Bike vs. bike

My company, Trusera, an online health network, employs 15 people, most of us avid cyclists who commute on two wheels. These days our options are greater than just road bikes vs. mountain bikes. Some new models offer an electric-power assist, while others fold up for easy portability.

Along with Team Trusera, I tested both types to see how they stacked up against my current commuter bike.

First we tried the Ecobike Elegance, a $1,650 electric bicycle made in Medford, Ore. It offers power-assisted pedaling: The less effort you put in, the more the battery takes over.

If your goal is to arrive at work without breaking a sweat, the Elegance is the bike for you. The boost you get from its powerful 360-watt motor keeps a smile on your face as you scale up hills with little effort and zoom along flats at 20 mph.

You can forget about pedaling for exercise and let this plush ride take over to coast you to your destination. However, that does risk drawing the ire of fellow bicyclists as they grind along while you fly past them perched upright like Mary Poppins.

Ecobike also makes a foldable bike called the Vatavio, which features a smaller motor and battery than the Elegance. We found this model very responsive on the flat, but not powerful enough to scale steep hills efficiently.

My team had issues with the battery on both models. The battery status lights did not always reflect how much power was left, which can be a serious problem if you exceed the Elegance's 25-mile charge limit. You recharge by plugging the battery into a standard outlet, a fact that was buried way too deep in the manual for my liking. I would not want to be left riding this hefty 61-pound bike without battery power. (The battery alone weighs nine pounds.)

The Elegance strikes an appealing compromise between a scooter and a traditional bicycle. However, it is still a compromise. If you're looking to get into shape, this bike won't help as much as others. And if you're looking to cover long distances, you'd be better off with a scooter. The Elegance took 45 minutes to complete a ten-mile route with hills.

COMPANY: Ecobike
WEIGHT: 61 pounds
PRICE: $1,650

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