Why Do People Like E-Bikes?

[@NZKiwi87]

I’m an older disabled lady in New Zealand. I sold our car and got an ebike and it has changed my life in enormously positive ways. I LOVE it! Hadn’t ridden in 30+ years but ya never forget how 😊

[@carterstaley]

Bought an ebike a year ago, I put 1,000 miles on it already and it was the best purchase I’ve ever made. I get exercise, save money on gas and feel more connected to my community. And it’s FUN

[@ambiarock590]

I bought an ebike about 2 years ago, going on 3 in May and I've put well over 3K miles on it. I love my ebike so much. I get daily movement, I save money, I like working on it, I get to chat with people and make small talk on my way around town; I love these things. In north america we REALLY need better transportation infrastructure that makes cycling as as viable mode of transportation more universal.

[@vegancatmom]

I became disabled the month I turned 40, and tbh one of the things that made me the most sad was that I thought I was going to have to drive everywhere. I previously had walked or ridden my bike almost everywhere. My parents were super cool and bought me an e-bike for my birthday, and I was able to get back (mostly) to biking. I have a regular Trek e-bike. It’s a beast, but I love it. And actually, my able-bodied husband rides it more than me because he loves being able to get to a destination without being sweaty. 🚲❤

[@LisaMo3434]

Thank you for highlighting that e-bikes are a car replacement and not an "acoustic" bike replacement! I have both and love both! Edit: Sometimes there are scary moments but for me, personally it’s worth it, and after being a passenger in a traumatic car accident, I’m really not interested in having to drive everywhere I go or rely on buses with inconsistent service. Not saying everyone will make the same conclusion, but it’s an option for more people than given credit for.

[@kelsey_roy]

But you’re not enclosed in a metal cage with e-bike. In 3 years that I cycled to work, I nearly died 3 times with close encounters with a truck. It’s just not worth your life

[@rainbowtravelingyogi]

Me too, for that reason❤

[@Att441_]

@@kelsey_roy sounds like a skill issue imo. Seriously though if your area isn't great for biking I can sorta understand it, but 3 times in 3 years? The hell you doing when you ride to work?

[@DAMfoxygrampa]

^ in my city, you'd probably have 3 near death experiences like that per trip

[@3nertia]

@@kelsey_roy Not to mention rain, wind, and the winter ... "Car replacement", my ass!

[@museumthoughts]

I bought my first e-bike a year ago and I LOVE it. I use it as a commute bike, to run errands and to get to hiking trails. It's an amazing car replacement, and I can't ride a regular bike because of knee problems, so e-bikes are the only way I could bike at all.

[@AustinSersen]

Year-round cyclist here (in Canada). Studded winter tires hugely help when it's icy out, and when it gets super cold, pogies (AKA bar mitts) are great for the hands, and a balaclava, toque (beanie), and ski goggles help keep the head warm. I've been fine recently cycling in -20 weather in just jeans, long socks, hiking boots, two sweatshirts, and the aforementioned head wear. I also recently got an ebike, and it's a game changer for commutes!

[@eelexa]

How do the batteries hold up for the Canadian winters

[@AustinSersen]

@@eelexa Definitely less, but I haven't measured the range on a long ride. My commute is only about 10 minutes, so I've never ran out of power regardless of temperature! Detaching the battery and keeping it with you in the warmth (relative warmth as I work at a hockey rink) is a huge key...just better for the health of the battery too.

[@ruedelta]

I really hope that one day those Chinese scooter blankets/weather shields make their way to North America. This is a solved problem.

[@papa_woody]

I've had my ebike for 2.5 years now, been riding it back and forth to work and it's been great. Just rolled over 4000 miles, saved me over 20k in car costs, and showed me how great it is to live car free. I wish more people could experience it.

[@ambiarock590]

Ive had an ebike for 2.5 years too (will be 3 years in May) and I love mine. That is my main mode of getting around. I choose that bike over the car 1) because car ownership and maintenence is expensive and 2) the bike makes you happier and healthier. I also advocate for better city planning that include alternatives to driving. We really need infrastructure that allows for cycling and other modes of active transportation in a country where obesity is a big issue

[@gedavids84]

Thanks for pointing out that this can be a car replacement, that had never occurred to me for some reason.

[@humza890]

Daily E-bike commuter here! For winter, you can look into handlebar mittens to keep hands warm. Alternatively, you can try active heated gloves (but these are more expensive). For cycling in ice or snow, you can try studded tires or fat tires. As for getting an e bike, there might be e-bike monthly subscriptions available, so you can keep it at home without upfront investment. For bike locks, look into angle grinder resistant u locks. I use the litelok x1 (£150), so not cheap but definately worth it for a £1k+ bike. Bike battery fires aren't usually because of battery technology. Instead it's usually from people buying dodgy ebikes that don't meet the battery standards, or buying aftermarket batteries without a proper battery management system (BMS). If you get an e-bike from a reputable brand, you should be fine.

