[corn18]

We live in an area with an awesome bike trail (next to a canal). It has one serious hill, but otherwise mostly flat. I have a road bike and love doing 35-50 miles. I would love to ride with my wife, but she cannot keep up due to physical issues. I think we would enjoy riding together, so I thought maybe she could get an ebike. Her first priority is comfort. So I am looking at an electric cruiser type bike. I really like the Pedego and we are going to rent one tomorrow. It is really pricey @ $3200. We could rent it a lot for that much. But we also camp so it might be nice to have a pair of ebikes for that.

Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations or experience with cruiser type ebikes? Not interested in mountain bikes.

[mc-m3]

latest Bicycling magazine had several. Sorry I don't remember any specific ones other than a $13k Specialized road ebike (S-Works Turbo Creo SL). If she doesn't like the e-bike, another option is a tandem, not cheap either, but you always arrive at the same time. You just need to agree on a cadence. I have to slow my cadence on the tandem, but it's the only way for us to ride together (a. she can't see well enough to pilot her own bike. b. she wouldn't be able to keep up or I would go nuts riding really slow.) The are really good on flat and rolling terrain.

[mc-m3]

I still had the magazine, so here are a couple of the affordable options they listed.
Rad Power Bikes Radwagon ($1500) - this is a cargo bike so setup to carry stuff, quite heavy.

Aventon Pace 500 ($1400) - this one looks like it might fit the bill

[corn18]

UPDATE from OP:

I found a Pedego Interceptor step through on Craigslist that was nearby. Just picked it up. 2016 model with 1,718 miles. Paid $1,600 for it and it is in great shape. New 15aH battery, too. The guy I bought it from replaced it with a new Interceptor without the step through.

I just went for a 12 mile ride which included going up (and down) the steep hill to our new house. Riding on the flats made me giggle like a school girl. What fun. I looked like a moron going 20mph on a step through cruiser, but I didn't care. Midway through I tackled the hill to my house. I have no idea how steep it is, but I can't pedal up it with my road bike. I hit the hill and slowed waaaayyyy down. Then I pedaled really hard and that sucked. Then I remembered to downshift and I upped the PAS to 5 and off we went. Not fast, but it lugged my 250lbs fat arse up a hill I can't pedal up. Then I remembered I have a throttle and I stopped pedaling and just let it take me up without pedaling. Great fun! After the ride, the battery was still showing full so I think it might last a long while in pedal assist. I used PAS 3 most of the time because I liked hauling butt, but PAS 1 was fine, too. PAS 5 is scary fast. I think I hit 24 mph on level ground and then got scared. It's a great bike, but the cruiser platform with step through and oversized tires in not the stiffest or most stable platform (at least in my initial impressions compared to a road bike).

My wife has not test ridden one yet. She's been doing the passive aggressive avoidance because she thinks its stupid so I'll not go for the test ride unless you really want me to thing. So I just went and bought this one. The cadence assist is going to take a lot for her to get used to, so this one might not be for her. I think a newer torque assist would work better for her. But we'll see. If she doesn't like this one, I'll ride it and get her a fancier drivetrain.

Anyway, I think I am going to have a hard time keeping my road bike now. Just sitting upright and being able to see everything ahead made it so much nicer than the road bike. I love it!

[corn18]

Got myself one, too. Now we can ride together: