I miss my bike.

Simple as that, I miss riding my bike. I still have it, of course. It's sitting peacefully in the garage at our new house, waiting, like me, for another nice day when I can pull it out and ride again. What I like most about my bike is the motor. Yes, I said motor. It's electric (boogie-oogie-oogie). The thing that strikes me most when I tell people that I have an electric bike is their response. If I had a dollar for every person who said "Doesn't that defeat the purpose?" I could buy them their own e-bike and they could see for themselves. My answer is usually to say "What purpose?" If it was a stationary bike, then yes, a motor most definitely would be defeating the purpose. But a bicycle is good for more than exercise. Do you really think half a billion Chinese people ride bikes every day to keep away the love handles? It's sort of sad that the majority of Americans seem to overlook the transportation value of the bicycle. For them, to think of a bike is to think of Lance Armstrong. Don't they realize there was a time before the automobile, when people had to either walk or ride some sort of self-propelled transport?

Of course, the electric bike isn't completely self-propelled, and so I realize that the argument I was headed towards there isn't completely valid. But it brings us back to the "purpose" of the bike. Not only do I not think that the motor on my bike defeats the purpose, I believe it actually increases the purpose. It improves it, if you will. Not only is it fun to ride around, but with a range of 10-20 miles on a single charge, it's fun to ride far. And I also believe that the reason most American's don't consider the bike a viable transportation option is because we are the fattest country in the world, and most people (including myself) simply can't ride a bike efficiently and effectively for any distance. There are tall hills and uneven roads and body sweat and flabby thighs and all the other things that keep biking from being practical. That's what is so great about the electric bike; you can pedal when you want, and maybe get a little exercise, but when the going gets too tough just lay on the throttle and coast up the hills. Coast the whole way, if you want. Personally, I do a little of both at the same time, always trying to pedal when possible.

Not only does the electric motor increase the practicality of the bicycle for everyday transportation, but it helps improve the environment. If more people are able to ride bikes without breaking a sweat, they might be less likely to drive cars. It's a great eco-friendly alternative to the silly notion of starting up your four-door sedan to haul one person three blocks to the store.

Now, e-bikes aren't without their disadvantages. Traditional bikes are still far, far lighter, which makes them easier to pedal and easier to haul up and down stairs and store in closests and whatnot. In fact, the bike I have is heavy enough that it's probably a better equivalent to a scooter or even a small motorcycle, but I'm okay with that. Also, they are much more expensive than your average bike, unless you're looking to ride in the Tour de France or something. Expect to pay as much for a good quality e-bike as you would for a top-of-the-line racing bike. Speaking of which, there are very few good-quality e-bikes available. Mine is a Tidalforce, made by Wavecrest, now defunct. The bike is now being made by another company, who's name escapes me at the moment, but there are still many Tidalforce's available on sites like eBay. I bought mine from a nearby shop called ElectricRider, in Lawrence, who do most of their sales via the internet. If you're looking for advice on which model is right for you, or you just want a few questions answered, they are very knowledgable and friendly. Unlike some bike shops I've found that have one or two e-bikes, it's all that ElectricRider does. Furthermore, they sell some pretty neat kits that can convert your existing bike into an electric one for a fraction of the price. Personally, I went for the Tidalforce because of the rugged, off-road capable design, but there are other options if you are more interested in street riding. Please, check it out. If you are interested in doing your part to help the environment, but you aren't in terrific shape, you may be a perfect candidate for an electric bike.