With plenty of clean fresh air and stunning scenery, Bermuda could very well be one of the best places in the world to commute to and from work on a pedal bike.

That ideal is somewhat tempered by the hills, heat and humidity, the last two especially a factor in the long summer months.

However, now there is a way to get to work and back on a bicycle without becoming a sweaty mess — and enjoy the experience. It doesn’t come cheap, but then again the Specialized Turbo e-bike is no ordinary bike.

Bicycle Works, on Tumkins Lane, Pembroke, is selling the latest word in electric bikes direct from the US, and reports the arrival of the Turbo is causing a buzz among cyclists on the Island.

It looks like a mountain bike, but looks are definitely deceptive. Tucked away in the frame is a battery that can give a little extra umph — or a lot if you feel the need.

How much umph? About 30 miles per hour and you’re not even breaking sweat.

The bike can be ridden as a normal cycle with no electric motor assist, or it can give varying degrees of assist providing the pedals are being used.

There is a crucial distinction here, the Turbo is not an electric bike that you can switch on and let it do all the work. For the Turbo to give back, the rider has to be turning the pedals. As soon as the bike’s sensors pick up pedal output the electrical motor assist kicks in. Because it is an electrical assist bike, rather than an electric bike that can be throttled without pedalling, the Turbo is legally allowed a higher speed capacity (around 30mph) in the US. That performance is plenty for Bermuda’s roads too.

“The possibility is there if you want to commute and don’t want to get sweaty,” said Grant Goudge, manager of Bicycle Works. The shop recently sold one of the bikes to a customer in Tucker’s Town who commutes on it to and from work in Hamilton.

Mr Goudge said some people might use it as a straightforward bike and switch on the power assist when they are tired. For a bit of fun he rode the bike with a training group from Dockyard to Hamilton and eased his way to the front with minimum effort. “I could easily have left the group,” he said, but riding into a strong headwind he opted to act as a windbreaker for the pack.

The Turbo’s battery can be recharged either on or off the bike, with a full charge taking around three hours. On a single charge it has a range of between 20 and 30 miles, depending on what percentage of assist you select. The turbo setting gives 100 percent assist from the motor, while the eco settings give assists ranging from 10 to 90 percent. There is also a coast mode where the bike functions as a straightforward bicycle, albeit a slightly heavy one as it weighs 50 pounds.

The bike comes with a home charger and a travel charger, which could be left at work to ensure the bike has juice for the homebound journey.

On a test ride along some of Pembroke’s roads, including the testing hill of Rosemont Avenue, the Turbo lived up to its promise, propelling this reporter up and down the hill at a constant 20mph without needing to break a sweat — even on a sunny day.

“It rides like a bicycle. The wheels come off just like a bicycle,” said Mr Goudge.

Interest in the bike has spread beyond the cycling world, with reviews appearing in general lifestyle and electronic consumer publications.

Mr Goudge believes Bermuda’s small size, and its generally kind climate, make the Turbo a viable option as an alternative to a car or scooter for someone who wants to get to and from work, or simply enjoy riding around the Island with a little less effort.

The Turbo sells for $6,400.