[@elliottmcollins]

I've got quite the set up to deal with biking in the cold, but there is no way to make it not suck. Snow and rain are a *hard* no, too.

[@jezzarisky]

Pogies/bar mitts are a game changer when the temps drop below 40F

[@Volkbrecht]

Or ski gloves. The cold is the most manageable part of winter cycling, really no major concern once you figured it out. Road conditions are much more problematic. Currently thinking about building an e-trike for the slippery season, that would also double as a shopping vehicle.

[@mckennasweda3614]

You can also rubber band hand warmers to the back of your hands for longer trips. I used to be a tower climber and I did this to my toes too in the winter. Edit: not directly to skin. Over shoes and regular gloves 😆

[@chickensmack]

I've been a long-distance, year-'round, bicycle commuter since 2005. In the height of the pandemic, my wife and I got e-bikes. We were a one-car family, but now we are car-free.

[@ALZulas]

Just a little advice from someone else with an ebike, store your battery somewhere without temp fluctuations. Just take it in the house for charging instead of leaving them in the garage. It's better for the battery

[@fogethereal]

I bought a Tern folding e-bike about a year and a half ago and it's been amazing! It's completely replaced my driving commute (it's about 8.5 miles each way, and traffic when driving is bad enough that the e-bike is almost always faster). I've put about 3000 miles on it since I bought it, pretty much all replacing transit I would have done in my car before. And since it can fold up, it opens up all sorts of other possibilities. Some days, I ride into work and then carpool home with my partner/coworker, and even though they have a small sedan that would never fit a full-sized bike, it's easy to fold my Tern up and throw it in the trunk. The folding aspect also makes it easy to chain together multimodal trips that use various transit that might struggle with standard-sized bikes. I had already done a lot of road cycling and bike commuting before getting the ebike, and I initially also looked down on them, but since buying mine my opinion has changed completely and I recommend them to people all the time. It's really amazing how freeing it is to have such an easy and enjoyable way to get around a city!

[@johnw65]

The spandex crowd gives me sh*t but they're ignorant of the law. My 750W folder can legally go anyplace a bicycle can...

[@karatheyaroxan6852]

My boyfriend and I got these this fall, and absolutely love them. Just been exploring paths, and ways to get around town. But in the spring we totally plan to use this as a method of commuting to work.

[@michelfug]

I bought mine last month AND I live in a place with great bicycle infrastructure. A double win! Love your videos. Hi from the Netherlands

[@letsgoOs1002]

Cargo bikes are the best, especially electric cargo bikes with belts and internal gear hubs. By far the best car replacement! It can do everything and it's fun! Went from biking zero miles 3 years ago. To giving up 1 car for the last 18 months and biking 6000 miles this year. The kids love being in the cargo bike. It also help that my suburban area has amazing paths and a metro stop.

[@bdhanes]

🚴‍♂️ Glad you're joining the club. E-Bikes are FABULOUS! I no longer ride motorcycles, but get same thrill but SO MUCH SAFER, quieter, easier, no gas, no insurance, exercise, on and on... Loved my Puckipuppy fat tire, folding, full suspension ebike... that a bought a 2nd one. 🚲🚲

[@johnw65]

And most importantly, you're still able to get some 'wind therapy'...

[@Streetsvillainy]

Got mine in June 2023 after months of the buses being overpacked. Been riding it in sun rain snow every day for over a year, taking me places I never used to go, letting me do so much more with my time. I've lost weight and kept it off. I've ridden more on the e-bike than I would have on a regular bike because I can go further and let myself get completely exhausted from pedaling and then use the motor to get home. It's the freakin future man.

