E-bikes Yes Or No: My Story So Far

Just over a year ago my family bought me a pedal assist e-bike. Yes we could have gone with a bike that was under $1000 from Walmart or Amazon. but instead we decided to shop local. My Dad and I both sought out advice and decided on the bike I have now.

Some of the advice we were given is: 

Buy from a store you trust and service’s what they sell. This allows repairs and warranty work. 

Do not buy a department store bike. 

Do not buy knock off batteries (buy the correct battery for the bike) they are a fire hazard. 

Do not leave a charging battery unattended. 

 Buying a cheaper bike might seem like a quick win but in the long run it will cost you in repairs (if you can find someone to fix it) or having to replace the bike sooner. 

I ride my bike almost every day. Some trips like going to the mall or my dentist I still use my non e-bike or Hamilton Bike Share. I have done a few rides that for me. would have been impossible on a non electric bike. I have been to Brantford Ontario (80 and 100 Km), Paris Ontario (120 Km). Oakville Ontario (95 Km) and even Malton Ontario (150 Km). 

After working out some initial bugs with the bike like breaking spokes (rebuild the rear wheel), a mistake I made when washing the bike and having to get the battery replaced. I have also had routine maintenance done on the bike like brake pads and cables checked and replaced. 

I have been able to participate in multiple rides a day, in different parts of the city and still do my day to day errands. Towards the end of the summer we purchased a extra battery that I will carry with me on really long rides or when I have a few rides in a day and just the need the comfort of a fresh battery at the end of the day. 

 

In 2021 (the last full year I rode my non ebike) I rode 2084.2 Km according to Strava. in 2023 (Not quite finished) 5,934 Km recorded on Strava (A time or 2 I forgot to press record) Just the other day a little over 1 year I reached 7000 Km on the bikes odometer

Slow Rolls - The Return

2020 was a year like many of us have never experienced before. I was hoping for a second year of group rides and outreach through Everyone Rides. I had joined the board of directors of Cycle Hamilton. It was a different Cycle Hamilton than I was originally used to, no monthly meetings and no social activities. Still we pedaled along. A question that I seemed to always get asked was when are group rides starting up. Our leadership was cautious and rightfully so. Through talking with our then Co-Chairs the idea and my own digging I came across the idea of Slow Rolls. A program I am a participant in restarted their weekly Sobi Rides, limited it to 5 people and we had a couple of different routes that were all ages and abilities and for the most part completely away from motorized traffic.
The rides were at a leisurely pace and we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the city and the waterfront. How do I bring this to Cycle Hamilton? Slow Rolls!!!

What is a Slow Roll?

• It is a group of people getting together to ride their bikes.
• Everyone is welcome.
• A ride in the city at a leisurely pace and for what it is.
• There is no sign-up or commitment.
• No one gets left behind or dropped.
• There is no humiliation or shaming.
• No one is left to find their own way home.
• And most importantly it is about building relationships.

There were times that it was discouraging because no one else showed up, but that was okay. I still got to ride my bike. There were times 1 person showed up and we had a great chat and got to know each other.

In 2022 I paused hosting the Slow Rolls as often to focus on Advocacy and studying and promoted other group rides and participated in a few that I hope to see back this year.

It is now 2023 a new season is in front of us. I usually do #30DaysOfBiking in April and thought what a great way to kick off April with a Slow Roll or 2 (2 in one day) In the future Cycle Hamilton will be doing more and we will be adding a twist of doing them in a couple of wards we usually don’t as Advocacy Rides. Looking at what works, doesn’t work and how we can get more people on bikes.

References:

Cycle Hamilton: https://www.cyclehamont.ca/
Everyone Rides Initiative: https://www.everyonerides.org/
Slow Rolls: https://www.hourdetroit.com/community/the-rapid-rise-of-slow-roll/
#30DaysOfBiking: https://30daysofbiking.com/