So for quite some time Canadian Tire had a drill bit on sale that we really wanted but Nanaimo had none of them in stock. So I had the idea to take our e-bike to duncan with just one battery, grab the drill bit set, charge the battery at a cafe, than return home.
As a pre-cursor to this report I will mention I was somewhat skeptical of the roles electric bikes play in the cycling sport and community. Another important thing to mention is I have suffered from tendonitis in my knee since last year, and the farthest I have ever cycled since without injuring myself was about 10-20 km max.
It was a huge treat to get out and do a long distance ride with no concerns of my injury re-emerging. I was very suprised as I cycled to Duncan with a stiff south-east wind at an average speed of 25km / hour that I was still getting an incrediblely good workout. I was not just sitting back with my hand on the throttle, I was maintaining a proper high cadence! The ease of cycling uphill was such a treat and I reached up to 50km/hr coming downhill. I will admit my eye was constantly on our cycle analyst which gave me an accurate report of my energy consumption and allowed me to calculate at about half way that I would have enough power to make my destination. I am very grateful of our geared motor (compared to direct drive such as e-bikes) because my battery died just as I arrived in Duncan and I was able to pedal the bike the rest of the way to my favourite Duncan cafe.
I sat down for three hours, read some good chapters in my book, was fully charged and headed back home. 100 kilometers is definitly the farthest I have ever biked in one day. I was also very pleastantly suprised that after my trip I had that same euphoric excitement and energy that I associate with long distance rides in the past.
I can say with certainty now that I feel that electric bikes have a very important role to play in cycling esppecially those with injuries or those who want to exponentially increase their cycling distance. All and all I am happy that these incredible machines are available and hope they can help more people enjoy the wonderful world of cycling.
Great to read you had a enjoyable trip.
I recently just bought a Slane Santiago fat tire ebike. I Love It !!
I myself want to go for a trip to Ladysmith, then Duncan. But I have been told i’d not be allowed to drive a ebike like mine, on the highway there. Is that true ? Or would I be allowed. I prefer to peddle with the bike rather than sit back and rely on the electric power.