I went for my first e-bike ride today since the lockdown. It might be more risky than staying indoors but I feel better for going out. I hope I do in about 3 weeks as well.
While out, I went to the allotment. It was good to see how all the plants were doing and to talk to the people there who I’ve got to know …from a distance of course.
Now back to doing nothing again.
Well done Mart! 
I had to Google e-bike’s, never heard of them 
They are electric? Have you recently got it because I always imagined you rode an ‘ordinary’ one when you’ve said you’ve been out riding your bike.
I’m a nosy bugga aren’t I? 
I rode an ordinary bike for many years …and still will sometimes. I thought I’d use the e-bike this time because I haven’t ridden since the lockdown started and the muscles probably aren’t what they were.
The point was more just getting out this time rather than it having any exercise purpose. I was getting so that I never wanted to go out at all! That’s why it’s been a big deal for me to go out on the bike and why I wrote about it. 
I said I wouldn’t get an e-bike until I was 75. I got it a year early as it turned out and I’ve had it for nearly two years.
Edit: Sorry Pesta, I forgot to answer the ‘electric’ part. Yes e-bikes are electric. They don’t go unless they are pedalled but the pedalling is assisted, so less effort is needed to pedal them along. The speed is limited to 15.5 M.P.H although, like an ordinary bikes, they will roll faster than that down a hill.
Yes, I guessed it was all about getting out again. Stagnating comes to mind doesn’t it 
I can relate to muscles ‘relaxing’ over this period of lockdown. My hips ache every morning when they never did. It’s just because I’m hardly walking as I used to. I’m sitting more too.
Still at least I haven’t gained weight, just a bit of flab flabbing where it never did before 
I’ve been using a stepping stool indoors to step up and down to music. It’s a discipline to do that though …and a bit boring. It was nice to get out and ride for a few miles and then have a chat to people on the allotment.
Well, I’ve no excuse really, I have a fold away treadmill under the bed in the spare room. Also a silly step machine that I’ve never liked. Every morning I say I will get the treadmill out, but I don’t.
I still do stuff and keep moving about, but I’ve never sat down so much in the day like I have been doing. I’m surprised I’ve enjoyed it TBH. Doing crosswords, sewing, reading. I must stop soon. I feel a slob :shock:
Yes, it’s good to have a natter in the big wide world. I bet you felt a lot brighter after the ride, fresh air and the chat.
Indoor exercisers do take a lot of self-discipline to use and not all of us are very good at that (me included). Walk half a mile on them and it’s easy to stop when you get puffed. If you walk half a mile away from home, you can’t give up because it’s another half mile to get back again.
Yes, that’s true 
It’s so boring on the treadmill. Going on and on, speeding it up and still getting nowhere fast. Looking at the same spot out the window. I have ‘sea legs’ after for a while and it’s a bugga if the phone rings 
E-bikes. Been there done that. But mine were from kits that you add to the normal ATB. Curry kits they were. The only problem was they were sealed lead acid batteries and that made it heavy. No need for a pedal start, just press the button. No cutout on the brake ether.
Is the speed limited on that kit?
The battery on my e-bike is lightweight and part of the frame. The overall weight of the bike is still fairly heavy though.
It’s got a ‘walk’ mode that I’ve never used. Push the button and the bike rolls along at a slow pace. That could be quite handy if walking the bike home with a flat tyre (for instance).
The bike can still have exercise value. It just depends on the amount of assistance it’s given (there are 4 levels). It can be ridden without any assistance at all because it still has the standard gears on the rear wheel. The motor is in the crank. It’s not bad to ride without assistance but it takes a bit more effort to get up to speed than an ordinary bike.
I may go out again on it later today.
There was no speed limited on this kit. If I remember I could get up to 20mph on the straight.
I should add that kit is not on the bike now, as the battery died and was not going to replace them as I did not use it that much.
I know it’s not the same, but I had a go on my neighbours e-scooter. Very nice with lots of info on the box on the handlebars. Top speed 18mph. Range? Debatable.
I have a e-scooter that I got for free. It was in a state and the wiring was chewed up. But I got it sorted. Belt drive but can’t get the original belt USA. So Halford was my friend with a fan belt.
I went out on the e-bike last week and after riding up a long draggy hill on the road, decided to go off-road onto a bumpy old track we used to ride. Partway along, the wheel slipped into a small gully and I fell off! At least nobody saw me.
Today I rode the same route on my Claud Butler ordinary bike. It was much harder work of course but I didn’t fall off.
The e-bike has smooth tyres on 28" wheels. The Claud Butler has treaded tyres on 26" wheels. Maybe that’s why I didn’t fall off …or perhaps it’s because I was more careful having fallen off the first time.
I have a mountain bike I keep meaning to change it for a sit up and beg but can’t be bothered .
It’s ok .
The other exercise is the dog .
He’s a full of energy border collie and makes us go for walks everyday .
I saw a woman riding a bike that had a dog lead on it. Near as I could make out, the lead was attached to a fairly long flexible pole that was fixed to the handlebars. The pole kept the dog away from the bike’s wheels and because it could swivel from side to side, the dog could go either side of the bike.
The rider and the dog seemed to have got the measure of the contraption quite well.
I was going out on the ordinary bike today but I had to wait and get the washing out on the line. It was too late to go out by then. The day had warmed up too much. That’s my excuse for not going anyway.
I did 5.15 miles today. It was the same route as the last couple of times but I used the phone to measure the distance this time. I had to stop to mop my brow halfway up the hill and wondered if I ought to cut the ride short. Then determination set in, so onwards and upwards.
It’s a dodgy hill to ride up. All bends and fast cars coming up from behind. It all becomes worth it when at the top of the hill and then going off-road. The track was quite picturesque today with all the shades of green, the trees and the dappled sunlight. Glad I made the effort.
I cycled about the same distance today on the ordinary bike but all on the road. I thought it was too windy to tackle the route with the long draggy hill in it.
This is all in aid of wanting to cycle to the hospital on Thursday but not on the e-bike. I reckon this would be too much of a target for theft. Having said that, the Claud Butler ordinary bike isn’t a bad one either.
Bicycle theft is always a worry. If it does get nicked, at least I’ll be fit enough to walk home with all the riding that’s been done.
I rode the route again that takes me up the long draggy hill and along the off-road path. My legs were like jelly when I got home. I think I’ll give that hill the nickname of ‘Heart Attack Hill’ because, when riding up, it feels as if one is going to happen at any moment. We used to ride an off-road hill that my brother gave that name to. We don’t ride there any more though, so maybe I can transfer the name.
Such a relief to make the top and then go off-road…
I rode a little over 10 miles on the ordinary bike today (as opposed to the e-bike). It’s been over 3 years since I rode the route I did. Not done it since my brother/co-cyclist became unwell. We always did that ride together, so it was almost a sentimental journey.
I thought I’d find it hard to cycle 10 miles because it’s been a while but it wasn’t as exhausting as I thought it would be.
Good on you mart, moved my bike to the side of the house in preparation, was thinking of an E Bike, but, that is a big decision, bit like the decision to move from a conventional House to a Bungalow.
