There are 55 wheels in my garage.
- 1 car
- 1 SUV
- 2 skateboards
- 1 pair of roller skates
- 3 scooters
- 1 unicycle (I kid you not)
- 12 bikes
Yes, my family of four has 12 bikes. What I quickly discovered when my family got into biking is that, like there are shoes for every outfit, there’s a bike for every kind of riding. My husband and daughter are competitive mountain bikers, so we have quite a few of those — rigid frame, full suspension, etc. But there are also a few trail bikes, a gravel bike, a dirt jump bike, a road bike or two, a BMX bike, and our latest addition — an electric Rad Power Bike!
When I first heard about electric bikes I was skeptical, and a little confused. Is it like a motorized scooter? Is it like a dirt bike? Do you pedal it? But then I started seeing them out on the bike trails, and I got it! Electric bikes simply give your pedaling a "boost," so you can either ride further or faster than you could otherwise. I got my hands on a RadRunner Plus from Rad Power Bikes and here are my takeaways:
Rad Power Bikes are Fun
Riding a bike should be fun! But if you're struggling on steep hills, you can't keep up with your group, or your bike isn't well-equipped then suddenly it's just not fun anymore. My RadRunner Plus not only looks fun with its retro design, but it is zippy enough that I can hang with my bike-pro husband without asking him to slow down. In fact, just for fun, I left him in the dust several times on our first outing! The 7-speed drivetrain and 750W geared hub motor make it easy. The RadRunner Plus even comes standard with a passenger seat and foot pegs, so you can double your fun!
Rad Power Bikes are Capable
This good-looking bike would certainly be a great energy-efficient commuter ride, but I have to say I was impressed with its capabilities even off the pavement. It has puncture-resistant tires, a suspension fork to smooth out the bumps along the trail, a rock guard on the LED highlight, and a battery that can take you 45 miles on a single charge. Plus, it has a 300-pound capacity, so it's plenty robust enough for you to ride with a child or extra gear. With their line of accessory pieces, you can customize your bike to carry what you need. I got mine with the Front Rack, so strapping on a toolkit, backpack, or picnic is effortless.
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Rad Power Bikes are Getting People Moving
The more I started noticing how many electric bikes are out there on the trails these days, the more impressed I became with how they're making biking accessible. A bike ride offers a childlike sense of simple joy, and electric bikes make that possible for people who might otherwise struggle on a bike. Older people, people with bad knees, people who don't have much stamina — there are lots of people who shy away from traditional bikes. But an electric bike turns a lot of those issues into non-issues. I love that Rad Power Bikes are getting people moving!
Rad Power Bikes are Well Made
When my RadRunner Plus arrived and we were putting it together, my husband and I noticed several impressive parts, plus a lot of thoughtful components. This bike has a Shimano brand shifter and derailleur, and Tektro brakes, which caught my eye. It has a premium headlight, and brake lights that illuminate — a feature I have wished for every time we've gone on a ride with the kids. It has full fenders, a twist-grip throttle, a nicely padded seat, and even an above-average bell. It also has an LCD display with a USB port, so you can charge your devices as you go. As if that wasn't enough, they went above and beyond by shipping it in a quality box covered with a fun illustration that kids (and kids at heart) are encouraged to color in!
Rad Power Bikes are Well Supported
Customer service is always a deal maker or deal-breaker. Rad Power Bikes customer service has an impeccable reputation, and I got to see why. After many great rides on my RadRunner Plus, I noticed the charger didn't seem to be working. I sent them an email, they responded immediately, and we diagnosed and fixed the problem. Turns out I had overlooked the instruction about plugging the charger into the bike and the outlet in the correct order, and I'd blown a fuse inside the charger. All it took was changing out the fuse, which the Rad Power Bike team walked me through easily.
Maybe I was skeptical at first, but I'm a believer now. I'm excited to add the electric bike to our collection! We have used the RadRunner Plus for fun weekend excursions, as a fantastic alternative to driving downtown, and to get family and friends out on a bike ride who might not otherwise have been able to ride a traditional bike. If you want to see what the fuss is about, order a Rad Power Bike — it ships for free, and they have a 14-day trial, so if you aren't completely happy with the bike you can send it back for a full refund!
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Disclosure: I was provided with goods or services for the purposes of this review, but as always, all opinions are my own.
