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Pedal or Not, you will enjoy: Santa Monica couple bring to the city, its first all electric bicycle guided tour

"As kids we use to play this hide and seek game, in which we would say whether or not here we come and that's what came to my mind, when we were deciding the name of the shop," says owner Barb Wittels as she waves her hand across the purple Pedal or Not sign.

Interestingly Pedal or Not stemmed out of a personal experience. "Me and my 14-year old daughter Molly, love to bike around and while we would still have energy to go for another round; my husband, Stephen would fall on the grass and say ‘no more, I am tired'," says Barb cracking up in a smile. This led the couple in search of numerous electric bikes before they zeroed in on Pedego. "Their bikes are sturdy and suited for all age-groups," says Stephen adding fondly how Barb addresses their brightly colored rainbow bike fleet as her "little Ferrari's". According to Stephen, the wow factor kicks in as you sit on the bike and realize that, "you can seamlessly switch back and forth between pedaling (6 gears) and electric motor power, with just a twist of a wrist." As a former Pedal or Not rider describes, "the cool factor of being on a bike you don't have to pedal is really hard to explain, add to that the bewildered look on passerby's who are trying to process how a regular looking bike can just take off without pedaling."

Located on Broadway and 7th street, next to the mail box center, Pedal or Not is quite a unique electric bike shop. At Pedal or Not, you not only get to ride an electric bike but also get the only guided electric bike tour available in the city. Priced at $49 the guided tours take you through the streets of Santa Monica and Venice, sprinkled with historical and anecdotal references about the cities past and present. The tour size is generally small ranging from 2-4 people and unlike other tours is not rushed. In fact they have a more leisurely pace and pack in a punch of history and loads of fun in its 2 1/2 – 3 hour duration.

Barb talks with eagerness and excitement, qualities that instantly bond her with riders and assure a fun-filled tour that stops nothing short of being entertaining and exciting. Her animated voice instantly grabs your attention and takes you on a ride to some of the historical landmarks starting with the St Monica's Catholic Church where the academy award winner "going my way" was filmed, to Marion Davies guest house which encapsulates the legacy of the city and Hollywood history, and the city of Venice, which she refers to as an "endless carnival". "Some of the people who have lived in this area for a long time, don't know about some of these sights," says Barb elaborating on Venice canals, which remain unexplored by many of the locals.

Stephen and Barb get a constant flux of tourist from all around the countries, but they have recently noticed a growth in the number of locals too. Their shop opened to a good start early this year; however things slowed down over the next few months due to unusually cooler summer and economic recession. "It's been much slower, but good things happen everyday," says Barb maintaining a positive outlook. Her optimism also stems from a recent visit to a inter bike event in Vegas, where she and Stephen saw a lot of companies who were making a foray into the electric bike field, indicating growth and popularity among consumers.

If you fall in love with these bikes, you can get one of your own at Pedal or Not, who are also licensed bike dealers. The average cost of the bike is 1200 onwards and come in a range of colors. For more details you can visit: Pedal or Not Pedego Bike Collection.

So, if you are one of those who haven't been on their guided tours and are planning to hop on to one of them in the coming days, you need to be aware of their statutory warning: you may be accused of excessive smiling as you roll along the beach – whether you pedal or not!

 

 

 

About the Author

Natasha garyali is a independent social media professional and web manager at Voice of Santa Monica, a community website providing events and entertainment news about Santa Monica, CA. She loves rain, orange tea and the world of virtual communication.

Gator G-Tour Elec Electric Guitar ATA Flight Case $259.99 Gator G-Tour Elec Electric Guitar ATA Flight Case

Gator G-Tour Elec Electric Guitar Ata Flight Case $259.99 Gator G-Tour Elec Electric Guitar ATA Flight Case

Electric Light Orchestra: Out Of The Blue Tour - Live At Wembley $8.99 Electric Light Orchestra: Out Of The Blue Tour - Live At Wembley

Electric Bike Tour Over The Golden Gate $70 Enjoy a fun Electric Bike Guided Tour across the Golden Gate to Sausalito with return by Ferry. Featuring the new UltraMotor A2B electric bike that allows riders to choose between pedaling, electric motor power, or both helping to boost you up those SF hills!

BlackBerry Tour Skin: Electric Flower $11.99 "Not satisfied with your current cell phone case and looking for something with a little more personality? DecalSkins are available for your Blackberry Tour 9630 and are available in a great number of modern and different designs for you to choose from. These incredibly lightweight skins differ from traditional cases in that they stick directly to the large surfaces of your device, maintaining your Blackberry Tour 9630's original feel while transforming its look.Easily remove DecalSkins and put on another!New designs are constantly being addedThese skins are durable and won't fade"

BlackBerry Tour Skin: Electric Tribal $11.99 "Not satisfied with your current cell phone case and looking for something with a little more personality? DecalSkins are available for your Blackberry Tour 9630 and are available in a great number of modern and different designs for you to choose from. These incredibly lightweight skins differ from traditional cases in that they stick directly to the large surfaces of your device, maintaining your Blackberry Tour 9630's original feel while transforming its look.Easily remove DecalSkins and put on another!New designs are constantly being addedThese skins are durable and won't fade"

On Tour $14.99 On Tour

BlackBerry Tour Skin - Electric Flower $8.99 Say goodbye to the days of bulky cases in boring colors. Now with DecalSkins, you can choose from a myriad of designs to simultaneously protect your device and make a style statement. These high gloss, no-fading skins are designed specifically to cover the main surfaces of your Blackberry Tour 9630. Made in the US of high quality materials and a cutting-edge process, this skin will easily let you express your cell.

