Outbound Cycle Showcases an Electrifying Range of Cool New Rides
E-bikes are blazing new trails in every area of the cycling world. No longer heavy, clunky bikes relegated to the commuter category, electrified bikes dominate such cycling genres as mountain bikes, downhill bikes, and casual comfort cruisers. The team at Outbound Cycle in Kelowna knows that all too well — having traversed the e-bike revolution from its inception, the Outbound Cycle shop now proudly showcases a full range of impressive electrified rides.
Outbound Cycle Boasts Three Decades of Cycling Experience
When Outbound Cycle's owner, Glenn LaPlante, decided to open a shop in West Kelowna in 1993, Glenn was a courageous 20-year-old following his pedalling dream in a world devoid of e-bikes. In the three-plus decades of cycle and outdoor gear sales that have now passed, Glenn has forged his way over a proverbial mountain of changes. The most recent change in the cycling world is the explosion of electric bikes on the cycling scene, which would have been hard to imagine when he first started out.
When e-bikes first appeared on the market, Glenn says they had a pretty niche following. "The clientele initially purchasing electric bikes were just commuters and riders with mobility challenges. That small market has now exploded, and the demographics of riders going electric have now been blown wide open."
A great example of the electrified transformation can be seen in the Rocky Mountain Bikes lineup. Rocky Mountain Bikes were one of the original pioneers of great mountain bikes. Initially, they stayed focused on that genre, but they have since established themselves as a top competitor in nearly every cycling division, with e-bikes no exception. Outbound Cycle carries a wide range of Rocky Mountain e-bikes, such as the mountain-crushing Rocky Mountain Fusion Powerplay lineup. They are battery-assisted, hill-climbing demons with crank-mounted motors that radically expand trail riding options. These wildly capable bikes are light years ahead of the early bikes Glenn first sold.
The E-bike Revolution: From Clunky, Heavy Bikes to Rocket Ships
Rocky Mountain has taken electrified bikes to a whole new level, firmly positioning their e-bikes at the forefront of electric innovation. With their seamless blend of crank-positioned drive train and sleek in-frame battery, at first blush, they ride like any other high-end mountain bike — until rider assist kicks in, that is. Riders are then opened up to a whole new range of hill climbing prowess, game-changing terrain possibilities, and a massively expanded distance range. Rocky Mountain Cycles is not the only innovator Glenn stocks, either. Outbound Cycles features several top competitors in the e-bike field. Even more impressive is that many of Glenn's leading-edge bikes are Canadian. "Canadian bike companies, like ENVO out of Burnaby, are producing outstanding bikes," he tells me. From hybrid commuters to step-through cruisers, the lineup of ENVO bikes that Glenn sells is dramatically changing cycling and winning over riders of all ages.
"I don't want a 60+ pound bike" is a common comment that Glenn hears when suggesting electric assist bikes to customers. They were surprised, he says, when he introduced them to his modern lineup of electric bikes. Nowadays, many of the electric bikes that Outbound Cycles sell weigh — and feel — pretty much like the standard non-electrified version. "Customers check out the ENVO lineup or Rocky Mountain e-bikes, and we will hear them say, Wow! These bikes are not far off my regular ride." Except, of course, for the game-changing electric-assist.
While e-bikes have become a large part of the inventory at Outbound Cycle, they have not changed the company's operations much. When he opened his doors, Glenn's initial goal was to create a field of work that complimented his passion for riding. His only initial goal was just to "make it" in a job where he could help people find the right bike for them. That hasn't changed with the new lineup of electric bikes. It just allows Glenn to help out an even wider range of clientele.
Outbound Cycles is also a full-service shop, meaning that Glenn and his team service what they sell. From end-of-the-season repairs to pre-season tune-ups, Outbound Cycles has their riders covered — electric bikes and conventional cycles combined. A by-product of e-bikes is allowing riders to embrace 4-season riding. Because Outbound Cycle is open year-round, they can assist customers with the seasonal changes multi-season riding requires. Riding year-round often means things like pre-winter tune-ups or swapping out tires. Meanwhile, Glenn says, conventional 3-season cyclists also love that he is open all year, as the slower periods in the winter mean that Outbound Cycle has ample time to tune up their customers' bikes — ensuring that they are ready for spring.
Check out the Outbound Cycle website to learn about the wide range of conventional and electric cycles available, or pop into the West Kelowna shop to see these electrified rides in person. Glenn and his team are excited to introduce you to the bikes transforming the cycling world. Of course, if e-bikes are not on your radar yet, Outbound Cycle's wide range of traditional cycles includes everything from kids bikes to BMX and downhill, including commuters, road bikes, and gravel bikes. With the wealth of experience Glenn has garnered over the years, he has perfected the ability to assist every rider in finding that perfect ride for them. For proof of that, you only need to check out Outbound Cycles Instagram or Facebook pages to see the great reviews from Glenn's satisfied customers.
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