Privacy Policy
A Word Before We Start
We're two people who started riding eBikes. We're not a tech company. We're not trying to build an ad-tracking empire. We're not selling your data to the highest bidder.
We collect minimal information. We use it only to serve you better. We're transparent about what we do. And we hate privacy policies that sound like they were written by robots.
So here's our actual promise: We'll treat your data the way we'd want ours treated.
(Yes, this is still a legal document. Yes, it covers what you need to know. But we've tried to write it like humans talking to humans.)
The Quick Version
- ✓ What we collect: Email, name, maybe your interests. That's it.
- ✓ Why we collect it: To send you content you asked for. To remember you. To improve our site.
- ✓ Who has your data: Us, our hosting provider (Ghost), and payment processor (Stripe). No one else.
- ✓ What we do NOT do: Sell your data. Track you across the web. Sell ads. Use dark patterns.
- ✓ Your rights: Delete your account, access your data, opt-out anytime. Ask us and we'll help.
1. Who We Are
West Linn eBike Adventure ("WLEA") is run by Carlos and Paige. We're real people, not a corporation. We test eBikes, document our journey, build community, and create honest content about riding after 50.
Our website: ebike-reviews.com
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use our site, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data. It applies to:
- Our website (ebike-reviews.com)
- Our email newsletters
- Our community platform and group rides
- Any service we create that asks for your information
2. What Information We Collect (And Why)
Newsletter Signup
When you sign up for our weekly email updates, we ask for:
- Email address (so we can send you things)
- First name (optional—so we can say "hey" instead of "hey person")
- Your interests (which topics you care about—helps us not spam you with irrelevant content)
The real reason: We want to send you stuff you actually want to read. When you tell us you're interested in "step-through bikes," we can avoid burying you in "dual-motor performance" content.
Free or Paid Membership
If you create an account (to access member-only content or join our community), we collect:
- Email address (for login and password recovery)
- Password (encrypted and hashed—we can't even see it)
- Name (so your profile says "Paige" not "User12345")
- Profile picture (optional—helps community members recognize you)
- Billing information (for paid members—but Stripe handles this, not us)
The real reason: We need to know who you are so you can access your content, participate in community, and receive content you've paid for. We don't store your credit card. Stripe does. We only know "Payment processed for [your email]."
How You Use Our Site
We use analytics tools to understand which content resonates:
- Pages you visit (which eBike reviews interest you?)
- Time on page (are you reading or skimming?)
- Click-through rate (which links do you click?)
- Geographic location (are you in West Linn or reading from Tokyo?)
The real reason: We want to make better content. If nobody reads our "winter battery testing" article but 10,000 people watch our "comfort modifications" video, we know what matters to you.
Group Rides & Community
When you join a group ride, we collect:
- Name and contact info (emergency contact in case something happens)
- Health considerations (arthritis, diabetes, mobility issues—you tell us what matters for planning safe rides)
- Preferred ride difficulty (easy, moderate, challenging—so we can suggest the right ride for you)
The real reason: We're building community. We need to know how to help you feel safe and supported. If you mention arthritis, we don't gossip about it—we make sure we suggest routes that won't aggravate it.
What We Do NOT Collect
- Your full credit card number (Stripe handles that)
- Your browsing history on other websites
- Your location data in real-time
- Your social media information
- Personal health records (just what you choose to share)
- Phone number (unless you give it to us)
3. How We Use Your Information
Email & Newsletter
- Send you weekly updates (if you subscribed)
- Notify you about new eBike reviews or group rides
- Respond to your questions
- Measure if emails are being opened (helps us know if our subject lines are interesting)
Membership & Account Management
- Let you log in and access your account
- Show you member-only content
- Process payments (through Stripe)
- Send password resets
- Notify you about platform updates
Improving Our Service
- Understanding which content people engage with
- Finding bugs or performance issues
- Testing new features
- Making the site faster and more accessible
Community Building
- Organizing group rides that match your interests
- Featuring community member stories (with your permission)
- Responding to feedback and questions
What we DON'T do with your data:
- ❌ Sell it to advertisers
- ❌ Share it with data brokers
- ❌ Use it for targeted ads
- ❌ Share it with anyone except our hosting provider (Ghost) and payment processor (Stripe)
- ❌ Send it to third parties without your explicit permission
- ❌ Use it for purposes you didn't consent to
4. Third-Party Services
We use a few third-party services to run our site. Here's what they do with your data:
Ghost (Our Website Host)
What they handle:
- Hosting our website
- Managing our blog content
- Sending newsletters
- Running our membership system
What data they see: Email addresses, newsletter preferences, content you read
Their privacy policy: ghost.org/privacy/
Stripe (Payment Processing)
What they handle:
- Processing subscriptions
- Handling credit card payments
- Issuing refunds
What data they see: Email, name, amount paid. NOT your full credit card number.
