Recently I added an E-Bike to my inventory of bicycles. Now up to 6 (remember, N+1 really does work). So I got to thinking about the “E” in E-Bike:
Electric.
Easy.
Energizing.
Entertaining.
Emasculating.
Wait…what?
That last one probably came from my cycling friends that think that e-bikes are either motorbikes in disguise or not a ”proper” bicycle if it is not entirely human muscle powered.
Ok, guys, step away from the blade, your masculinity is not at risk (and for my female rider friends who have a similar protest—your power is not being taken away).
The fact is if you don’t have some kind of pedal-assist bicycle in your collection, you are not really embracing cycling as a whole. Just like tools in a shop, using the right bike for the right application or with the right rider is different in every situation.
This post is not intended as some technical treatise on e-bikes. Rather this is about how you can integrate one into your mix of bikes and have it be both useful and—wait for it—fun.
This isn’t about pelotons, riding on each other’s wheel or riding in a paceline. This is about utility, enjoying the ride and opening your eyes.
A typical riding day for me is a series (usually 3) of rides that I call “T or D” rides. Standing for “Time or Distance,” I try and keep them to 30 minutes and whatever this distance falls. In most cases this is 4 to 6 miles. I alternate the rides between the E-bike, my single-speed and the hybrid. That gives me a mix of skills and is what sets up my mental and physical challenges for the day. For the most part, these are solo rides.
The e-bike came into the stable as an alternative to the hybrid and as a potential bike packing bike. My friend, Jody, and I had used e-bikes on our San Juan Islands trip and enjoyed them. That really clinched the need (and want for one.
So. Before you give in to the pressure of the e-bike haters, go test ride one. It’s your next bike.
Relentless
