Pedal bike enthusiasts are athletes, and among devotees there can be a cynicism for e-bikes, as if riding one is somehow cheating. Until recently, independent bicycle dealers avoided the trend as well, preferring to stick to selling low-tech, old-school bikes. But e-bike specialty stores are not concerned, as they look beyond the traditional market to appeal to a more inclusive crowd.

“People, when they’re looking for an e-bike, will not buy it from a traditional bike shop. They’ll only come to an e-bike specialist. And so our niche is the people, and we really focus on that,” said Wake Gregg (pictured), owner of The eBike Store, an e-bike specialist store located in Portland, Oregon.

Gregg spoke with Jeff Frick (@JeffFrick), host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s mobile livestreaming studio, during the InterBike Marketweek event in Reno, Nevada. They discussed the differences between traditional bicycles and e-bikes, as well as the benefits associated with e-bike riding.

Get there faster, with less sweat

The benefits of an e-bike include that it has the fun and sense of freedom associated with riding a traditional bicycle, but with an extended range. “It rides like a bike; you can just go further,” Gregg said. “On average, an e-bike is ridden 75 percent more than a traditional bike.”

E-bikes have become popular with commuters who want an eco-friendly, healthy way to get to work without arriving out-of-breath and sweaty. They are also popular with those who want to ride a bicycle but are physically limited with traditional bikes.

“About 35 percent of our customers, their e-bike is their main mode of transportation. It is their car. It is how they get around,” Gregg stated. “And about 20 percent, historically from our shop, have been people with physical disabilities or limitations in some way, shape or form. It’s people with multiple sclerosis, people who are missing a lung, people who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These are people who now can ride again and get active again.”

Ten years ago, The eBike Store was the only e-bike sales outlet in Portland, but now Gregg’s store competes with six other e-bike specialty stores, plus traditional bike dealers that have entered the e-bike market.

“It’s a whole different mindset. Historically, the bike industry has really gone after kind of the elite athlete, [but] this is something different. People who maybe haven’t ridden a bike in 20-plus years are now able to get out and go on a hill,” Gregg concluded.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the InterBike Marketweek event.

Photo: SiliconANGLE