@@kookamunga2458 Its the combo of being wet while wearing clothes thats uncomforable... If i was able to be naked riding in a tropical rain thatd be a much more pleasant experience haha
Rain can be avoided with rain radar websites. Most showers are under 30 minutes. Good raingear keeps you dry for 30 minutes. Most people heat up their bodies during cycling. I am warming on my bike than in my car the first 5 miles. That is why I wear windproof clothing. During summer heat cycling provides air cooling, that is why convertibles are popular.
I was legally blinded a few years ago and no longer able to drive , so I pedal everywhere now , it's not always easy, but I thank God that I can still do it 😊
This is my fifth week of recovery from detached retina surgery. I took the keys to the car away from myself. Started riding my commuter bike all over town. It’s doable but sometimes I still need someone to drive me around. Keep pedaling!
especially in the summer with the sun out. just getting a little bit of exercise saving some money and enjoying the beautiful sunlight it's tough to pass up!
Full time ebiker here, 365, even through the snowy Canadian mountain winter where I live ( I go studded tires). You are right that the #1 most important piece of advice is "don't cheap out". Buy the best bike you can afford. Like you my decision wasn't about the environment, but cost.
I'm in Maine and also bike year-round. Work, recreation, run errands. The ebike was very beneficial, especially on those windy days when it seems it's always blowing against you, lol Or I bought heavier things, and the extra power just makes it more doable. Windproof/waterproof outwear, a face mask and goggles, and I'm good! Oh, and I got ice breaker tires this winter and absolutely loved them.
I couldn’t afford a 3000$ e bike unfortunately. I did buy one for 1200$ for my first one and I hope it pans out for a while. We lost our car a few mths ago and I’m excited for a lifestyle change.
There are plenty of good ebikes around the $999 mark. Most of the cost for more expensive bikes are in components you can add to your own bike incrementally.
@@KozyKubGam3r No problem! There are videos on how to maintain and install hydraulic brakes, upgrades to lights, derailleurs and more all over youtube. The important thing is if you're fine with what you have, there's no immediate need to do anything more than maintain what you have. Stay safe!
I love my car. I also hate the idea of buying a new one with what they cost. My ebike allows me to keep miles off the car and use it when I want to, not have to. Also has saved me thousands in fuel and maintenance reduction (actually tens of thousands probably)
Nice video. I got rid of my car in January 2011. I haven’t needed to buy one since. One thing I can recommend is looking into car share services. They offer access to a car for the few times you really need it without all the baggage that comes from owning a car. Anyway, I really enjoyed your perspective! Enjoy your bike and be safe 😊
I bought a 2021 Trek Allant Plus S7 and have since put 6400 miles on it and about 900 miles in 2024 alone. I feel better when riding. The birds are my radio. The smell of trees and flowers is my air-freshener. People who wouldn't give me a glance in a vehicle will smile and say hi when I'm pedaling. Even children, who I will not look their way if I'm driving will give me a smile and a wave when I'm bicycling. I can't get rid of my car, Idaho Winters will not allow it. But during the warmer months the car parks in the garage. I love cycling!
For the people who want to get an e-bike, don't buy the name-brand ones, they charge a premium that's unjustifiably high, instead you just choose a nice regular bike you like and get a Bafang e-bike kit, it's a mid-drive motor, this will save you thousands. Of course, if you don't mind giving thousands away or that you don't wanna build an e-bike yourself (there are tons of step by step tutorials), just get any e-bike you can find, some bike shops also sell ready made e-bikes with Bafang (and other brands) mid-drive motors. Other than saving money, the more important reason I'm recommending this is that these name brand bikes have increasingly locked down proprietary software and hardware, with the goal of making repairs impossible and having a complete control over what we bought, this already happened to everything we paid money for from phones to computers to appliances, bikes are our last refuge, we need to do everything we can to fight this and not reward and grow the companies that are dragging us to the same anti-consumer hell hole.
