About the Tester
I'm a mid-30's commuter. My daily commute is a little over 5 miles, but I frequently finds excuses to go out of the way to make it longer. I've been a recreational rider for years, a full-time commuter for a little over a year. In addition to the commute, I also use the ebike for neighborhood transportation, including hauling a trailer and grocery shopping. I also rides non-ebikes, but I'm not a high-mileage rider or a racer. At the home end of my commute, I have to carry the bike up 6 stairs; at the business end there are a few staple racks and ample hanging rack space.
The Current Bike
The classic lines of 1957 Schwinn cruiser, with a Wilderness Energy front hub motor at 36v/600 watts.


Front lights are halogen, hardwired into the battery with Planet Bike blinkies for backup. Rear light is helmet-based. Aesthetically, the shaker-can spraypaint in flatblack leaves a bit to be desired, but the classic lines of the cruiser frame, generous seat, swept handlebars, and aftermarket folding basket make for a comfortable and functional ride. The innertube top tube wrap and zipties secure wiring, and lend to the utilitarian nature of the bike.
Overall, its a nice bike. It's a bit heavy for carrying upstairs or using a hanging rack, but it's comfortable and the ride quality is good. A bit more stopping power and a battery bag upgrade would be nice.
"Schwinnly Goodness"
Comfortable ride
Powerful lights
Collapsable side basket
Good power/thumb throttle
"Not so good..."
Squeeky seat
Urban camouflage paint job
Front rim requires occasional retrueing
Can you post any additional photos? Or perhaps a short video showing the conversion?
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