Two Common E-bike Misconceptions Debunked

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While extremely hot for most of the summer, it was a great e-biking season in Western Canada.  I rode my Bulls e-bike two to three times per week with two local cycling clubs. As well, my wife and I shared many rides throughout Calgary and in the mountains. 

Everywhere I rode, there was noticeable interest in my e-bike with lots of questions about e-bikes. Through these discussions, two common misconceptions about e-biking arose all the time.  This post addresses these based on my e-biking experiences.

1. Riding an E-bike is Cheating

As I highlighted in my post exploring reasons for switching to an e-bike, a primary reason is the clear health benefit achieved.  Regardless, there continues to be a perception that riding an e-bike is cheating. This despite evidence that e-bikers ride further, more often and improve their cardio health.

I was a conventional bike rider and shared this view prior to switching to my e-bike. This attitude seems to come from a strong Calvinistic belief that if it doesn’t hurt it can’t be good for you!

Now that I have experienced an enjoyable riding season on my e-bike, I realize how outdated and silly this attitude is. How can I be cheating if I’m not in a competition?  I ride for recreational enjoyment which doesn’t earn me any money, recognition or social standing.  Whom am I cheating?  And what exactly am I being dishonest about? 

Is enjoying the benefit of pedal assist going up a steep hill or against a strong wind such a bad thing?  Or being able to run local errands without using my car?  Or enjoying a multi-generation cycling outing?

Belief that e-biking is cheating comes from a strong Calvinistic attitude that if it doesn’t hurt, it can’t be good for you.

 I think it is time for all cyclists to take a step back and question why they hold a negative perspective of e-bikes. Think about this: If it doesn’t hurt, it can be good for you.

E-bike Health Benefits

Maybe “cheating” means that riding an e-bike is less healthy or doesn’t offer any fitness benefits?

The evidence doesn’t support this perception nor does my personal experience.

A number of research studies comparing e-biking to traditional biking have concluded:

• E-bike users travel up to 3 times further than regular cyclists
• E-bike users ride more frequently
• E-bike users expend about 75% the number of calories burned per hour compared to regular cyclists (using mix of low and no power assist).

To maintain your health, it is recommended to have a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to intense exercise every week.  The conclusion from existing studies is that e-biking provides moderate to vigorous exercise that contributes to a rider’s physical well-being.  Based on my experience, there is no doubt many get this and more simply due to the fact they get so much enjoyment from their e-bike.

I can personally vouch that riding my e-bike has provided both physical and mental health benefits.  Over the past summer, I’ve ridden over 2300 kilometers. This is easily triple the number of kilometers I would ride using my regular bikes.   Moreover, I can measure positive impacts on my blood pressure and a noticeable reduction in my waistline. 

Beyond these physical health benefits, riding my e-bike contributed to my positive mental health during the most challenging days of the COVID pandemic.

Given these outcomes, I am happy to have joined the growing number of “cheaters”.

2. Riding an e-bike is a last option

The second most common misconception that I encountered can be summed up by this comment:

“I’ll look into getting an e-bike when I can’t ride my regular bike.”

The underlying assumption is that riding an e-bike is a default choice you make when you aren’t capable of riding a regular bike.  It is akin to believing getting an e-bike is similar to being forced to use a cane or a walker.  You would only choose this option when you don’t have any other choice.

While it is true many cyclists switch to e-bikes based on a physical limitation (sore knees, being out of shape, heart issues, etc.), the reality is e-bikes offer benefits that an increasing number of cyclists and non-cyclists are becoming aware of.   These include convenience, ease of use and fun that is attracting a diverse audience.  Increasingly, North Americans are discovering there a range of uses for e-bikes that make them a vehicle of choice.

E-bikes make travelling easier and more enjoyable regardless of how they are used. This includes the daily commute, running local errands, or transporting kids.  Both non-cyclists and previous cyclists are discovering e-bikes offer a fun outdoor recreation alternative.  They open up new opportunities to explore urban trails, country roads or mountain trails. E-bikes allow a wider audience to enjoy cycling that simply isn’t available through a regular bike. 

Different Strokes

Through the many trips I took this summer, I was able to engage with many cyclists who ride regular or e-bikes.  Here’s what I discovered:

• Not one of those who made the switch to their e-bike have regretted their decision.  The overwhelming opinion was this was a great choice that increased their enjoyment and interest in cycling.
• Conversely, I sensed many regular bike riders envied those who rode e-bikes.  This became most evident after climbing long, steep hills or completing a challenging 40 kilometer ride.  It became evident the e-bikers were having fun and able to maintain a good pace.
• Also, there still is a lot of ego among regular cyclists.  It seems that riding an e-bike somehow reflects poorly on them.

My impression is that some cyclists are afraid to try an e-bike in case they really like riding it.

Conclusion

My overall conclusion is that riding an e-bike is not for everyone. And that’s okay.  If a regular bike meets a rider’s needs, is still enjoyable and encourages regular use, there is no need to change. 

But if cycling isn’t convenient, isn’t as much fun as it used to be, or seems more like a chore, then it’s probably time to try an e-bike.  As many newly converted e-bike owners will agree, once you get the right e-bike for your needs, you won’t go back to a conventional bike.