BlackBerry Tour Skin - Electric Tribal $8.99 Say goodbye to the days of bulky cases in boring colors. Now with DecalSkins, you can choose from a myriad of designs to simultaneously protect your device and make a style statement. These high gloss, no-fading skins are designed specifically to cover the main surfaces of your Blackberry Tour 9630. Made in the US of high quality materials and a cutting-edge process, this skin will easily let you express your cell.

San Francisco Electric Bike Tour $61.26 Have fun and experience the beauty of San Francisco Bay on this eco-friendly electric biking adventure. The A2B bikes are comfortable and easy to ride and the handy power-assist helps you sail up San Franciscos famous hills.Leaving the start point at Fishermans Wharf, zip along the new bike path by the Bay to Fort Point and take a break at the Warming Hut. Then, just kick up the throttle on your eco-friendly electric bike and enjoy the effortless ascent to Golden Gate Bridge without breaking a sweat.Take in the panoramic views of the City and the Bay as you pedal over the Bridge (no power assist allowed on this stretch)! Then it's a fun downhill coast into Sausalito, where you can enjoy great food, shops, and sunshine before heading back to San Francisco on the ferry boat.

Wharf & Waterfront Segway Tour $70 The Electric Tour Company offers you the complete sightseeng experience: After a 45-50 minute fun training on how to safely operate the Segway, you'll explore the San Francisco waterfront with a fully narrated tour. Tours are limited to ten riders and ages 12 and up over 100 lbs are welcome.

Electric Light Orchestra - Zoom Tour Live (DVD) $20.56 Since the early 1970's, England's Electric Light Orchestra has combined intricate, full orchestration with an underlying pop skeleton, becoming one of the most popular and influential prog-rock bands in history. After a long hiatus from touring the United States, ELO--led by Jeff Lynne--is filmed in a return to the American stage. Filmed at Los Angeles's CBS Television City, ZOOM TOUR LIVE has the group performing tracks like State of Mind and 10538 Overture with their typical theatrics.DVD Features:Region 1Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.77Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 - English DTS Surround 5.1 - EnglishAdditional Release Material: Production Interviews - 1. Jeff Lynne Additional Footage - 1. Fan Club SegmentTracks:1. Do Ya2. Evil Woman3. Showdown4. Strange Magic5. Livin' Thing6. Alright7. Lonesome Lullaby8. Telephone Line9. Turn to Stone10. Just For Love11. Easy Money12. Mr. Blue Sky13. Ma-Ma-Ma Belles14. One Summer Dream15. Tightrope16. State of Mind17. Can't Get It Out Of My Head18. Moment In Paradise19. 10538 Overture20. Ordinary Dream21. Shine A Little Love22. Don't Bring Me Down23. Roll Over Beethoven

Electric Light Orchestra: Zoom Tour Live - $9.99 This Electric Light Orchestra concert combines some of the group's biggest hits with a number of its Zoom album tunes. Jeff Lynne and his band's song list includes "Showdown," "Strange Magic, "Shine a Little Love," and "Evil Woman." Die-hard fans may also recognize "Can't Get It out of My Head," "Telephone Line," and "Don't Bring Me Down." ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi

Tour $6 Tour - Capleton

Electric $10 Electric

electric $11.49 electric

It's Electric $12.99 It's Electric

Tour Grade Padded Gig Bag for Most Electric Guitars - Black $39.99 Carry your electric guitar in safety and style with this padded gig bag that features molded bumpers for added protection and detachable straps for easy transport.

Tour Grade A-Frame Guitar Stand for Acoustic and Electric Guitars - Black $18.99 This versatile A-frame stand adjusts to hold your electric or acoustic guitar securely. Heavy-duty welded joints provide strong support and rubber contact points protect your instrument from scratches and other damage.

Tour Grade Padded Gig Bag for Most Electric Guitars - Black/Gray $49.99 This gig bag for most electric guitars offers thick padding to protect your instrument. Molded bumpers offer added protection and the detachable straps provide easy transport.

Tour Grade Molded Case for Most Electric Guitars - Black $139.99 For safe storage or transport, pack your electric guitar in this case that features an ABS molded exterior with an aluminum valance and shock-absorbent feet to protect your instrument from damage.