
I’m roughly 1.7 meters tall, so I went with the mid-step RadMission in a predominantly white color scheme. VanMoof’s third-gen e-bike, for instance, comes with a standard S3 frame or ‘radically compact’ X3 alternative. Other e-bike manufacturers have taken a similar approach. The former is meant for shorter riders (five feet and two inches to six feet and two inches) while the latter supports slightly taller (five feet and 10 inches to six feet and five inches) cyclists. You can order the RadMission 1 with a simple mid-step or classic ‘double diamond' frame. So which is the RadMission 1? A basic but dependable road warrior, or a cost-cutting measure gone too far? Design It needs to be well-made, though, otherwise you’re better off saving your money or spending the same amount on a traditional bike with better parts.

If your budget is around $1,000, you can’t expect too many tech-related luxuries like location tracking and integrated lights. The question with all these bikes, though, is quality. Rad Power Bikes has since raised the price to $1,099, which is still competitive with entry-level alternatives such as the Propella and Aventon Pace 350. But for a modern e-bike, that’s shockingly cheap. That’s hardly an impulse purchase - the entry-level iPhone 12 costs $200 less, after all. The bicycle was first unveiled with a $999 introductory price. To become truly mainstream, the industry is going to need cheaper models like the RadMission 1, developed by Rad Power Bikes. The vast majority of e-bikes are too expensive for the average person, though. It helps the environment - more so than a gas-guzzling car, anyway - and keeps you outside, minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The benefits are numerous: it’s faster than walking and, while a good form of exercise, won’t make you sweat like a traditional bike would. More people than ever before are considering an electric bicycle.
