I want to begin riding bikes more for exercise and ultimately to commute to work.

Unfortunately I’m overweight and very out of shape. Work is about 20 miles away, along busy highways with big shoulders but moderate traffic. About 55 mph is the speed limit.

I’m trepidatious about obviously getting hit, but also I don’t think I’d be able to go the whole way right off the bat. I’ll train some first.

I’m thinking some kind of ebike like a Specialized Tero 3.0 but don’t know. The shoulders can be pretty tricky/ gravelly so I was shying away from road bikes with thinner tires. I was leaning ebike because I think they’re cool/fun, help me better keep up speed, and will ultimately help keep me motivated.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

  • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
    3·
    1 day ago

    Other people are going to have better suggestions, but I think electric tricycles are underrated just don’t bomb corners as fast as you can.

    https://electricbikereport.com/best-electric-tricycles/

    https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radtrike-electric-tricycle

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dWkYxV8wdpk&pp=ygUJI9mB2LLZhNmI

    There are basic mechanical advantages to a classic tricycle with an electric drive, and it has all got to do with the transmission, the transmission is placed at the heart of the vehicle right below the rear cargo rack just rear of rider, this is why flat ground range can be so high with some of these otherwise unremarkable looking vehicles. In terms of converting electricity to torque in the rear wheels an e-tricycle can be thought of as a drag racer, and any cargo you add in the rear cargo bed increases grip potential for the wheels which among other things translates into more efficient battery power consumption per unit of mass moved.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=obHlYo9RINw

    https://electrek.co/2025/06/03/meetone-tour-full-suspension-electric-trike-review-the-most-powerful-and-most-comfortable-e-trike-yet/

    Bicycle people will often frown at the idea of a classic tricycle and especially as electric vehicles I think it isn’t fair to the design, it isn’t a high performance vehicle meant to fit through tiny gaps or bomb hills. As an everyday practical vehicle on the other hand… I think it makes a ton of sense regardless of who you are.

    • saigot@lemmy.ca
      2·
      2 days ago

      +1 for the etrike, (I have a emmo tropic C myself) I find cars respect me way more in it and I can pull way more awkward loads not having to worry about balance. I found an electric anything ends up giving me way more exercise than a regular bike, since I’ll attempt trips I otherwise wouldn’t because of steep hills or heavy loads.

      Be careful the first time you go on tilted ground with it though. My instinct as a biker was to keep the bike perfectly upright, which obviously isn’t how trikes work. I turned into the slope and ran into a wall. XD