Electric bikes — or Ebikes — standard bicycles with a lithium ion battery-powered motor attached, offered a new way to explore the backroads of San Benito County with Pinnacles National Parkas the destination. On a rainy Sunday, a small group of adventurers set out on an Ebike trek from Hollister to the park, a three-and-a-half-hour jaunt including frequent stops for rest, water, snacks and photos.
Spearheading the Ebiking adventure movement is Joe Weatherspoon, who works at Motostrano, an Ebike store with locations in Redwood City and San Francisco. While the bicycle is battery-powered, there’s no throttle. The rider pedals, still gets a good workout, and enjoys their ride.
Weatherspoon said the bikes have “been around a long time, but they never really been popular or effective until about four or five years ago.” He said improvements in technology have made Ebikes more accessible to more people. A few years ago, the bicycles were built with bigger motors that made the frame heavy and hard to ride. The Ebikes currently for sale and to rent at Motostrano have motors that are “small but powerful,” Weatherspoon said. “They have a nice range, and anyone can get on them without feeling out of control. It’s a very natural feeling.”
The biggest benefit of the Ebike is its accessibility, he noted. “Since riders are sharing the burden of pedaling, you don’t have to be a full-blown athlete to go on a 30-mile ride,” Weatherspoon said. He said he often finds people in the store who used to train on traditional bicycles, but aren’t getting in as much practice as they’d like. Ebikers are more expensive to buy or rent than a standard bicycle, but it’s a price the adventurers are willing to pay. “Ebikes make it easy for everyone to explore their surroundings and get around more easily,” Weatherspoon said. “People are buying these bikes to see the world.”
After connecting over the Ebike Trek meet-up page, the group met Feb. 19 at the Farmhouse Cafe for breakfast before starting the 29-mile ride to Pinnacles National Park.
“What’s great about that kind of ride,” Weatherspoon says, “is you get to see a totally different perspective that you usually miss when you whiz by in a car.” The group also found a short but perfect bike lane just before Tres Pinos which was a “fun little surprise” as it was well protected and off the main road. Most of the trip was on the main road, but he said,“there’s plenty of shoulder room, and the cars are pretty good about watching out” for the Ebikers.
After arriving at Pinnacles, the group set up their tents before setting out on foot to explore what Weatherspoon called “a little paradise of greenery,” one benefit of the recent rain in California. After a damp but rewarding night of camping, the group rode back to Hollister the next morning.
Weatherspoon said he has many plans for future Ebike treks. The meet-up page shows 24 upcoming events planned, with destinations such has China Camp in Marin, Morgan Hill, a San Francisco city tour, and others easily accessible from San Benito County. He is also planning a “Mission Ride,” which would include a visit to a few of California’s famous mission churches, including Mission San Juan Bautista.
“Customers are looking for ideas to have fun with their Ebikes,” Weatherspoon said, and that’s just what he plans to give them.
Riders rented their Ebikes from Motostrano for $100 per day, including delivery of the bike to a meet-up point, and a fully-charged battery. Guided tours start at $125 per day, and according to Weatherspoon, he’ll take riders through California’s most spectacular regions.
You can learm more about Ebiking on Motostrano’s Facebook page.
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