The owner of Hollywood Electrics, a likable, quiet guy named Harlan, pulled up to the house shortly after 8pm on a Friday night. I helped him unload the electric bike, the latest model from A2B, the Alva+, from the back of his van, and I listened as he walked me through the hows of it all.
It sounded so simple, and before I knew it I was on the bike, pedaling then not, cruising, riding, the wind was in my helmet. It was as simple as it sounded. The payoff worked in layers of joy and complexity.
It was my first time on an electric bike, and I was hooked within the first five seconds.
I walked the bike into my backyard, and I couldn’t take my eyes off it—even as the fireworks shooting over the local high school homecoming game littered the sky with pops of fire, all I could do was look at how the colors reflected off the Alva+, and possibly weep a little.
Then the kids needed something as kids are prone to do, and I left the electric bike beneath the smoke and the stars, and I went about the business of pizza and animation.
The bike was a loaner, and I only had a few days to get acquainted before returning it to Hollywood Electrics, so it wasn’t long before I found myself at the window peering out to check on it. It was sitting there, alone, a sculpted piece of interactive art, and it needed the warmth of eyes upon it, so I brought it into the house. My wife took one look at the bike, and she totally understood. This was more than a machine, it was an object worthy of our affection.
In the morning I woke with the sun, give or take a couple of hours, and I rode. I rode for all I was worth.
Seriously, the bike is that awesome.
The Alva+ (as in Thomas Alva Edison) has a throttle that allows you to ride without pedaling when need be, but it also has pedal assist, which means that every time you push your foot forward the bike jumps like a horse on a mission. I mean that in the best way possible. The thing can move.
The Alva+, depending on the power setting, the rider, and riding conditions, has a range up to 40 miles on one battery charge and a maximum power assistance speed of 24mph. It has a 500W motor, an optional 17ah battery (standard is 13.2ah), hydraulic brakes, and suspension that feels like you’re riding on pillows (not that I have ever ridden on pillows). It takes just under four hours to charge the battery and the bike weighs 66lb.
This is what it looked like in my home office:
Basically, an electric bike from A2B offers the exercise and convenience of a traditional bike with added flexibility, safety, and let’s face it, style, for those that want to go further without breaking a sweat (but again, sweating is an option)—it is perfect for getting around the city and those looking to reduce their carbon footprint by leaving the car at home.
But don’t take my word for it; win one! That’s right, we are giving away an electric bike from A2B, it’s called the Velociti (not the Alva+ that I reviewed) and if it is anything like the bike I tested, which it is, then it is sure to be awesome. Did I mention you can win it?
Yes. Yes, I did.
It looks like this:
How to enter:
- Prize: One (1) Velociti (also known as the original Alva) electric bike from A2B.
- The main differences between the bike reviewed (Alva+) and the one in the giveaway (Velociti) are the maximum power assistance speed (20mph) and range (20 miles depending on rider, conditions, and power setting), battery size (Li-Ion Samsung, 36v 12ah), and motor (480W). Information listed in parenthesis is for Velocity. For Alva+ information see review above.
- To enter, leave a comment below explaining why you want an electric bike! Please include a valid email in the space provided.
- Only one (1) entry per person is allowed. Only residents of the U.S. that are 18 and older with a valid mailing address are eligible to enter.
- The awarding of the Giveaway prize is the responsibility of A2B and not GeekDad.The winner will be contacted by the author of this post (Whit Honea).
- This Giveaway entry period starts today, Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at the time of this posting, and ends on Monday, October 21, 2013 at 11:59:59 PM PST.
- One (1) potential winner will be picked in a random drawing from qualified entries on or about Tuesday, October 22, and notice will be sent to that person via the email address they have provided. If you are a potential winner but fail to claim your prize within three (3) days of us sending you notice or are otherwise in non-compliance with the Giveaway rules, then we will choose an alternate winner.
- We will announce the winner in an updated version of this post once confirmation of prize acceptance is verified.
- No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds will depend on the number of eligible entries.
I would like to thank A2B and Hollywood Electrics for the loaner eBike. I miss it already. If you live in the Los Angeles area and want to experience an electric bike for yourself, check out the big A2B event this weekend (October 19-20), from 10am to 6pm at Hollywood Electrics (901 North Fairfax Avenue, West Hollywood) and ride one for yourself! If you see me, say hi (or the greeting of your choice)!
this would be so nice to tool around town in 🙂
I live in Brooklyn and I work in Manhattan. I want to be awesome and ride my bike to work but I just get too sweaty/tired/mussed. If i was buzzing on an electric bike I could look all sporty with only a fraction of the exertion, and also be more awesome in general.
As a single father of a daughter who is just starting Drivers Ed…This would allow me to use this while she uses my car instead of needing to purchase a second vehicle. I have been looking at this option or a scooter, but could really use the exercise.
I live in NYC with no car. This would be awesome for running errands all over town and commuting to work.