This is a sentiment that I've heard a few times. Building your own or supporting open-source brands sounds like it's something really worth looking into, thank you for sharing this 🙌
There are tradeoffs, though. Some bike frames aren't great at accommodating battery. Also, since bafang motors are hanging down from bracket, it is easy to get hit if you ride offroad a lot. Only thing I want to see is universal integrated middrive-bracket ebike frames what work with whatever motor/gearbox customer choose to use.
I have a non-e bike (just a bike) that I commute in and my mental health has benefitted tremendously. Driving in traffic is not a great way to chill out after work. Used to hate driving to the store for just eggs, now I'll go gladly. I have extra bikes (mountain bike and my wife's) and my friends and family are always like "no, let's just drive to the bakery" when they visit but then later they're like "let's go for another bike ride"
Meh plenty of days that riding a bike isn't chill either. The rain. The hail. The snow. The burning sun. The strong headwinds. The blinding headlights of cars.
@@QoraxAudio I ride in all those conditions and never has it not felt fun. I have full fenders and a bike-specific poncho for rain, bar mits (pogies) for my hands in winter (I live in Montana so I still have mine on, we just got snow 3 days ago) studded tires for snow too. Since I go to work early, summer heat isn't an issue and I don't pedal too hard to get too sweaty - after work can be a bit hot, but it's never that bad where I live. Sun sets long before I'm done with work in the winter here, so I have a nice light. Most of my commute is bike paths so I don't have to worry about car headlights. But if the weather ever does seem rough enough, I can always take the car. This last year I don't think I ever did though. Weather is an inconvenience, but most days are sunny and dry (even if it's cold). A common saying where I live is there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes
@@jadinc77 Sure, most of the times when it comes to "bad weather" it's just a matter of clothing and bike type, but that doesn't make shitty weather less annoying IMO. But YMMV... There are just two weather types that are actually bad weather in that literal sense: storm and black rain. I've had both once, both lead to an accident - lessons you don't forget that easily 😅
I left a longer comment about cycling in the rain above. Get a good big rain poncho. Covers you completely from the back of your seat to over your handlebars. Completely open underneath and let's lots of air circulate. And it's covering your battery and mid drive motor even in the heaviest downpours which is also good for your e-bike. Win-win all around.
Love this idea. I’ve been going down the e-bike black hole here on TH-cam. And I’m ready to get rid of the car for sure. Having three kids is the main issue haha. Being connected to the community and getting fresh air is a major plus. Great video!
in my opinion having a family is a pretty good reason to have a car, but it’s also a good reason to have some bikes. getting your kids used to riding for utility and not just pleasure will make their lives so much better now and in the future. get some panniers for you and for your kids and make a family trip for groceries to the closest market instead of costco across town (or whatever your situation is), stuff like that. sure a car is probably a necessary thing to have in the case of being late for school or taking the kid to medical care or whatever, but it doesn’t have to be the only tool or even the main tool
Thanks! This is a great video - encouraging and inspiring! I ride my bike and ebike as much as possible for my own needs and errands. But my husband is too visually impaired to drive or ride a bike, so I drive him to work and all the places he needs to go. We’re 70, and I love my bike and ebike! Thanks again Eric!
@@tconnolly9820 Thanks! This evening I took my husband to a meeting and got in almost 15 miles, ending as the sun was setting as I returned across the Arkansas River (flowing through my town in Oklahoma.) It was beautiful and I explored a few new spots and met some lovely people! Then back to 4 wheels and picking up my husband! 👏👏👏😊😊😊🚴🏻♀️🚴🏻♀️🚴🏻♀️
Main thing I’ve noticed (no e-bike yet, but doing pretty well whatever I can by analog bike) - no more “autopilot/ I don’t remember the drive home”, ever bike trip is memorable in a way car trips just blend into the monotony - even if it’s just to get groceries.
