My electric bike vacation last week included stops in Newport, RI and on Cape Cod. It’s really a great way to get around town, travel the coast and meet other people. I likened it to having a dog and meeting other dog owners in a dog park. You just automatically connect with other ebikers on your journey.
Before my husband and I bought electric bikes, we reneted them. It’s a great way to start, and try before you buy. Most bike shops now rent them and sell them. Keep in mind, it isn’t cheap. But, it is an investment in your future fun and health. My husband’s bike was actually made by a friend of ours, after we purchased the parts on Amazon. I bought my bike on a trip to Ogunquit last year. Since then, we’ve been having fun all over New England, and quite a few of our friends now own electric bikes, so we go on adventures together.
I know what you are thinking… “It’s not really exercise.” Not true. In fact, Our pedal-assist bikes keep us moving and keep us in the great outdoors. Not only that, we are much more likely to hop on a bike now, then before. There was a great article on the benefits of ebikes, titled “E-bikes Can Provide A Good Workout” in the New York Times. Hey what’s better than jumping on a bike for an adventure, knowing if you need a little help up a big hill, you got it!
What Are The Best Ebikes?
Chosing an ebike can be overwhelming. There are so many different kinds! Almost as many as pedal powered bikes. Luckily, bicycling.com has given us 18 great suggestions. I have an Aventon Pace, It’s a pretty basic electric bike, nothing fancy. But I love it.
Ebiking is Better With Friends
Everything is better with friends, and yes, that includes ebiking. Whether you want to ride into town and grab a coffee, take it to dinner in the North End, ride to Nantasket Beach with your buddies, or put the bikes on your car and head out on a Maine adventure trip, find some friends who also have ebikes and ride like the wind.
You Can't Beat The Views
Newport is such a great place to ebike around. There’s the coast, and the town (which is far easier to bike in than drive in). There’s also beautiful farmland to explore. We rode to catch the sunset view on the pier.
Electric bikes make it possible to cover so much more ground than you would with a pedal bike.
