In our car-centric culture, it’s easy to just go with the standard and drive everywhere. The store; activities; going out for fun in the evening usually involves a car, even if you’re staying in town.
Then you have to sit in traffic, and find parking (good luck). And, if you’re just going for a drive to be out to enjoy the weather or scenery, you’re properly shielded from it, because of the enormous metal box you sitting in. But it doesn’t have to be this way, and you don’t even need to become a hardcore cyclist to change your experience for the better.
When my oldest was little, we would often go walk on a trail close to our house (that we drove to get to). However, I really liked the idea of getting a bike, so we could go farther, but we didn’t end up doing that at that time. After we were back in Provo, and I had my son, I was determined: I wanted a bike. I wanted a way to take both kids out, and g o places with both kids, that didn’t involve hauling around a car seat. Initially, we invested in a front basket cargo e-bike that was woefully inappropriate for where we live (mountain). At my bidding, Todd also got an e-bike so we could all go out together as a family. And he fell absolutely head-over-heels in love with it.
Though I’d been the one wanting to get bikes for years, having an e-bike changed so much of life for Todd. Not only was it a good reason to get out for a regular exercise, but he found it to be freeing, and so much fun. When it became glaring clear that my first bike wasn’t going to get us out, I got myself a Rad Power Bike, too.
And it was everything I wanted.
With 2 kids on the back (about 50 lbs back then; now we’re at 70), I was still able to take turns, and fly down hills like I was a kid again on my own bike. It handles beautifully. Plus, with the crazy-awesome motor on it, it can take me straight up the mountain with literal ease.
Since getting bikes, we have been able to change how we live, even if it’s not every day. When the weather is nice, we can just go out for a bike ride. Then, we’re able to actually be in our environment, and enjoy it fully. Todd makes small grocery runs via bike a couple of times a week. The kids ask to go, just as a fun way of being together. If we want to be up the canyon in the mountains, we can bike ourselves there. It can be so easy, on a lazy Sunday, to just sit and watch Bakeoff, but with our Rad Power Bikes, we have a different option, and we choose that option, because it gives us the freedom and family time that makes us all feel better off.
One of the best side effects of us biking is how much of an impact it has had on our children. Our daughter, from a young age, has pointed out where things are around town, and she is obviously familiar with different routes, because we’ve been all over. When I was a little kid in suburbia, I knew the routes I knew, and that was it. But for our kids, I think being ‘on the ground’ in their town has helped them get a better sense for it, and for where things are.
For our son, he’s been biking around since he was a year old, so biking often calms him down—it’s so peaceful—to the point that he falls asleep. And it’s not quite the same as when he falls asleep in the car to K-Rap. It’s just feeling good and calm as he feels the wind on his face during our rides.
A couple of months ago, after biking back from town late one evening, our daughter—who has literally no knowledge of the movie Titanic—spread her arms wide, and said, “Mom, I’m flying!” She was so excited. There, in the cycling-friendly bikeway streets in the dark, she felt safe, and free, and alive in the warm night air. And that moment was everything. This is what getting out of your car can do.
Though e-bikes are a bit of an expense, they’ve been growing in popularity since 2020, and for good reason. We have fallen in love with Rad Power Bikes, specifically, because they are really reasonably priced for what you get (powerful and reliable).
Todd wanted an e-bike that was very utilitarian. He has saddle bags, and a front rack. For me, I just wanted a bike where I could be together with the kids—the way the bike handles feels like I’m a kid riding solo, because of it’s powerful motor, is just icing on the cake. Our daughter recently outgrew the little kid seat, so we got a deck pad, and runners, which she has loved.
If you want just a regular bike, I wholeheartedly support you. But if you want something to get around in lieu of a car, an e-bike is the way to go. You easily ride at at least 15 mph, and, once you know the best routes to take for where you want to go, it’s the same amount of time to get there as it takes driving a car. We frequently bike the entire length, or width of Provo, and it’s no big deal. Especially if you’re hauling kids, or just want to make faster trips, an e-bike might just be the best things ever for you.
We have been evangelizing for years about Rad Power bikes, and have influenced several friends (okay, only our best friends) to get them. They have loved them, too.
“The Rad bike was a gateway bike for me. It made it easy for me to commute, which eventually helped me get over the fear of commuting on bikes. Now I’m biking a couple hundred miles every month.”
-Casey
-Erin
“As a wife of an electric bike user, I will say, it has become a large part of Brandon’s personality, he’s “a biker now” and loves telling me all his biker issues, like traffic, terrible road conditions, energy exerted because he forgot to charge the battery, going up hills, and how sweaty he is, types of locks and helmets. 100% would recommend buying if you want to hear about all these things against your will.”
-Brandon, Erin’s husband
“Since getting my e-bike I’ve actually enjoyed going in to the office. I save at least 10 minutes by riding. It makes routes that are more bike friendly but kind of hilly, a joy to ride with the pedal assist. Also it lets me phone in my ride on the way to work so I don’t arrive at the office sweaty.”
So, if you’re trying to figure out which e-bike to get, or if you’re just a little bike-curious right now, let me tell you: it’s super worth it. Do it! Free yourself, and enjoy yourself. You’ll feel pretty Rad on an e-bike.