[@pontifexcrocdylus2716]

E-bikes with Bosch motors have batteries that are UL tested and are safe. They tend to cost more, depending on the bike, but it's worth it for the peace of mind

[@rosaviola]

I grew up in the Netherlands so biking is a big part of my life, but I hated it so much! I bought an E-bike as a present for myself, and I felt the same way! I started biking so much more (instead of driving) because I didn’t mind biking at all anymore!! I love my ebike :)

[@ParadoxProblems]

Not many people know this, but they are called E-bikes because of the sound a person makes while riding them: "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

[@HashSl1ng1ngSlasher]

Mini-Me status

[@ErinFromSydney]

I bought a bike in February 2023 because I wanted to start riding to work instead of taking the car. I live in Australia, at that time, in the far western suburbs of Sydney and it doesn't snow here, so it seemed like a good idea, especially as, for the first time in my life, I was working in the same town as where I lived. Getting to work was great, downhill (actually for a person that hadn't been on a bike in 20+ years, it was terrifying, but for a person that was terribly unfit, it was doable). Then there was the coming home element. Most if it wasn't too bad, but there was this one hill that darn near killed me!! On my test run, I had to stop and sit on someone's front lawn on the verge of losing my stomach contents because of overexertion. I was also very sick with a flu that stuck around for 2 months, thanks to living in a house filled with mould, but that's a story for another time. I lost my nerve after trying it twice and didn't do it again. Then in winter, in June, I bought an e-bike. What a life-changer!!! I powered up that hill like it was nothing and that was after my first bout of COVID!! So, I started riding to work and discovering new routes, including, oddly enough, one that cut out that hill completely, but I never had to worry about traffic or parking and it was just as quick as driving... And then it all changed in September 2023. We unexpectedly needed to move (not complaining, I love it here!) and it is in the mountains, so it's extremely hilly here - I could not survive without my e-bike. It was also about 40kms from work, so riding to work changed. At first, I started catching the train to one stop from the office and then riding from there, then four stops from the office and riding from there (and riding the one stop back to catch the train up), to eventually catching the train one stop down, riding 20kms down to work (only as I have not yet found a safe train route between home at that stop) and then riding up four stops, catching the train from there.... And then my work moved... I haven't gotten back into riding to work, there's no point due to the transport links to my work, but I do go for a ride most mornings before work now. But my e-bike is amazing. I love it.

[@Streetsvillainy]

1:09 - Yep. It's got a magical quality to it. I used to ride dirtbikes as a kid and they were pretty fun and stupidly dangerous, but they were also SO LOUD and stank and were heavy and certain parts got so hot they'd scar you for life if your leg grazed them. This tube of aluminum I can lift with my middle finger alone can propel me at 30kph whisper quiet. It feels like flying on a magic carpet.

[@nightembergrl]

I got an ebike about a year ago. I've taken it to work a few days most weeks and love it. I'm not close enough to regular bike to work. And it's been great with us down a car and I can ebike while he drives

[@vlogtr3k]

I love how you can go from chatting with Chyna to motivational speaker to e-bike enthusiast seamlessly. Maybe the algorithm doesn't super love you for it, but I sure enjoy it 😅

[@wheezywaiter]

Yeah, screw the algorithm.

[@RobbsHomemadeLife]

I had acquired paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 2014 and it made me very uncomfortable to exercise away from home because I never knew what was going to set it off. Eventually, I had an ablation and have not had any more episodes but sometimes when I'm exercising my heart starts beating a little bit faster can I get an uncomfortable feeling so I stopped riding my bicycle specifically in the summertime. However a year and a half ago I purchased an extremely inexpensive refurbished jetson bolt electric bicycle and absolutely loved it then purchased another really inexpensive E bike from Walmart which was an electric mountain bike that I just use on the sidewalk or street that are reasonably safe in my neighborhood and sometimes on paths along the river. Riding around listening to music on my earphones along the river is unbelievably enjoyable. I have also discovered a couple of bicycle paths not too far from my home where there's no traffic at all. I'm in my 70s. I did have one fall getting back onto a sidewalk from the grass where my wheel caught into a groove between the grass and the sidewalk but I find if I just keep the speed low everything works out. I now take the E-bike or my old regular bike on the bus with a rack and use it to go to my doctor or sometimes even to the beach. I see many comments where people hate E bikes and E-bike riders, but I should mention I lost my car a year ago, and having the e-bike has saved me about two to $3000 in the last 12 months from not owning a car. This is a significant amount of money for a retired person. Finally one of the more enjoyable parts of e-bike ownership is the fact that the manufacturers seem to have very bad customer service or parts availability so once you get a new bike you have to develop repair skills by watching other KZbin videos on how to repair E bikes which has been very satisfying because I can imagine the difficulty of having to make repairs on my car that I no longer have and the difference between the two in time effort and money is huge

[@nw1317]

I was an avid biker for years, and used it as my primary vehicle with my car as the backup option. Fast forward a bit, I lived somewhere it wasn't safe to bike around anymore, and i also gained weight from basically becoming a workaholic for a few years. When i moved somewhere where i can now bike again, going up hills was borderline impossible without walking up, so after my bike got stolen I wound up getting a folding e-bike and its been a life saver 💜 i dont bike as much as i Used to yet, but i biked more last year than the previous few years combined, and then about twice as much again this past year. I literally could not bike to work without it, and i definitely still get a workout when i ride it. It is 100% a car replacement and im glad they exist

