Propel Bikes

15/04/2024

Perfect day for a bike ride!🌸🚲🌞

01/04/2024

Due to unseen circumstances, we will be moving our shops from the US to the Netherlands. It has been a pleasure to be able to serve all of our US customers since 2011. We’re looking forward to the new opportunities that relocating will bring. We wish you the best of luck.

APRIL FOOLS! But you DO get a free gift- not joking about that!

Click the link in our story!

26/03/2024

LAST CHANCE FOR 18-MONTH INTEREST FREE FINANCING! OFFER ENDS MARCH 31st‼️

Check out some of our NEWEST ebikes in stock and take advantage of our interest free financing while the offer still lasts! Reach out or visit the link in our story to apply.

13/03/2024

Meet Gazelle’s eBike- The Eclipse!

This bike is now the first and only Class 3 eBike in the US to feature Bosch’s Smart System. (Class 3 is a pedal assist ebike with a max speed of 28mph). It’s an awesome ebike, built to handle rugged American terrain while featuring Dutch and German engineering. It had extra wide tires for better traction and maneuverability, while the suspension fork absorbs the shocks in your ride. This makes riding on paved roads smoother and off pavement rides possible!

The Eclipse is available in a low step design with a 750 Wh battery. It fully integrates the bike’s motor and electronics with the Bosch Flow app for a completely personalized ride and offer a smart version of the Performance Line Speed Motor.

Want to learn more? Check it out on our website: Propelbikes.com

02/03/2024

In the heart of New York City, a family’s weekend routine was forever changed by the introduction of their Urban Arrow bicycle. What began as a simple commute to their daughter Emma’s swim lessons, quickly evolved into a series of family adventures, proving that the right bike can open doors to unexpected experiences.

“Every Sunday, we would ride our old (non-electric) cargo bike over the [Manhattan] bridge,” reminisced . This weekly ride laid the groundwork for what would become a transformative decision. With each grueling ride over the bridge, the idea of upgrading to an Urban Arrow gained traction. Soon enough, the family found themselves with their sleek, electric-powered companion.

The electric function allowed for much more versatility. “With the Urban Arrow, I started taking Julia (our youngest) with me too, to give Rachel (my wife) some alone time,” he shared. This not only provided Rachel with some much-needed alone time but also uncovered a hidden gem – a daddy and toddler swim class happening concurrently with Emma’s lessons. He explained how just by riding their new electric bike, it expanded their horizons on what was possible, turning a simple commute into a multifaceted family adventure.
 
Recognizing the transformative power of the Urban Arrow, the family extended their newfound joy to friends by offering to let them borrow their old cargo bike. “I rode it over to them in Red Hook on Sunday,” said Greg. “Halfway there, I pulled over to see if the tires were flat,” Greg recalled. To his surprise, the tires weren’t flat. “I was just so accustomed to the Urban Arrow that my brain wouldn’t accept that a properly functioning cargo bike could require so much effort for so little output.”

“Julia would not be learning to swim if we didn’t own an Urban Arrow,” he affirmed. The Urban Arrow Electric bicycle not only streamlined the family’s commute but opened doors to new experiences, connecting them with opportunities they might have missed otherwise.

We want to share YOUR ebike story next! To have your story featured, send us a DM or click the link in our bio and fill out our rider story form!

Click the link in our bio for more stories!

17/02/2024

At Propel Bikes, we’re all about spreading love and awareness for ebikes! That’s why we’re going to be shouting out some amazing small business Etsy creators to showcase a handpicked selection of products that perfectly complement your ebike and ecargo bike experience! We’ve curated a list of a diverse range of items to enhance your ride and make every journey even more enjoyable.

Today’s shout out- LarksBikeBlankets on Etsy.

Use code Propel5 for a 5% discount!

“Back when my eldest daughter was two, we found that we loved biking together. We biked and we biked, all over town. Things were great when the weather was good, but being from rainy Victoria BC, sometimes the weather got us down. We bundled her up, but she hated that. We didn’t bundle up - surprise rain would get us. We gave her a blanket - the blanket fell off!��So I had the idea to make Lark’s Bike Blankets. Waterproof and warm, attaching around the child, easily removeable - I made it to fit all of our needs. We love them, and I thought others might love them too! Give them a shot!”

