Experience our city in a whole new way on a Pedego Electric Bike. Known for being the region’s foremost electric bike experts, Pedego gives you the freedom to see more in less time—pedal as much as you like and get power when you want it. From cruisers, city, mountain and fat tires, they offer a wide variety of electric bikes in different sizes, colors and accessories to fit your individual needs and personal style.
Owners David James and Jody Vanarsdale say that Overland Park was a natural choice to open their new venture given the city’s wealth of parks, trails and bike lanes.
“Jody and I worked together years ago and have been friends ever since,” James says. “When I happened across Pedego Electric Bikes and read their tagline, “hello, fun…” I was immediately intrigued. After doing a lot of research about the company, we signed on with Pedego and quickly zeroed in on Overland Park as being the ideal location. According to traillink.com, Overland Park has over 74 trails covering 524 miles. Overland Park has been progressive in adding biking infrastructure to both its parks and roadways for years and is not new to supporting bicycling.
“Some of the most popular trails in the metro include the Tomahawk and Indian Creek trail system that extends 12-15 miles across Johnson County. On the Missouri side you have the Rock Island trail system, which traverses across the south and east side of the metro from Arrowhead Stadium to Lee’s Summit. Further south, it connects into the Katy Trail system that runs across the state.”
Pedego’s free bike fitting and test ride helps you find the perfect bike.
“Choosing the right electric bike is a personal decision, so we start with a series of questions, like ‘do you currently ride a bike, and if no, how long has it been since you last rode, and what style? Why are you interested in riding an electric bicycle? Is it to get or stay in shape, just for fun, or to use as a means of transportation?’ This helps us determine which style of bike best meets their needs. Once they have narrowed it down to a couple of models, we show them the bikes, how they operate, safety features, and options. Next, we have them sit on each one and adjust it to their comfort, and it’s time for a test ride. This step is critical to selecting the right bike—having the ability to test ride is one of the major advantages of buying a Pedego. Trial is not encouraged with most retailers and impossible with online brands. We want you to ride our bikes--this is the best way to determine the right style, fit and size.”
One of the most popular models is the Boomerang, with industry-leading range and breathtaking power.
“It is a step over model—the bar is only 6 inches off the ground, so it is very easy to get on and off. It’s very comfortable with a wider saddle and a suspension seat post and comes with a headlight and hydraulic disc brakes. We also sell a lot of Interceptor cruiser bikes. This model has a wider handlebar stance and comes in a variety of both colors and styles. This bike is popular to accessorize with baskets, phone holders and bags. My personal favorite? That’s tough. Originally, I rode a Ridge Rider, which is our mountain bike. I think my next Pedego may be our new Platinum Element model, which is just becoming available.”
So, why choose electric over traditional bikes?
“The short answer is that it is way more fun. One common misconception is that you can’t get exercise on an e-bike—you can get as much or as little exercise as you choose. An electric bike is a traditional bike, with the difference being it also has a motor. Nearly all our bikes have multiple gears, much like your old 10 speed, and a motor. Everything we sell is a class 2 e-bike with five levels of pedal assist and a throttle up to 20 miles per hour—when you pedal, the bike motor assists you. While riding at any level, if you get tired or encounter a steep incline and want an additional boost, you can apply the throttle to quickly provide assistance. What we have experienced is that people ride a Pedego more often and go further than they do on a traditional bike because it is so much fun.”
Pedego Electric Bikes is located at 6788 West 135th Street in Overland Park. For more information, visit pedegoelectricbikes.com.
Article by Allison Swan
Photography by Janie Jones
Originally published in Johnson County City Lifestyle
