Pedal Power Electric Bike Rentals is now open on Battery Street in Burlington. Longtime Shelburne resident Doug Robbie owns the store. Last summer, Robbie retired from a career as a marketer for banks. For the past nine years, he had been commuting to Boston and he decided it was time to semi-retire and wanted to try something new.

Six years ago, Robbie transformed his personal bike into an electric bike and was happy with the ease of his biking routine. After he semi-retired, he thought some type of retail business would be interesting, so he started to look for a space to rent. The spot on Battery Street opened up, and Robbie was ready.

His seasonal business will most likely stay open until October, and unless it is rainy, things are busy. Robbie explained that the bikes are nice because people of all ages and abilities can ride them. They are especially helpful for those who may have some type of injury, or simply are not super athletic. Robbie has 16 bikes for rent. They are mountain bike style but with a little twist: they have a 200-watt electric motor and a 24-volt lithium battery to give riders that extra boost up a hill, or a push when they get tired. They come from a New England distributor and are all named after locations where summits took place i.e. Bali, Kyoto, Barcelona, and Milan.

If a rider pedals along at a leisurely pace the battery will last between 15-18 miles. If the rider pedals at a moderate pace, it will last approximately 25 miles. Both distances are long enough for a few hours or longer along the extensive shoreline bike paths of beautiful Lake Champlain. The motor will not allow the cyclist to go over speeds of 20 miles per hour and if one is using the brakes, it cuts the motor. Although the bike weighs about 50 pounds it is hard to notice the extra weight because of that extra push (I know this from experience).

Robbie's customer base starts at around age 12 and thus far extends up to "someone who admitted to being 75," said Robbie. One example of his customer base was a father and son. The son was a young athlete and the father wanted to be able to keep up. When they returned from the trip, the father was thrilled that he could keep up and the son was able to bike as he normally would. One of the versatile conveniences of electric bikes is that a rider can use as little or as much of the available electric power as needed.

Whether you are an avid biker or just enjoy a ride here and there, these bikes are fun and easy to use and they allow riders of differing abilities the opportunity to enjoy riding together. Robbie also sells the bicycles for those who are interested. Pedal Power Electric Bike Rentals is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. Call ahead for more information 399-8155 and happy biking.