Rear hub or Mid-drive (should I just flip a coin?)

[donn]

Our collective geographic knowledge isn't at issue here. It's up to laminarflowca to decide where he wants to ride, and he can put the grades through the simulator. He rode an electric Raleigh with a mid-drive, and now that's what he wants.

 

[Grantmac]

Mid drives do require a bit of operator savvy and mechanical understanding.

That said I commute my cyclone (not noted for durability) 3-5 days a week on recycled hoverboard batteries. It has burst speed but I'm mostly under 25mph and I help it up hills. It's fun offroad but I wish the package was more stealthy and less heavy so I'm rarely around "proper" MTBers.

My father owns a pair of Volt bikes with geared hubs and they are definitely capable on road but I'd never try to climb any of the dirt around here with them.