E-bikes are really cool for many reasons! Let’s explore some of the reasons why.
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E-bikes are Really Fun to Ride
Think e-bikes are only for seniors? Think again. E-bikes are seriously fun and easy to ride. imagine getting a huge boost to speed when taking off from a red light, when you’re starting up a steep hill, pedalling into a strong headwind. Most bikes are pedal assist, meaning they operate when you’re actively using the pedals. That means you get extra power when you need it. Many e-bikes provide up to 250 watts of power – that is a serious boost! More power is always cool!
Since you have all this power on tap, you don’t have to feel intimidated by longer, more difficult bike rides. This means you can commute to the office without being completely sweaty at the end of the journey! In most situations on the road, it’s really fun to zip along without much effort. unlike e-scooters, you still get some exercise, and many bikes allow you to adjust the amount of power from a small push, to a huge boost. E-bikes are also naturally much more stable than e-scooters, which can be dangerous as your two feet are together on a narrow board, in an unnatural position, all while balancing yourself with the handlebars. Contrast that to an e-bike, where you have much more balance – there is no comparison.
E-bikes come in many forms – E-Mountain Bikes, Folding E-Bikes, City E-Bikes and Commuter E-Bikes
E-bikes come in many many forms. There are high-end e-mountain bikes to get you up rough trails, there are racer bikes to zip along on flat ground at high speed, there are more casual commuter bikes for regular riders, there are even folding bikes for those with small cars, or who wish to use it on public transport. There is such an array of e-bikes available, you are sure to find one to suit your tastes and needs. There are sleek high-end manufacturers who produce e-bikes that cost as much as cars. There are even three wheeled e-bikes that come in many different forms.
E-bikes are available to suit every budget
E-bikes are available at a wide range of prices. Most low to mid-range e-bikes start from approximately $1,500, anywhere up to to $5,000 or more. How much you spend on your e-bike depends on how often you think you will need it, and for what purpose. Many mountain bikes are generally more expensive, as they are built to take on more rugged terrain. With such a wide array of bytes available, you are sure to find a bike that suits your budget. Even though e-bikes cost more than regular bikes, if you use it to replace public transport, or going to the gym, you will find it quite cost-effective. I find that an e-bike encourages me to write more which means that I get more value from my money.
E-bike riders get more exercise than regular bike riders
Did you know that studies show that e-bike riders typically get more exercise than regular bike riders? This because the electric speed boost encourages you to cycle further and more regularly!
E-bikes are very environmentally friendly
E-bikes are very environmentally friendly – more friendly than most forms of public transport, more friendly than electric vehicles and potentially even more friendly than regular cycling! The reason for this is that electric motors are more efficient at converting energy into forward momentum than your body. Also, since the batteries are relatively small compared to electric cars, they do not require as much electricity to charge up. This means if you are using an electric vehicle for one person and swap it out with an electric bike, your environmental impact is reduced.
An overlooked form of pollution which electric vehicles share with regular cars is brake pad dust, which gets added to the environment regardless of the type of car you drive. With an e-bike, this is also reduced since the brakes are much smaller and vehicle weight is much less.
E-bikes are cost effective to buy and to own
E-bikes are more expensive to purchase than regular bikes. The reason for this of course is the extra components, such as batteries, controllers, motors, and other accessories. The brakes on an e-bike are normally heavy-duty disc brakes, to compensate for the higher speeds and heavier weight of the bike.
However, despite the extra upfront cost of an e-bike, many low to mid-tier e-bikes are not that more expensive than their regular cousins. If you replace your regular commute with an e-bike, it can actually prove to be much more cost-effective over 1 or 2 years of commuting.
E-bikes are relatively cheap to own, your main costs are regular maintenance like a regular bike, such as replacing the brake pads and tires. There is an extra cost to charge up the battery, but if you charge in your workplace it can be free! Overall, the cost of charging a bike is minimal, so it’s not really worth considering. If you replace a car for example, you will immediately save money compared to the cost of fuel.
In my experience biking in a city, there is often glass on the pavement and cycle paths from smashed bottles. Therefore it is worth investing in puncture-resistant tires, which have an additional strip of hard, yet flexible plastic in the inner tire which is resistant to glass and other sharp objects poking through. Since the cost of labor and tires can be quite expensive in some cities, it’s worth upgrading to puncture-resistant tyres. The first time you drive over a bunch of glass on a crowded city path you will be grateful for the investment! Investing in puncture-resistant tires will lower your cost of ownership over time.
E-bikes can be repaired by yourself
Being able to conduct basic maintenance on an e-bike is fantastic! If you compare this with a car, it’s obviously much easier to repair a bike. This means your cost of ownership is much lower than with a car. If you are unsure of how to conduct a basic repair, very often your query is no more than a Google or YouTube search away. It’s true that replacing a tire on an e-bike is more complicated than on a regular bike, but with practice, this is also a challenge that you can overcome. Basic maintenance such as oiling the chain, or changing the brake pads are virtually identical to a regular bike.
Charging up an e-bike is cheap, or free if you do it in the office
It’s always cool to have a form of exercise that doesn’t cost the earth! Charging an e-bike is such a low cost for most people, you will not notice the impact on your electricity bill. If you bring your e-bike charger to work, and you have a detachable battery on your bike, you can simply bring your battery up to your workplace and charge it there. That’s pretty cool!
E-bikes encourage you to use them in situations you normally wouldn’t
If you’re like me, you have no motivation for anything in the morning. in which case wouldn’t it be great to have an extra reason to get some fresh air and exercise? E-bikes provide an extra reason to quickly and easily get some exercise in the morning.
If you have ever suffered from a knee hip or other leg injury, e-bikes are a great way to get low impact exercise. This means you don’t need to worry about hurting or straining your muscles or joints. If you’re an older person, or someone who is intimidated about getting exercise, an e-bike is a great way to fit some exercise into your routine without being intimidated.
It takes traffic off the road
The more people who take a bike to work, the less cars are on the road. Traffic congestion is a major source of stress from many people, it’s a huge waste of time, and it actually costs our global economy billions every year through lost productivity. Sitting in traffic fumes, stressing out over red lights and rude drivers is also terrible for your mental and physical health. Enter e-bikes. What could be better than getting fresh air and exercise while also helping the environment?
Less stress in the morning
Related to the previous point, getting exercise is a natural stress buster. Since you are replacing a stressful commute with biking, it’s a double win!
Easier parking
Estimates show that up to 20 bikes can be parked in the same space as one car. This means our workplaces and cities can easily accommodate many many bikes in a fraction of the space needed for cars. This also means that you can always find a free spot for your bike, even in places where official bike parking is not available. You simply need to find a secure pole or other object to padlock your bike to, and as long as it’s not blocking anything, you’re good to go. Of course, this means you also never really have to stress about parking.
E-Bikes enable socially distant commuting and exercise
Cycling on an e-bike provides an obvious way to get exercise, while maintaining socially distant from others. Additionally, for commuting, it’s a safer alternative to public transport- since you do not have to touch door handles, walk through hallways in train or bus stations, and stand in close proximity indoors to other people for extended periods of time.
So there you have it! I hope you enjoyed this list of reasons why e-bikes are very cool.
Happy cycling!
