Bike.com Looks to Make Non-Car Commuting Seamless, Fast and Fun

Gasoline prices may have come down from peak levels set earlier this summer, but the case for converting to an electric or pedal-assisted bicycle is still a compelling and financially viable option that continues to enjoy outsized growth.

In the six months since Dallas-based eBike maker Denago and its D2C arm Bike.com launched, the company has faced a range of changing economics yet a constant uptrend in consumer demand.

“It’s not just about fuel prices,” Denago and Bike.com Director of eCommerce Justin Christopher told PYMNTS, pointing to the ancillary commuter costs such as parking, tolls, insurance and time spent sitting in traffic also have to be factored in. “We have some ‘breakeven calculators’ where you can look and figure out how long it really takes before you can offset your costs,” he added, highlighting the point where consumers would offset their $1,500 to $2,000 initial investment. 

Fast and Affordable

To be sure, Denago is not alone in the eBike space, but Christopher said the newest entrant in this fast-growing market has positioned itself “to be the best value, not necessarily the cheapest” player, pointing to rivals that offer cheap “throw-away” eBikes for a few hundred dollars, as well as some super high-end makers that sell units for more than $12,000.

Even so, in this economy, price is a consideration for most consumers and Denago has also jumped on the buy now, pay later (BNPL) train via Affirm to spread out the cost of purchase over several months.

There are also a range of assembly and shipping options available to suit customers needs, including a free “White Glove” pallet service if two eBikes are purchased. 

“Riding an eBike transcends age, gender, ethnicity and fitness levels,” Jeff Weiss, a 20-year bike industry veteran who is now Denago’s vice president of sales and marketing, said in a recent press release, noting the company’s dual goal of affordability and convenience through a growing network of local brick-and-mortar dealers that augment its Bike.com D2C platform.

According to Christopher, there are currently more than two dozen local independent bike dealers on its roster, with more in the works for coming months, as well as plans to launch at least three additional eBike models in the run-up to the holidays.

Because some of these eBikes can travel up to 28 MPH, the case for actually replacing a car with a pedal-assisted bike is not only viable financially, but logistically for those looking to get where they need to go quickly, economically and efficiently.

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