E-bike time: Hills aren't getting any easier!
By
Rosemary Hollinger
Posted: 2020-09-03T20:48:00Z
Are you wondering about buying an e-bike? Can it offer you a good workout? Are they hard to use? What if the battery runs out of power? Those are all good questions. I had them, too, before I took the plunge.
I finally broke down and bought an e-bike because the long steep hills here on Washington's Bainbridge Island were less and less fun for me so I just wasn’t riding much. Walking my bike uphill took a lot of the fun out of riding. But now I'm the proud owner of a Specialized Vado, not the biggest or most powerful e-bike from Specialized.
After all, I still wanted to get exercise riding it. I opted for this model because I could get it repaired on the island and one should not underestimate the convenience of a good repair shop these days.
Before I handed over my credit card, the shop allowed me to test ride the bike. I climbed a couple typical hills to see if I could master the power assist, yet still get a good workout based on heart rate - beats per minute (BPM) - as measured on my watch. The power assist was a snap. I found it couldn’t be much easier for me to use. I only use it on long and/or steep hills. All it takes to turn it on is pressing the on button. The "+" button engages the assist and increases the power; the "–" button disengages it or decreases the power. Piece of cake!
According to my watch, my e-bike outings find me still topping out at 168 BPM, which at my age is great. I can feel my legs getting stronger because I actually rely on the assist less and less on the hills. At the same time, I’m riding more often, tackling more challenging terrain and traveling further. Based on my use, I get 80+ miles before needing a charge, although I usually recharge after about 75 miles. A computer on the e-bike indicates charge level, and recharging is easy to do.
Would I recommend buying an e-bike? Yes, recreational bikers wanting to extend their range beyond the flatlands will find it helpful. In addition, e-bikes make it easy for people who enjoy cycling, like my husband, but who've had to give it up due to injuries over the years. E-bikes are a great way to resume the sport relatively painlessly.
As for me, now I’m venturing out every couple of days on my Vado exploring this beautiful island. Bainbridge Island is a great place for a cycling weekend, and the Chilly Hilly Ride in February is a popular annual event on the island. I hope by then I can keep up with the pack.
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