RasterWeb!

Happy Bike Day! You may have read about some of my recent ebike adventures, including riding to work. Well, even though Matt was in no hurry to have me return his ebike I decided to get my own.

I think it was the most recent Scrappy Hour bike ride that pushed me over the edge. It was 7 miles out, a break, then 7 miles back. I can ride that far, but with the hills, and my knee, it wasn’t easy. I’m also the one dragging on the way back. The group back was four of us and I felt like I was holding the others back a bit. I was huffing and puffing and they were fine. To be fair, I’m 98% sure I am the oldest person at Scrappy Hour, and the guys I ride with are 15 or more years younger than I am. (At least one said “I love going up hills!”)

So anyway, yeah. I still have the old Trek which is working really good now and I still want to ride it sometimes. I think. I mean, that’s the plan. I can always use it on the indoor trainer in the winter/spring when it’s cold and wet outside.

As I mentioned, Dana asked if I wanted a new bike. One of the reasons I was hesitant is because I am old. I had this vision of getting a new bike, then having my knee, or hip, or some other thing end my bike riding. But here’s the thing. I learned that people in their 60s and 70s are getting ebikes and riding every day, for long distances, and loving it! Some 72 year old dude was like “I got two knees replaced, I haven’t ridden in 30 years, now I ride every day!” and hearing that kind of testimonial made me realized that as an old(er) person, and ebike might be just what I need.

On the acoustic Trek bike I can typically do an hour long ride, and it’s about 12 miles, but I’m kind of spent after that, and tired, tired, tired. But with a pedal assist ebike I can ride longer, ride farther, and not end up totally exhausted. Hills? Wind? They don’t matter. The hills are the number one thing people mention. Another guy said he lives at the top of this huge hill in Pittsburgh and hated riding his bike because he would have to walk it up the giant hill when he got home. Now? Zip Zip! Motor assist up the hill. It really is a game changer.

When my neighbor who rides road bikes asked if an ebike is “cheating” I said “The only one being cheated is the automotive industry, because I can bike to work now.” and guess what? Since you can ride longer and farther, you can actually get more exercise on an ebike. I have the choice of an easy cruise to and from work, or more of a workout doing some heavy pedaling. Having that choice is amazing!

I’d say “long story short” but it’s too late for that. I got an Aventon Level 3 Commuter ebike. I plan to ride to work and ride for fun. This may be the first bike I ever bought for myself. The Trek I have was a gift from Dana, and the bikes I had as a kid were either gifts from my parents, or I built bikes out of random (s)crap we’d find and then buy parts to fill in the gaps. And then there was the dumpster bike I put together. So yeah, this is most likely the first fully working new-in-store bike I’ve ever bought for myself… And it feels good.