[@FloritheMirrodin]

My parents gifted me my dad's old ebike this summer.. It makes such a difference. I actually go do groceries by bike now cus it's so much easier.. I didn't know I needed it in my life but I've been using it so so much. It's great

[@sarahwebster1624]

Completely agree! We purchased two original RadRunners, three summers ago, for me and my teenage son. We use ours for quick trips around town while running errands and to the next town over (about 7 miles) for ice cream. 😊 We also love riding to the “big city” (15ish miles) about once a week during the summer just for fun. We also ride them to festivals and any other event where parking a car might be annoying. We love our bikes so much! My son does not enjoy many physical activities so this has really helped add exercise into his life. I think a lot of people who consider e-bikes cheating think that you either never have to pedal or that there’s no exertion when pedaling. You make the ride as difficult or easy as you want it to be.

[@jocelynbaker6718]

From a friend who runs a bike shop - apparently RadPower Bikes have a lot of issues and complaints with service and warranty. I bought an Aventon on their recommendation and it’s been amazing (the torque sensor is a game changer)

[@leon4875]

As someone who is Dutch, the convenience is such a moot thing. We bike EVERYWHERE. I really hope that the US changes it opinion on the use of the bike. even though everything I have seen makes it obvious this is a side project for most city planners.

[@DAMfoxygrampa]

At this point it's nearly impossible to change. The suburbs are sometimes 10-30km of straight distance away from the city centre. Housing prices heavily affect this too

[@jezzarisky]

Safer street designs would be great in the US, but it’s like moving a mountain to get a city to dedicate a gutter or a cars door zone as a bike lane.

[@johnw65]

Liked your vid... Seriously, Ebikes fill an important niche in our world. At 75, I don't have the knees to ride much. But my ebike has gotten me out again and the wife is riding with me for some family exercise! And, since I bought folders, Both of them fit inside my Scion hatchback! Which is good since we have very high bicyclist fatality rate in OKC and this way we can take our ebikes to safe areas...

[@cherlmuncie3423]

I had a very similar skeptic turned enthusiast after a single ride experience. I've got a 7 and 4 year old and it is AMAZING for getting around the city and not having to worry about parking. HUGE recommend for the Radio Flyer Via as an affordable cargo e-bike. And if you have room in the budget, do it all the way up to with the canopy and hauler. Even in like 15*F my kids stay pretty warm under the canopy. Plus it has a torque sensor, which is pretty rare at the price point.

[@amyslowikgrossman835]

The e-bike brings back that “whee!” factor you miss from childhood.

[@lorimelliere2611]

Seriously, riding my e-bike is the most fun I can reasonable expect to have just in my daily life these days.

[@glitchy_taurus]

As an aging hipster myself, it’s very funny to me when aging hipsters find revelation in challenging the old hipster rules around the superiority of doing everything manually and bespoke. A bike that makes biking more physically accessible is “cheating”? Ok. No wonder everyone hated us hipsters 😅

[@notl33t]

I use a bikeshare in Boston called BlueBikes and they introduced ebikes to the system that we affectionately call GreyBikes because they are grey and not blue like the standard ones. I'm a big fan of using the ebikes in 30 mph winds or any kind of inclement weather including heat. The lower effort required to get further or move more items is fantastic! It means ebikes can help people at all levels of ability to get around. I am a huge fan of ebikes and since I can rent them easily, they have great use cases that can be cheaper than a standard acoustic bike.

[@TimmyReilly]

Get an electric belt drive! Priority makes a good one, or tern. Belt drive means weather doesn't mess up your chain/cassette which ends up being more overhead than you expect to clean / maintain.

[@topotone]

Oh yeah...they are fantastic! I got a KBO Breeze. 4 years now and it's still amazing. Extremely affordable at $1K. I can get 50 miles or more on one charge. I put a Suntour suspension seat-post on it. We had a 20" tire Lectric, but we like the larger tire bikes. It's a better direct transition from what we're used to on the normal mtn bikes. Glad you came around to the E side :)

[@Orenchis]

I got an ebike in March this year because I wanted to get outside more. It's fantastic! I used it through the better months in Scotland from May to September. Riding to work, riding to the shops for a couple of the essentials and riding around the park on weekends. I can't wait for the better weather to start next year. I might even venture out a bit earlier in 2025.

