When Kevin went on holiday to the South Island he was keen to tackle the Otago Rail Trail but was worried he would struggle on some of the sections. He needn't have worried. He ended up cycling 350 kilometres.
Kevin had recently purchased an ebike, a bicycle with a small electric motor that boosts your pedal power. Common feedback from ebike riders is that it makes them feel like a kid again with that endless energy of youth. This gave Kevin the freedom to go where he wanted with the knowledge that he could make it back. He found himself going off the main trails, exploring side trails. "Its so great. I feel I could ride anywhere" says Kevin.
Research on the use of ebikes shows that people use them more often, and for longer, than traditional bikes. This comes as no surprise to most ebike owners whose regular bikes were gathering dust in the garage but whose new ebike is kicking up dust. It is this moderate exercise that doctors are calling for New Zealanders to undertake to ward off a plethora of ills from heart disease, diabetes, depression to cancer.
Two of the major barriers people give to exercising are time, and not feeling fit enough to start. Ebikes have the potential to break down both of these barriers. For the more unfit amongst us, they can start with the power assist level higher giving them more support. Research shows that most riders decrease their levels of pedal assist as they get fitter. Most importantly it makes exercising fun. Participants in a study conducted by the University of Colorado reported that riding an ebike was "a blast". Not many of us come out of the gym saying that.
Sales of ebikes in New Zealand are growing exponentially. In a country where hills are an ever-present reality, ebikes have proven to be the answer to a very sweaty problem. Many New Zealanders are put off commuting by bike due to barriers such as no showers at work, or big hills, are finding ebikes a green and healthier solution to break down these barriers. Now if we could only stop it raining.