Lark has different blanket options depending on your bike and configuration:

The Classic Lark is their original blanket. Attach it behind your child or behind the bike seat - the elastic strap is stretchy and safe, and clasps together easily with a buckle.

The Wren Bike Blanket is made specifically for kids on longtail bikes, whether they are using monkey bars/hoopties/caboose/clubhouse or universally fit in a rear mounted child seat like a Yepp Maxi, Thule, Bobike or any other variety!

The Big Lark is a waterproof, windproof fleece lined attachable blanket made for front loading box bikes

The Little Lark Bike Blanket was created to keep your child warm, dry and comfortable on your front mounted child seat. The blanket was intended to be a universal fit to handle any brand - Thule Yepp Mini, Bobike Go Mini, Ridealong Mini, iBert, WeeRide Kangaroo and others.

If you know of other small shops selling cool products, feel free to share them with us! Let’s support each other and keep building the family cargo bike community.

Stay tuned for more!

16/02/2024

At Propel Bikes, we’re all about spreading love and awareness for ebikes! That’s why we’re going to be shouting out some small business Etsy creators we love and recommend!

Today, we’re featuring Studio Vollebak’s awesome cargo bike cushions on Etsy (or www.studiovollebak.nl). These Dutch-designed headrests look great and help when your passengers get sleepy.

Use code Propel20 for a 20% discount on all headrests/pillow!

“This Studio Vollebak cargo bike cushion provides extra comfort and safety for your child(ren) in the cargo bike. The cushion provides a comfortable headrest and at the same time a softer seat on the bench (back and seat). The pillow also provides extra support for your child(ren)’s head/neck. The cushion is available in different colours. It is easy to mount in the box, where the original straps of the box can be used. The fabric used is durable and water resistant.
It has 100% polyester, water-repellent and weather-resistant outer fabric.”

They have a bunch of different patterns and colors to choose from so you can best customize your cargo bike.

If you know of other small shops selling cool bike products, feel free to share them with us! Let’s support each other and keep building the family cargo bike community.

Stay tuned for more!

12/02/2024

At Propel Bikes, we’re all about spreading love and awareness for ebikes! That’s why we’re going to be shouting out some amazing small business creators to showcase a handpicked selection of products that perfectly complement your ebike! 🎉

Today’s shout out- one of the many cool things about the Urban Arrow Family Cargo Bike is that it inspires creativity—like these cool decals for the side panels by “Cargobike Decals”. (www.cargobike-decals.de/en)

“With our self-adhesive foils, you can personalize and embellish your Urban Arrow Family cargo bike and at the same time protect the basket from minor damage. The foils are cut to fit perfectly and can easily be attached without bubbles or creases. The film manufacturer gives a 4-year guarantee on color fastness thanks to UV protection. The foils are printed in Germany with water-based ink and shipped rolled from Frankfurt am Main. If necessary, the stickers can be removed without leaving any residue.”

USE CODE Propel10 for 10% off your order!

If you know of other small shops selling cool products, feel free to share them with us! Let’s support each other and keep building the family cargo bike community.

Stay tuned for more!

31/01/2024

Check out this happy customer in his Riese and Muller Transporter. The Transporter can be configured with a dog kit to keep your furry friends safe and happy!🐾

25/01/2024

Happy Birthday to the incredible , a great friend and true inspiration to the cargo bike community! 🚲 🎉

Not only does Maddy excel in inspiring others to get out there and ride, but she’s also a phenomenal mom and role model. Her commitment to teaching her kids the joy of biking radiates warmth and inspiration to so many people. 🌎

Here’s to a remarkable mom who encourages us all to share the love for cycling with our little ones! 🎈

23/01/2024

Interested in a Riese & Müller e-bike for the spring, but not seeing the configuration you want in stock? 🚲

Riese & Müller has bikes in stock and ready to ship! Reach out to the Propel Matchmakers at 646-736-7716 or [email protected] to see if we can match you with a bike in Germany. 📲

If you order by February 10, we should have you rolling by April.🗓️

12/01/2024

Thinking about a new electric bike? Riese & Müller is scheduling their build weeks for February NOW, and they aren’t full yet. 🛠️

A bike built in Germany in February, and sent with complementary seafreight, will arrive at your local Propel store at the end of March or early April—just in time for spring riding season!

