Around the Block Deluxe 500W E-Bike Review: How One Rider Keeps Up With Her Athletic Family

Why She Chose the Around the Block Deluxe 500W

I talk to a lot of riders. Most days I'm the one explaining frames, motors, seat heights and why one bike suits a certain body better than another. But every so often the most useful thing I can do is step back and let an owner do the talking. That's what happened with the video this article is based on. One of our customers sat down with her Around the Block Deluxe 500W e-bike and told us, in her own words, why she bought it and how it has changed the way she rides with her family.

I want to be clear up front about whose experience this is. The family rides, the hill climbs, the teenage boys she's chasing down the trail: that's all her. I'm narrating and adding context from the shop side, but the first-hand impressions belong to her, and I've tried to keep them as close to what she actually said as possible. Nothing here has been polished to sound like a sales pitch. She simply liked the bike and wanted to say so.

It Started With a Feature Checklist

When she explained her decision, the first thing she said was that the bike had all the features she wanted. That's a more important statement than it sounds. A lot of people shop for an e-bike backwards. They start with a price or a photo, fall in love with the look, and only later figure out whether the bike does what they need. She went the other way. She knew what she was looking for, and the Around the Block Deluxe 500W checked those boxes.

I'd encourage anyone reading this to do the same before buying. Sit down and write out how you'll actually ride. Who are you riding with? Are there hills on your regular routes? Do you need to carry things? How easy does it need to be to get on and off? Once you've answered those honestly, the list of bikes that make sense for you gets a lot shorter, and you're far less likely to end up with something that looks great in the garage but doesn't fit your life.

Pedal Assist Was the Deciding Factor

Of everything on her list, she singled out pedal assist as the key to the purchase. That tells me a lot about the kind of rider she is. She wasn't looking for a scooter with pedals. She wanted to keep riding a bicycle, keep moving her legs, and keep getting exercise, but with a boost that would let her ride farther and faster than she could on her own.

That's exactly what pedal assist is built to do. When the system is switched on and you pedal, the motor adds power behind your effort. You're still the one turning the cranks, you're still balancing and steering and choosing your line, but the motor smooths out the hard parts. Stop pedaling and the assist stops too. For someone who wants to stay active, that's the sweet spot, and it's why so many first-time e-bike owners end up spending nearly all their time in pedal assist rather than leaning on the throttle. We'll get much deeper into how she uses it in the next section.

A Hard Choice on Color

Here's a detail I love. She said the color options were phenomenal and that choosing one was genuinely hard. In the end she went with Lilac Ginger. I hear this from customers all the time, and I think people underestimate how much it matters. A bike you love looking at is a bike you're more likely to grab on a Saturday morning. If it makes you smile when you walk past it in the garage, it's going to get ridden.

This is one of the things we've always cared about. The Around the Block line has its roots in the classic beach cruiser look, and the electric version keeps that relaxed, timeless style. The color isn't a minor cosmetic afterthought; it's part of why people fall for this bike in the first place. If you're torn between finishes the way she was, my honest advice is to go with the one that makes you happiest. You'll be living with it for a long time.

Accessories That Actually Match

The last piece of her decision was the accessories. She mentioned specifically that she loved being able to get add-ons that matched the bike. That's a practical point as much as an aesthetic one. When you're outfitting a new e-bike, it's frustrating to buy a bag from one place, a holder from another and a pouch from a third, then discover none of them fit well or look like they belong together.

She ended up with a rear bag, a cup holder and a small detachable pouch, and I'll walk through how she uses each one later on, because her reasons are a good guide for anyone deciding what to add. If you want to browse the same kinds of options while you read, our bags and panniers collection is the best place to start.

So that's the foundation: a rider who knew what she needed, made pedal assist the non-negotiable, picked a color she loved, and kitted the bike out with accessories that fit her routine. Now let's look at what happened once she started riding.

If there's one part of her story I'd want every new e-bike shopper to hear, it's how she actually uses the motor. There's a common worry I run into, especially from people who've ridden regular bikes for years: that an e-bike is cheating, or that it'll make you lazy, or that you'll stop getting any exercise at all. Her experience is a pretty clear answer to that.

She Primarily Rides in Pedal Assist

She told us she primarily uses pedal assist. In her words, it gives her the boost she needs and a little more speed, but she's still getting her exercise in and she's still pedaling. She repeated that last point, and I think it was deliberate. For her, the motor isn't a replacement for effort. It's a way of making her effort go further.