They call this "cyclist memory." You remember a lot more on a bike since you're going slower and you're exposed to your environment. You can remember every part of a road 😁
From my experience, even if I bought a new ebike every year, and I took a taxi into work on bad weather days, working 5 days a week, I'm still saving thousands of dollars a year. People don't believe that because either don't know how expensive cars are, or they've accepted it as a fact of life.
Ebikes are disposable items, sadly. After 2 years the battery & motor are finished, repairs to the motor under warranty can take months & you will NOT be provided with a courtesy bike, insurance is ridiculously expensive, etc. If it's just for weekends, fine, but if you're using it as everyday transport that must be relied on, budget for replacing every two years, maybe even every one year.
@@papalegba6796 Cars are also disposable items as well. I literally save enough money by using an ebike to get a new ebike after 6 months. My experience of being on a motorcycle with liability insurance tells me that the same kind of coverage is probably roughly $20 a month, which is nothing compared to a car. Cars are definitely better in a lot of categories, but it's primarily because US infrastructure has such a heavy bias toward automobiles that it heavily tilts the scale in their favor, but the costs all around are ridiculous for automobiles.
In my area there are quite a few households who have replaced one of their 2 cars with an e-bike. I kept my old, paid-off car when I bought an e-bike 4 years ago and that’s allowed me to stretch out its useful life for a few extra years. To make it easier, I moved 5 miles closer to my friends and the places I typically go. Once the car needs a really expensive repair, I’ll get rid of it and transition to car-share, carpooling, or Lyft for some nearby stuff, and car rentals, buses, trains, and planes for longer trips.
Excellent video! Makes me want to go ride. I commute to work about 1/3 of the year and I love it. I don't have an e-bike but the sense of peace I have when I get to work is the best. It just sets the tempo for a great day!
I did this myself back at the start of the pandemic. When work shifted to remote, I really didn't need the car anymore (I loved my Chevy Volt). I sold my car at CarMax, used those funds to get my eBike, and never looked back. No car insurance. No car payment. No oil change. No car inspection. No worrying about traffic tickets. No worrying about car accidents. With the right equipment, I can go grocery shopping, to the Dr Office, out to eat, out to the local coffee shop to work, and visit friends. Everything Erics says about meeting friendly people wanting to talk about your bike is true. There are tons of little things that make bike commuting enjoyable. My only downside is that I had a friend who disapproved of my decision which strained our relationship.
@@erictnagle I really love it. I switched my eBike to a cargo eBike and I really love that bike (Specialized Globe Haul ST). The only negative is that here in South Texas, the summers are brutal with 100+ degree heat!
I'm waiting on my first e-bike but as a utilitarian shopping and commuting cyclist for years, good racks front and back for baskets and pannier bags is essential for a real car replacement bike. I also have two trailers. A large sized dog trailer with a 250 litre completely covered and enclosed cabin I use as my main cargo and shopping trailer. Just load everything in, zip it up and go. It's fully enclosed and nothing will fall out. And an actual cargo trailer I use less but can comfortably carry a full sized lawnmower or let down the back section and I can fit a large 400 litre container with a lid which gives a great deal of versatility and options for carrying almost anything. The trailers were €131 and €105 each respectively 3 and 2 years ago. I'm in Ireland by the way. And this is just using an ordinary hybrid no e, just me bicycle. A good sized trailer turns a €600 bicycle into a €6,000 cargo bike and a real world alternative to a car. I've had over 70kg on a trailer behind me with just an ordinary bike but I average between 30-50 most weeks when I'm using one. Take it off and you've got your bike back again.
@@tconnolly9820 I've also got a dog trailer that I use for my grocery shopping! My dog runs alongside the bike to the grocery store, hangs out in the trailer (his safe space) while I'm shopping, and then runs back while the groceries ride in the trailer 🙂 It works great! I've got a tween and a surly teen, so I still need a car to transport them to appointments and the like, but I'm trying to do as much as I can on my ebike. Better for my health, my wallet, and the planet 🌏
great video! I haven't given up the car, but became about a 80%-20% bike commuter for work, and use it for about 60-%40 on errands etc. and you were spot on!
