Confessions of a (Recovering Bike Ride-Phobic) Cycling Lover I love cycling! Many years ago (back when I had TV and I didn t have a child) I watched the Grand Tours and Spring Classics and I could name every team, every GC contender, rolleur, domestique, sprinter, and climber in the race. I was devastated when Mountain Bike World Champion and Olympian Filip Meirhaeghe admitted to doping, impressed with his honesty, and upset about his reception back into the sport after his suspension and, obviously, we won t even discuss the whole Lance thing. I could watch Scottish trials cyclist Danny MacAskill videos all day long on YouTube. But the one thing I can t do, can t truly do, is feel relaxed and comfortable riding a bike. I was a late bloomer in the area of bike riding, finally learning to ride on two wheels at the ripe old age of 9 by riding down (and climbing up) our neighbor s driveway about a million times. After that, I cruised around the neighborhood a lot, but mostly to find secret reading spots where I could uncover the secrets of the hidden staircase with Nancy Drew. After my husband, Chris, got into cycling and saw that I wasn t too keen on riding on my own, we got a tandem, which would ultimately spell our doom or success as a couple (F.Y.I. so far, so good). Seriously, if I could not get mad at this guy after he jumped off the bike to save a turtle while I fell to the asphalt, still clipped in the pedals, we could weather any storm. We even took part in a few races, the now defunct Richard Bong Memorial Race in Poplar where I had to eat a Gu packet halfway through the course and liked it because I was bonking or dying, and the Fantasy 50 version of the Grand View Firehouse 50 where we actually got the fastest tandem course time but it didn t count because we were on a tandem (we were so robbed).
After we won the non-existent, Fantasy 50 Tandem Category ;-) in the early 2000s. Our son will be asking why this ancient pic isn t b&w. Riding was easier for me, not the physical part of it, but because I didn t have to worry about anything not riding over gravel, steering, traffic. He told me what was coming up, what to do, and I did it with no question (probably the only time in our marriage that actually happened!). It s not that I don t want to ride my bike, it s just that I m a worrier (and not in the best shape). I worry about bumps, soft shoulders, traffic, looking behind me, stopping, crossing highways, going up hills, going down hills, dirty water bottles, and riding into or over animals (bugs included) in no particular order. I don t like to ride with people, because I m slower and don t want to inconvenience anyone on their 22 mph avg ride while I m more comfortable in the lower teens and single digits, and I don t want to ride alone, because I ll swerve to miss a bumblebee, fly off the side of the road down into a ravine, and never be heard from again. And, I really don t like to ride with Chris, because he s super supportive and waits at the top of every hill. When I get there, my granny gear smoking, he s off to the next overlook while I just want a break. Needless to say, it s been a few years since I ve ridden a distance of any consequence a bit embarrassing as I work at New Moon...Ski and Bike (maybe there will be another article like this about skiing, stay tuned). Anyway, this year, New Moon ordered a bunch of E-bikes. Some of us have heard the debates about electric pedal assist bikes expensive initial investment (yep), heavier than conventional bikes (another yep), may damage trails (the jury s out on this one, but I m a road-only rider, so not my focus at this point), and using them is cheating (what?). We got a single-speed commuter e-bike (geometry too aggressive for me), some full-suspension mountain e-bikes (um, too scary), a fat e-bike (really? Previous issue times 10). Then, I spied it the Populo Lift an e-bike with a relaxed set up and a
non-threatening, step-through frame. OK, well, maybe I should give it a go, I thought. After hearing some really inspiring stories about people getting back into cycling after injury with the help of pedal assist bikes, and a few others about spouses finally riding together after years because the slower one could now keep up, the least I could do was try one. Joel got it ready for me, lowered the seat (another thing I m afraid of not touching the ground), and told me nothing about how it works. You ll be fine, just head out, he says, no big deal, right? What Joel had neglected to inform me was that the bike helps you incrementally more as you set it from 1-8 he had it on 5 this bike was so new, no one at the shop had tried it over level 3. So, as you can imagine, things were a bit sketchy for a second or two. He ended up following me behind the shop to turn it down to a lower level that didn t send the bike into warp-drive with one downstroke of the pedal (definite hyperbole here). I came back to the shop, and the bike seemed ok, sort of scary, but, you know, this is me talking. Then I decided to do something totally unlike me and resolved to take it to Marquette, Michigan, on our upcoming vacation. When previously I had held down the fort at the campground with my nose in some mystery or another, while the fam was shredding the trails, this year I would be lapping the locals on the paved bike path. Chris readying the Populo for my first real ride. What had I gotten myself into? I thought as Chris, our son Egan, and I headed out. The seat was still a bit too high, the bike was heavy, and I was nervous. Keeping the assist on the lowest setting, I started to get the hang of it. Crossing the highway was actually easier now and not as frightening because the little extra oomph the assist gave me helped my not-so-strong knees power across the 4 lanes of traffic quickly.
When we rode up a hill, Chris and E didn t have to wait for me, because the assist allowed me to keep up with the guys. Checking out the lakeshore with Egan (left). (Right) watching a laker get loaded see the fun things you can do when you are biking? I felt amazing. I felt like I could ride 50 miles, like I could commute to work every day (ok, well, not really, I ll never be that guy)! Egan actually wanted to head back before I did! While I had to have the guys spot me crossing roads and still didn t want to be to close to traffic, the e-bike actually made me excited about going riding again. I wouldn t have to worry about holding anybody up, because if I couldn t make it, I d just increase the power and catch up. For most of the ride, I just had the power level on 1, a couple of times 2 or 3, mainly just to see what speed felt like or if I had to go up a hill, and while I ll never really feel safe going up to level 8, I guess it is comforting to have that option in case I just can t make it totally on my own. So here s what I learned on my e-bike adventure: 1. (and most importantly) I worry too much; 2. The e-bike may be that little extra something that helps me feel comfortable riding with friends, going longer distances, and even actually getting out to begin with. Will I go on the next New Moon Tuesday Night World Championships? Probably not, but will I ride to school with E or check out a bike path on our next adventure? Definitely. I know Look Chris is actually behind me! BTW, this selfie was really dangerous for me to take (but I did it!).
some people don t like the idea of the e-bike, and they are entitled to their opinions, But, what I know is that I m actually riding again, spending time with my family, enjoying our beautiful northwoods. Biking can be fun and not scary. I read all the Nancy Drew mysteries already anyway. It s time for me to go ride! If you want to rent or test ride a Populo Lift or another E-bike, stop at the shop or call 715-634-8685 for a reservation. Featured in this article: Populo Lift E-Bike, size small, $1450. In-stock at New Moon! Hwy 63 N Hayward WI 54843 800-754-8685 // www.newmoonski.com