That distinction matters. On a traditional bike, your ride is limited by whatever your legs have on that particular day. If you're tired, or the wind's against you, or the route has a few climbs, the ride gets shorter or you start dreading it. With pedal assist, you still contribute, but the motor fills in the gap between what you have and what the ride demands. You come home having worked, but not wrecked.

It also changes how often you ride. When a ride feels manageable, you say yes to it more. That's the quiet benefit nobody puts on a spec sheet. A rider who goes out three or four times a week with assistance is going to get more total exercise than a rider who goes out once a month without it because the effort feels like too much.

How Pedal Assist Feels on the Road

For anyone who hasn't tried one, pedal assist feels less dramatic than people expect. You start pedaling, and instead of grinding to build speed, the bike just moves along with you. It's a bit like riding with a steady tailwind. You're still choosing your gear, still steering, still braking. You're simply working with the bike instead of against it.

Because you control how much you pedal, you also control how hard you work. Ease off and the ride gets lighter; push harder and you'll feel it in your legs. That's why I always say an e-bike can be as much or as little of a workout as you want it to be. She clearly chose to keep it a workout, and the bike let her do that.

The Throttle: Rarely Used, Always Welcome

She was refreshingly honest about the throttle. She said she very rarely uses it, and she explained it for viewers as the motor mode where you don't have to pedal at all. Then she added the part I appreciated most: she does use it sometimes, specifically when she gets really behind and needs to catch up to her boys. And when she does, she said, it is awesome.

She also pointed out that this doesn't happen often, because the pedal assist usually keeps her right in the mix. I think that's a perfect illustration of how the two modes complement each other. Pedal assist is the everyday tool. The throttle is the safety net, the thing you reach for when you've fallen back, when you need a quick burst, or when your legs just need a moment.

There's a practical reason to ride the way she does, too. Running on throttle alone means the motor is doing all the work, which generally drains the battery faster than pedal assist, where your legs share the load. Mixing the two the way she does, mostly assist with the occasional throttle burst, is a sensible way to get the most out of every charge while keeping the ride fun.

The throttle also earns its keep in situations beyond catching up. Starting from a stop on a slight incline, rolling slowly through a crowded parking area, or getting moving again after a pause at a crossing are all moments where a little motor-only push makes life easier. Even riders who pride themselves on pedaling everywhere tend to appreciate having it.

Exercise and Leisure on the Same Bike

Near the end of the video she summed the bike up as a fantastic addition to both her exercise life and her leisure life. I don't think those two things usually get mentioned in the same breath, and that's exactly what makes it interesting. Plenty of people own one bike they train on and another they relax on, or they own a bike they've stopped riding because it only suited one purpose.

Her Around the Block Deluxe 500W covers both. On a day when she wants to work, she can pedal hard and let the assist simply extend the ride. On a day when she wants to cruise with her family and enjoy the scenery, the same bike makes that easy. If you're weighing your options and want to see how other bikes approach the balance between comfort and performance, our comfort electric bikes collection is worth a look, and you can always compare across our full range of electric bikes.

This is the part of her story that made me grin when I first watched the footage. She said the bike has changed her whole family bike ride experience. Then she got specific: she can keep up with her athletic husband and her two athletic teenage boys without a problem. And then, with obvious satisfaction, she added that she beats them up hills.

The Gap Every Family Knows

Anyone who rides with family or friends knows this situation. One or two people in the group are stronger, faster or more experienced, and everyone else spends the ride trying to hang on. The fast riders wait at every corner. The slower riders feel guilty for holding things up. Eventually someone stops coming, because the ride stopped being fun for them.

Teenage boys make this especially obvious. They've got endless energy, they don't think twice about sprinting up a climb, and they're rarely patient about waiting. Add an athletic husband to the mix and you've got a group where keeping pace on a regular bike would be a real challenge for most people.

What pedal assist does in a situation like this is level the field. It doesn't make anyone a different rider, but it closes the performance gap enough that the whole group can ride together. She's not the one at the back anymore. She's right there with them, and sometimes in front of them.

Why This Matters More Than Speed

I want to dwell on this for a moment, because it's the real value of an e-bike for a lot of families. The point isn't just going faster. The point is being included. When you can keep up, you're part of the conversation, part of the jokes at the top of the hill, part of the decision about which way to turn next. You're sharing the ride instead of trailing behind it.

