I Just Rode an E-bike for the first time

My life has been changed.

Yesterday, I walked the trail around the lake at the Walnut Creek Recreational Park, which is just over 3 miles around. It took me just over 50 minutes to complete a route that is supposed to take about an hour. I do walk faster than most.

This park has some publicly shared e-bikes available. Today, I decided to test one out on what would be my first ride on an electric bike. I completed the trip around in about 15 minutes, averaging about 12 mph.

These bikes have no throttle, just three petal assist settings. I found myself in third gear most of the time. I’m certainly out of bike shape, so I was still feeling it in my knees and hamstrings, but never once did I have to stand up to push up a hill. The bike just took care of it.

For years, I’ve thought about getting an e-bike, to the point it’s been on my Christmas wishlist for the past couple of years. I’ve always considered cost a factor, but in looking at the new Radrunner lineup from Rad Power Bikes, the monthly cost of financing at around $90/mo breaks down to about $3 per day. I’m fairly certain I can find $3 every day, and this is before considering savings on gas.

Then there’s how I felt on the bike today. I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy doing something. Riding an e-bike is so freaking fun! I’ve heard about the mental health benefits of bike commuting, but my last memory was about a decade ago biking into a fierce headwind in 100°F July heat. That’s not fun. Taking the work out of biking makes it fun. I also didn’t break a sweat, which I surely would have on a manual bike, even at 55°F like it is this morning.

If you’ve never ridden an e-bike before, find a bike share that has them and try it out. It’s probably the worst experience you’d have on one, which means anything you own would be that much better. I’m 46 and out of shape and I was able to just get going. That’s probably the biggest selling point for me along with me thinking about all the small car trips I’d cancel out just picking up groceries or whatever.

If you have any advice, feel free to shoot me an email or leave a comment. I’d also love to hear from other riders of your general experiences.