Reasons you ride? - Aside from the obvious reason where riding is your passion.

[WildWillie]

Maybe an odd thread, but I was wondering how many are on this forum where riding an e-bike is is perhaps done for other reasons than riding being your primary form of exercise and recreational enjoyment?

I will start. Riding an e-bike for me has these drivers, in order.

1 - To get me to my tennis matches, which is my primary exercise and recreational enjoyment. The locations where I play, both happen to be around 3 miles away and an easy bike ride.
2 - To avoid buying another gas guzzler and expensive car as we have 4 drivers in the house and 3 vehicles.
3 - Small errands like quick runs to the grocery store.
4 - Then, the enjoyment and exercise of riding a bike, as time permits.

Likely I am in somewhat of a minority as most people here seem to be avid riders which is great. Appreciate all the informed input and lessons learned from you biking road warriors.

Last, don't get me started on my visits to local bike shops in Cary NC to find an e-bike.
Since I wanted an e-bike and not a 'regular' bike, that was already a 'knock' against me, with several making comments like - "Oh you don't want a bike, you want a scooter". Ugh.
Then, when I told them I mostly wanted to use it to get to tennis, and GASP, I might use a throttle on occasion, I was treated like a pariah.

Appreciate this forum, lots of great people with great information and a wonderful community feel.

 

[fooferdoggie]

It was mostly to commute I do at least 20 miles a day but it is now my only form of transportation along with our e tandem. Now I commute 20 to 25 miles a day then go on a tandem ride after dinner 10 or more miles. So instead of trying to entertain myself I ride.

 

[Sifu Ben]

I do it for fun. Exercise is a by-product. I don't want to exercise for the sake of exercise but I like biking. We drive electric vehicles, use battery powered lawn tools and have solar panels so the ebikes kinda complement the electric lifestyle.

 

[Taylor57]

Recently diagnosed with heart problems and I hate walking for exercise. Was hoping the ebike would get me off my butt for at least an hour a day. It is working so far. I am getting up earlier and starting my rides by 630am before it gets too hot. But to answer the OPs question, I bought my ebike to breathe...

 

[Bruce Arnold]

Mainly for exercise. Also for enjoyment, commuting and errands. We sold one of our cars 2 years ago this spring, so we use our bikes as much as possible. There have been only one or two times when it was a little difficult having only one car, the ebikes really do the job for us. We live about 5 miles from a small town, mostly level terrain, so very doable. I have COPD so this is one of the best forms of exercise I've found. If I get out of breath, I can bump up the PAS for a while then set it lower again.

 

[ruffruff]

Get to hunting spots.
Check game cameras
turkey hunting
Scouting

 

[PatriciaK]

Exercise and fun outdoors without killing my old knees.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

There is a thread related to the same things OP had raised here:

Your Own History of E-Bike

Here's mine: In recent years, I had two angioplasty surgeries that effectively eliminated me from any serious walking or cycling. (Actually, my leg artery was first blocked while I was cycling). I was thinking of a simple electric scooter but after having ridden a rented one in Warsaw I found...

electricbikereview.com

There is a good book called "Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling" to be found on the Amazon.com:

Amazon.com

There is a witty definition in the book:
"Cyclist (noun) -- One who rides a bicycle, even when he or she doesn't have to do so"


Personally, I ride for health, adventure, and because it is so much fun. I'm a cyclist.

 

[BET]

Reasons: I love being outside, I think biking is fun, I like to bike with family members and friends, especially my husband and son. I used to belong to a bike club and biked several times a week before we had children and I am thinking of rejoining. I like other outside pursuits like kayaking but they are a lot more work and planning. We live near parks and bike paths. The e bike helps with hills. It is fun to just jump on your bike and go. I am hoping biking with my ebike will result in better health. I miss the swimming, lifting weights and stationary biking I used to do at the gym before corona virus. Biking feels safer.

 

[zipur]

Rejuvenated my marriage as we discover things we would never walk to.
Make great memories with my grandkids
Reduce BP

 

[fooferdoggie]

yes my wife and I get everywhere on our tandem. Now we almost never walk anywhere and almost never take public transportation.

 

[Lar]

Exercise with a breeze and a change of scenery...

 

[ruffruff]

I dunno I just feel like a kid everytime I'm on a bike. It just doesn't get old.

 

[john peck]

beats walkin´

 

[Dallant]

Work out, fresh air, vitamin K, hang with my sweetie, go fast, etc!

 

[john peck]

Work out, fresh air, vitamin K, hang with my sweetie, go fast, etc!

yup, that too.

 

[RandallS]

Have fun, get some exercise, socialized rides and stay the heck away from the knee replacement clinic. It's working! 10+ years and still no need to schedule the surgery...

 

[chunk]

I wanted an "electrified" vehicle of some sort that would not require DMV registration or any insurance for errands around town as well as for fun riding at the beach. I did not buy it to go fast, when I want to go fast on two wheels I get on one of my motorbikes. Not really for exercise either, but I stay active so I guess it all adds up. Just a little less polluting way to get around and not need to start a ICM.

 

[penserv]

I built my E-bike simply to ride out to the golf course and get some excercise. My knees won't allow me to walk the course anymore, but cycling doesn't bother them. And it feels really good to be able to pass a group of roadies on a hill and call out "coming up on your left". I don't hang around to hear what they say about me.

 

[reed scott]

It's the only way I can keep my dog's toenails a reasonable length.