Couple markets Koolbyke in Shreveport

After talking to Jazmin Jernigan last month about the electric bikes she had come to know and love and actually getting to ride one myself thanks to her, I had to know more.

Pedaling (or not), an electric bike is just like riding a non-electric bike, but with an extra oomph, although I’m sure there’d be an argument either way. That’s just my opinion.

So, I met up with Jernigan’s friends Shaun James and girlfriend Sydni Smith to get the full scoop on these unfamiliar set of wheels. James, who has been riding bikes all of his life, moved to Shreveport 20 years ago from Los Angeles, and has been building electric bikes for about four years now.

James’s interest in electric bikes piqued when he was riding BMX bikes at Cargill Park in Shreveport. A friend of his, Doug, was interested in using a bike without pedaling and made mention of electric bikes. James looked into them and immediately began working to build one for him, who is, by the way, in his late 50s.

After that first bike, James has built seven more and has consulted with other builders on over 30 others.

“[Electric bikes] are fully customizable machinery,” said Smith, who has helped James build a few of the bikes. Her background includes 13 years in shifter car racing.

From color, to speed, to the frame and accessories, each bike is tailored to one’s liking. Sure, it has an electric motor, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it; that’s the beauty of these machines.

James’s main goal is to sell his brand name, Koolbyke, to a large manufacturer. His attention to detail, something he credits to his time in the Navy, has landed him the task of building the first prototype in the United States for SPARTA – an electric bike made by world-renowned Denzel Electric Bike. This is only the beginning.

From here, he will take the bike to industry shows, including Interbike in Las Vegas.

While these are opportunities for James to connect to key players in the electric bicycle world, that doesn’t mean people like you and me can’t join in on the fun – if we are up to the new experience.

“You’ll never know that feeling unless you get on the bike and try it,” Smith said. “That’s what makes [selling the idea of getting on an electric bike] hard.”

She’s right. I was incredibly apprehensive to give an electric tandem a spin, but, boy was I glad I did; the rush was phenomenal!

As Smith and I discussed, these bikes can steer you anytime and anyplace, regardless if you’re tired or the terrain is muddy, hilly or the like. Smith herself had experienced knee problems after a shifter car accident, and it was an electric bike that got her moving again.

“I like being free and being able to recognize my surroundings,” she said of biking in Shreveport. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned about the city from riding a bike. I don’t have to park anywhere; I can stop at any historical place to check out the signage, and I like that you get to meet different people.”

“How else would we have met?” she added.

The way she described riding an electric bike is synonymous with how I’d describe riding my non-electric bike. And she’s absolutely right about how we had met; I initially met James and Smith at the Bike Container off Texas Avenue months ago and only put the pieces together after meeting them a second time.

Six months ago I would probably have laughed if you said I would be the slightest bit interested in investing in an electric bike. Today, it couldn’t be further from the truth, and thankfully we have a couple locally that can help make that a reality.

Electric bikes custom-built by James start at $1,500. Sure, you could spend less on one made outside of the United States, but according to the professionals, these types won’t last but a few months before you experience problems. The first bike built by James for Dave lasted three years before showing any issues. Talk about warranty.

If your interest in how soon an electric bike can get you outside on two wheels is now piqued, be sure to visit Koolbyke. com, and have a chat with James.

Karen E. Wissing works in Shreveport-Bossier City and loves her community.

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