I felt like I was flying.
I was flying.
Zooming north along the beach on hardpacked sand, only feet from the ocean, riding an electric bike was way more fun than I’d expected. It was nothing like riding my regular bike, when pumping the pedals into the wind can feel more exasperating than exciting.
“You’re going to have a hard time going in that direction today,” a man called out to me and my guide, Joe Kelleher, after we’d ridden our bikes from Pedego Electric Bikes in Sawgrass Village in Ponte Vedra Beach to the public beach access point at Corona Road.
“No we won’t,” I said with a grin as the wind whipped my face. “These are electric.”
I’d always wanted to try riding an electric bike, and Pedego makes it easy to see if it’s for you. They not only sell them, they rent them too, by the hour or for the day.
Kelleher, store manager, offered to let me try one, and after a brief tutorial and quick spin around the parking lot, we set off on that windy, slightly drizzly day.
I was amazed how easy it was to learn how to work the controls--and how easy it was to switch in and out of electric mode with the push of a button.
Joe and I rode on sidewalks all the way to the beach, and once we reached the sand, I increased my speed to an exhilarating 15 miles per hour. You can go faster than that if you want, but that was daring enough for me.
After zooming our way to the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, we turned around and headed back.
I live in Ponte Vedra Beach, and often walk the beach from Corona to the Club, so that route is very familiar to me. My hour and a half e-bike ride, however, turned my back yard into an adventure. I’m glad to know I can go rent an e-bike from Pedego anytime I want to do it again. And who knows, if I get to like it enough, maybe even buy one.
Pedego has various models to choose from, either renting or buying. I rode an Interceptor, which has a throttle and pedal assist. They rent for $25 and hour, or $100 a day. Joe rode a Comfort Cruiser, which is throttle only, and rents for $20 an hour, or $80 a day. Pedego also has Tandem e-bikes with throttle only for $25 an hour/$100 a day; and Stretch tandems, with throttle and pedal assist for $35 an hour or $125 per day.
The shop offers guided tours; one of the most popular is riding from Mickler’s Landing Beach to the Jacksonville Beach fishing pier and back. Or, you can go out on your own.
At the speed I was going on the beach, a battery will last up to 50 miles. At the fastest speed, 21 miles an hour, the battery will last about 25 miles, Joe said.
Battery charges take several hours on regular household current.
Prices for buying e-bikes range from $1,895 for a base model and up. Pedego also sells accessories, including super-strong foldable locks.
Would an e-bike rental make a good gift?
I think so., It made me see my hometown in a different light—like a tourist, which was fun.
Pedego’s trademark mantra is: “Hello, fun.” And fun is right!
Pedago Ponte Vedra; 340 Front St., Suite 750, Ponte Vedra Beach
PedegoPonteVedra.com; 904-373-5204
