-------GearsBikeShop Electric Bikes------

GEARS is committed to strive and make cycling accessible to all Canadians!

The Electric Bike category is an exciting one, that has seen leaps and bounds in innovation and technology. A huge growth has been seen in Europe and we feel it is the right time to introduce these truly amazing bikes to the Canadian Market. Read our stories, visit our well-respected brands, check out the reviews and videos. Take the time to stop in, visit a Gears store, speak to our trusted staff and take an eBike out for a spin. You will not be disappointed with your experience!

Gears Electric Bike Story
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A few years ago we noticed a softening of what was a very strong road bike market that had swept North America. The era of Lance Armstrong was on a decline and so were the spontaneous road bike purchases from the general enthusiasts. It is natural for everything to have its time and over the last 3 decades in the bicycle retail business we have seen the rise and fall of a number of different bike categories. In the 70’s we had banana bikes and BMX, then in the 80’s everything had a drop handlebar and was considered a “Racer”. The 90’s brought about Mountain Bikes and a blend of Road and Mountain, called Hybrids. Lance Armstrong and the 2000’s brought The Tour De France right into our living rooms and everyone wanted a Road Bike. Finally in the 2010’s we saw an incredible expansion of bike models. Compared to the 30 models available in 2001, today there are over 300 models of bikes available from each of the largest suppliers, a combination of literally, all available parts, wheel sizes, widths, and treads put together so one can choose exactly what they want. It is very challenging for the basic shop to stock all these variations in model, size and colour. The question remains, now that we have made every possible configuration of the bicycle, what will the next big thing be? Is there a new and undiscovered category? Gears considered these questions carefully.

We ventured to Europe
We ventured to Europe to see what was happening outside of our own market and were pleasantly surprised to find some products that were different, unique and fully embraced by the European population. We found a brand called Cube. We liked this brand. Cube is a traditional mountain bike company from Germany. Like all the brands we deal with at home, Cube bikes have branched into road and urban recreation, but also have a number of European style touring/commuter bikes and a significant number of Electric Assist bikes from each model category. We were surprised to see the number of Electric bikes, which they call Hybrids, a combination of bicycle and power. These Electric Assist bikes, built completely different than anything that has ever been available in the North American market, were eye opening to say the least. Cube is available in 72 countries, and now in Canada, making it 73.


We went back to Europe
In the summer of 2014 we planned a trip to Germany to visit Cube, and brought with us some of Canada’s top retailers. It did not take long for us to realize that Canada wasn’t necessarily in need of an additional brand, instead, specifically the unique offering of the Electric models that Cube was able to offer. As with all product launches, the retailers were invited to test the product, and be led on the local trails by the companies cycling staff and sponsored Pro riders. As exciting as this sounds to the young, cycling enthusiast, it can be a daunting task for seasoned retailers who have spent more years behind the cash desk than out on the trails. We suited up into our cycling gear and headed off into the forest. Cube’s home is in the Northern Bavarian Alps, essentially the foothills, with beautiful rolling mountains and forested terrain. The Pros led us out and before long we were all riding up and down together, laughing, pushing, whizzing by the pine branches. A couple hours later, when the ride came to an end at the edge of a forest near a Bavarian Guest Lodge where our lunch awaited, the last cyclist came out of the trees, and with a huge smile on his face came to a stop. The first thing he said to the group of 20 was, “That was the least intimidating demo ride I have been on in the last 15 years”, and then immediately thereafter finished off with, “If it’s not Electric, I’m not riding it!!”


Revolutionary new eBikes
The North American eBike offerings to date have been primarily rear wheel driven systems. As good as they are for their purpose, they can be limiting in an off-road capacity where over-heating of the system is possible. In addition for off-road purposes battery life, power and weight have all been limiting factors for the success of eBikes. When you picture what the term “eBike” brings to mind, you might think of a sputtering moped leaving a smoke trail down the sidewalk, with a small engine, made legal by a crank with a couple pedals sticking out at the back. These are NOT the eBikes we are talking about. Others may say that eBikes are in fact not bicycles at all, with the option of pushing a throttle and putting in no work, that is a moped and cheating. Each system has its merits and there is an option for everyone. The models of bikes we saw in Europe were not throttle based, they are 100% Pedal Assist with Electric Centre Driven systems, you must pedal for the system to support you. The integration of the Bosch Centre Drive Systems and Battery packs, directly into the European frame designs are seamless and enlightened and like nothing that has been in the North American market before now. They truly are revolutionary and now in their 2nd and 3rd generation with improvements to each, the time is now for eBikes.



The first morning of the show we walked around what felt like a couple square kilometers and ran into a long-time representative of one of Canada’s premiere Suppliers. He said to us with an astonished look on his face, “Guys, before this show starts, I took a good walk around to see what is what, and you know there is one thing here really worth paying attention to! I went over to the other side and saw some of the most amazing looking bikes I have ever seen. I’m not totally sure how to even say it, but it’s spelled H-A-I Bike. They are real, high quality mountain bikes, with Electric integrated directly into them!! Wow!!” We looked at each other and smiled, since we knew the only reason we flew to Las Vegas was to meet with the CEO and President of
Haibike. Again we were convinced that if a guy we’ve known and respected in the industry, for over 20 years, with the domain knowledge he has in our field, can walk around a trade show floor as large as Interbike, and immediately spot the next big thing, we were on the right track.



