I Ditched My Car For a Commuter E-Bike—And I'm Never Going Back

It took me ten years living in Chicago to finally admit what I probably should have known all along: I don’t actually need a car. A commuter e-bike does the job (and more). Sure, a car comes in handy for big Costco trips or driving across town in a downpour. It’s also helpful for venturing farther afield. But as convenient as a car can be, it comes with the reality of constantly hunting for parking, throwing money at meter fees and gas stations, and worst of all, finding a bright-orange ticket on the windshield. Ugh.

This year, my wife and I decided to downsize from two cars and purchase a new-to-us used Subaru (of course) for our growing family. While she uses our car to commute to work, I’m left without wheels. I won’t lie, I was a bit nervous after becoming so comfortable living with two cars for so long. My analog gravel bike is great for bikepacking trips, training rides, or a quick pedal to the brewery, but it was never meant for carting cargo or my kid around the city.

After months of searching for an affordable commuter e-bike that’s built for life in the city, I decided to test out the new Aventon Abound SR. This short-tailed cargo e-bike designed for city living can carry up to 440 pounds (including the rider, a passenger, and gear, combined). It’s extremely fun to ride, and I’ve kitted out this utilitarian commuter with a removable passenger seat, a massive front rack for groceries and beach gear, and a quick-lock Thule Yepp kid seat for carting my daughter to the park and daycare.

Three months into riding a commuter e-bike instead of driving a car, I came up with ten reasons the Aventon Abound SR is the ultimate mode of transportation in the city.

Aventon Abound SR

Style: Cargo & Utility
Class: Class 2 (Class 3 optional)
Range: Up to 60 miles
Battery: Aventon 36V, 20Ah, 733Wh
Motor:  36V 750w Hub Drive

$1,899 at Aventon

10 Reasons the Aventon Abound SR Is the Ultimate City E-Bike

1. Adjusts to fit your riding style

Aventon’s app lets you dial in everything from max speed to torque to the sensitivity of the e-bike’s pedal assist. I used the app to change pedal assist to 100 percent since I like to feel the motor working as soon as I start to pedal. I also increased the torque to Turbo mode to accelerate more quickly through an intersection (super helpful to beat the cars around me right when the light turns green), for breezing through long-haul commutes, and when I want to feel the pure joy and freedom of flying down the Lakefront Path.

2. Transitions between a Class 2 and Class 3 e-bike

One major feature that sets the Abound SR apart is its ability to switch between a Class 2 and Class 3 e-bike with a click of a button. Within the Aventon app, you can opt for Class 2 by capping your speed at 25 mph or lower. This comes in handy if, say, you want to keep your teenager from speeding down the street. Or, you can increase the maximum speed to 28 mph to cover ground faster. Heads up: If you’re cruising downhill with a full cargo load, don’t be surprised if your speed climbs upwards of 32 mph and beyond.

3. Hauls groceries, gear, and humans, too

The Abound SR comes with an integrated thick and sturdy rear rack that’s compatible with a number of accessories. I customized my Abound build by adding a kid’s bike seat, which I occasionally swap for a padded passenger seat (mostly used for when my wife and I hire a babysitter and go to the brewery). You can also add on a passenger seat that comes with a backrest and arms for a more secure and supported ride. Additionally, I added a 15” x 13” front rack. Other cargo accessories include an oversized rear rack basket for carrying serious cargo and twin panniers for commuting, errands, and travel. Bikepacking adventure, anyone?

4. It’s packed with anti-theft features

Other than an accident (*knocks on wood*), my biggest fear is walking outside to find my expensive e-bike stolen. I’m beyond relieved that Aventon equipped the Abound with impressive safety features that keep this bike virtually theft-proof. In-app locking allows you to “lock” the Abound while it’s parked. A locking kickstand and alarm system can be turned on to deter someone from tampering with the bike. And you can even draw geofencing boundaries to limit where the bike can ride, which forces a power-down and lock mode should the bike leave your enabled boundary zone.

5. Handles like a dream, even when fully loaded

The Abound SR feels more like riding a punchy mid-drive motor than a heavy rear hub. It’s agile, responsive, and sporty thanks to a sleek step-through design (that’s super easy to mount and dismount), tunable front suspension, stocky 20-inch tires, and short wheelbase that centers your gravity. Riding this bike feels like you’re getting a smooth, powerful push from behind.

I’ve used the Abound SR for every kind of cargo haul: Aldi runs for a week’s worth of groceries, cardboard box deliveries filled with donations, and date night to the brewery. What I’ve noticed most is the bike’s impressive ability to handle weight with ease. This bike thrives under pressure. Literally. No matter how much I pile onto it, it doesn’t slow. Passenger on the extra seat? It accelerates effortlessly. Daughter strapped in back and groceries up front? It rounds corners with ease, and I feel completely in control. Simply put, this bike was built to haul it all.

