Need a new bike? The New Wheel has lots of 'em. Their Bernal Heights shop specializes in electric bikes that are great for city mice and savvy travelers. The New Wheel will be one of our fantastic local businesses (it was founded by Cal grads!) participating in the Bernal Heights Microhood Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 4, so I asked them a few questions to find out what the bike pros are all about.
So what do you guys focus on at The New Wheel?
At The New Wheel, we sell bikes built for hills- pedal assist electric bikes! The technology is huge in Europe and essentially maintains everything that you love about bicycles but makes it fun to ride up hills and longer distances so that you can leave your car at home and take a bike instead.
How is an electric bicycle different from a regular bike?
Our bicycles essentially work like any other bicycle- you pedal, shift and brake- but a sensor communicates with a small electric motor to augment you pedal power so that the harder you pedal, the more assistance you get from the system. It’s you, with superpowers.
Who shops at your store?
People who are looking for the best alternative to automobiles to move around San Francisco. We work with a lot of commuters and parents but it really spans the gambit. If you like to bicycle and want to get everywhere in San Francisco faster than by car, bus, or foot, an ebike is the thing for you!
What do you have coming up soon that you're really excited about?
There is a new state-of-the-art bicycle coming out of Switzerland, the Stromer ST2. It’s the ultimate ebike: it is fun, fast, beautiful and packed full of technological perks like GPS tracking and remote locking.
What inspires you?
Our customers telling us that they sold a car.
Anything else people should know about your shop?
We offer free test rides every day so stop by and try an ebike!