In Vegas we also had a very interesting meeting with the owner of the US based Leisure Electric bike company, Pedego. What beautiful, practical, colourful and fun bikes. These bikes were very similar to the leisure brand Electra, that we have great success with, but with the added benefit of Electric. Unlike the high end Cube and Haibike Electric Mountain Bikes, these leisure bikes had the benefit of a throttle, for pure confidence and comfort climbing any hill. Do you know what Pedego’s slogan is? “Hello Fun”, we couldn’t think of anything more appropriate for this exciting new category.


So who is Electric for?
Anyone and everyone. eBikes are about Access, accessibility for everyone. No one ever needs to feel that they are unable to participate because their fitness level or perceived ability is lacking, fun and freedom are now available to us all. Over the years we have sold so many bikes that while in the shop, seem like a great idea, but in reality people realize that maybe they can’t keep up, they don’t have the time to drive all the way out to the trails to only have enough energy to put in a 1 hour trail ride and then have to come all the way home again, or it’s simply too much work – too much like exercise and not Fun. Countless spouses have purchased road bikes thinking they would ride with their better half, only to realize they simply can’t keep up. Who would travel with a bike to a place as beautiful as Mt. Lemmon in Arizona? Professional athletes of course. Well, with an eBike anyone can successfully ride up Mt. Lemmon and experience the blue skies, bright sunshine, clean air and freedom without being a pro. Why shouldn’t all of us be able to comfortably ride when and wherever we want, the world is out there waiting for you.


eBikes have come and gone in North America and even in our own shop. Weight was once the major issue, which has now been dramatically decreased. Every single manufacturer attempted their own fledgling system, and after market service for these parts was a major challenge. All of this has improved with time and now is the time for eBikes, the education and advancement made in this category has finally brought it up to the level where we are confident it must be on our sales floors. eBikes are here to stay. You will see more and more electric offerings eventually in all shops as they realize the significance of this new and exciting category. Don’t be fooled, because of the popularity and growing demand of eBikes globally, there are opportunities for mass merchants, big box stores, to possibly buy containers of dated Chinese stock. Sold at a seemingly discounted price, these bikes are unfortunately disposable, throwaway products with no support or available parts. We have done the homework for you and as usual you can count on your reputable Independent Bicycle Dealer to support you with this new style of bike.


During this same season we received some inquiries about particular North American brand bike models, that were equipped with this unique European power system, seen only online and not yet available to the North American consumer. I countered with a completely valid North American offering, but the consumers were adamant on what they wanted. What was this offering and why wasn’t it here yet? The Electric component was the BOSCH Centre Drive System, which was integrated directly into the frame design of these bikes. Interestingly, when we attended one of the North American launches for the next year’s products, one of the American retailers in attendance raised his hand asking about the availability of this Bosch equipped eBike from that company and he was quickly reprimanded and reminded that it was not yet available in North America and could we please focus on the product that was. I thought this was a big mistake. Not only was their customer asking directly for it, so were ours! What was the result? If they couldn’t produce it for us, we would go and find it for ourselves! This is exactly what we did.


The Electric Journey continues
When we got back from Europe, we were invited to the Raleigh Product Launch. Raleigh is now owned by one of the largest bicycle conglomerates in the world, The Accell Group, a Dutch company. Their Canadian head office is just a few kilometers from our shop. We were introduced to the CEO of Accell North America, visiting us from Seattle. He began his talk about the Raleigh products being offered for the next season and then moved into wanting to speak about something he thought might bore us, but would we please listen because he believed and was sure that what he was about to talk about was going to be the next big thing in cycling, eBikes. We were simply amazed and sat up onto the edge of our seats. The CEO continued to speak, sharing his insights of what the Accell Group was seeing globally and then introduced us to one of their other brands, Hai Bike. We simply couldn’t believe it. Just two weeks before we had gone to Europe to explore new options for our customers and in listening to Cube talk about eBikes, they repeatedly referred to what they considered the original benchmark in eBikes, Haibike. This was serendipity at its best. We spoke to the CEO afterwards and were invited to come to Interbike, North American’s largest Bicycle Trade Show in Las Vegas to meet with him and the President of the Electric Category of Accell.


Four Stores to Serve You,


GEARS Oakville
547 Trafalgar Rd.,
Oakville, ON L6J 3J1
289-291-0850

GEARS Port Credit
176 Lakeshore Rd. West
Mississauga, ON L5H 1G4
905-271-2400

GEARS Leaside
109 Vanderhoof Ave.
Toronto, ON M4G 2H7
647-729-2500


GEARS Canary District
500 Front St. East
Toronto, ON M5A 0J1
416-855-4327


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