I went the e-bike route recently. I still have to take the bus to get to work, but I bike to the bus stop (normally a 35 minute walk!), pop the bike on the bus's bike rack, then get off downtown and bike to work from there. It's made my day easier. And yes, not having to pay for a car is a plus. I love riding my ebike. It's fun to cruise around downtown here too; I live in a fairly small city so it's not crazy traffic-wise.
There is an easy way for the US to make biking safer and with less conflict between cars and bikers... Just build dedicated and safe bike lanes, separated from traffic, preferably in nice and enjoyable green environments. That's what we do in Sweden and to be honest, it's one of the best investments a city can make. Because it takes away car ridership. Because people can choose to bike safely instead of feeling the need to own a car. I remember when they built a new bike line from the suburbs to the city 30 years ago. It has never been repaired, and there's not a single pot hole in it and the surface is still super smooth. why? Well, there's no real weight put on the asphalt for it to crack, and since there's no crack, the asphalt doesn't rupture due to rain, snow, ice, and hot weather.
Yes - a lot of bike lanes I ride on are just road shoulders with a bike painted on the pavement. Dedicated, blocked-off lanes are lovely, I've seen them around Boston but they haven't spread too much beyond. I hear a lot of lovely things about Sweden, and hope to travel there one day!
That's a nice idea if you're building a city from scratch, but if you're trying to add bike paths to an existing city you have to work around existing infrastructure. That almost always means adding bike lanes (i.e. some paint) to existing roads, or allowing bikes to share footpaths. The frustration of cycling on footpaths is that many pedestrians straggle all over the path and are blissfully unaware of other people using the path.
Hi, I live in Europe and recently I have started commuting by ebike. My city subsidies a company that rents an ebikes for $18 per month. I love this bike and I love this everyday trip (I have 10 miles distance to ride). The only concern I have is that since ebikes are so expensive, I do affraid leaving it in the grocery store bike stand.
It's nice to see this video. I personally made this transition 10 months ago. I live in mountainous terrain (the sierra foothills) and have to be able to carry fairly large loads so I opted for a cargo bike. I got extra batteries and very large panniers to be able to transport groceries or store purchases more easily. For me a trip to the hardware or grocery is around 5-7 miles each way and involves climbing 800 to 1000 feet. Even with a motor it is definitely a fair bit of exercise. So far I have travelled just over 2300 miles on the bike. Like the video says, interactions with cars can be interesting, but in my case have been mostly positive. I'm not sorry I did this when my car died. Im better off financially to the tune of many thousands of dollars of investment. I do find that maintenance is a constant need. The ebike wears out parts at a much faster rate than a car does. For example, I find that a set of tires (only about $50) lasts around 1000 miles. Brake pads are good for about 700 miles, after 2200 miles I needed a new chain and rear sprocket set which set me back a few dollars and a couple days at the bike shop. Luckily for me the weather where I live is dry much of the year so I don't have too serious a problem with rain. so the big question is if I had known last October what I know now, would I have gone ahead with an ebike or would I have replaced my car? I think I would still have gone with the ebike. The drastic reduction in operating expense combined with very noticeable health improvements from the additional exercise make this choice obvious for me. I would have done a few things differently though... I would not have bought the cheap cargo bike (Lectric XPedition) but would likely have gone with a better built unit. I really cant tell you how much I would give to be running a bike with some suspension and 4 inch wide tires instead of 3 inch tires and no suspension. I would love to have more low speed torquie on the motor in order to make hill climbing easier, though I manage quite well up to about 15% grades. Given the combination of my weight (250+#) and the cargo bike (70+#) I would really have liked to see better brakes. 180mm rotors are the very minimum edge of what is needed for safety and that is the reason I have to replace pads so often. 205's would be much safer and have less of a tendency to overheat. I'd also have changed out the seat for a more comfortable one much sooner than I did if I had the chance. Even with all of the above I remain a committed ebike commuter. Im healthier, happier, and can ALWAYS find a parking space.
