Alternative Transportation
This is actually a topic we haven’t particularly agreed on for YEARS! Even before we had an RV, we discussed getting an alternative mode of transportation, but each came with its own ups, and downs and we just couldn’t decide. This year, we made it our goal to make a decision, and we landed on… ebikes! The short of it was:
1. A golf cart would be the most expensive option and the biggest cargo to carry. If we weren’t taking the RV, we didn’t really have a good way to transport a golf cart otherwise. Also, if we were to switch RVs in the future, we would have to stick with another toy hauler in order to keep the golf cart on board when we travel, most likely. (*I know, there are ways around this, but for the sake of simplicity…)
2. The nice scooters with a comparable weight capacity were just as expensive as an ebike, but had fewer options for cargo or accessories. Also, with the smaller tires, we had some concern about terrain, and we couldn’t really take a scooter on the biking trails in some of the beautiful parks we visit.
3. Let’s be honest, there’s a really good chance Lauren would fall off the one-wheel. Repeatedly. Reference the snowboarding incident :)
4. Regular bikes were a valid option, but particularly at the horse shows, we travel long distances, up steep hills, and/or through sand. After consecutive days of riding horses for hours at a time, our legs get tired! Plus, regular bikes don’t fold for storage. Our options to transport them as cargo were less than ideal and risked damaging them.
Once we landed on ebikes, we quickly discovered our job was far from over. The ebike industry has absolutely exploded in the past few years! The options were dizzying, so we started to narrow it down based on a few priority factors:
1. Lauren wanted something foldable. This means we weren’t having to use a hitch rack to transport it, store it inside the toy-hauler space, or just toss it in the bed of the truck. Ideally, this would keep them more protected from damage over time, and give us more options for stowing them in various vehicles for years to come.
2. Quality and reputation of the manufacturer.
3. Payload capacity.
4. Cost.
These priorities quickly led us to Lectric ebikes. They’ve been in business since 2019 and have sold over 400,000 ebikes! It’s easy to see they’re always evolving, responding to consumer input, and continually improving their designs. They have a wide variety from a foldable version with great payload capacity, to cargo-specific models, to a new all-terrain beast. In addition, they have a slew of accessories to enhance your experience and keep you safe along the way.
We selected the XP 3.0 which comes fully assembled and gets up to 65 miles on a charge with the long-range battery option. We did upgrade the seats (highly recommend) and added locks and phone mounts to each bike. Lauren initially ordered a cargo basket and we found this extremely useful day-to-day, so much that Ryan ordered one as well a few days later. These bikes are not only fun, but they’re also utilitarian. We couldn’t be happier with our selection!
I’d like to take a minute to point out that Lectric has excellent support including a network of qualified service professionals and tutorial videos. They want your experience to be pleasant and successful. Something you may not know at first glance is they have an entire department dedicated to philanthropy. They support local communities in the Phoenix area, a dedicated effort in Haiti, and worldwide efforts through their partnership with Beast Philanthropy. They are truly striving to exemplify kindness, empathy, and empowerment.