Every once in a while we at VBike notice an interesting bicycle that meets some of the particular needs of who we are as Vermonters and our terrain. That's part of VBike's never ending journey to boldly go where no bike has gone before. OK, maybe that sounds too "Treky", but truly, our work is all about how to move us, our bodies, senses and emotional connectivity back towards a healthy relationship to this amazing land we live in. Well, our most recent addition to the VBike fleet is one of those game changers that can get some of us back out into the real world. Let’s find out more…
The RadMini in a typical Vermont location. Anyone know where this is? For the past year or so we have noticed a bike called the RadMini from Rad Power Bikes. The RadMini is a fat, folding, utility electric bike – that’s a mouthful. The first thing that people usually notice about the bike are the huge, fat, squat tires. At 4 inches wide they’re half the width of the average car tire! The initial impression is that this thing is either some kind of two-wheeled monster (never mind it weighs less than 2 percent of the average car) or a total impractical joke. Thankfully, both are totally wrong. This bike is easy to mount thanks to the 20 inch wheels and nice design and it rides surprisingly efficiently even without the e-assist engaged, almost in defiance of its fatness. Lesson – keep those first impressions at bay. (Later on in this blog are more thoughts about issues regarding the perception of e-bikes. Check it out.)
The RadMini folds...cool! We like to think of the RadMini as an amazing development in e-bike transport and something that is showing some great flashes of being a Vermont-ready utility bike. This bike solves a number of issues that VBike has heard from Vermonters with hankering to get around by bike, but are looking for something they feel safe on. The fat tires on the RadMini are perfect for folks wanting more stability and to negotiate poorly maintained streets and our dirt roads. Whether its rural roads, mud season, or even those ready to ride in the snow, the RadMini just might be the answer. Did we mention it has a powerful 650 watt Bafang rear assist motor, a light system and expanding rear rack? Well, it also has 5 levels of assist, a throttle, and even a really cool bell integrated into the left brake lever. And, oh yeah, it folds, too! At $1500, this is a nice price for something that does so much.
So, the RadMini is one of those things that came along that we just had to have for our fleet and is part of a diversity of options VBike is exploring. And the great news is that it’s available for you to try out, so why don’t you give us a call. You can dial us up at [email protected].
For more technical info and the upsides (and downsides) of the RadMini see the Electric Bike Report review at https://electricbikereview.com/rad-power-bikes/radmini/ Electric Bike Report is an excellent source of info on these things. You can also email us with any questions. We have our own take on the RadMini for Vermonters.
You should know that Rad Power Bikes has a number of great e-bikes to choose from, but only online or from their Seattle storefront. Honestly, that’s not VBike’s preferred way for folks to purcahse their bikes because we really want to support Vermont’s bike shops and help them transform into Green Mobility Centers rather than just “bike shops.” However, we also support the development of the bike into something far more useful and fitting for us Vermonters and to bring our car-reduction therapy to as many people as possible. The one thing we can say is that many Rad Power Bikes customers will end up bringing their online purchased bikes to bike shops to have them professionally built up and inspected.
Drop us a line if you want to try out this little, powerful fatty of a bike!
For more technical info and the upsides (and downsides) of the RadMini see the Electric Bike Report review at https://electricbikereview.com/rad-power-bikes/radmini/ Electric Bike Report is an excellent source of info on these things. You can also email us with any questions. We have our own take on the RadMini for Vermonters.
You should know that Rad Power Bikes has a number of great e-bikes to choose from, but only online or from their Seattle storefront. Honestly, that’s not VBike’s preferred way for folks to purcahse their bikes because we really want to support Vermont’s bike shops and help them transform into Green Mobility Centers rather than just “bike shops.” However, we also support the development of the bike into something far more useful and fitting for us Vermonters and to bring our car-reduction therapy to as many people as possible. The one thing we can say is that many Rad Power Bikes customers will end up bringing their online purchased bikes to bike shops to have them professionally built up and inspected.
Drop us a line if you want to try out this little, powerful fatty of a bike!
Some Additional Thoughts About Bikes Like the RadMini
Unfortunately, many of us have fallen into the trap of thinking of the automobile as the one size fits all solution. But one thing we have learned at VBike is that having single solutions creates a lack of diversity and that is great for things like the climate change, shopping malls, highways, sprawl, and compromised soundscapes, but not for us and our communities. The automobile has historically been pushed on us by car companies, the oil elite, advertising agencies, the AAA, asphalt manufacturers and host of others that have hacked into our bodies, minds and senses to shape the way we live and plan our lives to the massive detriment of our children and our world. Enough said.
And here’s a final note - lots of bike enthusiasts will look at the RadMini and not comprehend why this is so important. Many have taken wholesale the longtime stance of the US bike industry that bikes are fitness/adventure equipment, recreational, or toys for kids. That’s all changing and the bike is now being unburdened from its confinement as a plaything and becoming a real vehicle for real people in a real world looking for real solutions. Still, there are many that will scoff at this because they are still stuck in the old paradigm and therefore implicitly supporting families, households and individual be stuck in a 1950’s car cult. Let’s move on…
Let’s move on to a brighter future that takes into account our need to connect with the world and keep our bodies engaged, as well as bringing to our communities exciting innovations to get as many of us out from under the dome of the car. VBike’s acquisition of the RadMini and many, many other vehicles to come will be the harbingers of this great movement of how we and our children can show up in the world at a time when we absolutely need to!!
Unfortunately, many of us have fallen into the trap of thinking of the automobile as the one size fits all solution. But one thing we have learned at VBike is that having single solutions creates a lack of diversity and that is great for things like the climate change, shopping malls, highways, sprawl, and compromised soundscapes, but not for us and our communities. The automobile has historically been pushed on us by car companies, the oil elite, advertising agencies, the AAA, asphalt manufacturers and host of others that have hacked into our bodies, minds and senses to shape the way we live and plan our lives to the massive detriment of our children and our world. Enough said.
And here’s a final note - lots of bike enthusiasts will look at the RadMini and not comprehend why this is so important. Many have taken wholesale the longtime stance of the US bike industry that bikes are fitness/adventure equipment, recreational, or toys for kids. That’s all changing and the bike is now being unburdened from its confinement as a plaything and becoming a real vehicle for real people in a real world looking for real solutions. Still, there are many that will scoff at this because they are still stuck in the old paradigm and therefore implicitly supporting families, households and individual be stuck in a 1950’s car cult. Let’s move on…
Let’s move on to a brighter future that takes into account our need to connect with the world and keep our bodies engaged, as well as bringing to our communities exciting innovations to get as many of us out from under the dome of the car. VBike’s acquisition of the RadMini and many, many other vehicles to come will be the harbingers of this great movement of how we and our children can show up in the world at a time when we absolutely need to!!
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