Their privacy policy: stripe.com/privacy
5. Cookies & Tracking
What Cookies Do:
- Session cookies – Keep you logged in while browsing
- Preference cookies – Remember your theme choice (dark/light mode)
- Analytics cookies – Track which pages you visit (Google Analytics)
Your Consent:
We use a cookie banner to obtain your explicit consent before tracking with Google Analytics. You can withdraw consent anytime by clearing your browser cookies.
6. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR Compliance)
For users in the EU/UK, we process your data under these legal bases:
| Data Type | Legal Basis | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter email | Consent | Sending marketing emails |
| Membership info | Contract | Delivering member-only content & billing |
| Analytics data | Consent (via banner) | Improving site performance |
7. Your Rights
GDPR Rights (EU/UK Users)
You have the right to:
- Access – Request a copy of all data we hold about you
- Correction – Update inaccurate or incomplete information
- Deletion ("right to be forgotten") – Request removal of your data
- Portability – Download your data in a portable format
To exercise these rights, email: privacy@westlinnebike.com with "GDPR Request" in the subject line.
8. Data Retention
We don't keep data forever. Here's our retention policy:
- Newsletter subscribers: We keep your email until you unsubscribe. Then we delete it within 30 days.
- Active members: We keep account data as long as you have an account. Delete your account, and it's gone within 30 days.
- Analytics data: Google Analytics keeps it for 14 months. We don't have direct access to delete it, but it auto-expires.
- Payment records: Stripe keeps these for 7 years (legal requirement for tax purposes). We don't touch them.
9. Data Security
Your data is valuable. We protect it like we'd protect our own.
- 🔒 Encryption – Your passwords are hashed (one-way encryption). Even we can't see them. All data in transit uses HTTPS.
- 🔐 Access Control – Only Carlos and Paige can access your data. No third parties. No contractors.
- 🛡️ Regular Backups – Ghost CMS automatically backs up our database. If something goes wrong, we can recover.
- ⚠️ Breach Notification – If a breach ever happens, we'll tell you within 72 hours.
- 📋 No Selling – We don't sell your data. We've turned down offers. We never will.
10. Children's Privacy
Our site is for adults (specifically, people 50+). We don't knowingly collect data from children under 13.
If we discover we accidentally collected data from a child, we'll delete it immediately.
Parents: If your child gave us their email, contact us and we'll remove it.
Email: privacy@westlinnebike.com
11. California & US Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you're in California, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to Know – You can ask what personal information we collect, use, and share about you.
- Right to Delete – You can ask us to delete information we've collected from you (with some exceptions).
- Right to Opt-Out – You can opt out of the "sale" of your personal information (we don't do this anyway).
- Right to Non-Discrimination – We won't discriminate against you for exercising these rights.
How to submit a CCPA request:
Email privacy@westlinnebike.com with "CCPA Request" in the subject line. Include your full name and email address. We'll verify your identity and respond within 45 days.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We might update this policy if our practices change. We'll notify you if anything important changes:
- We'll email subscribers about major changes
- We'll post a notice on our homepage
- We'll update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
If you don't like the changes, you can delete your account. Otherwise, continuing to use WLEA means you accept the new terms.
Questions? Let's Talk
This privacy policy might have raised questions. Good. Privacy should make sense, not confuse you.
Privacy & Data Requests:
Email: privacy@westlinnebike.com
(GDPR requests, deletions, access requests, CCPA inquiries—put it here)
General Questions & Feedback:
Email: carlos@westlinnebike.com
(Suggestions for privacy improvements, security concerns, general questions)
Mailing Address:
West Linn eBike Adventure
West Linn, Oregon, USA
We're real people. We respond to real emails. Sometimes Paige handles support while Carlos is testing bikes. But we both care about your privacy.
One More Thing
If you're still reading at this point, you're the kind of person we respect. You care about privacy. You want to know how your data is handled. That's exactly who we're building WLEA for: thoughtful, intentional people who appreciate transparency.
We've tried to make this policy honest and readable because that's who we are. If we've failed at either, let us know.
Trust us. We're riding bikes, not running a surveillance state. 🚴⚡