I've been a long-distance bicycle commuter, since 2005. I was already car-free (I was a skateboard/bus commuter, before I got a job in an area with no bus service). I made the switch to an e-bike about three years ago. I love this thing. It flattens the hills. It allows me to haul stuff in my trailer that used to be huge chore. I occasionally still take my "pedal bike" out, around the neighborhood, but the e-bike is now my main ride.
Never been an e-bike person but I’m 21 I drive a 5.0L V8 mustang as my daily driver, my monthly payment is $680 and insurance is another $380 and fuel with my “heavy” foot is about $250 a month that’s $1110 a month on my car not counting maintenance or other things that can happen. I just sent the last payment for my car, after working hard to pay it off and I’m done with getting scammed on insurance and not having money to live and enjoy life. My plan now is to get an e-bike not selling my car however won’t go that far I will just put it on non-op and take off insurance and store the car in my garage. The bike I’ve been looking at if a $3500 Talaria XXX they can do about 50mph good range and they look nice. I can’t wait to start my e bike journey and start living life with more money in my pocket to do things I want 💯💯 not only that saving over 1k a month will help me pay off other debt which I have a total debt of about 9k from a personal loan and family, so paying 9k will be a breeze and when all that’s payed off I will hope to be debt free by my mid 22s and travel the world for some time 🌎
@@ziploc2000 nope I was just dumb, always wanted a mustang so I got one however It did come with an interest rate of 18% 🤦🏻♂️ but hey payed it off in a year and a half lost 4K in interest over that time don’t have much bills besides rent little to no debt that’s how I was able to get the car and no help from anybody to pay the car off or the monthly payments.
@@ziploc2000 and honestly here in the U.S a mustang is common for kids my age now in this generation, a cheap car too at that, most kids I see now have 80k hellcats and other expensive cars that make mine look like I’m in poverty 🤷🏻♂️
@@erictnagle yeah my partner loves her e scooter, it's great because it can hop up to road speeds, but is still very intuitive to ride. I commute on an EUC, because I'm the person who always rode my bike without using the handlebars anyways. I'm thinking about getting a fat tire EBike for my winter commute for the wide studded tire's extra traction.
thing that puts me off scooters etc is their lack of storage capabilities. Sure you can carry some stuff but if you need to replace the trips to the shop you limit yourself more
@@JFat5158 that makes sense, especially if you have a lot of people to get groceries for, or need to move large things regularly. For us, we go to the grocery store once a week and pretty much everything we buy regularly can fit into my 40L backpack. We do occasionally do go to Costco or get bigger items and if they won't fit in our bags we'll usually just get a taxi or ride share. Essentially we think about it as a $20 surcharge, which even if we did that every week would be cheaper than a car payment and insurance. If we had a garage I'd probably want a cargo bike, but we live in a 3rd floor condo with no elevator so we're a bit size limited on what we can get. The most difficult thing for us is that we have a few events each year that need us to go about 50+ miles from home, and then camp a few days. Like this year it's a week long kayak trip, so we'll be renting a truck of Turo for the whole week, which is a bit expensive.
I currently own one new car (commuter) because my home base is Texas which is a sprawl, one Truck, one road bike. (retired), one HT trail bike, One gravel bike I took with me to Washington and as of this past weekend - one fat tire Ebike. I feel like this was the best purchase I made this year bc I can see now how enriched life can be on this thing. Really loved the premise of this video and stumbled upon it whilst doing some basic spec research on mileages. Only a few days into owning this and I'm already aware I need to cut the ownership down a few notches and sell off a car and a few bikes. Keep up the shares man!
Some have no choice. I might not be able to pass my next vision test for a car license, so I already have it figured. The nearest town is within range using vacated back roads. What me worry?🙂
I’m 44 and never had a license. I’ve moved from NC to OR on a bicycle, and own a bosch powered DIamondback union 2. I love it. It’s my commuter, my fitness rider, and my adventure bike all in one.