For parents especially, that can be a big deal. Teenagers don't always want to spend time with their parents, but a shared activity they actually enjoy can be a bridge. If the bike means she gets more afternoons out on the trail with her boys, that's worth more than any number on a spec sheet.

Hills Stopped Being a Problem

She called getting up hills a game changer. Then she described what her rides used to look like: having to get off the bike and walk it up. That's now a thing of the past. She told us she never has to get off and walk anymore, and that she gets up hills without a problem.

If you've ever had to dismount mid-climb, you know it isn't just physically tiring. It's discouraging. You lose your momentum, you lose your rhythm, and if you're riding with a group you lose ground fast. For a lot of people, the fear of that moment is enough to keep them from riding hilly routes at all, which shrinks the number of places they're willing to go.

When the climbs stop being a barrier, your whole map opens up. Routes you used to avoid are suddenly on the table. Rides that used to end early because of one big hill can carry on. And the psychological shift is huge: instead of dreading the climb, she's now the one who gets to the top first.

A Note on How She Climbs

It's worth tying this back to how she rides. She mentioned primarily using pedal assist, and she's clearly still doing the pedaling on those climbs. The assist is making the effort manageable, but she's working. That's an important point for anyone who assumes that out-climbing a fit teenager on an e-bike means sitting back and letting the motor do it all. Most of the time, it's a partnership between rider and machine.

If hills are a big part of where you live and ride, it's worth thinking carefully about the bike you choose and how it fits you. A bike that fits well lets you put power down efficiently and stay balanced when the road tilts up. If you'd like help figuring that out, our bike fitting tool walks you through a few questions about your body and riding style and points you toward bikes that suit you.

Riding More Often as a Family

She didn't put a number on how often they ride now, and I won't invent one. But reading between the lines, it's clear the bike has made family rides something she looks forward to rather than something she endures. That's the pattern I see over and over with e-bike owners. When the hard parts get easier, people ride more, and the people around them get to share more of those rides too.

If you're shopping for a bike that lets you keep up with a faster crowd, take a look at our women's electric bikes, where you'll find a range of frames and styles built around comfort and an upright riding position.

I mentioned earlier that accessories were part of what sold her on the bike. Once she started riding, they became part of what made the bike genuinely useful day to day. She walked us through three specific add-ons, and each one solves a real problem that new e-bike owners tend to run into within the first few weeks.

The Rear Bag: A Game Changer for Carrying Essentials

She described the bag on the back of her bike as a game changer. Her examples were practical: her raincoat, her lunch, and, as she put it, all the things you need. That's exactly what a rear bag is for. Once you start riding regularly, you realize how many small things you want to bring along, and how awkward it is to carry them any other way.

A backpack works in a pinch, but on a longer ride it gets hot, it pulls on your shoulders, and it shifts your weight in ways you notice. A bag mounted at the back of the bike keeps your load low and off your body, which makes the ride more comfortable and leaves you free to sit upright and relaxed.

Her raincoat example is a smart one, too. Weather changes, and it's always better to have a layer with you and not need it than to get caught out halfway through a ride. Packing lunch, meanwhile, turns a short spin into a proper outing. You can ride out somewhere nice, stop, eat, and ride back, without planning the whole trip around finding food.

The Cup Holder: Easy Access While Riding

Next up was the cup holder, which she said is nice for when she has her water bottle. Her reason was simple: it's easy access when she's riding. Hydration is one of those things people forget about until they're thirsty and stuck fumbling with a bag at the side of the trail.

With a holder within reach, it's much easier to grab a drink at a natural pause without unpacking anything. That's especially useful on warm days and on rides where you're still putting in real effort, which, as we've covered, is how she rides most of the time. If you need a bottle to go along with a holder, we carry sixthreezero water bottles as well.

The Detachable Pouch: Take Your Phone With You

The third accessory got the most enthusiasm. She called it a little purse thing, then clarified that it's a pouch, and said it's awesome. The feature she loves is that it comes off the bike. When she's out on a trail and wants to hop off and go somewhere, she can unclip the pouch and take her phone with her.

It's a small detail that makes a big difference. If you've ever parked a bike at a viewpoint, a café or a restroom and hesitated about leaving your phone and keys behind, you'll understand the appeal immediately. A pouch that detaches quickly means your essentials go where you go, and you're not left choosing between convenience and peace of mind.

