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)!
Whit Honea
Whit Honea is the author of “The Parents’ Phrase Book” and co-founder of the philanthropic organization Dads 4 Change. Deemed “the activist dad” by UpWorthy and one of the “funniest dads on Twitter” by Mashable, Whit lives in the suburbs of Los Angeles with his wife, two boys and an endless collection of assorted pet hair.
I’d like to downsize even more and this electric bike would replace my aging and smokey 12 year old Suzuki Bandit.
I would love an electric bike so I could keep up with my children when we bike tofether~
That is awesome. I am a long time biker and a certified official geek as well. Would love to have one.
I had an A2B metro when I lived in NY but I was sad to sell it due to losing my job in the bad economy and having to fly back to Los Angeles. I would love to get an A2B Velociti so I can reunited with my favourite bike and brand! Awesome post btw – huge fan of Geek Dad.
I would like to have a bike so I would not have to walk long distances to places like the store. It would give me time to do other things.
Retrofit or purpose-built, electric bikes (bicycles and motorcycles) make SO much sense. I really, really, really hope I win this contest since this looks like such a cool and practical machine for my daily commute.
Thanks! Glen M.
glenmaxson@gmail.com (website: lopezislandtech.com)
Would love to write a blog post about the A2B.
The ebike is a definite must for combating the downtown traffic flow. Getting to school with my tools, books, and such can be much better when soaring electrically. Have been looking at the G-Bike yet I like this one for the better range and a kool design to be cruising with renewable energy in mind.
this is awesome , could use this when i take my daughter to horse shows and i have to run back and forth all day
I would have given my left nut (or maybe my right instead) as a kid to have this with all the pedaling I had to do going to school and back!
I want the A2B electric bike simply because it is extraordinarily beautiful, as well as a beautiful mode of transport.
I will no longer need to walk to work.
It would tooootally help my ride to work. I love biking in but the ride’s too long with too many hills to make it a timely commute. An electric bike would prolly help quite a bit. Plus the thing looks flipp’n sweet 😉
Rode my first eBike about 3 months ago. I was BLOWN away. Freaked me out when the motor kicked in. Gotta have one now.
I’m handicapped. This bike would allow me to ride with my daughter.
i would love to ride this bike to campus. it would save money on a parking pass for my last semester and be better for the environment. it would also be fun to bike to work or the store. i have seen those bikes before and they are amazing.
I would like this bike to run errands with.
Sign me up please! Would be great to commute to work.
OMG! best giveaway ever! I want to win this for my errands around town.
I would like to have this bike because I want to set an example and show it to other people.
i’d like to win this in order to stop driving my car so much
I’d love an electric bike because it would get me farther and faster than my poor legs could go! I could get everywhere I need to without running out of steam 🙂 Plus, I just think it would be a lot of fun 🙂
I live close to my work, but *just* far enough away that biking would take too long. Plus, I wouldn’t want to bike into work and arrive sweaty. (Sweat-stink while working wouldn’t be good.) An electric bike sounds like it would be faster than a normal bike and would allow me to arrive without having really broken a sweat. Very intriguing!
I would love to have the Alva+ for the shear fact of that it would allow myself an easier ability to attend college without the worry of missing a bus or being at school an hour early due to scheduling.
I would love to have an electric bike to ride back and forth to work. The parking situation around here is impossible, and it’s a little too far to walk.
be easier to get around
Electric bike + me = happier planet, healthier dad, and a lot of 🙂
This would be awesome for short trips around town, errands, etc. We currently have a gas-hog SUV, so this would be way more economical as well as giving us a little exercise (or not). 🙂
This is awesome!!! I would love this for the bike rides in my neighborhood. My neighborhood is very hilly so biking manually isn’t always easy! This would be so freaking cool to have. Thanks for the chance.
I would love an electric bike because I think I could leave my car behind for 90% of my trips!
Sweet looking ride! I’d love a bike like this to replace my old, heavy, unmaintained, 20+ year old banana yellow mountain bike that I haven’t ridden in over a decade. I have a toddler now and want to start introducing him to the joys of cycling.
Awesome bike! I’m looking for a more economical way of commuting to work and this looks like a great option.
I just turned 30 yesterday and decided I needed to make some changes for this new chapter in my life. The changes at the top of my list are to live an allaround heathier life, and be more green. An electric bike would be perfect for my commute to work and errands around, providing me with a healthier more green mode of transportation.
I would love to have an electric bike because I need to get into shape.
I want an electric bike so I can just cruise… I just did a triathlon and need to relax more riding down to the beach…
We only live a couple of miles from town and I would love to have this bike to use to run my errands and get around town. To me it would definitely be more economical and better for the environment than my truck. And I would feel as if I was leaving less of a footprint and doing something good for the earth.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to win this for my father. We go on biking vacations and he can’t go but he said if he had an electric bike, he would go on all of them with us. I would love to have him included in our family vacations.
I would absolutely love to own an electric bike. I have always appreciated the benefits derived from bike riding, from a young age. Now that I’m 56, & need a knee replacement, it’s actually easier for me to ride a bike, that it is to walk. I live in Brooklyn, N.Y., and I usually ride trains &/or buses to get around. That is when I’m unable to ride my original 1976 refurbished bike. It’s become very difficult to ride the bike that I love. That being the case, the best alternative possible, would be an electric bike. The savings of time is important, as is the ease and convenience of use. Then there is the personal contribution of reducing consumption fuel. The USA needs many more electric bikes and bike riders. It’s a win, win scenario for all.
That’s awesome! I’ve never heard of that before. Everyone would be so jealous.
this would be great for my dad who likes to bike but he’s getting to old to keep up with the rest of us
I would love to win to give to my son who love to ride his bike but sometimes gets tired from the long rides to work
I would love this bike for my husand. He has knee problems and the assit in peddling would be great.
I am retiring from the US Army and going to become an elementary school teacher. Not only would this bike help me out on my commute to school, I could use to teach and inspire students about taking care of the environment.
I would love to win the Velociti bike since so many of my trips are short and local, from the grocery store to my grandkids ballgames. And living in the Arizona desert I would be able ride year-round. Thanks
to commute to work
Would love an electric bike to run errands to the nearby stores and save a lot of gas
brich22 at earthlink dot net
I could really save money not having to buy gas with this bike.Every bit helps
My husband had a stroke and is not able to go back to work.
I would love to have an electric bike just getting back into shape and at my age having problems with some of the hills. I won’t like to not have to worry about limited my ride because of my abilities. I just want to have fun!
I would like an electric bike because it would be a great way for me to go the 2.5 miles to my work every day! Save on gas. calvad at aol dot com
I would like to have this bike so I can get to work and exercise at the same time. I would also like to lower my fuel consumption. pkeyser@fsu.edu
A little electric assistance would be nice on the giant hills around here. myfirstname@myfirstnamemylastname.com