Biking to Work, Without the Sweat

Category: A2B Launch | Source: New York Times | Date: 14 May 2009

May is National Bike Month (among many other things), and there are loads of events in New York City to promote and encourage the use of bicycles, from races and classes to Bike to Work Day, which is scheduled for Friday. So it’s as good a time as any to consider cycling as a commuting option.

Biking to work has increased drastically here in recent years, and Janette Sadik-Khan, who has been the commissioner of the Department of Transportation for two years, has led an effort to make the streets safer and more navigable for bicycles.

Despite improvements to bike lanes and increased numbers of bike racks, however, some may find cycling to work is impractical — pedaling up a few long inclines on a muggy day can leave a rider looking more like an aerobics instructor than a cubicle jockey.

Addressing this problem is one of the goals of the Ultra Motor A2B Metro, a bicycle with a battery-powered electric motor, which went on sale recently in New York. With its lithium-ion battery, which is stored inside the frame, the A2B allows the rider to cruise without pedaling at up to 20 miles an hour. (The speed is electronically limited in order to permit it to qualify as a bicycle, rather than a moped or scooter.) Retailing for $2,699, it costs about as much as an entry-level scooter, but the A2B doesn’t need gas, and gives riders access to bicycle-only lanes, including at choke points like the East River bridges.

The company says the bike will travel 20 miles on a single charge; riders can add a second battery pack, for a few hundred dollars more, that should double that range. Mileage is somewhat dependent on the style of riding and the weight of the rider — popping wheelies, as a writer for Engadget did, will most likely reduce the range. The company’s chief executive, Chris Deyo, said that the battery should last for about 1,000 recharges.

I rode an A2B on a short tour of Times Square recently, and the ride is, generally, delightful. The motor applies power smoothly and quickly, making the bike perform more like a peppy motor scooter than most bicycles. It also handles well, with front forks and a single-shock rear suspension that absorb most of the bumps encountered in an urban environment. The throttle is a standard motorcycle-style twist grip, although Mr. Deyo recommended using a bit of pedal power when starting off, in order to extend the bike’s range.

In traffic, the A2B handles almost as well as a bicycle, although its 72-pound weight makes it a bit clunkier. The bike has a 7-speed Shimano gear set and derailleur, although in my Midtown tour I barely made use of them. It’s also equipped with Avid disc brakes, front and rear, producing as much stopping power as one could want.

The big open questions about the A2B are about its range and the difficulty of using the pedals. Twenty miles is probably more than most city commuters travel each day, but the peculiarities of New York traffic, with its starts and stops, do make me wonder how easily I’d be able to make it home under my own steam if the battery were fully drained. Another qualm is that the bike requires a charger, which most riders would presumably leave at home; so there’s no charging up while at work.

The company, which has produced electric-assisted bikes for several years, offers a one-year warranty on the battery, two years on the components and a five-year warranty on the frame. Potential buyers should be able to arrange test rides at all dealerships, Mr. Deyo said. At about $2,700, the A2B is not exactly a trifling expense, but it seems as reasonable an alternative as an$18,000 bicycle.