I started taking the train to Seattle, and riding a bus the last 3 miles.
Last week I started using the ride share bikes, in this order.
https://www.ofo.com/us/en
LimeBike
https://www.spin.pm/
Ofo was way too short for me. I had not been on a bike in 10 years, and that killed my knees with the wrong seat height. Nonetheless, I kept riding.
The Limebike had slightly better ergonomics, still a little short.
The orange Spin bikes had been the worst, but they retrofitted the fleet with super long seat posts.
Thursday I got on a Spin, set up the seat properly, and blew the doors off everyone but the guys with real bikes. The two guys I work with said they saw me disappear around the first corner, never to be seen again, LOL!
It's only a three mile sprint from the train to work, so why an E-assist?
I currently drive 15 miles to the train station, with a 500+ foot elevation gain on the way back home after a long day of work. I don't think I can do that yet. With E-assist, I think it is doable. I can recharge at work for a full battery for the climb.
The market is changing so fast these days, old threads are not as much use on the ebike technology.
I am hoping to hear suggestions.
I propose more than 350 watt but less than a 1000 watt hub motor, probably a front drive, on a Raliegh MTB bike I have had for several years. I could get another bike but there is nothing too wrong with this one.
specs: 32.5 pounds as equipped.
1) 26x1.5 rims with decent 2.0 hybrid street tires.
2) 7x3 shimano deore LX for 21 gears.
3) nerf risers for a few hand positions
4) aluminum rear rack for batteries
5) tire pump on the downtube.
6) upgraded saddle.
7) undersaddle tool kit.
8) plastic fenders front and rear for Seattle rain.