Michael's Blog: Have I Become Spoiled by My E-Bike?

Have I become lazy—or maybe just spoiled? That thought crossed my mind this morning as I rolled my old commuter bike out of the garage for the first time in almost two years.

Like many people, I've embraced the e-bike craze. Most days I commute to the SierraSil® office on my Trek FX+2. It's been a terrific bike. I don't use the full level of assist—just enough to take the edge off the hills, avoid arriving drenched in sweat, and still enjoy a modest bump in heart rate. It makes commuting easy, practical and, most importantly, enjoyable.

But today I dusted off the old bike.

I wore a workout shirt, packed a clean office shirt, and headed out. Yes, I worked up a bit of a sweat. Yes, it took a little longer—but not nearly as much as I expected since the hills are only part of the ride. And yes, I burned a few more calories.

Most importantly, I still enjoyed the ride.

It reminded me that the question isn't whether to ride—if you're able—but whether an e-bike or a traditional bike is the better choice for you.

One thing today's ride reinforced is that exercise doesn't have to be all or nothing. Some people dismiss e-bikes because they provide assistance, but I see them differently. If an e-bike helps someone replace car trips, commute more often, tackle hills with confidence, or continue cycling as they get older, that's a win. The best form of exercise is often the one you'll actually do.

When I chose my e-bike, I thought about several practical questions.

• Would I ride more often if I could get to my destination without needing to change clothes?
• How much assistance did I really want? There is always a trade-off between the amount and range of assist versus the overall weight of the bike.
• How much value was I willing to leave locked outside while I was at work, knowing bike theft can be a reality in Vancouver?
• What riding position feels most comfortable and safest?
• Would I be riding only on pavement, or did I also want the freedom to explore gravel paths and park trails?

For me, an upright riding position provides better visibility in city traffic than my road bike, and I wanted tires capable of handling more than just pavement. I enjoy riding around Kits Point and along the main east-west trail through Pacific Spirit Park, where crushed gravel sections are part of the experience.

I also love the feeling of riding a bike—leaning into corners, carving through turns, and simply enjoying the ride. That made weight an important consideration. Cost mattered too, which ruled out some of the wonderfully light premium e-bikes.

For me, the Trek FX+2 turned out to be an excellent compromise, and everyone I know who owns one has been happy with it. Its battery is neatly integrated into the frame, it weighs a manageable 18 kg (40 pounds), and even with my rather substantial 2.3 kg (5-pound) lock, it's still easy enough to handle. The range isn't class-leading, but it's more than adequate for my needs. Fenders keep the rooster tail of water and dirt off my back on rainy days—and yes, I'll happily commute by bike in the rain.

I also want to thank the visionaries in Vancouver who persevered through the criticism to make our city increasingly bike-friendly. With an expanding network of protected bike lanes and dedicated cycling routes, riding—especially on an e-bike—has become a practical option for commuting, running errands, and simply enjoying the city. It's encouraging to see families using cargo bikes and child-carrying e-bikes as part of everyday life.

And a special thank you to the great team at West Point Cycles, (West 10th and West Boulevard) and Cycle City (downtown on Hornby) who have always looked after me exceptionally well.

As I reflected on today's ride, I revisited two of my earlier blogs—The Joy of Rediscovery (August 2021) and The Big Pile-Up (July 2022)—and had to smile.

Cycling remains one of the most enjoyable ways to get outside, breathe fresh air, explore your community, and stay active. And the lesson from that unfortunate pile-up still applies: stay aware of your surroundings, pay attention to changing road conditions, and save the sightseeing for when you've stopped.

So whether you ride an e-bike or a traditional bike, my encouragement is simple: just ride.

As I wrote in the 2021 blog, “Before summer is gone, and in its place are the autumn rain and more hurried schedules, I encourage you to revisit a joy from your past. That could be riding a bike, swimming in a lake, or even flying a kite. Do something fun that brings about a youthful smile—or perhaps a gasp of humility ('Gee, this was so much easier decades ago!') or quiet satisfaction ('Hey, I've still got this!'). You won't know until you try.”

Here's to moving a little more, smiling a little more, and enjoying the journey.