EBike Anyone?
Our EBike adventure started on a tour of Historic Asheville on EBikes. The intro to EBikes convinced us that we needed to add the new technology to our riding.
My wife's pace on her 12 year old bike was substantially slower than mine. She avoided hills and rode about 70 miles per week. I was frustrated by the slow speed but I viewed the three family ride days as recovery days. With the Ebike there are no slower recovery days. Every day is a full on race day.
Once we purchased her new EBike her weekly distance increased to about 130 miles and her average speed is now is around 18 MPH. The Ebike eliminated pain in her hands, shoulders and feet. She now has become my pace maker. I struggle to keep up especially on climbs. The new Ebike is fast, comfortable and makes our rides more enjoyable. My average heart rate on family rides is up about 25%. Her average heart rate is down about 20% but since her mileage is up so dramatically her calories burned has gone up.
For us, the Ebike was the perfect solution. She can go about 60 miles on a charge and we can hit 27 MPH on the flats. The three levels of assist mean that she can easily do climbs and also have no trouble with the wind.
People who have never ridden an Ebike may not understand the technology. The motor is an assist in pedaling not a replacement for pedaling. If you do not pedal you do not move.
We bought her EBike from our local shop so we can feel comfortable with service. So far the bike has worked flawlessly. Disk brakes, rapid fire shifters, comfortable grips and upright riding on bigger and softer tires make our EBike the perfect bike for us.
If you have any questions about our family's EBike experience email me at taxfirmone@gmail.com.
Cliff Gionet