| Most active people own or have owned a bicycle at | | | | be charged for additional miles. If the battery goes |
| one time. Unfortunately, a good percentage keep the | | | | dead, the bike can be pedaled without the motor, |
| bike in the garage and seldom take it out for a ride. | | | | although more slowly. |
| There are many reasons offered for this situation, | | | | The older model LAFree costs about $1200 and the |
| many of them involving weak knees, old age, brittle | | | | newer models run about $1400. Used LAFree bikes |
| bones and lack of a partner to go with them. | | | | run about $600 to $700 depending on condition. The |
| It is true that a steep hill presents a formidable | | | | main advantage of the newer version is the lighter |
| challenge to the over fifty crowd, taking all the fun out | | | | NiMh battery, the easier shifting internal rear hub shifter |
| of bicycling. The hill must either be avoided (turn back | | | | and built in front and rear lights. Both versions sport a |
| home) or walked up at one mile per hour. This could | | | | super comfortable seat, knock off wheels, all aluminum |
| add many hours to your bicycle trip, cause you to | | | | construction, twin front shock absorbers and special |
| sweat up a storm and annoy the more athletic | | | | heavy duty tires, A slope type long wheelbase with |
| bicyclists with you. | | | | 26" wheels and a similar model with a step through |
| Instead of staying at home alone, you can opt for a | | | | frame is available. A six inch handle bar rise allows |
| pedelec. This new category of bike contains an | | | | upright comfort pedaling. |
| electric motor that assists the rider up the hills, no | | | | In the four weeks I have owned the LAFree I have |
| matter how steep. Of course the pedelec bike weighs | | | | ridden over three hundred pleasure filled miles. The |
| more than a regular bike, but since you have a motor | | | | savings in gas is a plus, especially if you are able to |
| to assist you, the extra weight is of no consequence. | | | | ride it to work. Accessories I have added include a |
| True, the motor does make a buzzing sound when in | | | | computer speedometer/ odometer/clock which also |
| use, but this noise is many times quieter than the | | | | shows average speed, top speed and trip time. A rear |
| quietest gasoline motorized bike or scooter. A seven | | | | flashing red light graces the back, a customized carry |
| speed click stop Derailleur gear set assists the motor | | | | all sits firmly attached to the rear carrier and a nylon |
| on steep hills. Top speed on the level is twenty miles | | | | bike cover keepsoff the rain. Security is handled by a |
| per hour. No license is required. | | | | built in wheel lock, an ignition key and a combination |
| Designed originally in Holland as an electric assist bike | | | | lock with a wire hawser the thickness of my middle |
| from scratch, this top rated make of pedelec (the one I | | | | finger. No sense on taking chances. So far, the only |
| own) is the Giant LAFree (pronounced El -Aye-Free | | | | establishment that has refused me to enter with my |
| because it was first sold in Los Angeles). The Rolls | | | | bike in tow was the public library. If you would like one |
| Royce of pedelecs, the LAFree charges up in three | | | | of these amazing bikes, you'd better hurry. They're |
| hours and can be ridden for twenty miles. Often a | | | | being discontinued at the end of this year. |
| short stopover at your destination will allow the bike to | | | | |