[@Streetsvillainy]

2:26- exactly. I'll be honest even tho I was always into bikes, it's a whole hobby I don't have the money for and a regular bike can only get me so far in this car-blighted city I live in. But I could definitely take the money I was putting into bus transit and cab rides and other stuff I was doing to mitigate my car-lessness and get an ebike, which has become both my exercise equipment that I genuinely use because it's fun to use, and now I have a car like a real adult.

[@Nanigross]

I SOLD MY CAR A YEAR AGO. And I ebike everywhere, it's awesome. My wife has the one family vehicle so when I need it, I can just borrow the car. We've saved SO MUCH MONEY.

[@NZKiwi87]

@@Nanigross same, we sold our car and got two e-bikes and a trailer 👍 so much 💰 saved!

[@Nanigross]

@NZKiwi87 yes! That's the best

[@nick2555v6]

I like ebikes because unlike cars they don't kill thousands of our children every year and are fun

[@NZKiwi87]

👌

[@LarsFlem]

Biked around alot when i was younger, E-bike really made me pick up the habit again - leaving the car in the garage. Norway weather is also not agreeable most of the year, so its actually something i look forward to when my commute goes from 40min rush traffic to 20min bike ride when its nice outside!

[@norco806]

I was a skeptic for so long too. One day I tried my parents bike and it clicked instantly. It was really fun. I bought one for myself and use it to commute at work. I wosh I could use it to replace my car for grocery shopping but im always worried of my bike being stolen... I wish there was good bike parking insfracture around (bluebox for bycicles)

[@officialmilehigh5207]

For me, an ebike was so I coukd get more laps in on a mountain bike trail. I'm getting older and out of shape and on a normal bike 5 miles was a struggle. Now I can ride 10 miles without thinking about it on my Emtb. It's a game changer.

[@anthonyfox477]

Ebikes are awesome! I also am in a 1 car household, and I view the ebike as my car essentially for all in-town trips when my wife is using the actual car. I go to a gym downtown, and it would be a nightmare to drive down there in traffic and find parking. With the ebike, I can get downtown in 15-20 minutes and always get front door parking.

[@anniedaynoww]

Craig, I have been watching you since FOREVER and I love how you review new things you try in life. PLEASE TRY ESCOOTERS! And especially try a LIGHTWEIGHT option! I found that I appreciate feeling exactly how the wheels are contacting the road with lighter scooters.

[@13cathie]

I have a Rad ebike and it's amazing! Agreed that it is a replacement for a car, not a regular bike. I would never consider using my regular bike to go to the grocery store (as I live on a hill and would be miserable hauling stuff up), but in my ebike it's a breeze! Plus, you can decide whether you want a "workout" by choosing how high of an assist level you use. You can turn the assist off entirely to turn it into a regular bike if you want to sweat, or you can crank the assist to the max to arrive at your destination sweat free!

[@SlipperyPotter]

Bought my Cyrusher Kommoda 11 months ago. Donated my van. I usemy bike for errands, like grocery shopping & to ride to my studio. It is fantastic. My bike handles more like a motorcycle than a bicycle. It’s heavy and has 4” knobby tires. 5 pedal assist levels, and a throttle, which I only use to get the bike going from a dead stop. The first question people ask me is, “How fast does it go?” I reply, “Bicycle speed!” Riding over 20mph while wearing only a bike helmet is dangerous! I got a bike with a lot of torque because it’s really hilly where I live. That’s what all the power is for, not riding 30 mph just because I can.

[@charthepirate]

I converted my wife’s bike to an ebike. It cuts her commute down from 45 min to 15 min. Pretty sure that 600 bucks has saved her like 800 hours at this point. Extremely good deal

[@leoperez2566]

The key is the chemistry. LFP is the safest! It doesn't explode or catch fire. With other chemistries like NMC are very dependent on the battery management system to keep them safe.

[@MyDogRunner]

Love your videos. We rented e-bikes on vacation and also fell in love with them. we have 2 Rad Power bikes, which have been trouble free for years. Definitely fun, can go further, makes commuting a possibility - if only it was bike friendly where I live. Still not cheating if just for fun and exercise.

[@dianabarrick5356]

rented ebikes on vacation over a year ago... came home and bought my own. After over 1000 miles, it's one of my most loved possessions. It's perfect for our local mountain terrain in Appalachia, but I bought one that is still light enough that I just turn off the electric and can still ride to get more of a work out if I want (though that takes a lot of self control since I know all the fun I'm missing!) Hubby didn't want to give in, but finally admitted that he will use the ebike more. He bought his a couple weeks ago and we did a 30 mile ride in 28 degree weather- still got a little workout and loved every minute 😊

[@emilyboulter5978]

We had to sell our second vehicle and I am thinking of getting an ebike. I like that it makes the commute a little easier (I take my regular bike when it’s nice out) and I like how they often have nice bright lights.

