Thanks for all the suggestions. We have a dealer in town so I’ll check them out.
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You’re a braver man than me riding a bike in Boston traffic. I did the Boston midnight ride twice years ago with my uncle but there were almost no cars on the streets. I’ve been to Boston many times for work and shows but only go if I have to.
Keen observation/question there! LOL!
I would say I present more than a few “worries”. I continue to go to the gym and jump in the ring with the younger ones (but getting thumped more than doling out a thumping these days). I have resumed my annual week long solo backpacking excursions in the White Mountain. I continue to wade and flyfish remote New England rivers. I do an annual kayak fishing/surfing/camping trip in the Boston Harbor Islands. Yes, and I try to take advantage of the waves and surf whenever possible.
I have had tachycardia episodes while doing outdoor activities. So, I started carrying an emergency day kit with me on inland excursions which consist of a small tarp, small foam pad, fire starter/matches, snacks and a Sawyer filter straw. I have had episodes while surfing and was able to surf myself back onto shore to sit it out. I got hit with an episode during a forced swim. I stayed relaxed and used the oncoming waves to my advantage to body surf/swim to shore (the PFD makes a HUGE difference in making that possible!).
I think the bike worries more because I actually got hit my car speeding across three lanes to get into a mall entrance. I was in the way and was going to get broad sided. I swerved away at the last second and car hit my rear wheel and catapulted me about 25-30 feet. I tucked and rolled (good thing, helmets!) and popped back up. My bike’s rear wheel and hub were under the car’s front tired… destroyed. Told my wife, “Hey, honey, the good news… I am still alive!” In another bike incident, I hit a potholed and flip a$$ over head, while clipped into the pedals of my bike. I got knocked out. I woke up to faces of other bikers around me, asking if I was ok. I called my wife and son to come get me as I was not altogether. One biker stayed around until my wife and son came around. So, I got concussed in this incident as well as tearing the meniscus in my knee. So, the worry about my biking is more “concrete” for my family.
What present as worries are also sources of joy. My family know living fully is important to me. My wife knows that I have now outlived my Dad by almost 10 years now. My wife (then girl friend) when he died at 57, following multiple strokes that left him paralyzed, lying for six months in a rehab hospital. Prior to that, he worked 6 days a week, 12 hours a day to support his family. He was/is loved and admired by his children for his sacrifice. I am living a fuller life that my Dad made possible. I want my sons to live a full life in their own ways.
I take precautions as needed but don’t live my life from a place of worry and fear.
sing
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Please buy from a reputable company such as Trek or Specialized, not some Amazon unknown brand. Here in NYC we average about 3 fire deaths a week directly attributed to cheap no-name e-bikes (or scooters) sold with non-UL tested batteries and charging systems. They explode violently and unexpectedly. The commonality is inexpensive, no-name, online purchases or purchased from a street vendor. The good, legit e-bikes are not inexpensive and they are sold through a legit dealer network. Don’t even think of using anything other than the supplied battery and charging system!
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All good advice. I’m 85 and ride my “French fit” Trek 700 eblke almost daily. Wide low pressure tires keep me mosltly in comfort riding Austin’s hills.
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In addition to a known brand like Specialized and Trek/Electra (I’d add Cannondale), I recommend buying from a reputable independent bike shop. They will assemble, tune, provide instruction, and maybe even deliver. As others have said, these are heavy.
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True, except that I think using a Pelican rec boat is more “worthy” than using an e-bike for recreation (it’s a great option for commuters, though—replacing driving).
Paddling a Pelican (or whatever crapak you can name) is still paddling!
A better analogy would be saying you’re kayaking, when the craft has a trolling motor on it and you might or might not paddle a few strokes.
However…there’s always a however…there’s a difference between having joint problems and just not wanting to develop stronger legs.
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There are different types of ebikes. Those that are pedal assist only do not fit your trolling motor analogy unless there are trolling motors that only work if you’re paddling.
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Yes. Pedal assist is just that (with multi levels, as with multi gears). So, if I want a harder workout on my ebike, I can set the assist level at 1. At this level, I am actually working harder than I would on my Shogun road bike on the same stretch of road, at the same speed, given that ebike is about 3x heavier than my Shogun. If I really really to blow out my legs, I can try to do that at 0 assist! 
The beauty of the ebike for beginner bikers, or those who are elderly, or have health issues, is that they get out there and pedal and be assured they can get back home if they overshoot their physical conditioning level. They can turn up the pedal assist level which ranges usually from 0-5. Now, they can go out with biking friends and not be afraid of being a “drag” on the group trip. (The equivilent here is with paddling groups, where you have an ego driven member or two, who decide to treat every outing as some sort of race. It’s fine with some level paddlers. Absolutely NOT COOL when the group includes newbies or weaker conditioned paddlers.)
sing
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My wife and I are about the same general fitness level, but I ride much more than she does, and due to natural differences I ride much faster than she does. Her having a pedal assist ebike means that we can ride together which makes riding much more enjoyable for both of us.
