5 Ways an Ebike Can Beat a Post-Holiday Slump
Post-December Blahs?
The holidays are over, the gifts have been given, leftovers are on their way out for good. You’re restless, you should exercise, but – resolutions aside – you really don’t want to go to the gym. Maybe an ebike can get you going again?
The fact is, you can always find something new to do when you explore by electric bike. And an ebike can even provide more exercise than a regular bike, without you noticing it, especially if you have a Class 2 bike with longer battery life and a higher top speed.
Below are 5 ways to make your old town new again by traveling around it by ebike. When you travel by ebike, you find new things happening all around you – restaurants, stores, and galleries popping up, one-time events popping off.
You also encounter things that aren’t advertised because they aren’t for sale: sunsets/sunrises, landscapes that go unseen at car speeds, and chance meetings that never would have happened otherwise.
We have some buying suggestions below if you’re new to ebikes, as well as links to some of our best guides for new ebike riders. Check out our tips, and always, always, always wear a helmet!
1. Check Local Listings
This one might seem obvious, but it's not. We all get lazy, overwhelmed, or overfocused on the big picture. Look around you. Join a local group or forum for one of your interests, whether it's basketball or bird watching.
Whatever you've decided you want to do more of this year, find ways you can get outside and ride to that thing, upping your fitness levels and saving on parking and traffic hassles and fuel costs.
Also, you should join an ebike forum, like this one, where you'll find other like-minded riders with similar skill and experience levels. While your goals might be individual, the best way to reach them might be with a little positive peer pressure, which brings us to #2....
2. Find or Start a Group Ride
You can start your own group ride through a forum, a Facebook group, or just get a group of friends together who you know already ride – and remember that most scooters, eskates, EUCs and ebikes can comfortably keep pace together, so you can include all kinds of riders.
Group rides are an excellent way to explore your city or town and know you have safety in numbers should anything go wrong.
3. Check Lighting Conditions
Sure, you check the weather before you leave the house, but do you check sunset time and cloud conditions?
You should know if you'll need sun protection, or if you need to bring additional lighting or wear reflective clothing.
You can also time your arrival at specific spots during the best times of the day, when you'll grab the perfect view and capture the moment.
Seeing your city in a new light, literally, opens up new horizons of appreciation for places you thought you knew.
4. Switch Up Your Commute
Ride your ebike on bike paths and/or trails if you usually drive or bike on the road. Or if you usually ride on paths and trails, ride on the road.
Break the cycle of boredom by traveling to old places in new ways and making new discoveries on the way.
Check your local laws, of course, to find out where you're allowed to go before taking your ebike on the road or trail.
5. Expand Your Territory
Ride to neighborhoods you've never visited. Go to outskirts and suburbs and peaks you've never seen.
You'll need to be a more experienced rider before you'll feel like venturing out beyond your comfort zone, and you'll need a longer range bike. But there's no time like the present to start getting the practice you need to expand your territory.
RG Ebike Buying + Riding Guides
And if you're still figuring out what you need, check out some of our guides below to help you narrow things down:
The Comprehensive Guide to Ebike Classes
Where Can I Ride? A Guide to US Ebike Laws
How to Find the Best Ebike for Heavier Riders
5 Best Budget Fat Tire Ebikes
The Best Moped-Style Ebikes of 2024
The Best Folding Electric Bikes of 2024
