Helm E-Bikes Were A Welcomed Addition To Our North Shore Quiver

This is a sponsored post.

From your local gang of shit groms to the Patagucci-laden sophisticates, electric bikes have played influence to a wide-range of surfers this past decade, changing the way many of us get to and from our local lineups.

Truth be told, I haven’t always been the biggest proponent of the electric bike (see also: Lower Trestles congestion fiasco), but I’d be lying if I told you my opinion hadn’t shifted after spending a winter on the North Shore with a couple of Helm chariots at my doorstep.

While many electric bikes tout their beefed-up complexion and speed-driven demeanor, the setups from Helm are more like, well, normal bikes — less about ripping as fast as you can down a trail and more about making your commute a bit more enjoyable.

The Helm City does come equipped with push-the-throttle-and-go mode (aka no pedaling necessary), however these bikes lean more toward their pedal assist technology, and the seven gears that you can shift through depending on your terrain, incline, and desire to speed up or slow down.

In terms of getting around the North Shore, electric bikes are a great means of transportation, especially on a crowded weekend or contest day when Kamehameha Highway is backed up from Pipeline to Waimea. Other than your ability to zip from wave to wave with ease, these zero-emission vehicles run on clean energy, which make them almost as sustainable as walking. With minimal charging time necessary, I found myself enjoying this reliable ride every time I had the hunch to get off of Surfline and use my own eyes to scope the lineup.

Sacrilegious to some, beneficial to most, you can even charge your phone (and/or other electronic devices) on the bike’s battery via usb charging port, so you won’t run empty without gloating to your friends about the empty midday lineup.

Whether you’re checking the surf or commuting to work, Helm’s got some wheels for you.