Pedelecs’ member Eaglerider tells us how he accidentally lost over 12 kilos while having fun.
I guess it was all rather circumstantial really. I had been troubled with a bad knee for some years and thus my cycling activities were restricted to an occasional trip to the pub and little else! Anything over five miles was getting too painful to be any fun.
By chance, I had occasion to try out a home-made electric bike. It was an alarming contraption that clearly needed further development, however, the brief few minutes of effortless pedaling, even up a hill, piqued my interest and I was hooked!
I have ridden motorcycles for over 40 years so I am accustomed to two wheelers, but the sensation of silence as I cruised along was quite magical.
So I Googled “e-bikes”, and found the Pedelecs electric bikes forum. Four weeks of intensive research and subsequent purchase of my trusty Freego Eagle brought me to where I am today, and it’s been a wonderful journey.
Initially, I had no aspirations to get fit or lose weight, it was just good fun to whizz around the village and it was ideal for trips to the pub. But increasingly, I found myself going on longer rides, 25 miles, 35 and even 50 plus miles. Armed with my sandwiches, (well, choccy bars to be more precise), flask of tea, maps, tyre repair kit and yet another on- and off-road adventure would ensue. I was having so much fun, and at 57 years of age it was most refreshing.
Strangely, despite some intense cycling activity, I had very little knee pain, and clearly my joints were gaining benefit as I could once more descend stairs without stabbing pains in my knee. It seems my electric bike was doing what the doctors couldn’t. The long periods of low stress cycling were having a healing effect.
Within a few weeks, colleagues would remark that I had lost weight. I guess it’s just another unexpected benefit of e-bikes. After only 12 months of ‘having fun’, I had accidentally lost over 12 kilos, and 6 inches off my waist. I say accidentally because I barely recall any long periods of heavy exercise having taken place, I was just enjoying myself.
I’ve ridden 2700 miles to date, all for fun. I have been soaked a few times and had to fix a few punctures along the way, but the bike has been reliable and always gets me home with power to spare.
So, yes, electric bikes have changed my life! I’m thinner, fitter, lighter and I feel all the better for it. My dodgy knee is much improved. But, perhaps more importantly, the act of cruising effortlessly down a country lane on a summer’s day in silence endows me with a great sense of well being and is most therapeutic. I can’t seem to get enough of it.
Like I said before, it’s almost magical!
Our thanks to Eaglerider for his story. If you’d like to share your electric bike story please get in touch.