[@Monstah7]

Yeah i sold my car and built a custom cruiser 9yrs ago, and haven't regretted it for a second, i'm never buyin' another car.. No rego, no mechanical problems, no crazy fuel prices, what's not to love.. Recommend investing in a bike trailer for occasional hauling.. 👍

[@IndianaPopovich]

i need WheezyWaiter as a guest on The War on Cars NOW

[@HallsEmporium]

Yes! Wheezy, welcome to the War On Cars 👏

[@ImagiNationLabswithRevChumley]

I've been riding my folding fat tire e-bike to work everyday (that it's not raining hard) for going on 2 years. I don't have to pay for a parking pass or get there early for a good spot. I get some exercise while not arriving at work dripping with sweat, it has been a win win. (and I can charge up the bike at work) No idea how much money I've saved in gas and mileage on the car to boot.

[@erniefay8644]

Very nice video. Subscribed. I’m a senior and have been riding e-bike for over 10 years. Average 20 to 30 miles per day, weather permitting. I purchased a Radster Road in May and find it an excellent choice for bike path rides. Cheers from Vancouver, Canada.

[@logicalfundy]

Agree - when I got my e-bike, it ended up being a replacement for my car. My trip to work is too long with too many hills for a conventional bike. I didn't even consider biking to work until I bought an e-bike. After fires in some cities, a lot of manufacturers fixed up their batteries and bought them up to standards to become UL listed (or equivalent outside the USA). So they're much safer now. As far as exercise goes, you can turn off the motor if you want. Nothing stopping your from doing that. You can also adjust the level of assist. As least on the e-bike that I have, those are possible.

[@jonessmith2068]

I had the same ideas about e bikes and then I bought one for my wife since she does not bike as far as I do on our regular bikes. What I found out was that when I was puffing like a steam engine against a 20 knot wind she was still peddling leisurely keeping up in graceful form. After months of this i decided to use her bike to try it out. I had the same response I loved it. Bought and e bike the rest is history!

[@MichaelP-ns]

Bought one a couple months ago, love it - you can exercise on the ride as little or as much as you want. Plus I can pull my kid around with the bike trailer and not die, so that's a plus

[@CharlieFine-s1l]

Pro tip from a long-time ebike user, get one of those devices that automates your plugs!!! You set it up so it turns off your charging after a couple hours, plug it in to your wall, and it drastically reduces the chance of your house burning down bc of a battery fire as it prevents overcharging your bike. They are pretty cheap and super easy to set up

[@jonathonalsop2120]

I was just watching a Brompton Electric review.

[@MarkFaldborg]

Regularbiked everywhere for most of my life, got an ebike. And now I get to places a bit faster and less sweaty. It is great! Although mine was stolen yesterday, so right now I bus everywhere. Which is fine.

[@SheldonBird]

Lol I always really enjoy when you use the crowd laughing sound escalating to the crowd clapping together

[@MakeItMagical27]

I took an E-bike tour of San Francisco and it was so fun! I don’t live by a major city at home but I can definitely see the appeal.

[@MeldaRavaniel]

Protip: recalculate the mileage you don't drive and adjust it on your insurance. You may have to call them if it's really low, but I had no trouble with that. I converted my trad bike to electric with a mid drive motor (about $1500 for the motor and battery, then i spent some more on random tweaks and upgrades like new tires). I'm insufferable about it, I love it so much. And yes, it's definitely a car replacement, which I tell people when they say, "but so expensive!". Think of it like your next car. And if you have kids, get a truck bike. I've seen a family of four on their ebike! I live in Seattle, so hills are everywhere. I used to ride to work occasionally, but it took me an hour one way and I'd have to shower when I got there... Which made "occasionally" more like "rarely". But now? I bike everywhere. To the store, to work, clear across the city, or just down the street. I don't have to deal with traffic or parking. I get to smell the seasons change and see everyone's plants flower. I ride a route that puts me on a hill so I can pause to watch the sunset over the Sound. I even ride in pouring rain, that's how much I would rather ride than drive or take transit. I wear water proof pants with wellies under them, and a good rain coat and I'm fine. Do be careful in wet, though. I slid out on a hill and bend my rear wheel. Otherwise I was fine, it was kind of like a water slide. 😂 I took my car for its regular oil change a few months after getting my bike and my mechanic told me to come back in another 6 months because it didn't need it. Get you one. Check if your city or state has an incentive program. And then make your city focus on making bike infrastructure better.

