| The other day I visited the library in the large town | | | | you carry this?" "Grandma, please hold this for me." |
| next to ours and noticed an elderly lady, locking up an | | | | Grandma soon ends up becoming the pack mule for |
| electric bike before entering the library. Since my | | | | the group. |
| husband bought a rechargeable electric bike a couple | | | | Luckily, even my old pedal bike has a basket attached. |
| of years ago, I struck up a conversation with her to | | | | Everyone knows that a woman never leaves home |
| find out how she liked her bike. It was a folding model, | | | | without her purse, but have you ever tried carrying a |
| and she told me that she carried it in the back of her | | | | purse while riding a bicycle? A bit awkward to say the |
| small van all the time. Then, when she found herself | | | | least. Bike-riding women definitely need baskets on |
| having to park several blocks from her intended | | | | their bikes. |
| destination, she pulled out her bike and, as in the case | | | | Folding electric bikes are a little more expensive than |
| of her trip to the library, the books she was returning, | | | | non-folding ones, but, if you are like me, you will |
| and in a few minutes arrived outside the library door. | | | | probably keep it forever so it should be worth paying a |
| What a great idea. | | | | little extra for in the beginning. |
| For several years, I have been toying with the idea of | | | | You can probably find one costing as little as $600, but |
| getting an electric bike for myself. My husband bought | | | | most are in the $900-$1400 range. If you want an |
| one to keep up with the grandkids when they go biking | | | | ion-lithium battery instead of the older lead-acid kind, |
| during our annual vacation to Diamond Lake in central | | | | you can expect the price to be higher, but the |
| Oregon, and he loves sailing along behind them with | | | | increased efficiency and the lighter overall weight will |
| little or no effort (or in front of them if he feels in a | | | | make it worth a few extra dollars. Just think of how |
| competitive mood.) I usually stick around the | | | | much money you could save if you were able to |
| campground, pedaling my old 3-speed bike with | | | | replace your family's second car with an electric bike. |
| coaster brakes only as far as my legs will allow | | | | With gasoline prices on the rise, there has never been |
| before turning back to park myself in a chaise lounge | | | | a better time to look into the advantages of owning an |
| overlooking the lake to read until the adventurers | | | | electric bike. And, while you are looking, don't forget to |
| return. | | | | check out the folding ones. Some fold down as small |
| A folding electric bike would really be perfect for me. I | | | | as 30 x 30 x 17 inches, and come with an attractive |
| have checked out a few since my encounter with the | | | | carrying case. That's so small you could tote one to |
| library lady. Most have good sized baskets in | | | | town with you on the city bus. |
| front-something essential to anyone who plans to | | | | It's my guess, that if you ending up purchasing a folding |
| travel a bike trail with 3 grandchildren who, without fail, | | | | electric bike for yourself, it won't be long before you'll |
| shed sweaters, billfolds, hats, sunglasses, and all kinds | | | | be telling people you never leave home without it. |
| of other paraphernalia along the way. "Grandma, would | | | | |