CA P RO UG E
WHY AN electric bike? Vickie Magic rides her electric bike conversion
When it comes to wellness, exercise is pretty important. An electric bike is a great way to start. What is an electric bike? Generally speaking, e-bikes are bicycles with a battery-powered assist that comes via pedaling and, in some cases, a throttle. When you push the pedals on a pedal-assist e-bike, a small motor engages and gives you a boost, so you can zip up hills and cruise over tough terrain without wearing yourself out. The first thing you should know about e-bikes is that they’re here to stay. Electric bike sales jumped by an incredible 145 percent in the last few years and there’s no sign of a slowdown. Here are a few reasons why the electric bike is taking off more than ever before. • It’s a speedy way to get up to speed! When you ride a bike in traffic, one of the biggest sources of anxiety is stopping and starting, going from a complete stop (like a red light) to the speed of traffic. This can take a lot of energy, especially if you’re a little out of shape. The motor is a great assistant, getting you from zero to the speed of the surrounding traffic quickly, meaning you don’t need to worry about holding up the people behind you. • Hills? No problem! A steep incline can be a nightmare to cyclists. However, on an electric bicycle, hills are no problem at all. In fact, one of the biggest selling points for electric bikes are their hill-climbing capabilities. • They are great for when you’re tired! Sometimes you just feel so tired, even when usually cycling isn’t a particularly tiresome activity. There’s just something about it that drains you. Well, fear no more. The battery is great because you’re still pedalling, and therefore still doing physical activity, but you don’t have to put nearly as much effort into it. • It’s great motivation to exercise! I’ve seen people make the joke that electric bikes are the “lazy man’s bike”. Ironically, an electric bicycle is actually great motivation for 64 ISSUE 101
people to work out. If you’re riding a bike for exercise, you probably plan your route, and most people likely won’t stray too far from home for fear that if they get too tired, they’re screwed. After all, if you’re too physically exhausted to keep riding, but you’re 30 minutes from home, you’re going to have a bad time. But an electric bike takes care of that problem. • An electric bike is the extra little kick when you need it. It’s a get-out-of-jail-free card for when you feel tired. It’s not that you need one, it just makes a really good back up for all those just in case situations. Once you have one, I can guarantee you’ll be using it more than you thought you would. Ben Lynn and the team from Cap Rouge in Mooloolaba are passionate about electric bikes. From replacing the battery on an e-bike to converting a favourite bike by adding an electric motor and battery, the family run business combines their electric bike building experience and mentoring from a family who have been 40+ years in the battery business. Ben and the team at Cap Rouge pride themselves on providing the best products at the lowest prices so everyone can enjoy the electric movement. They feel great about helping more people go green by commuting clean! As well as working with their clients personally, Cap Rouge also work with bike shops and retailers all over Australia. They love local shops. Customer service is their priority and they work hard to provide the good old fashioned customer service that we all love and need. If you are seeking a replacement battery for your electric bike or looking to electrify your existing bike, contact Ben and the team to get started. They are ready to answer any questions you have and you’ll be surprised at their fantastic prices and sensational service. a 1300 809 840 // www.caprouge.com.au
