| Most active people own or have owned a | | | | miles. Often a short stopover at your |
| bicycle at one time. Unfortunately, a good | | | | destination will allow the bike to be charged |
| percentage keep the bike in the garage and | | | | for additional miles. If the battery goes |
| seldom take it out for a ride. There are | | | | dead, the bike can be pedaled without the |
| many reasons offered for this situation, many | | | | motor, although more slowly. |
| of them involving weak knees, old age, | | | | |
| brittle bones and lack of a partner to go | | | | The older model LAFree costs about $1200 and |
| with them. | | | | the newer models run about $1400. Used |
| | | | LAFree bikes run about $600 to $700 depending |
| It is true that a steep hill presents a | | | | on condition. The main advantage of the |
| formidable challenge to the over fifty crowd, | | | | newer version is the lighter NiMh battery, |
| taking all the fun out of bicycling. The | | | | the easier shifting internal rear hub shifter |
| hill must either be avoided (turn back home) | | | | and built in front and rear lights. Both |
| or walked up at one mile per hour. This | | | | versions sport a super comfortable seat, |
| could add many hours to your bicycle trip, | | | | knock off wheels, all aluminum construction, |
| cause you to sweat up a storm and annoy the | | | | twin front shock absorbers and special heavy |
| more athletic bicyclists with you. | | | | duty tires, A slope type long wheelbase with |
| | | | 26" wheels and a similar model with a step |
| Instead of staying at home alone, you can opt | | | | through frame is available. A six inch |
| for a pedelec. This new category of bike | | | | handle bar rise allows upright comfort |
| contains an electric motor that assists the | | | | pedaling. |
| rider up the hills, no matter how steep. Of | | | | |
| course the pedelec bike weighs more than a | | | | In the four weeks I have owned the LAFree I |
| regular bike, but since you have a motor to | | | | have ridden over three hundred pleasure |
| assist you, the extra weight is of no | | | | filled miles. The savings in gas is a plus, |
| consequence. | | | | especially if you are able to ride it to |
| | | | work. Accessories I have added include a |
| True, the motor does make a buzzing sound | | | | computer speedometer/ odometer/clock which |
| when in use, but this noise is many times | | | | also shows average speed, top speed and trip |
| quieter than the quietest gasoline motorized | | | | time. A rear flashing red light graces the |
| bike or scooter. A seven speed click stop | | | | back, a customized carry all sits firmly |
| Derailleur gear set assists the motor on | | | | attached to the rear carrier and a nylon bike |
| steep hills. Top speed on the level is | | | | cover keepsoff the rain. Security is handled |
| twenty miles per hour. No license is | | | | by a built in wheel lock, an ignition key and |
| required. | | | | a combination lock with a wire hawser the |
| | | | thickness of my middle finger. No sense on |
| Designed originally in Holland as an electric | | | | taking chances. So far, the only |
| assist bike from scratch, this top rated | | | | establishment that has refused me to enter |
| make of pedelec (the one I own) is the Giant | | | | with my bike in tow was the public library. |
| LAFree (pronounced El -Aye-Free because it | | | | If you would like one of these amazing bikes, |
| was first sold in Los Angeles). The Rolls | | | | you'd better hurry. They're being |
| Royce of pedelecs, the LAFree charges up in | | | | discontinued at the end of this year. |
| three hours and can be ridden for twenty | | | | |