Order now at Propelbikes.com
Or reach out to one of our matchmakers: 646-736-7716

09/01/2024

Vote (Wed 1/10) to Protect Jersey City Bike Lanes 

Help Jersey City make parking in bike lanes illegal and let your voice be heard tomorrow, January 10th at 6:00 at City Hall. 

Problem: Parking in a bike lane is currently legal in Jersey City. 

Solution:  The city will vote on whether it should be illegal to tomorrow (1/10)

Our Ask:  Before the vote, you can speak and tell the JC board why parking in the bike lane should be illegal. The proposed fine will be $175

Where: City Hall, 280 Grove Street at top of stairs
When: Please arrive at 5:45 to get through security. Public opinion and voting will take place around 6:15pm. 

Contact Jordan Leahy, 917.446.0887. He will be in all orange Burton gear, his white Load 75 will be out front and he will be with his two year old daughter. 

Sincerely, 
Chris form Propel

19/12/2023

Scott’s Square Mountain eBike Expedition 🚴‍♂️🌿

After a long, hard week of house siding work, Scott needed a mental break before tackling the next coat of stain. So, he embarked on an epic bike-packing adventure to Square Mountain and its historic lookout in the heart of Idaho’s Gospel Hump wilderness.

The journey began with a wise decision to skip the grueling initial climb on Scott’s loaded bike, opting for a drive to the upper ridge line. Storm damage had left the steep sections in disarray, making Scott’s choice even wiser.

On Saturday afternoon, he unloaded and rode the ridge line to the lookout. With his Rohloff hub, Scott discovered the importance of lower gears on those unforgiving gradients.

Descending a bit, Scott found the perfect campsite among the trees, overlooking a serene valley with stunning sunsets and sunrises.

“As a side note, the Load 60 glove box turned out to be a fantastic spot to carry dog bowls, food, and stash garbage”, he stated.

From the campsite, Scott gazed northward, “imagining Lewis and Clark traversing the same ridges and canyons some 200 years ago”. The untouched beauty of the landscape was a humbling experience.

After a relaxing outing, he returned home, rejuvenated and ready to apply that second coat of stain.

Enjoy a few snapshots of Scott’s adventure: his dinner table with a northern view, Una during their evening walk, and his breakfast table with a view that kick-started his day.

27/10/2023

The Benno Boost, with its Etility Design, is an all-in-one solution that can handle more than 3x the load of a regular bike. 🏋️‍♀️

Say goodbye to daunting hills and long distances with the industry-leading Bosch mid-drive electric motor and the dual battery option, giving you up to 160 miles of range.

The Boost is like having multiple bikes in one, thanks to its smart, interchangeable rack and rail system. You can customize it to suit your lifestyle with dozens of possible configurations.

This heavy-duty eBike can carry it all - two children, cargo, pets, and more.

🚴‍♀️Boost Specs:🚴
🔧 Standard and mixed frame for easy mounting
🎨 Multiple color options to choose from
🔋 Battery options: 400Wh & 500Wh
🏍️ Motor options: Performance Speed, Performance CX, Performance Sport, and Performance
🚴‍♂️ Fits riders from 5'1" to 6'3"
💪 Carries a total of 440lbs (130lbs on the rear rack, 260lbs for the rider, and 45lbs on the front rack)

12/09/2023

🌿Exploring by eBike🚴‍♂️

We recently helped Scott convert his Riese and Muller Load 60 from Vario to Rohloff.

He shared the adventure of his weekend expedition along Big Salmon Road, a trail that runs alongside the scenic Salmon River in Idaho. The route ends at a boat ramp at the edge of the Frank Church wilderness area.

With the help of his new Rohloff hub, Scott was able to make the most of his battery capacity. “Happy to report that we rode 42 miles round trip and I only used a little less than half my battery capacity. It was so nice to just be able to get up to speed with the Rohloff and cut the power and cruise along at 10 to 12 mph," he reflects. This flexibility allowed him to tackle hills with ease and even reach speeds of up to 29 mph on downhill stretches.

“The first 10 miles are paved and then it turns to gravel. We stayed [the night] at a beach at Carry Creek boat ramp”, said Scott.

Accompanying Scott on this adventure was his wife on a Trek bike, as well as Una, his canine companion. "Una had her ears tucked back for arrow efficiency," he humorously notes. Una, now around 16 months old and weighing approximately 75 lbs, added an extra element of excitement to the journey.

03/01/2023

Lovely shot by photographer JC Cancedda on one of his many rides exploring New York with his Riese & Müller Tinker. Check out the full story here: https://www.r-m.de/en-us/magazine/jc-tinker/

30/12/2022

Having a better understanding and getting more education about eBikes can be challenging at times. A lot of this has to do with the fact that the eBike space is still relatively new, especially in the United States. Because of this, I wanted to make a video gathering all of the information and resources that I could find to better help spread all the information about electric bikes.

Let me know if you guys have any other resources you find to be helpful and let me know what you think of this type of video.
As always, thanks so much for watching!

28/12/2022

Happy to be included in such an extensive (and entertaining) eBike review in the The New Yorker. Give it a read and let us know what you think!

In 2020, Americans bought more than twice as many electric bikes as electric cars. I test-drove a fleet of them and lived to tell the tale—and make recommendations.

09/12/2022

Are unsafe batteries going to kill the eBike industry? Is your eBike battery actually safe? Did you know that 90% of the products that are on the market in the U.S. are untested? I’ve kind of been tip-toeing around this topic, but the reality is, this is impacting me, my customers, and people’s ability to live safely. Not going to call any companies out, but this is a serious issue and more people need to be aware of it. Let us know what you think about this topic. What have been your experiences? Where do you think we as an industry, as a society should go with this? Should the government intervene?

28/11/2022

I wanted to make a video about some of the cargo bikes that I’m most excited about. In this video, I’ll be going over my definition of a cargo bike, what they’re capable of, and why I’m so interested in cargo bikes in general. These bikes are capable of so much and you can really do most things you can with a car with a cargo bike.

14/11/2022

A fun announcement: Gazelle has extended their commuter bag promotion and we thought you should know. Purchase any new Gazelle eBike from us in the month of November and receive a complimentary Gazelle commuter bag.

Get a free commuter bag!

11/11/2022

Today we are closed to honor those Veterans who have served our country and to recognize our very own special Veteran, Chris! Thank you for your service!

21/10/2022

Elaine and Meg on the Flyer Tandem. Read more about their adventure below. Thanks so much for the kind words, Elaine!

“We just got back from a month-long loaded tour of the Northeast and Canada. We had a blast. The bike performed super well. We went like a freight train and never even used half the battery storage on any given day on every terrain on Cape Briton, the Rangely Lakes, and the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. It served us well with strength and stamina. My favorite part is its stability. 55mph was no problem.

There is a video about Propel that talks about their commitment to keeping people with disabilities on the road. That's what this bike did for me. I hope you put the word out there that there are many ways to keep people off the couch and in the saddle."

Learn more about how eBikes are changing people's lives: https://bit.ly/3z0l54C.

10/10/2022

Gazelle has a pretty cool promotion happening this month in the U.S. If you buy a new Gazelle eBike from us in October, Gazelle will send you a free commuter bag. Just show them proof of purchase, and the waterproof, 20L-capacity Gazelle bag is yours (give us a shout via email if you're in the market for a new Gazelle!)

and get the perfect ride companion, free!

25/09/2022

With more and more people using electric bikes for transportation and riding longer distances, it’s even more critical to have a good drivetrain. In this video, we discuss the newest drivetrain systems I find the most interesting.