I’m 79, and 5’4”, shrunk 2" over the last 10 years. Boston hills have been getting steeper, and it’s get off my high crossbar, so the step-thru SL is perfect. The bike it great on the road — 5 levels of motor assist; enough boost at level 1 or 2 for the mild hills. Combined with the changing gears, levels 4 or 5 are good on long, steep hills west of the city.
The bike is very well made and quiet on the road. You get fenders, front & back lights, a digital readout, and a rear carrier, but no bell, something Evelo ought to add. The seat is comfortable after just a few rides. You twist the collar of the CVT forward on hills for a low gear ratio, and backward for a high ratio. When it’s twisted back, the collar is stiff and requires a firm grip, but easing off the pedals when shifting helps a lot. Evelo says it will get easier over time, and I can see that starting after only a modest number of miles. The brakes are excellent. The levers can be adjusted closer to the handlebars for short fingers.
Most of the weigh is on the back wheel. One online review said that with the battery mounted in back of the seat the center of gravity felt a bit high. I didn’t find that. One grumble: The bike comes with pedals that aren’t drilled for toe clips, and they don’t spin freely. I replaced them with Velo flat pedals and am happy with those.
I’ve received a response to a couple of emailed questions within hours, and after the first month, an offer for a phone call to answer questions. Envelo is justified in bragging about their service. They sell a lot of bikes with the Enviolo automatic transmission (i.e. the Galaxy Lux), but if you’re ridden a bike with a derailleur and shifters on the handlebars, you’ll feel right at home with the CVT on the Galaxy SL.