In my experience the best way to identify an e-bike on the street isn’t from the look of the bike, it’s from the look of the rider. The e-bike riders I see are typically much more relaxed than traditional cyclists, and smiling from ear to ear as they zip around town.
Raleigh has many great local bike shops including Oak City Cycling, All-Star Bike Shops, and Cycle Logic, but until recently we had no e-bike shops. That all changed at the beginning of the year.
Ribbon Cutting
On January 7th 2023, the East Coast Electric Speed Shop opened their Raleigh location at 418 West Peace Street in Downtown Raleigh.
In addition to the official ribbon cutting, opening day of their second store included food, drinks, and test rides. The original location is in Chapel Hill.
At the shop
As you walk into the Speed Shop the space is set up in three sections. The front portion of the store is retail focused. The middle portion is dedicated as the service and there is warehouse space in the rear.
The Thesis
On opening day, I spoke to Chris Carini, one of the owners. Chris explained to me that many other bike stores don’t like working on e-bikes. East Coast Electric Speed Shop’s focus on e-bikes gives riders a one stop shop for sales, service, and advice.
Offerings
In addition to sales and service, the Speed Shop offers test rides. You can book an appointment online. The Speed Shop is a dealer of Tern and Magnum Bikes. The Speed Shop also offers custom bikes through the “Customs by Carini” program.
Why e-bikes
In talking to the owners, e-bikes typically (but not always) cost more than a traditional bicycle. However, compared to the automobile, e-bikes are far less expensive to purchase and maintain. Low fuel costs and no requirement for insurance or a license are also major selling points for e-bikes.
From a real estate perspective, as people use more non-automotive modes of transportation, the amount of parking spaces required for a project can decrease. This is a direct cost savings and land savings to the project and the community.
Conclusion
If you have never ridden an e-bike, I highly recommend it. Stop into the East Coast Electric Speed Shop on West Peace Street for a test drive.
