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NORFOLK, VA - The go-to of portable transport for cruisers has traditionally been folding bikes. However, battery-powered folding e-bikes and affordable e-bike rentals available in numerous waterside locations along the ICW offer a fun-powered option, as I learned when I spent the day at the new Pedego Electric Bikes shop in Downtown Norfolk, VA.

Having lived aboard a sailboat for six years while cruising the ICW I am all too familiar with the need to go ashore to get your legs moving, see the sights and pick up supplies. Biking is a great way to get around independently, but there never seems to be enough time or energy to both sightsee and re-supply on a standard folding bike.

Pedego has 140 locations, many within walking distance of a marina. Click here to find a store along your route.

Sailor/Cyclist/Pedego Norfolk Tour Guide Wes Cheney convinced me to come out to the new location here for my first ride on the day CEO Don Dicostanzo arrived from Orange County, California offering a free community ride as part of the official commissioning of Pedego’s 140th location. The shop is owned by Amy Oliver of Virginia Beach.

I quickly realized that the folding e-bikes and being able to rent a standard e-bike are two powerful and fun new options for boaters.

The bikes rent for $20 per hour. On Saturdays in Norfolk, VA you can pickup a bargain with a two-hour guided tour led by Wes for just $10 (bike rental included). Other Pedego locations also offer similar deals.

Exclusive Waterway Guide Discounts:

Norfolk Location Only

RENT - Anyone who visits the Norfolk location can name drop “Waterway Guide” and get $50 off of their 2-2-2 Special (2 bikes for 2 people for 2 hours).  This 2-2-2 Special is normally $100, but for Waterway Guide Readers, it is just $50.  You can also rent just one bike for an hour ($20-$35) and get your second hour FREE as a Waterway Guide reader.

BUY – If you rent (Norfolk location ONLY) between now and Christmas and decide that day that you want to buy one the price of the day's rental(s) will come off the bike cost. Just say Waterway Guide sent you to get the deal.

Nationwide Waterway Guide Offer

Pedego is offering a FREE battery upgrade ($300 value) to Waterway Guide readers who buy any bike at any location, nationwide.

COUPON CODE: Waterway. Offer is good through December 31, 2019.

The Norfolk shop offers a wide variety (15 models) to choose from. Rentals include helmets and full one-on-one instructions.

I chose to ride the Boomerang 26-inch model for the tours, but also tested the others for short hops to and from Waterside Marina.

I loved it so much I war whooped as I went uphill over a steep bridge at 17 mph, as my kids would say, "Like a boss!"

A smart rental option for a supply run is the Stretch Cargo model which has an impressive 400lb cargo capacity.

There's even an adult Trike with a rear storage bin.

However, I was most interested in the folding Latch model as a purchase for cruisers.

Don't worry. Be happy.

Before the ride I was worried that I would not be able to handle an e-bike. I worried it would be akin to a Moped, go too fast, be too noisy or hard to control. I figured I’d wipe out, so I never got on one.

Also, I felt shamed by the perception that electric bikes are “cheating” when it comes to exercise.

Spoiler Alert

This is just like riding a standard bike only you get a little lift that overcomes inertia, eases longer rides and helps you go up hill like a Tour de France hotshot.

Optics

Turns out, e-bikes have been zipping past me on the Elizabeth River Trail for months and I couldn't immediately tell the difference between them and a standard bike.

Finally, I figured, if Actor William Shatner (Captain Kirk of Star Trek) can tool around on one at age 88, how could I say no?

Pro Tip

Call ahead or reserve through the website to make sure the bike you want will be waiting for you.

FUN FACTS

• You do pedal.
• Bikes are silent. No giant electric mosquito sound. This is not a weed whacker on wheels.
• You can choose to stop pedaling and just use the throttle.
• Pedagos can go up to 20 mph. I know I did.
• You can rent a tandem!
• Avid sailor Aaron Maynard, a Myrtle Beach, S.C. Pedago franchise owner, recently named his 41-foot Jeanneau 419 after the company motto, "Hello, Fun."

So Nice We Rode Them Twice

I ended up going on two guided tours with about 20 people on each. I spent about four hours on the bikes and at the end of the day I felt great.

No e-bike experience is necessary. Every rental comes with a tutorial and safety lesson. Helmet included with the rental.

This is a unique review since we had over 40 test subjects rate the bikes after their rides on a scale of Zero to Six Burgees. Our vote casters said they were won over by the ease of use and the fun-factor. *See the final verdict at the bottom of the story.

Tech Talk

These bikes can go 45-60 miles on a single charge. It costs approximately 10-cents worth of electricity to fully charge the battery.

• Performance: smooth acceleration, effortless hill climbing
• Great power and range
• Extended range battery upgrades available (most models)
• Smart Bike Technology with Bluetooth connected smartphone app (most models)
• Heavy Duty Mag Wheel options available for larger riders

Talk about non-skid! For safety all Pedego bikes use Schwalbe German tires that are called “Fat Franks” which keep the bikes from skidding on patches of sand or gravel, making them Elizabeth River Trail-worthy.

“When you get off the boat and rent a bike for one of our guided tours or to get your supplies you get all the fun and none of the pain,” Dicostanza said. “That’s why our motto is ‘Hello, fun.’”

Location. Location. Location.

The Norfolk store is located within easy walking distance of Waterside Marina at 223 City Hall Avenue adjacent to the Tide station between McArthur Mall and the Slover Library. It’s a straight shot from the nose of the Battleship Wisconsin down Plume street, past the library and make a left onto Atlantic Avenue.

Want to own one? The bikes retail for anywhere from $1,895 to just under $5K with financing available and monthly payments an option.

Our Rating System:

Burgee ratings: We demonstrate the products we test for a minimum of five testers, plus our News Editor, Lisa Suhay. Each person rates the product by either giving a Burgee to pass, or no Burgee to fail.

A product must gain at least three Burgees to get a full Welcome Aboard rating as highly recommended. Two Burgees gets a Medium rating. One Burgee Low rating.

Whistle Blow = A product not up-to-snuff, meaning it got zero burgees out of a possible six (5 testers, plus our editor).

Not a single whistle was blown on Pedego or its new Norfolk, VA, location.

* VOTING RESULTS

They should rename the Norfolk location Six Flags because every one of the 40 participants and I gave it a full Six Burgee rating.

That gives Pedego and the new Norfolk location a perfect score.