08/19/2021
People ask "why e-bikes?". There are a lot of reasons - one being that they are just plain fun. E-bikes also help life long cyclists carry on as they age. The following comment from a lifelong 75 year old cyclist-
" The ebike is a partner with my analog bike.
I will tell you that there are many people who are avid riders of analog bikes who for one reason or another will acquire an e bike. I started thinking about it over a year ago (I am 75). Like anyone my age no amount of training no matter how directed or scientific will overcome the natural course of aging even for someone who is in great health. For me it is about staying active and in the game. I found myself avoiding many of my favored routes mainly due to climbs that I could no longer do without grinding down to 5 mph and low RPM. What the E bike has given me is the option to ride those routes but still get a good workout within my physical potential. I do not think I am unique. The E bike adds a tool in the mix that allows me to increase my weekly distance at an aerobic effort that has a training effect but does not trash me. I can ride the day after a hard "analog" ride and use the e bike ride as an L*D (long slow distance) recovery ride that adds to my fitness but helps me recover from a previous hard effort. We call this active recovery. I can also do higher intensity interval training on an E bike. I think the E bike may make me faster than I was when I only rode an analog bike. I was riding with some friends the day after I had done 25 miles on my e bike and i was getting comments that I was faster than they had noticed before. As I said I am not unique among older riders and I think you will see more and more of us on e bikes at least for some of our rides."
