Many of the benefits of electric bikes seem apparent and focus on just making cycling easier. Still, some of the most significant advantages appeared only after I’d had an e-bike for a few weeks. As such, here are a few things that I found.
5 Things I've learned about eBikes
- I can wear what I want to
- I can take what I want with me
- I can choose better routes
- E-bikes can be ridden for fitness
- I ride more often
I can wear what I want to
There’s no more sliding around in super rigid clippy shoes. I can walk into a cafe without people craning their necks to see who’s clip-clopping to the counter for a brownie, hanging onto the furniture just to stay upright.
It’s not just shoes; stretchy trousers, regular shorts, and cotton t-shirts are all back, and with this, the spontaneity to simply get on the bike and ride.
A lot of the pleasure in bike riding is the sense of freedom, so when I have to spend half an hour before I can leave, folding myself into unflattering lycra and strapping on shoes, this quickly diminishes. Now I have an e-bike, I can just put on a helmet and go.
I still expected to use all these things when I started using an electric bike. However, I was so much less concerned about wind resistance and maximum efficiency that I found I could enjoy more appealing aspects of cycling.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t be prepared and wear the right gear. I sometimes use waterproofs and clipless pedals, but I’m not bound to the lycra god on an e-bike. I can choose comfortable gear that I enjoy wearing.
This opens cycling up to a much wider audience. Cycling in the UK has narrowed in its demographic in more recent decades, and it’s a tremendous positive if electric bikes get more people out enjoying bikes.
2. I can take whatever I want with me
Panniers, big locks, huge lunches, a pump that can fill an inner tube in under a day, all of these things can now come with me on rides. The days of a gel for lunch and not stopping at cafes for fear of having the bike stolen are no more. Moreover, I can pack for unpredictable weather with an extra layer or a waterproof rather than winging it and hoping to be lucky.
I donât fret that I’ve got a little extra weight to carry up the hills as I’ve got some assistance.
There’s a lot of enjoyment in pulling out a Jet Boil and brewing a hot drink out in the wilds, or having a proper lunch sat by a river, and I can do this on an e-bike that accommodates a rack and/or panniers.
Riese and Muller bikes have an incredible number of racks and cargo options with this in mind.
3. I can choose better routes
Most cyclists have, at some point, ended up on an ‘A’ road, wishing they weren’t there, with traffic speeding past at 60mph, allowing little more than a foot to pass. Whether it’s because they hit a wall of tiredness or planned a route that was getting too long, or they just needed to get home. With an e-bike, this isn’t a factor, I can choose the quietest roads with the most significant hills.
For a commute, this is also a big draw, a few extra miles on a commute can be off-putting when you’re doing it twice a day under time pressure, but an electric bike allows that flexibility to get on the most enjoyable roads meaning you’re less likely to choose the car.
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E-bikes are amazing for exploring, and even if you’ve ridden, run or walked an area for years, you’ll find new places with the freedom they offer.
4. E-bikes can be ridden for fitness
Electric bikes can be ridden however I choose to ride them. If I’m commuting and I need to get to work without getting in a sweat then I’m more likely to put the assistance to turbo and just get there.
However, sometimes I go out, set the bike to eco and see how much of the ride I can spend above 15.5 mph, so not using the assistance. It’s great for my fitness, and I’m constantly pushing myself, attacking the hills and playing a game to see how little battery I can use.
It’s up to you, the rider, to decide how you enjoy an e-bike, which can change every time you get on the bike. Have a read of our blog about e-bikes and fitness to find out more >>
5. I ride more often
On a summer’s evening, I can go out for an hour on my e-bike; there’s just less pfaff and more ride. For me, this is versus a 4-hour ride every couple of weeks as that’s all I can manage when I go for the full lycra-clad road fitness-improving experience.
For me, this is a win. I can still plan and do these big excursions, but I can also do much more ad-hoc, fun riding with an e-bike.
There’s many more things I’ve come to learn about how e-bikes are brilliant for everyone, nobody is too young for an e-bike and anyone can enjoy the benefits of one.Â
If you want to experience these first hand, come and see us at our showrooms in Nailsworth or Bristol and we’ll get you out on a bike to experience the joys of electric bikes for yourself. Just give us a call to book an appointment.