I made custom e bike, 500W motor and 48V24 Ah battery, total cost was 1600$, range w/o pedals assist is 100 km when 30 kph speed and 70 km when averaging 40 kph speed. I usually don't use legs because I don't like to sweat, only spinning pedals when I am cold. E Bike is the best thing ever I bought, probably even more fun than PC.
I've been commuting 3 years now. Living in Kingston Ontario means I have snow tires for my ebike. Have a Trek as well but last year bought a specialized with a belt drive. Less maintenance.
I've always been a cyclist as a means to get from A to B. Bikes are just a win on so many accounts in my book, which your video covered very well. We did opt to keep our 1 family car, but both my wife & I have an annual target of each putting more miles on the bikes than on the car collectively, and given that's no longer a challenge we might have to up the stakes! Unfortunately e-bikes are a bit more restricted over here in the UK, limited to 15.5mph instead of 20(?)mph, and a 250w motor. They're still worth it for some people, especially in urban or hilly areas, but I'll continue to be a fan of the humble "acoustic" bike, mainly because I know how to take one apart and service it! As for what we should be doing for the environment, bikes + e-bikes are leagues above electric cars. The battery from one electric car could power 100-200 e-bikes (~50-80kwh car vs ~500wh for a bike), and then you've got all the other considerations of space on the road, parking, tyre wear etc. A recent stat I heard was that if globally everyone cycled as much for transport as the Dutch do, we'd be saving 700 million tons Co2 annually.
@@DanielLoveReelUnfortunately it's an eu-wide regulation, anything above that is essentially classed as a moped and requires insurance. Which would be fine if local governments allowed mopeds to use bike paths where it makes sense, but most don't.
Good Morning, I just subscribed to ur channel. My E-bike is my main source of transportation. Before I bought it, I used to ride the bus, I quit driving years ago. I bought my e-bike 14 months ago (March 2023) from Ride the Glide, a local e-bike shop and I rode over 6,000 miles. My e-bike has changed my life completely and I absolutely love it. Back in July 2021 I fractured my spine and I had 3 crush virtabre bones in my lower back, I couldn't feel my legs and walking would hurt my back very much. So, I use pedal assist 3 and ride about 10-15 MPH on average and I ride about a distance of about 15-25 miles on daily rides. Now I DON'T hardly have any back pain and have full mobility of my back and continue to ride. I still have 3 crush bones, but I don't hardly feel the pain because of my e-bike. Thank You & Good Video 😎
My boyfriend did this a month and a half ago, and I haven't seen him so happy and excited before. He got an e-bike secondhand for $600 and bikes to work five days a week. He seems so freespirited without his car. I was inspired to follow him (Though I will still be keeping my car, hopefully this means less spending on gas). I'm getting my bike this Saturday and I can't wait for all the adventures we're going to have!
I have a non e-bike but I'd love to be able to ride E-bikes to work everyday if only it was legalized on busy roads in my country. Anyway, I'm still happy to be able to ride non e-bike to work 🥰 Good video it motivates me to continue riding!
@@erictnagle E-bike are too fast apparently can be dangerous on public street, cause people usually breaks law cause they like going fast, which can be very dangerous. This is exception for when you're just riding on local areas to go to store. Malaysia btw
Hey Eric, Did you ever ridden the Potrero loop?? Newbury park to Thousand Oaks to Westlake Village back to Newbury park(Hidden Valley., Lake Sherwood area)!!I did it a lot in the 70s and 80s!! I loved it!!
Thanks for the video, really enjoyed watching it and fully understand your choice :). I'm an avid cyclist since my childhood and being in Germany it's fairly easy to just use everyday. I'm riding several older non-e bikes, my girlfriend has an e-Bike and it's been our main transportation within the city and beyond. And if the weather is really too bad (which happens just a handful of times over the year) we can always hop on public transportation if we need to get somewhere. Our "latest" discovery are folding bikes. I did pick up an old one last year which turned out to be a really awesome bike. Since you can take it for free on city transport or trains it's just easy to take it if you go for a weekend trip. And discovering new places by bike is always the best :).