[@EBrenry]

Craig, I was waiting to hear how you secured your folks’ e-bike. I get that Madison’s B bikes are rented from their hubs, but how did you secure the one that stayed with you from home & back? Standard lock & public bike rack???

[@Adam-ds1ik]

I got an ebike last year and it has been amazing. I live close (6 miles) to work and theres a bike trail that leads up to my office and its so pleasant. My biggest issue is that i can't go anywhere on it except work because of how impassable and dangerous one road out of my neighborhood is (even for drivers)

[@bradley3549]

(Yeah, I comment before completing the video.) There is also a whole different class/type of ebike that I recently fell in love with. The e-mountain bike. I thought it was cheating for a long time. Now I get it - one, since I don't dread the pain of the long climbs I bike more often. Now because I can climb with the added weight of my children riding with me I bike more often. Because I can climb faster and will less fatigue I ride LONGER and ride HARDER. They are amazing.

[@ziploc2000]

eCycles allow people who wouldn't normally cycle to get (back) on a bike, and extend the cycling range for those that do cycle. I bought an eBike just over a year ago, and rode 1800 miles on it in my first year. Even if the bike was doing half the work (it wasn't), that's still exercise I wouldn't otherwise have had. Most of those miles were for leisure and pleasure, but I did do some local shopping trips on the bike rather than take a car.

[@Freaky0Nina]

In Europe folding bikes are somewhat common. People take their bikes to get to the trainstation, get into the train with their bikes, get off their stop and then travel to work. You can also decide that a route is too long and spontaneously get into a bus etc. You don't take up as much space in the train and you can carry your bike up and down stairs

[@visualpun650]

One thing about production e-bikes with rear hub motors. It is difficult to change the tube if you get a flat. Hard to turn the bike upside down to get at it. Doesn’t have a QR skewer to facilitate easy removal. Need tools. Gotta disconnect wires before removing wheel. Wheel is heavy as heck.

[@RyanMatejka]

When I was working remotely I sold the car I wasn't using and my wife and I bought e-bikes - hers is a cargo ebike that can carry both of our toddlers. I was laid off shortly after and forced into an in-person job but I enjoy biking to work so much more than being stuck in traffic.

[@535Computer]

I have a Rad Mini folding bike that I've kitted out to use as my "errand runner", using it as a replacement for my car. It's funny how they've taken off in popularity. I live in a city of about 250,000 people and when I started riding in 2019, it was like I was driving an exotic sports car; everyone wanted to know about it. Now, it's just another fat tire bicycle with a fat, tired rider. Just kidding, I'm not tired.

[@DAMfoxygrampa]

At least you're still fat ♥️

[@fivebyfivewhat]

Yes e bikes!!!!! I’d really recommend Bike Shop Girl’s channel if you’re looking for a bike you can carry your kid on. We have a Tern HSD and we’ve put more than 2000 miles on it over the past 10 months!

[@MrSourceplease]

I'm at three years on my bike and I cannot imagine going back to daily driving. I do not ride in the rain or snow because I just don't care for that, but I ride in any temp and that works great. It is definitely saving gas because I only rarely drive to work and I get a modest amount of exercise, a lot of fresh air, and feel more a part of my neighborhood because I can actually wave and say hello to neighbors.

[@TristanBurgener]

i never thought of it this way. riding an ebike would be way better than the car or bus!

[@Josukegaming]

HELL YEAH REPLACE YOUR CAR AND BE HAPPER AND SAVE MONEY!!! It's awesome to see you covering urban mobility and that it's very possible to live car free even in the USA! I did it for years before moving to the Netherlands and EVERYONE cycles here! Thank you for mentioning how great bike infrastructure can be in the Netherlands at 2:48

[@noahcoleman42]

I relate with your point that ebikes get more people on bikes. My parents would never join me on half day rail to trail rides if it weren't for ebikes.

[@CraftyKarin]

Yup, exactly what my argument was when I got an e-bike: if it means I will bike (a lot) more because I’m not avoiding it because of hills or wind, and thus also enjoying it a lot more, it’s worth it. Also, after I got COVID in 2022 I’ve been having issues with breathlessness that meant taking walks suddenly really sucked but I could still bike, I just upped the support a bit so it was less effort. Without the e-bike I certainly wouldn’t have biked at all.

[@RhymingMime]

My friend (we're in chicago) has been divvy-ing to all the stations in town for a lil bit each saturday. Theyre up to 200 or so i think!

[@krucdfumv]

I Commute 30 miles to and from work, in the Denver Co, area and its pretty hilly in some areas. it really helps not being wiped out getting to work.

