Electric Bikes: Overcoming Criticisms as an Exercise-Cheating Tool

During their early years in the market, electric bikes didn’t gain much traction because they were regarded by cycling enthusiasts as an exercise-cheating tool. Yet it took a pandemic for consumers to realize that being able to pedal effortlessly, while covering a fairly good distance, and without breaking into a sweat, was good enough reason to use an ebike. Besides, unlike cars that require secure indoor parking spaces when not in use, storing ebikes indoors, even in upper-level living spaces is quite manageable, because most models have a walk-assist feature or are foldable.

Studies Show that Ebikes Also Help Improve Physical Fitness

Nevertheless, a study conducted by researchers of Brigham Young University (BYU) revealed that riding an ebike is not as effortless as many would like to think. The outcome of their study shows that electric bikes require nearly as much physical effort as riding a traditional bike.

The BYU study, which was published in the Medical Internet Research Journal upheld the findings of a smaller study published in the NLM National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2016. A group of researchers in Boulder, Colorado reported that participants who commuted by way of pedelecs (electronically-assisted bicycles) showed improved blood sugar levels and fitness after a month of using the pedal-assisted vehicle. Participants said the riding experience was so much fun that they used the pedelecs more often than they did with their traditional mountain bike.

Popular Indoor Storage Solutions for Ebikes

Keeping a single unit of ebike is not a problem because it wouldn’t take up much space. Nowadays, there can be more than one ebike in a single household, but storing all units inside a living space is still doable. Storage solution designers were quick to take note of the growing cycling culture that they were quick to come up with various space-saving bicycle racks and mounts.

First off, it’s understood that ebike users will at least wash off the dirt and grime stuck on the tires before bringing their bike inside. There are special soaking mats and bicycle trays to prevent excess oil and water from dripping and soiling the floor.

While some ebikes are foldable and easier to store indoors, most non-folding models come with a walk-assist mode. This support feature makes the weight of the bike negligible and navigating easier, when needing to walk the bike in different directions.

A simple bike rack is the easiest solution, and there are adjustable racks that can expand and allow storage of additional bikes.

However, if space is an issue, a rack that can be attached to the wall allows mounting the ebike off the ground and against the wall in a vertical position. It’s important to make sure that the rack is made from sturdy steel material and has padded hooks to prevent scratches and other potential damages. Also, if a rack is meant for storing multiple bikes in different sizes, look for one that has adjustable hooks to ensure that every bike can be mounted securely.

If living in an apartment where renters are not allowed to bore holes on walls, there are space-saving racks that can stand alone, and are called gravity racks. This type of rack is designed in a way that the feet of the stand extends beyond the bike’s center of gravity, to ensure stability when propped on the floor and next to a wall. There are gravity racks that can hold, up to two bicycles.

Still, while there’s a wide range of bike storage solutions, make it a point to check the maximum capacity of the hook and stand in relation to bike weights and sizes.