor ebike, installing puncture resistant tyres are essential in my opinion. I also have had bad experiences with local bike shops, and the cost of replacing a normal tyre with puncture resistant ones is made up as soon as you roll over glass (very common on my commute). Battling to get the rear wheel off and back on correctly again on my rear hub motor bike isn’t something I want to do again! https://ampedcycling.com/puncture-resistance-what-can-i-do-to-protect-against-glass-thorns/ https://ampedcycling.com/puncture-resistance-what-can-i-do-t...

portlander52232 6y ago

Haven’t gotten a flat since I went tubeless, you might want to give it a try. Changing and setting up the tire is more involved but once done you’re much less likely to have to do it again.

johnwatson11218 6y ago
Yea both of my mountain bikes are now tubeless and I agree that it is much less of a hassle. My main point is that everybody is talking about how eBikes can get the older folks back out on the bike but when you start talking about tubes and tires you are right back at that ultra-competitive space where people are shaving grams etc. That is part of the bike culture that I do not like, I wish it was more like the Netherlands here in the US. I imagine lots of utilitarian bikes and decent shops all over the place. Here in the US the shops tend to focus exclusively on the high end. It reminds of high school athletics where the varsity football team gets 90% of the budget all to help out 5% of the students, just one more lopsided aspect of the US and our approach to physical fitness.