As someone who lives in a walk-up apartment, I often look longingly at the e-bikes that zip around my San Francisco neighborhood. Most have big batteries and motors for powering up hills and riding long distances. They’re also heavy beasts, and can weigh as much as 90 pounds.
But more e-bikes with svelte frames and lighter components are coming onto the scene—good news for those of us who are garage-less. Greg LeMond, who won the Tour de France three times, is behind a new company making carbon-fiber models that began shipping in March. That same month, Specialized added a new “step-through” model, for easy mounting and dismounting, to its “SL” (aka “Super Light”) line. Then, in April, Brompton released a slightly updated version of its electrified folding bike, which packs into a tiny shape, small enough to tuck underneath a desk.