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The couple who owns our local bike shop has a son with cerebral palsy. He is probably around 40 years old now, confined to a wheelchair, can’t communicate, and needs around the clock care. His parents are both bikers, but for years they could never ride together. Several years ago the guy got a Trek ebike, and a trailer for their son. Now they can all ride as a family! It has been wonderful for them. A real game-changer! There are some big hills around here, and pulling a full-grown adult in a trailer with a regular bike just wouldn’t be possible. Motor assist, for extra help on the hills, but otherwise can be pedaled like a regular bike.
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I haven’t seen a Shogun in 30 yrs +/-. Had a neighbor with a 600 - I think that’s right but wouldn’t bet a lot on it. Very cool bike as I recall. I was riding a 70’s Raleigh Pro then. Gave up the road bike after moving to a place 5 mi from a paved road.
Yup. My first big purchase when I got a job after college was a Shogun 600. My Shogun has the Shimano downtube indexed shifters that was just released in 1980/81. I got it because the 600 line included a 48cm frame that fit me perfectly. My Shogun is hot pink with white handlebar tape and matching white aereo brake hoods. It is a distinctly BEAUTIFUL bike!!! I think the bike was marketed for small female bikers because there were few bike manufacturers that had small frames in their lineups. I used that bike to commute from Inman Square to Chinatown and, later, from Allston to Chinatown.
Later I picked up a preowned 48cm yellow Shogun 600 with the older, original Shimano Golden Arrow group (friction shifters). So this bike is older than my hot pink Shogun. I like this bike more for commuting because it has a retrofitted mustache handlebar that works better for urbam commuting than the racing style dropbar of my pink Shogun
These days, I use the yellow Shogun more as a beat around weekend bike, while the hot pink Shogun is kept up in Maine where it is used for longer relax riding on country roads. My current commuting “beast” is the Radpower City (stepthrough) bike.
sing
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You probably get more exercise paddling a Pelican than a better boat.
Paddling a Pelican won’t only get you a lot of exercise, but you’ll get bit too…that’s a big bird.
I’ll see my way out now.
Terrific bike @sing !
My daughter picked up a nice, mostly original early 80’s Miyata 610 a few years ago. It too has a chromoly double-butted frame but I don’t remember the component specifics … Shimano Deore, maybe? In any case, it’s a great around town hauler, but it could surely use a set of platform pedals like yours!
Yeah, Miyata, Bridgestone and Shogun were all recognized/respected Japanese bike manufacturers in the 80s. All used numbers for model designations in their lineups, e.g. 200, 500, etc. Also, they had smaller frames in their line-up that appeal to smaller riders and females. Then Terry bikes came along in the mid-80s and really finetuned their frame designs to better accommodate the shorter torso and longer legs of female riders. The Terry bikes, like the Japanese counterparts, were also quality (lightweight) chromoly double butted, lug frames.
The vintage 80s bikes are still pretty respected and sought after. I take my Shoguns in for full tune ups every several years. Each time, I get offers to buy from either the shop owner or mechanic. Never consider these offers since a quality small frame that fits me well is hard to come by.
The “platform” pedal on my Shogun is actually a later model Shimano PD clipless model. These are still available. With my hot pink Shogun road bike, I actually had outfitted with a Look (French) clipless pedal that had just come out in the early 80s. It was really cool to just “click” in the bike shoes, like one would with downhill boots onto skis (which I think inspired the Look pedal), as opposed to tucking the shoe into a metal and leather strap cage. Really cool system, but Shimano then came along with its lighter and more streamline click in system. Look lost the market to Shimano after that.
sing
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Many (many!) years ago I commuted by bike into downtown Boston from Newton. Most of my route was on the bike path along the Charles River; the last mile was terror on city streets (to Faneuil Hall).
I would not do that ride today; in fact I’ve mostly given up road riding due to concerns about distracted drivers.
My best friend rode a bike for the first time in at least 25 years. He bought an electric assist Aventon and loves it. His first time out, he covered 30 miles in three hours and still had 2/3 charge left. I’m glad that he’s getting some exercise and enjoying a new hobby. (He was the one that introduced me to the Internet in '91 and to Current Designs kayaks somewhat more recently!)
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That was/is a nice ride on the Charles Bike Path from Newton. Totally understand not liking the craziness around Fanuel Hall. But, you know, Downtown crossing is now pedestrial and bike only. My current office is by South Station. So much better with the bike lanes now.
I used to do the Charles River Bike path quite a bit. I went to Brandeis for college and would occaisonally ride the bike home instead of taking the campus shuttle bus. Then my in-laws moved to West Newton. So I used to ride out there on the weekends.
sing
Thanks for the pedal info. I thought they were Campy platforms. I must stop trying to see image details on the tiny screen sans specs! 