Folding E Bikes for our trip

[RobMcClain]

For me that’s an easy answer…. When we bought ours my wife had knee problems that obstructed her ability to pedal for long periods. Since I enjoy her company the ebike allowed us the enjoyment of riding together. I like pedaling and did that more of the time, but it was also fun to have the assist. Plus, we found some shopping destinations to be a distance with a hill or two in between and the ebike was nice to have.

 

[ssobol]

... I ride on trails sometimes and see people zipping along without pedaling and wonder "What's the point? You're outside, sure, but you're not getting any exercise..."

Getting to their destination without getting all sweaty?

 

[daninPA]

For me that’s an easy answer…. When we bought ours my wife had knee problems that obstructed her ability to pedal for long periods. Since I enjoy her company the ebike allowed us the enjoyment of riding together. I like pedaling and did that more of the time, but it was also fun to have the assist. Plus, we found some shopping destinations to be a distance with a hill or two in between and the ebike was nice to have.

If it's transportation that offers mobility to someone otherwise unable, it makes sense, certainly.

 

[thataway]

I suppose I don't get the need for an E-Bike when the vast majority of roads and trails accessed from a C-Dory will be flat."

This depends on where the C Dory is used. Many places we have boated have steep hills around the water. 'Think Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California. Inland lakes in the mountain--for example North Shore of Pickwick on the Tennessee River. Many towns on the upper Tennessee River. Lake Powell. Even some towns along the St. John's river have some fairly steep hills. Plenty of hills along the upper Mississippi, The list goes on.

 

[daninPA]

I suppose I don't get the need for an E-Bike when the vast majority of roads and trails accessed from a C-Dory will be flat."

This depends on where the C Dory is used. Many places we have boated have steep hills around the water. 'Think Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California. Inland lakes in the mountain--for example North Shore of Pickwick on the Tennessee River. Many towns on the upper Tennessee River. Lake Powell. Even some towns along the St. John's river have some fairly steep hills. Plenty of hills along the upper Mississippi, The list goes on.

My apologies -- I fell into the East Coast myopia.

Nevertheless, I suppose it also depends on how a cyclist defines a "hill."

E-bikes are now ubiquitous in the US but were popular in Canada a few years earlier. I learned this by accident one day riding on the Route Verte near Quebec City. I spotted a cyclist ahead of me who was moving. As any ex-racer would do, I tried to catch him. This went on for miles, averaging 25-27 MPH. I finally caught up to him at a light and noticed he pulled away when the light turned but wasn't pedaling. And then I realized...