I dislike my current bike (Sixthreezero reach your destination 7 speed) and am looking for a commuter bike.
I know I’m kinda of comparing apples to oranges comparing the liv alight 3 to the ride1up roadster, but hoping to get some insight either way. My primary purpose is for commuting, with some leisure biking around on the weekends but everything would be on paved ground. I do live in a hilly area, but I can generally avoid them – still, being able to handle hills is ideal. Average maybe 2-4%?
since this isn’t an intense hobby for me, aesthetics of the bike does play a large role in whichever I choose. I adore the look and color (yellow) of my current bike, but I dislike that its 33lbs and I find the gearing a little inadequate for the hills in my area (albeit I’m not the most fit and I understand strength will come with time regardless of what bike I use).
I’m between getting a regular bike and an ebike, and believe I’ve narrowed it down to these two bikes given whichever type I buy (although, happy to hear of any other suggestions)
Reasons I like the alight 3:
– weight
– 21 speed (this seems ideal for hills?)
– liv seems to be the go-to for bikes designed for women, including petite women
– relatively cheap
Reasons I like the Ride1up v3 belt:
– belt = lower maintenance
– I feel like I’ll be more motivated to do non-commute biking with an e-bike
– I like the look (it looks like an actual bike, and not a typical e-bike)
– relatively cheap for being an ebike
Things I’m trying to figure out/am considering:
– are e-bikes worth it over regular bikes given the concern for long term servicing (e.g., battery replacement)?
– is the roadster v3 belt sufficient enough for hills (5%, I know it will drain the battery, but that aside, is it technically powerful enough?)
– is the roadster v3 low step too big for me? Unfortunately as a direct to consumer brand, I don’t have the ability to test before purchase (I have a 27 inseam)
Current bike: https://www.sixthreezero.com
live alight 3: https://www.liv-cycling.com/us/alight-3
ride1up roadster v3: https://ride1up.com/product/roadster-v3/
Thanks for any insights or tips for other things I should consider!
by blobob123