Pro tip: Aldi’s collapsible box bag fits like a glove in the Aventon front rack. So. Satisfying.

6. The battery range is more than enough for city riding

You don’t have to worry about running out of battery mid-ride in the city on this bike (unless you forget to charge it ahead of time, of course). On average, you can expect up to 60 miles of range on a single charge. For most city commutes and errand runs, you can ride the Abound SR several days in a row without charging. Keep in mind: Cranking up the torque and leaning on Sport or Turbo mode will drain it faster than sticking to Eco. Curious about charging speed? I drained the battery to under 10 percent and charged it back to full capacity in exactly four hours.

7. Integrated lights make riding feel safer

A built-in front LED headlight and always-on rear light help me feel safer riding at night and during the day. The rear light flares bright when braking to add visibility for trailing riders and drivers. You can also click turn signals on and off when turning left or right at a stop sign, though I still always use physical hand gestures to make sure I’m seen at every angle. Also, if you’re riding late at night or in areas with minimal street lighting, I’d recommend strapping an additional bike light to the handlebars.

8. Great for families

When we welcomed our daughter last year, I vowed never to give up our adventurous city lifestyle. That meant she would come along on every hike, camping trip, and bike ride. Flash forward to life with our Abound SR: This plan is playing out perfectly. We mounted a Thule Yepp seat to the back rack, and now AJ is along for every ride (heads up, the model I own is out of stock, but the newer version is available for pre-order and looks very similar). If you want (or need) more space for kiddos and passengers, opt for the longer Aventon Abound LR. This longer version can fit up to two passengers, and you can add a handrail to the back seat for a safer child-carrying cargo setup. The Abound LR can hold more regular cargo, too.

9. The design is sleek and sensible

Aventon didn’t just build a practical cargo bike; they made it look sleek and sexy in the process. The BMX-style handlebars look nostalgic and have a natural fit and feel to riding. As someone who likes things clean and tidy, I appreciate Aventon’s wire management. All cables are neatly cinched into a single wrap in front of the handlebar and routed neatly through the center tube. I also love that this bike has a wide-open, step-through frame that makes mounting and dismounting effortless, especially when I’m riding with heavy cargo. Their design removes the top tube entirely, leaving a wide open gap between the seat and the handlebar (aka no fancy dismount maneuvers required, like swinging your leg over a high top tube). As for colors, the Abound SR comes in cobalt blue, black, and purple. I opted for black because it looks sharp.

10. It’s reasonably priced

For such a well-designed bike, you really can’t beat the Abound’s price. It’s a super sleek, smart, and impressively safe e-bike at a manageable price of $1,899. Comparable cargo e-bikes like the Rad Power RadWagon ($2,399) and the Specialized Haul ST ($2,700) will run you significantly more. Unlike other brands that may outsource aspects of their bike production, Aventon owns every stage of the process, from design and manufacturing to software development. That means less overhead, faster iteration, and bikes at a more affordable price point. The Abound SR is truly one of the best values in the cargo e-bike category.

Other E-Bike Accessories We Recommend 

Garmin Varia UT800 Smart Headlight ($150): This smart headlight is a serious tech gadget that packs a punch at 800 lumens. When connected to a Garmin watch (I wear the Fenix 7) or a bike computer, the brightness auto-adjusts based on natural lighting conditions and speed while you ride. Plus, its beam is much wider (and brighter) than the built-in Aventon headlight, which makes me feel safer while riding.

Peak Design Universal Bar Mount ($50): I’m a Peak Design die-hard for its bomb-proof connection that keeps your phone locked in place—no matter how many bumps or potholes you hit. The universal mount fits almost any handlebar type, too. Pair this mount with any Peak Design phone case.

Aventon Chain Lock ($80): Even with its robust anti-theft features, I choose to pair the Abound with the Aventon Bike lock. It’s made of thick steel chain link and comes with two sets of keys, so you always have one as a backup.

POC Ventral Air MIPS Helmet ($290): A good bike helmet is a must. I always choose a MIPS helmet for its safety-approved testing. I find POC helmets to be airy and sleek, fitting perfectly for use on a cargo bike in the city or riding on backcountry gravel roads.

Topeak Nano 9 Multi-Tool ($48): The Abound’s mechanics are more technical than I’d ever work on myself. But it always soothes my peace of mind to bring along a small multi-tool for quick tweaks and tightening loose bolts.