My E Bike

Why an E bike?

I have had an E bike for a number of years. Really I did not want one, but with a lung issue I was forced to get one to keep riding.

I have always loved bike riding and before I got sick I would ride several hundred kilometers a week for fun. When I got sick riding was a big no. I could ride but the problem was that if I hit a little hill or got caught with a head wind I was in trouble. Then one day I spotted an E bike that I loved. I got in my car and chased the rider down. That afternoon I drove to Medicine Hat and bought one at Cyclepath. They were the only bike shop in southern Alberta that sold E bikes at the time.

E bikes are not cheap!

They are not a cheap investment!! Compared to a regular bike that most people ride they are a huge investment. If you are an avid bike rider and this is your only chance to stay on the road it is worth it. I am not a huge fan on motorcycles so that was not on the list. I really only wanted a bike for around town and maybe a few trips around Lethbridge each year. But after buying the E bike I have found a lot of other uses. At a campground you can use them to run to the office or a nearby grocery store. When visiting a smaller community you can explore the community without a lot of traffic issues or parking problems.

The bike is not as powerful as some people think they are. It can get up to 32kmph on flat ground or a slight incline but on steep hills or really strong winds you still need to pedal.

The bike sits nicely on the back of the White Turtle II. If there is anything I don’t like with the bike on the van is that I cannot fully open the rear doors. It is not a huge deal and I can live with it.

Power

One thing that is a problem with an E bike is the recharge time. It takes a couple hours and depending where I am I would try and find a plug in. This did not work well to just sit around for two hours. Then last week I decided to try using the onboard inverter in the turtle. IT WORKED!!! I can now drive and charge the battery. It opens up a lot of options. Not only do I have the onboard batteries for lights, heat and fridge but with the 110v inverter I can charge all the extra gear I carry.

Should you get an E bike?

If you want to get out and enjoy some riding and you need some extra help I recommend a E bike. You still get a lot of exercise but with an E bike you get help as well. Plus if you do camp and want to explore further distances easily an E bike will allow you to do that.