Reasons to buy an ebike. Are E-Bikes a Form of Cheating?
What exactly is an electric bike?
At its most basic, an electric bike is a regular bicycle retrofitted with a motor that delivers a boost, often known as pedal assist. Consider it ordinary cycling with a power-up, similar to a video game. When attempting to overcome rough terrain, move things, or travel long distances, that extra electric push may be quite beneficial.
Electric bikes are not new, but their popularity has grown in the last decade as technology has advanced and customers have become more open to practical, car-free urban transit choices. According to NPD Group analysis, electric bike sales increased eightfold between 2014 and 2018, although they remain a fragment of the $5.9 billion U.S. bike industry.
E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s easy to understand why: who wouldn’t want some extra speed to take the sting out of any ride?
Still need some persuasion? Here are a few more reasons to jump on the e-bike bandwagon…
7 REASONS TO OWN AN ELECTRIC BIKE
1. They’re more secure than normal motorcycles.
The majority of bike accidents on the road occur at intersections such as crosswalks or roundabouts. This is frequently due to the fact that it takes a few crucial seconds for a stalled cyclist to gain pace.
Having that small motor to assist you in accelerating will get you out of the danger zone faster. For the same reason, you’re less inclined to run a red light since you won’t be as irritated about having to give up all that good momentum.
You’ll be more likely to slow down for curves and turns, too, because you can utilize the bike’s power to sprint out the other side.
Finally, because you’ll be able to keep up with the flow of traffic more easily, fewer automobiles, buses, and trucks will need to overtake you, which equals safer riding.
2. They are excellent for coping with slopes.
When it comes to conquering hills, e-bikes truly shine. If your bike’s motor is equipped with a range of power settings to help your pedaling, you can just crank it up to its maximum setting and, despite the added weight of the engine, sail uphill like some sort of cycling superman!
One of the reasons e-bikes are becoming more popular among mountain bikers is that they allow riders to spend more time handling the downhills rather than conquering the climbs.
3. They will assist you in exploring the globe.
E-bikes are also excellent touring bikes. Larger tyres are typical, and many feature eyelets to accommodate panniers and racks.
This implies that riding long distances will not only be more pleasant, but also more manageable, because the engine may be called upon again when the weight of your camping gear causes your legs to want to stop.
4. They’re simply a lot of fun to ride.
Yes, riding an e-bike is identical to riding a traditional bike, but as you engage the motor, you’ll notice that depending on the setting, you’ll get three, four, five, or even as many as ten pedal strokes more for your money.
5. They are ideal for commuting.
One of the main reason to buy an ebike is for commuting. They will not only save you money, but they will also rescue you from the agony of stuck traffic or overloaded trains and buses.
Even though you’re effectively a motorized vehicle, you don’t need a license to utilize the bicycle lanes.
And because you can lean a bit on that motor, you won’t break a sweat and arrive at work ponging like a sports sock. A long drive home after a long day’s work will also seem less scary!
6. They can assist you in staying fit.
Because you’re riding more, you’ll be pedaling more, even if the electric motor assists you on occasion.
This is wonderful news for your heart, lungs, and blood pressure because several scientific studies have demonstrated the relationship between regular exercise and lower stress levels.
E-bikes are also fantastic for those who want to ride a bike but don’t think they can since their fitness isn’t what it could be or isn’t what it used to be owing to age or disease.
7. They will enable you to travel further, faster, and for a longer period of time.
Of course, electric bicycles provide many of the same benefits as traditional riding, but because they have more power, you’ll be able to travel farther and ride for longer.
They’ll also allow you to move quicker than most bicycles and, in certain situations, autos. Although modern automobiles may move 50 times faster than cars from 100 years ago, gridlocked roads mean that the average car speed in traffic has not changed at all.
On an e-bike, you can reach speeds of up to 15mph fairly rapidly, but the average speed of automobiles in downtown London is 7.4mph!
8. They encourage you to ride more.
According to a recent Transport Research Laboratory survey, conventional bikes are ridden less than 25 times each year, with 46% being utilized only once or twice a week.
In comparison, 30% of electric bike owners ride them once a day, while 81% ride them at least once a week. That is, e-bike users are twice as likely as ordinary riders to get out and ride.
Are E-Bikes a Form of Cheating?
Purists will yell at electric bike riders as they pass by in their branded apparel, “Cheater!”
However, this viewpoint is based on ignorance of e-bike technology rather than an educated grasp of how they function. Traditional bike users, particularly expert mountain bikers, are increasingly understanding the immense benefits of e bikes. They’re healthier and more enjoyable. How is that considered cheating?