It also keeps your phone handy while you ride, which is helpful for checking a map or snapping a photo at a stop. Between the pouch up front, the holder for her bottle and the bag at the back, she's got a sensible setup that covers storage, hydration and valuables without cluttering the bike.

Helmet First, Every Ride

Partway through the video she paused to put her helmet on before heading out. It was a small moment and she didn't make a speech about it, but I want to highlight it anyway. E-bikes let you ride farther and keep a quicker pace than many people are used to, and a helmet is the single easiest thing you can do to ride more safely. Make it a habit before every ride, no matter how short. Our helmet collection is a good place to find one that suits your style.

Building Your Own Setup

Her accessory choices are a useful template if you're not sure where to start. Think about what you carry, what you need to reach while moving, and what you'd want to take with you when you step away from the bike. A rear bag, a holder and a detachable pouch cover most riders' needs for casual and family rides. From there, you can add pieces as your riding grows.

Before she rolled out for her ride, she made a point of calling out two more things she loves about the Around the Block Deluxe 500W: how easy the step-through frame makes getting on the bike, and how comfortable the seat is. They're the kinds of features that rarely make headlines, but they shape every single ride.

The Easy Step-Through

She specifically mentioned the easy step-through of getting on the bike with ease. If you've never ridden a step-through, the idea is that the frame dips low between the seat and the handlebars, so you don't have to swing your leg high over the back of the bike to mount it. You simply step through the middle and sit down.

That makes a bigger difference than many people realize. Getting on and off is the moment when riders are least stable, especially at a stop, on uneven ground, or with a loaded rear bag. A low step-through reduces the balancing act and the awkward leg swing. It's quicker, it's easier, and it gives you more confidence every time you stop and start.

On a family ride, you're stopping a lot: at junctions, at viewpoints, waiting for someone to catch up, or pausing so a teenager can show you something on his phone. A frame that makes mounting and dismounting effortless removes a small bit of friction from every one of those moments. If easy mounting is high on your own list, our electric step-thru bikes collection brings together frames designed with that in mind.

A Very Comfortable Seat

She also highlighted the very comfortable seat. Comfort is something I always come back to, because it decides whether a bike gets ridden or gathers dust. If the saddle is uncomfortable, every ride has a timer on it, and eventually you stop going out at all.

The Around the Block Deluxe 500W keeps to its cruiser roots with a relaxed, upright riding position. Sitting upright takes pressure off your hands, wrists and lower back, and a comfortable seat means you can enjoy a longer ride without counting down the minutes. For someone using her bike for both exercise and leisure, that combination is what makes the longer outings possible. And if you ever want to swap or upgrade a saddle on any bike, our seat collection has plenty of options.

Her Bottom Line

At the end of the video she gave her overall verdict. She said the bike has been a fantastic addition to her exercise life and her leisure life, that she has really enjoyed it, and that she couldn't be happier with it. I don't think I could summarize it better if I tried.

What stands out to me is how complete her experience is. She bought the bike for specific reasons, and each one held up. Pedal assist gave her the boost she wanted while keeping her active. The throttle is there for the rare moments she needs it. Hills went from a reason to walk to a place where she pulls ahead. The accessories match her routine. The frame is easy to get on, and the seat is comfortable enough to keep her riding.

What Her Story Can Teach You

If you're in the same position she was before buying, a few lessons stand out. First, know your must-haves before you shop. For her, pedal assist was the non-negotiable, and starting there made the decision clearer. Second, think about who you ride with. If you're often the one at the back, an e-bike with good pedal assist can change how those rides feel. Third, don't overlook the small comforts: an easy step-through and a good seat matter on every ride, not just the long ones.

Finally, pick a bike you love the look of. She agonized over colors, chose the one that made her happy, and clearly enjoys riding it. That emotional connection is a real part of why people stick with a bike for the long haul.

Finding Your Own Ride

If her experience sounds like what you're after, the Around the Block Deluxe 500W sits within our electric beach cruiser bikes, and you can see the full lineup there. If you're unsure which bike suits your body and your routes, take a few minutes with our fitting tool, or read through our 30-day test ride details so you know exactly how trying a bike at home works. And if you're near us, you're always welcome to visit our store and test ride in person.

A huge thank-you to this rider for sharing her story so openly. Hearing how a bike fits into someone's real life, with real hills and real teenagers to chase, is the best feedback we could ask for. I'll see you out on the road.