For planet-saving renewable sustainability, the world is finally turning electric, and we have made the first step toward owning our first electric vehicles—bicycles!
Before you think I’ve become a green energy junkie, I’m far from buying into EV science. I know you can’t swap one form of energy for another and save energy doing it. But a bicycle is a small, reasonable, doable thing. I can justify that kind of switch.
The reasoning is less selfish than demanding to fix the world with EVS.
My legs have grown to dislike hill climbs and stiff headwinds. Margo’s legs say the same thing. We’re not twenty years old anymore. The days of pumping pedals solely for exercise are over. We want to change the pace and enjoy where we ride.
An electric-powered bicycle offers assistance during a ride. The system adds extra energy to human input, providing another 15%, 30%, 60%, or 90% of powered assistance.
We find 30-60% is a comfortable range (the bike is heavier due to its motor and battery. Minimal assistance barely covers the increased weight and drag).
Our bikes have a typical gearing system that allows us to tackle hills, high winds, dense traffic, narrow bridges, bush paths, etc. We find gear #4 a lovely setting on flat, open bike paths. We’ve never used gear #6. (The electric motor won’t handle steep inclinations without human intervention!)
As you may have gleaned from this information, there are now two separate elements to adjust during any electric bike ride (gears and electric input).
Nothing needs altering for a long, flat ride. However, a lower gear and/or higher input may be required when approaching a hill, crossroad, or headwind. The gearing system is on the right handlebar, and the electric is on the left. When the obstacle passes, it’s time to return the settings to normal. It’s not hard to manage, but it’s a new way of thinking about bike riding.
The gear control is a typical gear lever, and the left handlebar’s electric settings are buttons on a small LCD panel. In a nutshell, one side is a bike, and the other is a computer. (Perhaps they’ll become levers in the not-too-distant future, and the two will blend better!)
We chose cruiser-styled bikes for comfort and riding position.
I’ve owned racers and mountain bikes before. Each has had its place, but riding was the main event. These cruisers were chosen for leisure, where seeing scenery is more important. The upright riding position allows us to watch the world as we ride. Our backs are vertical, which means our heads pivot horizontally. It’s not a hill-climbing, headwind-driving position, but the assisted power looks after that part!
Since receiving the bikes, we’ve covered 400 km. We recently took them to Busselton to see a new part of Western Australia. It’s a flat, picturesque part of the world. The tour included turquoise waters, scenic beaches, resort frontages, and sea marinas. After 40 km and a milkshake, we headed to the home base. We, indeed, slept well that night.
These electric bikes have allowed us to exercise and visit places we don’t usually see at a slower pace than a bus but cover more ground than on foot. We can get close to many tourist spots without negotiating heavy traffic.
It’s easy to find places in Western Australia to ride a bike. Cyclists are well catered for!
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