It's easy to dislike something new, especially when that new thing tends to be more expensive, heavier, and tackier looking than your cherished old one I am referring, of course, to electric bicycles As an avid cyclist since my diaper days, I have been enamored with the sensation of cruising around on a bicycle for as long as I can remember

When ebikes started appearing in my field of vision about 10 years ago, I paid little attention at first After all, ebikes are an incredibly eco-friendly alternative to the automobile, and living in a crowded city like Seattle, I welcome anything that reduces the urban car culture

But then the number of ebikes began to grow, and soon everyone from young people with floppy hair to salty retirees were bombing by my side at mach speed, bike racks filled with bulky, unsightly ebikes, and so did popular bike trails And so my attitude changed from an open-minded, fresh-faced college boy to a crotchety one ready to wave the proverbial wand at all passing Ebikers

However, that was the old me People can change These days, I love my motor-assisted lifestyle In fact, I plan to upgrade to the best motor-assisted bicycle in the near future Here are seven reasons why I've finally become an electric bike believer

I used to scoff at electric bike riders who huffed and puffed their way up steep hills" Ride a real bike" I used to shout in my head But now I know better than to criticize Sure, you can ride an e-bike with minimal exertion But that doesn't mean you have to

Often, especially on long rides, you need to preserve your battery for when you are really tired For example, when riding the Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT, I like to keep the E-assist on the lowest setting except on steep hills This, coincidentally, is how I end most of my rides (I live on hills)

Yes, you can get a good workout on an e-bike For example, on a recent 156 mile ride I did, I burned 878 calories according to my Garmin Forerunner 165 My average heart rate on that ride was 146 bpm, not much different from the average for a similar ride on a standard bicycle

It is easy to imagine that electric bicycles are expensive However, the entry-level market, which I classify as bicycles under or around $1000, is really starting to blossom [Ride1Up Roadster V2, Ride1Up Turris, Juiced Ripracer, etc

Speaking of entry-level, the battery life on bikes like the Roadster V2 and Juiced Ripracer is respectable The former gets 20 to 30 miles per charge, depending on how much e-assist is used, while the latter gets 55 miles; even higher-priced options like the $1700 Rad Power RadCity 5 Plus have batteries with a range of 55 miles or more

It is worth noting that most entry-level EV bikes do not offer replaceable batteries Therefore, additional expense is likely to be required for that feature Fortunately,

modern e-bike batteries charge fairly quickly The Trek Verve+'s internal battery can be charged to 100% in approximately two hours The Roadster V2 takes a bit longer, between 2 and 4 hours

Still, this means that if you run out of juice during your cycling adventure, you can pop into the nearest coffee shop or pub, grab a drink or two while your bike recharges, and you're on your way

The weight and bulkiness were the main reasons I was hesitant to own an e-bike Living in an apartment with several sets of stairs does not put me in the mood to own a 77-pound bike

However, there are several e-bikes that are affordable and nimble Of course, there are lighter options in carbon fiber, but those models start at a few thousand pounds The Roadster V2 weighs 33 pounds and the Trek Verve+ 43 pounds Both are much heavier than my standard commuter bike, but their weight is manageable

In a crowded urban environment, e-bikes offer an entertaining and environmentally friendly alternative to driving to work They can also get you from point A to point B, often faster than a car if the city has adequate bicycle infrastructure

In Seattle, thanks to well-developed bike lanes and trails, one is never stuck in rush hour traffic Destinations that would take 45 minutes by car can be reached in 15 or 20 minutes

After all, the reason I started biking in the first place is because I enjoy it Who would have thought that adding a small motor to a bicycle would make it even more fun? But it certainly does

In addition to the thrill of riding around town at breakneck speeds, electric bikes have the added benefit of opening the door to new adventures Destinations that previously might have been avoided by bike because of distance or gradient are suddenly within reach

This is just the beginning of my electric bike journey I mentioned in the intro that I would buy an electric bike, but I want to explore all options

Once I have tried different models and get a feel for which brands and styles work best, I will bring you more updates Until then, happy riding