I’d love to add an electric bike to our home. It would provide another place to collect jackets & purses the ladies of my house cannot hang on the proper coat hooks we already have.
I go bike riding with my son each week. He gets faster while I’m slowing down. This could help me keep up.d
As a young lawyer in our current job market I have student loan payments up the wazzu and not enough work. As such, I cannot afford, and do not own, an automobile. My wife and I walk or bus everywhere we go; however, my wife, who was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 1999, only has so many steps in her day. Some of her main symptoms include a lack of stamina and strength. This electric bicycle would provide her far greater mobility and the flexibility to bike to and from doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, and run other day to day errands with far greater ease than having to either walk or figure out the appropriate bus schedule.
I don’t currently have a car, so I have to walk everywhere I go during the day. An electric bike would make trips to the store a lot easier!
the stores are close around here i wouldn’t need to use the car if i had this electric bike to get the groceries. i was also thinkin’ ’bout how the summers get extremely hot here in the desert, it would be nice not to pedal when i don’t want to.
I don’t have a super cool reason to need one, but I think it would be cool to have one to use for the times when a car is overkill, but walking is just too much.
Having only 1 car for a household with a toddler leaves me carpooling to work most days. I never considered biking as an option due to a 7 mile commute. Velociti will finally allow me to commute to work without having to carpool daily! Plus, my daughter will love her mom on a cool bike like this one 🙂
We take our environmental responsibilities pretty serious here. We recycle, trip chain, compost, and carpool. The problem I have with our neighborhood is everything is a little too far for a standard bicycle trip. So, we have to get in the car for small errands. While I am teaching my sons about sustainability and reducing our impact on the world, it’s hard to complete the circle when we must rely on a car as well (granted it’s a gas sipper…but still.). I would LOVE an electric bike to be able to make quick trips to the store without burning myself out in the Florida sunshine.
I’d love to own this. My driveway is a quarter mile long downhill. I wouldn’t have to walk to the mail box and climb back up my mountain! I could even pick my daughter up at the bus stop, which is also way at the bottom of the hill.
i want an electric bike to ride around town and save gas
I have started the process of shopping for an electric bike because I live in downtown Atlanta and do not own a car. I travel everywhere by public transportation and an electric bike will give me a greater range of places I can get to than walking.
I have bad knee caps, but love to ride
We (my wife, I and 2 kids) live in Chicago and for the first time have moved to one car in an attempt to limit our carbon footprint. We have done pretty well with this plan as my wife generally utilizes public transportation, but when her work days get long then the public trans commute just becomes more tedious. In the end, we often let her take the car so she can get home sooner, but this leaves the kids and I on foot or bus. An electric bike could provide the extra hand I would find necessary (not being in the best shape… but working on it) to cart the kids around on adventures when we don’t have a vehicle. Oh, and apparently, it would make everything else in my house look cooler, so there’s that.
I would love this because it would be a great way to get around without having to hop in my car and waste gas, and because it looks sooo freakin fun of course!!! MAYBE i’ll let my sons ride it 😉
This bike would be perfect for my daughter getting around on her college campus! It is very bike friendly.
I’ll be getting a vasectomy very soon and am told in not allowed to exercise for some time after. You wouldn’t want me stuck at home with no way to go buy more frozen peas, would you?
I suffer from several chronic disorders that leave me too exhausted to go anywhere by myself in town. This would be the answer to my problems and would allow me to make a difference in our little town. It isn’t too far to gadget to places in town and this would be me the ability to broaden my horizons. Thank you for this opportunity.
That bike is awesome. It would be great to ride this to the local shops and not have to drive my car. Thanks for having this contest.
I can’t drive due to a medical condition. I make do with the bus when my husband is at work and I need to get places, but the bike would make nearby trips so much easier!
I would love an electric bike to travel to & from work instead of taking the car.
I want one for my youngest son. He is 13 and has a non-correctable vision problem. No surgery or glasses will help. He’s an “A” and “B” student and has no problem with homework, classwork, or getting around, but he is unable to pass a vision test. The specialists do not believe it will be possible for him to pass the vision test for a driver’s license. He can see well enough to drive – he has driven the go-carts, tractors, and he rides his bicycle. It really bites that he has to pass the vision test (tiny letters) to drive. =(
Thanks for the giveaway…an electric bike would be great to use for traveling around town during the week instead of fighting traffic & searching for a parking space with a car. The electric assist would really facilitate trips to and from the grocery as well.
I have RA and sold my bike when I was diagnosed. I’m some better now and would love to have this bike to get around the neighborhood.
Thanks for the contest.
I would love an electric bike to cruise Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, and handle the FIERCE winds that sometimes come sweeping down the plains and keep me from getting exercise because when I turn into the wind, it can blow me down! Plus– wouldn’t that be the bomb to go to my grocery store with such a cool bike– and let my OKC neighbors know what a cool bike is available?! Thanks for this cool contest, Tara Blume
Feel like its the best option to travel the world!