The “great equalizer”

Ebiking opportunities in New Brunswick

BY DAVID GOSS

AUSTIN LAVALEE

The author on an annual fall ebike ride up to the top of Grove Hill, on the outskirts of Saint John at Barnesville.

Steve Williams of VELOelectric of Moncton calls ebikes “the great equalizer.” He adds, “ebikes are fun, empowering, and allow riders of all ages to engage in the sport. They can see and experience more, ride longer and with people of all fitness levels and ages.”

As an ebike rider myself, I would have to say I couldn’t have put it any better.

As he pointed out in a mid-winter interview, when neither of us were enjoying the 100 km power-assisted rides possible on such machines, “Ebikes give the rider the tools to not stay home. The barriers to a rider’s enjoyment are removed; no more hills, no more headwinds.”

As a young rider learning the balancing and co-coordinating tricks necessary to ride successfully, I never once imagined I’d still be enjoying cycling into my 7th decade. Nor did I image the basic coaster brake machine of the 1950s would become super light, have suspensions, hill climbing gearing capability, and quick stop disc brakes. Add to this the battery powered motor of ebikes and it’s easy to see why Steve refers to them as “the great equalizer.”

Looking for some trails to try out? Here are some I can recommend:

In Fredericton, travel from UNB’s gates, over the St. John River via the Bill Thorpe Bridge and along the Nashwaak River to Marysville, by mostly paved trail. Trip can be one to two hours of riding depending on how much of the pathway you take.

The Van Horne Trail in St. Andrews from Langmaid Park on Water Street to the Bar Road is an easy hour, but if it is low tide, over the bar to Minister’s Island can make it a two hour jaunt. Some hilly portions, but all paved until the island.

Perth Andover to Florenceville Rail Trail (or reverse) is sandwiched between highway 105 and the St. John River. In total it is 33 km, about 2.5 hours, but there are options to stop and turn around at Bath, the halfway point in either direction.

Pressed for time? Doing a portion of the 120-km Petit Témis in Edmunston, beginning at 116 rue Victoria and ending at the Quebec border, is about 20 km. It’s a flat ride, weaving past the Biological Gardens and the golf club along the St. John River.

Bathurst has 3 in-city trails, all under 10 km, and is the jump off point for an abandoned rail trial to Campbellton— which is doable for ebikers, but is 87km long, so not likely road-bike friendly for those who cycle recreationally.

One of my newest discoveries, the Dune to Downtown Bouctouche Trail is 10 km through the woods, with some highway breaks to link the woodsy passage. It can begin in downtown Bouctouche off Irving Boulevard, and run to the Irving Eco- Dunes, or done in reverse. It’s just over an hour one way, but ebikers can do both directions and not notice the loose rock hills. Sussex: A very flat and very bucolic trail follows the Trout Stream from Leonard Avenue to Sullivan Park in Sussex Corner. It is only 5km, but for the hearty, and appropriate for ebikers, at that point, access to what is known as the Sussex Bluff Trail is found. It is truly a challenge with

cliff side edge, narrow pathways, that require considerable skill to negotiate, but the view at the end of the 4-km trail is indescribably beautiful.

Adam Pitre of Saint John is convinced that within 10 years, ebikes will be the majority of his sales at his Bike Works shop on Thorne Avenue. “It’s been a slow build up. Europe has had ebikes for more than a decade,” he says. “It’s a cultural thing, there, a way of life.

Here, because it is recreational, and considered pricy, there has been a reluctance for dealers to get into it. But slowly, it has caught on. The baby boomers are driving it. They quickly realize they can ride with their wives and children, and all can have a comfortable outing.”

Adam feels ebikes are especially good in hilly Saint John. “We have the best mountain bike rail network—equal to any in North America—in Rockwood Park. But like the rest of Saint John, it is hilly, and ebikes flatten those hills, make the twists and turns manageable. Visitors love the fact they can camp right in the park, and within 15 minutes, be uptown for fine dining, visit night clubs, and shop.”

If these recommendations have intrigued you, the next step is to give ebikes a test run. At Moncton’s VELOelectric, this is possible via rentals. Their experts will fit you to a bike, rent you a helmet, and point out favourite routes for you to experience. You can ride anywhere in the province, or even to Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island. Rates start as low as $49 per day and prebooking is recommended at sales@iamvelo.com.

In Saint John, Adam Pitre is focusing on servicing the cruise ship passengers, but will also have some capability to pre-booked rentals as supply of machines allows. His on-line connection is bikeworkssnb.com.

What are you waiting for? Get in on what Steve Williams calls “the great equalizer” or as Adam Pitre puts, it, “any bike trip is an adventure—ebikes just multiply the experience.”

Top: Adam Pitre in his Bike Works Shop. Above: Anyone can enjoy an ebike.