Lots of people like the idea of biking, but bad knees, disabilities, or poor health deter many of them. Others are turned off by the thought of showing up to work (or a date, or a party, or church...) with their shirt stuck to their back with sweat. For those who need a little help joining the two-wheel revolution, electric bikes can be the answer.

Electric bikes give you the benefits of cycling: no gas costs, free parking, no traffic jams, and lots of fresh air. At the same time, they let you choose how much to exert yourself. They have a range of 12 to 30 miles, which makes them perfect for trips to the grocery store or park, as well as short commutes.

Deciding which electric bike to buy can be intimidating given the huge range of options. To get you started, we’ve broken things down to a few key considerations.

Kit or Bicycle? You can buy a complete new electric bike or a kit to retrofit your own bike. Full bikes range from $400 to $4,500. Kits start at $450 and go up to $2,000, and require some assembly skill. But they give you more freedom in picking a bike and battery pack that fit your needs.

Which Battery? There are four types of batteries for electric bikes, ranging from the low-end sealed lead acid to the high-end lithium ion, with the NiCD and NiMH in between. The more you spend, the lighter and longer-lasting the battery will be. Battery capacity (measured in “watt hours”), determines the range of the bike between charges.

How Much Power? The power of electric bike motors is measured in watts, ranging from 250 to 750. Anything between 350 and 450 is enough for most riders to reach a good speed and have no problems getting up hills.

How Expensive? This depends on your answers to the questions above. No matter what price range you’re looking at, make sure the manufacturer has been around for a while and check out some reviews online (do a search for “reviews of electric bikes”).

—Noah Grant

This article is part of the YES! But how? column. To read more, click here.