E-bikes open up the world to a whole new community of cyclists

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Marc Belliveau’s road bike is well-travelled. In addition to cycling more than 200 kilometres a week on local roads, the Montreal-based cyclist, along with his wife, Angela Nadeau, has explored Costa Rica and Portugal by bike. But that’s not the only set of wheels they own. Belliveau and Nadeau also have electric bikes (e-bike).

“On the days we’re a little pooped, the e-bikes let us still get out there,” Belliveau said.

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Belliveau and Nadeau, both in their 60s, are part of a growing number of e-bike owners. Equipped with a battery-powered motor, e-bikes provide as little or as much pedalling assistance as wanted, making longer distances on two-wheels less intimidating. Canadian sales of e-bikes are expected to increase by 12 per cent annually over the next six years, making it the fastest growing segment of the bike market.

Built for roads, trails, touring and commuting, today’s e-bikes have come a long way since the early 2000s when they started showing up on streets across the country. Their batteries are lighter and so are the bikes. And while still pricey, they are more affordable and accessible than ever with models at big box stores like Walmart and Canadian Tire starting at $500, making them competitive to road bikes.

Often touted as an environmentally friendly commuting option for people who don’t want to arrive at their destination sweaty and exhausted, the idea e-bikes can be part of a fit lifestyle often prompts derision among the hard-core cycling community. Surely anyone who opts for motorized assistance while pedalling doesn’t achieve the same fitness benefits as those who put 100 percent sweat equity into every ride.

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Bike shaming aside, the e-bike industry doesn’t aspire to replace traditional bikes. Instead, they appeal to people who find getting on a bike intimidating or worry they don’t have the fitness to explore the neighbourhood on two wheels. It also provides an opportunity for friends and families with different fitness levels and cycling proficiencies to bike together. Anyone who’s had the unfortunate experience of trying to keep up with friends during what was supposed to be a casual bike ride, understands what it feels like to be cycling as hard as possible alongside cyclists who look like they’re barely breaking a sweat.

It’s the ability to opt for pedalling assistance when needed that opens up exercise opportunities for anyone who previously avoided two-wheeled workouts, including those who struggle to cover any significant distance on foot or a regular bike. A study of overweight adults who rode an e-bike three times a week for four weeks reportedly improved their aerobic fitness by as much as 10 per cent. Not a bad return for a sub-set of the population who often finds weight bearing exercise difficult and unappealing.

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Turns out e-bikes also encourage more people to choose a bike over a car when they need to get around town quickly and efficiently. Adding even a small measure of motorized assistance makes it fast and easy to pop into the library, head over to the pickleball court and grab a bag of groceries at the supermarket. Those little trips can have a surprising effect on your wallet and health. A Dutch study reported e-bike users cycled three kilometres more per day than cyclists with traditional bikes. They also used their car less than people who owned road bikes. Studies show travelling as little as five km on an e-bike gets your heart and lungs working hard enough to be considered a moderate intensity workout, which means regular use of an e-bike provides enough physical activity to improve health and fitness.

They’re also good for long distance travel. Belliveau likes using his e-bike for overnight bike trips when there’s extra gear to carry. He gets about 100 km on a single charge and arrives at his destination without feeling too road weary.

“Hills don’t matter. Wind doesn’t matter. It’s just fun,” Belliveau said.

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It’s exactly this reason e-bikes have become popular bike rental options, especially in big cities. Exploring Central Park in New York City, Mount Royal in Montreal, Toronto’s waterfront, Stanley Park in Vancouver or tackling the hills in San Francisco on an e-bike allows cyclists to see more sites and still have enough energy at the end of the day to go out for dinner and drinks. They’ve also opened up a whole new cycle tourism industry with guided and self-guided e-bike tours bringing together people of all ages and fitness levels for several days of exploring the backroads of Europe and North America.

Making cycling more accessible to segments of the society who aren’t comfortable on a traditional bike and making it easier to use a bike as a mode of transportation are the true selling features of e-bikes. Cities with more cyclists and fewer motorists are cleaner and sport a fitter and healthier population. And with more cities improving their cycling infrastructure, it’s safer than ever to get out on a bike, burn a few calories and explore more of the world on two wheels.

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