E-bikes, or electric bicycles, help riders enjoy cycling and travel longer distances by combining human pedaling with electric motor assistance. This hybrid approach addresses several common barriers to riding, making cycling more accessible and enjoyable for a wider range of people.
Here are a few benefits of pedal-assistance:
Reduced physical barriers: E-bikes make cycling accessible to people who might find traditional bikes challenging due to low stamina, joint pain, heart conditions or other health factors. The pedal-assist feature provides extra power with each effort, so leg muscles don’t have to do as much work to propel a rider forward. This allows people to keep riding even when they otherwise might have been too fatigued, making the sport more inclusive.
Longer rides: With the extra boost, e-bike riders can cover longer distances and tackle hilly or challenging terrain without becoming exhausted. This allows for more exploration, longer journeys, and the ability to enjoy scenic routes that might be too physically demanding on a traditional bike.
More enjoyable, consistent exercise: Because e-bikes reduce the strain and effort required, riders are more likely to stick with cycling as a regular activity. This consistency helps build endurance and overall fitness, while also making each ride more enjoyable and less daunting.
Flexible assistance levels: Riders can adjust the level of motor assistance, choosing to pedal more for exercise or rely more on the motor for a relaxed ride. This flexibility means e-bikes can suit a wide range of fitness levels and preferences.
JT Look, a certified Yamaha Power-Assist Bicycles dealer and owner of Rutland City Bikes, said there’s a lot for every level of rider to love about e-bikes, “You can go faster up hills and ride for longer,” he said.
“You get so much exercise out of these because they are so addictive, it’s nuts. Don’t get me wrong, we love our regular bikes, but on the days when it’s like ‘Oh, I’m so tired, I don’t feel going up that hill,’ you just look at this thing and you’re like, ‘This thing is amazing’ and you just ride it and it really is amazing,” Look added.
“I would say it’s a misconception that this bike will make you lazy and not give you exercise,” Look said, referencing a customer who maintained a heart rate of 160 beats per minute (bpm) on his e-bike compared to 170 bpm on his regular mountain bike.
How E-bikes work
E-bikes operate by combining traditional bicycle mechanics with an electric motor and battery system. The motor converts electrical energy from the rechargeable lithium-ion battery into mechanical power to assist with pedaling, which propels the bike forward with much more force than leg muscles alone. The pedal-assist controller manages how much power is delivered to the motor based on rider input from sensors (cadence or torque). The level of assistance can be adjusted via a handlebar display. When a rider starts pedaling, sensors signal the controller to activate the motor, providing assistance proportional to the pedaling effort.
Most e-bikes, like the Yamaha Power-Assist, will charge to 80% in 1 hour and be fully-charged in 3 hours. E-bike speeds tops out at about 20 mph. They can get about 30 miles on a full battery.
Overall, e-bikes can empower riders to enjoy cycling with less effort (if they so choose) and go farther with greater confidence thanks to the integration of electric power.
Cristina Kumka contributed to this reporting.
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