
There’s a bike mobility revolution taking shape right now in Brattleboro. VBike has been busy working on a way to change this town without having to ask the Select Board, the planning department or public works department, or really any government office or agency. At least not yet – not until we reach a certain critical mass. The change is happening because we’re jamming on the free bike consultations and demos and talking it up to families, households, seniors and many others who are aching to get started on their car-lite lifestyle. The numbers are growing every day, the “flywheel” is starting to spin, and people are riding in whole new way.
So, VBike needs to give a big shout out and huge praise to the work of Brattleboro’s bike shops, Burrow’s Specialized Sports and Brattleboro Bike Shop. It certainly wouldn’t be happening quite like this without their buy in. Both shops have totally hung in there with us while we helped them to explore the range of creative bike designs and technologies that can bring Vermont to a whole new level in bicycle mobility. We have always said that there are all these incredible “green mobility centers” sprinkled around Vermont that have the potential to radically transform the way many of us get around and experience our stunning landscapes and beautiful communities. We typically call these centers “bike shops”, but unfortunately most of these shops just don’t seem to be aware of their amazing potential.
So, VBike needs to give a big shout out and huge praise to the work of Brattleboro’s bike shops, Burrow’s Specialized Sports and Brattleboro Bike Shop. It certainly wouldn’t be happening quite like this without their buy in. Both shops have totally hung in there with us while we helped them to explore the range of creative bike designs and technologies that can bring Vermont to a whole new level in bicycle mobility. We have always said that there are all these incredible “green mobility centers” sprinkled around Vermont that have the potential to radically transform the way many of us get around and experience our stunning landscapes and beautiful communities. We typically call these centers “bike shops”, but unfortunately most of these shops just don’t seem to be aware of their amazing potential.

Brattleboro Bikes and Burrow’s Specialized Sports are making good on VBike’s dream that bike shops can excel at retailing fun, exciting, practical and cutting-edge transportation. This is precisely one of the things we actually “need” at a juncture in history that is calling on us to manifest really, really massive changes. And so, in Windham County, filling a transportation niche such as this would seem like such an obvious thing to do because of our unfortunate paucity of alternatives to the automobile; there’s minimal bus service, a train once a day and that’s about it. But then it sometimes appears that we’ve been tragically trapped in some kind of 1950’s time warp and can’t get out of it. So, the really great thing about this bike design and tech revolution that our bikes shops are now offering is that it is so much more aligned with some of the best notions of what it means to be a Vermonter and also what it means to be actually responding to the realities of 2016. It’s also a great way to escape from a 1950’s transportation mindset (your body will be very happy, too).
Check out this sampling of the e-bike users in the Brattleboro area (except for the ELF). Most of these pictures were taken within the past couple of months. We think you'll be impressed > > > CONTINUE READING BELOW... | |

As you may know, the flagship vehicles for this bike mobility revolution are the cargo bikes that many of you might be noticing around town moving kids, groceries and all sorts of stuff. Burrow’s has been carrying cargo bikes for the past 3 years while Brattleboro Bikes has just recently joined in. But what is totally cool is that Burrow’s has completely sold out of the awesome line of Yuba cargobikes and now have more on the way to meet the growing demand! And Brattleboro Bikes just received the ODK U500 utility bicycles from Juiced Bikes, featuring a step-thru frame (anyone can get on this bike), a 48 volt e-assist system, and a great platform for all sorts of cargo and passenger add-ons. Start seeing electric cargo bikes because they are here and folks are buying them, kids are smiling, and parents are having a ball.

On the e-bike front, Brattleboro Bikes just received the new CrossCurrent hybrid e-bikes from Juiced Bikes and they are also a dealer of Prodeco e-bikes (they sold out and more expected in the shop soon) and the e-bike line from Dillenger Electric Bikes. Meanwhile, Burrow’s has had success with Raleigh e-bikes.
However, one of the big parts of this story has been the e-assist conversion kits. A conversion kit allows you to transform your favorite bike, or practically any bike, into an e-bike. Both shops are now signed up with Dillenger Electric Bikes to sell and install their extensive line of add-on kits. This includes the amazing Bafang mid-drive kits that go perfectly with most types of bikes and especially the cargo bikes. These e-assist systems are very powerful, customizable, and easy to use. Both shops have also installed other Dillenger front and rear hub assist kits. In addition to this, Burrow’s has sold and mounted Hilltopper conversion kits for many local folks. The Hilltopper is decent entry level front hub motor kit.
All this is part of the silent revolution going on in Brattleboro - the conversion kits can be pretty stealthy and many folks might not even be aware of what they are seeing. These add-on systems are one of the reasons why we have more and more cyclists riding in Brattleboro.
However, one of the big parts of this story has been the e-assist conversion kits. A conversion kit allows you to transform your favorite bike, or practically any bike, into an e-bike. Both shops are now signed up with Dillenger Electric Bikes to sell and install their extensive line of add-on kits. This includes the amazing Bafang mid-drive kits that go perfectly with most types of bikes and especially the cargo bikes. These e-assist systems are very powerful, customizable, and easy to use. Both shops have also installed other Dillenger front and rear hub assist kits. In addition to this, Burrow’s has sold and mounted Hilltopper conversion kits for many local folks. The Hilltopper is decent entry level front hub motor kit.
All this is part of the silent revolution going on in Brattleboro - the conversion kits can be pretty stealthy and many folks might not even be aware of what they are seeing. These add-on systems are one of the reasons why we have more and more cyclists riding in Brattleboro.

Lastly, VBike’s Josh Traeger has initiated a project to start tracking the sales of all these bikes and conversion kits so that we can capture some data around just how fast the “flywheel” is turning on this Brattleboro bike revolution. We’ll be sharing that information with you real soon and compare it with figures that we’re seeing from other shops around the nation that are perhaps just as cool as our shops. And of course, we want this to be a model for all of Vermont because that’s exactly what VBike is about – rebooting the bike throughout our fine state. Stay tuned, it’s coming…