Hello Encinitas,

Charlie’s Electric Bike will be closing. Niko’s original vision of bringing an e-bike store to Encinitas began in 2017 and grew steadily—especially during the Covid era. It is with a heavy heart that I share this news: my views on e-bikes no longer align with much of the industry, particularly when it comes to youth riders. I’ve been outspoken about this, and I continue to believe it’s an important issue.

​

To succeed as a bike shop in Encinitas today, you need to sell what are essentially electric motorcycles marketed toward kids. These machines are not bicycles—they’re illegal for street use. If you’re considering an e-bike for street riding, please make sure it’s classified as a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike. Anything outside these classes is most likely an unlicensed motorcycle.

​

Kids: if you’re reading this, ride safely, and always be aware of your surroundings—even on a Class 1 e-bike.
Parents: please reconsider buying your child an e-bike to ride in traffic alongside cars.

​

In our absence, we recommend Leucadia Cyclery for servicing the brands we’ve sold over the years. Jeff, the owner, is knowledgeable about both bikes and e-bikes. You can reach them at 760-436-2786.

​

Thank you, Encinitas, for allowing Charlie’s Electric Bike to serve you—both in helping you choose the right e-bike and in keeping your bikes rolling.

​

— Niko Sougias