Posted on

‘WHY E-BIKES ARE MINT!’ – ANDREW BARLOW EXPLAINS…

Focus Jam2 7.0 2022

 

If you’re a purist mountain biker or any form of cyclist for that matter you may absolutely resent the cycling-revolution of the past ten years, the e-bike! Everyone’s entitled to their opinion and it’s fair to say that some cyclists just know from the off that e-bikes are not for them; there are, however multiple reasons why e-bikes are absolutely brilliant. Apologies in advance for my small e-bike manifesto but I think e-bikes are mint!..

First off, as an alternative to using a car for short journeys an e-bike is better for the planet, by commuting or going anywhere for that matter on an e-bike you produce a far lower amount of Co2 pollution per kilometre than cars or motorcycles. As reliable research states, an e-bike produces around 22g compared to a car which produces around 270g. There’s less power drawn from the grid and using an e-bike helps improve air quality which is a massive positive in terms of combating global warming and pollution.

E-Mountain Bike

Using an e-bike for his regular rides has helped Andrew get through some of the toughest conditions of the year here in the Lakes.

 

Another big driver for owning and commuting on an e-bike is affordability. After the initial investment you’ll see a significant cut in your weekly expenses; with fuel prices going up and the general cost of living ever increasing you’ll see your outgoing costs going down. In the UK the average commute is only around 4 miles, generally the range on a fully charged e-bike is 18-50 miles so charging your e-bike once a week should be sufficient making the charging costs negligible compared to fuelling a petrol or diesel car. Just think of those potential savings next time you’re driving that short commute when you could be riding!

Then there’s the health benefits to consider; among many positive outcomes there’s the boost to your immune system, an increase to your metabolism as well as improved cardiovascular health. Beyond the outward-facing health benefits, if we look inward to a potential to improve your mental health there’s plenty of evidence to support the theory that regular exercise, less screen time and an immersion into the natural world all help to keep you feeling better on the inside too. ‘Acoustic’ cyclists on non-electric bikes may look down their nose at us but e-bikes should be heralded as a gateway to getting yourself fitter and enjoying a more active lifestyle without some of the traditional barriers.

Focus Jam2 7.0 2022

Andrew has been onboard the super-fun, all-new Focus Jam2 7.0 E-Mountain Bike this winter.

 

One last point, which is personal to me. The use of an e-bike, or more specifically in my case an e-Mountain Bike makes the difference between me riding multiple times a week or not at all. It’s fair to say that living here in the Lake District means that nearly every bike ride, regardless of whether you’re riding on or off-road, involves struggling uphill for a fair portion of each ride. Those stunning vista have to be earned! There’s no easy way to get to those mountain-top views and I love to capture the Fells with my camera in all seasons.

Riding an e-bike has put the fun back in all those meters of elevation which I face on a weekly basis, my riding group looks forward to those long climbs now rather than loathing them; on the steeper technical terrain I now see the ups as fun and engaging as the downs, with each climb presenting me with the challenge of overcoming the terrain rather than quickly accepting my fate and pushing up. It’s also the difference between me riding with my fitter friends and not, with an e-bike I’m much more likely to be seen riding at the front of the pack rather than getting dropped at any point of ascent.

The very best part of the e-bike revolution is that it makes any form of cycling more accessible and inclusive for everyone, just like the entire cycling world should be!

Focus Jam2 7.0 2022

Using the Focus Jam2 7.0 through winter has opened up more riding possibilities for Andrew.

 

Focus Jam2 7.0 2022

We recently published a launch feature on the all-new Focus Jam2 7-Series; you can read it here.

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

Launched in December ’21 the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 is a true ‘trail-bike’ e-Mountain Bike built ready for action. 

 

Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 2022

With a compact Shimano EP8 motor the Moterra Neo 4 feels as agile as an ‘acoustic’ trail bike.

 

Shimano Steps EP8 Motor

Both the Focus Jam2 7.0 and the Cannondale Moterra Neo 4 feature Shimano’s brilliant EP8 Motor; click the image to read more. (J. Vincent photo)

 

Written by Andrew Barlow

Photos by Andrew Barlow

 

Have you seen our weekly Fast Bike Friday feature? You can see bikes like the Pinarello dogma and more every Friday. Missed some of our best bikes? You can now see all of our featured bikes in one place over on Pinterest where you’ll find links to each of our Fast Bike Friday Blogs too!

Click the link below and search our archive…

Fast Bike Friday at Wheelbase