Are Electric Bikes Any Good?
Are Electric Bikes Any Good?
Electric bikes of all kinds are becoming more popular by the day. You might at a point where the advantages are starting to become clear to you, but are not sure if you should take the plunge. In this post, I will answer the question of are electric bikes any good? The short answer is, YES, but I will go into all the reasons why.
Ignore The Haters
First, I just want to address the hate electric bikes get from non-electric bike riders. Electric bikes often get a lot of stick from people saying that electric bike riders are cheating, are not doing it properly or are lazy. If you want an electric bike, ignore these comments. It is your bike and your ride, not theirs. Everyone has their own specific requirements from their bike if it is electric or not. If an electric bike suits your needs best, buy one.
Electric Bikes Give You Access
An electric bike gives you access to places you wouldn’t usually be able or have time to get to. Electric mountain bikes provide you with access to new and exciting terrain that you may not be able to get to on a traditional mountain bike. Electric mountain bikes also allow you to ride for longer.
A great example of this is when I rode at Coed y Brenin in North Wales a couple of years ago. There were a group of older guys riding electric mountain bikes. We rode “The Beast” trail, but these guys managed to ride it twice in the same time it took us to ride it once. They then rode back up to do the fun downhill section again to finish their day off.
We were quite jealous of them, as they got loads more riding in than we did.
But, electric bikes are not just for accessing incredible off-road terrain. They are great for commuting and just getting around town. The most significant advantage of commuting with an electric bike is that you arrive at your destination without being hot and sweaty and needing a shower.
They Close The Gap In Fitness And Ability
If you like to ride in a group, but some people are fitter than others, an electric bike can help the slower riders keep up with the others. I was talking with a guy a couple of weeks ago, and he can still ride with his 78-year-old dad, thanks to an electric mountain bike.
Electric Bikes Are Great For Fitness
Electric bikes allow you to ride for longer; therefore, you get more exercise during your rides. The fact that you can choose how much assistance you want from the motor means that you adjust how much effort you want to put in. If you are not particularly fit, you choose more assistance and reduce it as you get fitter.
Many electric bike riders don’t notice much difference in their heart rates when they take out their electric bikes over their traditional bikes.
They Are Great For Rehabilitation
People that are recovering from an injury, operation, or illness, can benefit from riding an electric bike. Being able to change the level of assistance means you can put in as much effort as you need to as part of your rehabilitation. This is one of the main characteristics of an electric bike that keeps you active and fit, without the fear of overdoing it.
Most electric bikes allow you to reach speeds of 28mph with battery power alone. This means when you are riding, you will be able to get home quickly without pedalling if it becomes too difficult or painful.
Electric Bikes Are Fun
Other than being able to go to different places thanks to the electric motor assistance, electric bikes are super fun to ride. The way they seamlessly magnify your pedalling effort is pretty addictive. They are also pretty quick, depending on how hard you pedal and what level of assistance you choose.
When it comes to electric mountain bikes, you would be surprised how entertaining they are on the downhill sections. They have a low centre of gravity, thanks to the location of the motor, which keeps them nice and stable.
Are Electric Bikes Any Good? – Answered!
So there you have it, electric bikes are great. In fact, I think they are the future of cycling. When you think about the fact that we have an ageing population, travelling is getting more expensive, and people are generally keeping away from public transport, it is easy to see that electric bikes are here to stay.
If you are interested in learning more about electric bikes, especially electric mountain bikes, keep up to date by checking out all my electric mountain bike content here.