[@rylandplassmann9095]

I have a folding e-bike due to storage. I don't fold it all the way, what I do is "half fold it". Meaning I just fold down the handle bars and flip up one or both of the peddles so it can be stored in the hallway. Folding it all the way can be a hassle but at least it can fit in the back of a small trunk (or boot for you brits).

[@yogiyoda]

Welcome to the club! E-biking is so much better than driving most of the time! Please use your platform to push for better biking infrastructure if you can. One of the big hindrances to biking in my city is lack of safe biking lanes in many locations. We shouldn't be forced to share the roads with angry car, careless drivers on their cellphones, that can be deadly :( Also consider using for more funding for city bikes. It's so convenient to not have to worry about maintenance or bike security when parking!

[@Tokoroegao]

I like my e-bike, because - I can float more effortlessly with the general traffic. - I can transport all kinds of stuff (it's a compact cargo bike). - I can get to my office without being drenched in sweat. - It's fun to ride.

[@TwiiKuuTF2]

hello craig! batteries may catch on fire when the manufacturer cheaps out on the electrical protections, which none of the name brands do because they want to stay in business, so i would not worry about it :) rad would be good! enjoy da bike love

[@aussiization]

Really have been enjoying more frequent WheezyWaiter videos :)

[@air1fire]

I never thought about it as a replacement for cars. Yes, as that they are absolutely 100% great.

[@NZKiwi87]

We got rid of our car and got a good ebike each, plus a pull-behind covered trailer for groceries. Haven’t paid for petrol in over 2 years now 😊

[@ambiarock590]

I got an ebike almost 2.5 years ago and I love mine. I've put well over 3K miles on it and I 100% choose it instead of a car. Saves money, makes you happier, makes you healthier.

[@fionnagrant6636]

I love my ebike. So much fun. So practical to use. I do worry that they are essentially disposable. Almost all secondhand ebikes are not worth buying because the batteries for those specific bikes are no longer available. There needs to be more focus on producing new batteries that can somehow be retrofitted to older bikes

[@quacker998]

I’ve bought 4 over the past few years and all of them are brilliant

[@BenDurham]

I approve of these wheezy messages! ebikes are AMAZING!

[@tecreates2384]

My Specialized Como is my favorite vehicle!

[@chrisb508]

I've had a Rad City for a few years now. Rad makes very dependable bikes. I like thinking about an e-bike as a replacement for a car. If time isn't an issue, I take my e-bike a lot instead of the car.

[@Its_a_me_Bondo]

we love our rad bikes. Does make the lake loop a bit too easy but it also free up your time to keep going on all the other trails we have around here. Best part is when your all tired out you just turn up the assist a bit and head home. You can turn off the battery and bike around in the 60 pound bike and you get plenty of exercise 😉

[@HoboGardenerBen]

I have a regular hardtail mountain bike and a car but ebikes are still useful in that mix. Had a couple, both were fun. Been eyeing that Lectric Xpedition 2 cargo ebike, the longest range is absurd for $2k. I hope the tariffs don't increase that price too much unless that incentivizes widespread ebike production in the states. I can deal with a period of raised prices if it means we get a sweet local product in the long run.

[@SteveMoore1969]

If you have an old bike that you want to upgrade. I bought an electric Swytch front wheel. It has 40kilometer battery with 5 power options roughly 15 to 20mph

[@coletteblechert3794]

We got rid of one of our vehicles. We take our kids (3 of them) to school on an e-bikes, my husband e-bikes to work everyday. Even in the winter in Utah it’s worth it to us.

[@celestialynx]

I live in the Netherlands (although I'm not Dutch) and I commute about 4km to work by bike every day. I've ridden in rain, snow, gale force winds or all at once on my mountain bike and the electric bike has saved my butt more than once (especially since some 2km is a road through fields). For everyone until they get on an electric bike is "laziness" (I used to say that too), then they quickly change their minds. An electric bike won't replace a car, but it's a lot of fun when it's beautiful sunny weather and you can enjoy it, while not sweating riding against the wind for 10km 😂

[@stefanschneider3681]

It's just EASY! And charging is much less of a problem than with cars. And you don't arrive all heated up and sweating like with a normal bike doing the same distance ... fun video!

[@NathanCrouse611]

I rented an ebike in Zion National Park recently. You still had to put effort into it, but as the guy that rented the bike to me said, "You feel like you have Arnold Schwarzenegger legs." He was right. Going uphill was far less effort so I had the energy to ride much further. Unfortunately the biggest issue I have with riding bikes is saddle sores and that was no different on an ebike. Usually I would ride less miles on a regular bike so it wouldn't be quite as bad, but I was able to ride over 20 miles that day before I stopped because by bottom was in much pain.