What’s so wrong with e-bikes?

Nothing. I repeat, absolutely nothing. And this is coming from a not-that-long-ago hard-core cyclist. All you “serious” cyclists, get over it. E-bikes are here to stay and are only going to get cheaper, faster and have a longer range on a battery charge. My first encounter with an e-bike was quite a number of years ago. I was on a road bike, pushing hard and moving well only to be easily passed by a guy three times my size, in jeans and sweatshirt barely peddling on a bulky bike with fat tires. For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. This was impossible! I was rarely passed by another spandex clad road cyclist let alone this abomination of a pseudo-cyclist. I stopped, vomited violently only to suddenly realize that this must be the rumoured electric bike that was going to destroy the world of “real” cycling. Ah-ha, so that’s what the enemy looks like! Years have passed. I’ve gotten over it. I’ve had no choice. A significant percentage of bikes are now electrically assisted. It’s the new reality of two-wheel travel. So is this a good or a bad thing? Tell us what you really think Dr. J! Well . . . I live in a very hilly city and surrounding area that gets quite windy during the cycling rush hour. So if having an e-bike allows me to get out for a good cycle even when conditions aren't ideal, then that's great. Not being able to ride comfortably or not riding at all are bad outcomes. Any riding is GOOD. No riding is just BAD. Read: What if I can't commute to work by a self-powered bike because of time restraints or just having to physically work too hard to accomplish this in reasonable time? Arriving late to work and way too sweaty isn't great. An e-bike might allow a faster and accomplishable commute without the excessive sweat. Looks like a win: win solution. E-bikes are a bit sexy right now, so if this entices someone to get off social media, their cell phone, video game or equivalent and actually get outside their house and do something physically active. Great! If I want to explore longer and longer distances but haven’t built up the physical stamina, an e-bike might allow me to do this and build up my mileage in a safe and healthy way. When was keeping active and being outdoors ever a bad thing? What if two people have never been able to cycle together without a major blow-out because of discrepancy of speed, strength, and endurance. Now one partner can use an e-bike and easily keep up if not challenge the stronger partner especially on the steeper hills. Everyone gets an appropriate work-out, together, consistently. Woah! Game changer! Having said all this—do I have an e-bike? Do I want one? Hell NO! Is there a dark side? Read: The joy of running If you want to get and stay healthy and fit, it takes a bit of work and sweat. That is NOT a bad thing! Are we making a simple pleasure complicated? I can’t take my bike to the store as it’s recharging. I can’t take my bike to school today because the battery keeps going dead. I forget to plug it in, etc. I'm not a fan of seeing (you look pretty healthy to me) kids on e-bikes when they are more than capable of riding regular bikes. Sacrificing fitness for being a bit too comfortable is not ideal for healthy young people. Now if this same youth does have health issues or disability, the option of keeping up with their healthier and more vigorous peers could be quite reasonable. My guess is that this is rarely the case with the kids on these bikes. I have no plans to get an e-bike. I’ve got enough bikes in two garages and still haven’t learnt to ride my beautiful orange unicycle. But never say never. If I can’t run consistently, I will walk more. If I can’t walk consistently I will ride more. If I can’t ride consistently on my regular bike and the alternative is do nothing, I will plug in and go for it, I guess. I hope this doesn’t happen for a long, long time. Read: My personal tale of a traumatic ER visit And when you pass me now on your brand new state of the art e-bike don’t be too smug. Don’t forget, my ride is still free! My opinion was not always as favorable as this blog article would imply. I’ve had an e-piphany of sorts. Would love to hear from all the believers (and non-believers). Dr. Ted Jablonski is a singer-songwriter, emerging playwright and neophyte poet who has retired his family practice to focus on sexual medicine and transgender health in Southern Alberta. He now finds himself advising medical students at the Cumming School of Medicine and still on the front line trenches leading the charge against the COVID pandemic.

What’s so wrong with e-bikes?

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Ted Jablonski

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