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They're unisex, convenient, and they let just about anybody become a cyclist no matter how athletic. They are pedelecs with low step-through frames, and they have become the top sellers on the e-bike market. Even without knowing exact sales figures, it’s easy to see that this style is the No. 1 pedelec on the roads of Germany. A central tube that curves very low to the ground for an easy step-through makes these bicycles available to broad target groups. That's a welcome development, because it enables people who are overweight or have a disability to start cycling. That's healthy for them and gives them more mobility. Young mothers can reach the saddle easily and comfortably. When riding with a mounted child seat, they don't have to risk the shaky business of throwing a leg over the top tube, as is the case with conventional frames. In short, low step-through pedelecs have a lot going for them.

Following this year’s poor sales season, there are a lot of pedelecs sitting on retailers’ sales floors, and a lot of batteries sitting in manufacturers’ warehouses.

The press has reported on pedelec riders who knock down pedestrians or hit cars at full speed, and on a bicycle expert who says 80 percent of pedelecs shouldn’t be on the market. Then there are the stories about exploding e-bike batteries that burn down bike stores, or send cyclists flying through the air and suffering serious injuries.

Bicycle specialist shops have good preconditions to position themselves in the market of pedelec/e-bike sellers, if they choose the products with care and provide comprehensive information to the customers. A few tips for the product choice[nbsp]and for the customer talk:

Aluminium, carbon, steel or titanium, the discussions about the proper bicycle material are older than the beginning of the mountain bike boom and the triathlon hype that started in the middle of the eighties. Today, about 25 years after the comeback of the bicycle, every material has found its place and both wood and bamboo are experiencing a revival. An emotionally detached and therefore technically oriented guide through the often imaginative names and additional titles of the manufacturers.

Fast pedelecs are a lot of fun and will reach new target groups. A few thoughts on what bicycles will need to have so as to be able to meet the growing requirements.