I rode an e-bike! What a blast–and practical!

By Khem Suthiwan

A few months ago, I was given the opportunity to demo a e-bike for a few weeks, and a pretty fun one to add. The Yuba Spicy Curry. Seemed like a pretty fitting name for a bike with my Thai ancestry! I’m not going to lie, I was a bit skeptical. With all I’ve read online about how e-bikes are considered “cheating” from cycling purists (in non-racing environments), I had to see what the fuss was all about myself.

When I picked up the Spicy Curry from SloHi Bicycle Company in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver, I was a little taken back by the size of the bike. I’m all but 5’3″ on a good day and used to riding things that my friends would call “midget clown bikes.” But the boys and the shop assured me I’d have fun, adjusted a few things, showed me how to operate the settings, and I was on my way.

The Spicy Curry had a few optional add-ons that makes bike commuting not only more practical, but very convenient. The darn thing could fit up to two child seats, and the optional side boards and hold on bars made the rig very passenger friendly. Flying solo? There were also a handful of other cargo attachments to safely stash your latest grocery store purchases.

As I pulled out of the shop for my maiden ride on a e-bike, I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to handle and comfortable. Turning was a breeze as well as staying balanced. Rolling out from a complete stop I could feel the electric motor engaging as I started to pedal. The harder I pedaled, the motor backed off (pedal assist shuts off at speeds higher than 20 mph). Definitely handy when you’re heading up short little punchy hills and trying to get ahead of traffic.

The bike featured four different modes that provided the kick you needed, when you needed it. Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo. The readout panel on the handlebars took all the guesswork out of riding showing your speed, assist mode, battery level, and odometer. For the most part, I switched between Eco and Tour mode just to get the little umph I needed at traffic lights and stop signs. For fun I tried it on Turbo for a quick few seconds and the bike basically rolled by itself without any pedaling. Super helpful for those times you’re walking your bike up a steep hill and need a little bit of help because of its weight (60 pounds – a tank!).

Final Thoughts

  • Riding e-bikes is fun! Not every ride has to be a race!
  • The Yuba Spicy Curry has quite the kick when you need it, and easily runs on human power when you want it to.
  • Equipped with disc brakes, stopping is a breeze for this 60 pound beast!
  • Even though its only available in one frame size, the standover height is low, the seat post is extra long for tall riders, and the handlebars are highly adjustable. Fits riders from 5′ to 6’5″ tall!
  • The single kickstand makes parking a breeze!
  • It’s a great commuter bike for hauling all sorts of cargo, including those who have wriggly legs and toes!

Thumbs up all around from me! Not even a few weeks after I had to turn in this super fly rig, I spotted a mom out with her kiddos riding an older model Spicy Curry at a festival near Sloan’s Lake. Smiles all around!!!

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