Kalkhoff's retail store is now open in Portland and test rides of Kalkhoff's amazing electric bicycles are now available
Kalkhoff is a German bicycle manufacturer that has been making bikes for the past 90 years or so. Their specialty is city/commuting/touring bikes and they build some real beauties (what else would you expect from German engineers?). They also make some awesome electric bikes.
Electric bikes, or eBikes, use an electric motor to supplement the power the rider applies to the pedals. The more power the rider contributes, the more power the motor contributes.
The result? Riders who pedal as hard as they do on a traditional bike are rewarded with a very fast, very fluid ride. Those who choose to pedal with a little less fervor than they otherwise might are still able to maintain a respectable pace. And for all riders, hills become a lot more pleasant. Getting sweaty on your morning commute is now optional.
The whole line of Kalkhoff bikes come with everything a serious commuter needs including an awesome lighting system, a bomb-proof rack, great fenders and brakes that would stop a truck. They also use top-notch components all around. These bikes are serious transportation and seriously fun!
Kalkoff Retail Store — Test an eBike Today!
Today, Kalkhoff opened its retail store in Portland and there is a large array of new eBikes just begging to be test ridden. I got a chance to try one out very briefly a few weeks ago and I had a blast. Operating the Kalkhoff eBike is the same as any other standard bike — it just takes a lot less effort to get up to any given speed. It is something any fan of bicycles, alternative transportation or things that are just plain cool NEEDS to try. Once you do, it will take you a while to stop smiling. Just be careful — if you try one, chances are you’ll want one. I know I do. Once I get the chance to put a few more miles on a Kalkhoff eBike, I’ll post a more detailed report.
The store is located in the Pearl District at 528 NW 11th Avenue.
Disclosure: As of this week, Kalkhoff has become a client of KoiFish Communications, which is the PR and Web marketing firm I run.
PDX Cycling Online uses www.MapMyRide.com for its maps. It is far from perfect, but it is pretty good (and improving). The next few scheduled posts are going to talk about MapMyRide as well as the awesome GPS Cycling Computer that is the Garmin Edge 705.