I'm just now hearing about folding bikes! I was kicked off of public transport once because of my e-bike (green line train in Boston). They sound like a good solution. Such a cool story, thank you for sharing 😃
I’m a car guy and never plan on selling my car realistically because to me it’s more then just driving the car…but I’ve biked ever since I could remember and a majority of my life during my childhood was spent biking…I also biked to school for about 6 years back when I was in middle/high school. Few years ago I started getting the biking itch that I haven’t had in a while so decided to build myself a E-mountain bike. Let’s just say it’s been awesome…it definitely forces me to go outside on days where I wouldn’t have much to do outside in the first place and being able to ride my bike and do simple tasks that I could of used my car for is very relaxing and enjoyable.
Best regards fro, Germany from someone who commutes to work (10 miles) by EBike on a daily base and who‘s wife does the same. I fully agree to all that was mentioned - the bike commuting situation is propably better in Europe. Have always a safe trip.
I have a 1996 Oldsmobile, it's in fairly good condition and it gets OK gas mileage. And in the cost of basic maintenance and insurance, I could buy a new ebike every year and still spend less than owning that car. This is before concerning myself at all with fuel and tolls, that's extra money I'd never have to spend on top of never having to change motor oil ever again. Folks always stop at gas prices and forget the big picture.
I did the calculations and got rid of the car. Renting a car, public transportation or taxi/uber as needed, came out as less expensive when commuting by bike every day.
@@playlist5455 Do not you mean: "came out as less expensive when commuting by CAR, instead of bike every day?"? Cycling is the most inexpensive form of transport at 5.5 USD cents per mile. Or 3 Euro cent per kilometer. Cycling is only expensive when you have to buy a bike, which when new and buying a quality bike can costs thousands of Dollars/ Euros. But after that, the maintenance is cheap.
Love my ebike, we share a car between 3 of us and the ebikes get used plenty. Here in the uk though its tough with the weather , terrible roads and drivers and bike theft, I get around that with good clothing, good locks and staying off road as much as possible. One thing is certain , i enjoy riding the bike a lot more than driving the car.
My ebike is the best thing ive ever purchased. It has done so much for me... for my life. It feels close to me like a family member. Treats me better than my mother ever did.
This video was great! I haven't sold my car, but since early 2022 I have been riding e-bikes almost exclusively, long distance trips I still use a vehicle. I have done some long distance trips with my bikes though, it's something that I plan, charging points and such. I own a commuter and a cargo model, I have two batteries for each plus accessories and a trailer, so it hasn't really been about cost saving. Between the two bikes and all of the added things it's more than my Honda Civic is worth, but I ride one of them every day. I've ridden 14k miles between the two since 2022 and don't intend to quite riding, barring something that forces me to do so. They have been extremely reliable so no complaints there and now my community knows me as the guy that is out riding year round. At this point I feel like people would be disappointed if I started driving a car more instead.
😂 I relate so much to that "guy riding year round." Drove a car the other day and I feel like people were looking at me weird. This is so cool to hear, thank you!
Although I can’t get rid of my car, I did invest about $1000 on a new bike and some kit. I intend to run errands on weekends with it, or maybe after work if there’s time. I work from home, so car usage is already pretty sparse for me unless I go out of town occasionally. Bike ridership is a challenge outside of urban areas however. I’ll need to share the road and use backstreets when available.
I'm not on an ebike, but I have an escooter (Gotrax Flex Ultra). Can't tell you how immensely this thing improved so much of my daily life. I don't work far from home so commuting to work isn't a problem. Also, I don't hate going to the grocery store or going on a food trip. I would ride to the front door of Ralph's, walk in the store with my escooter, put the items im buying in the basket of my escooter, pay at self check out, and then ride off! Even went into the McDonald's drive thru with the thing and it makes all the small tasks fun!
I lived in Vegas for a few weeks - if I stayed out there I think I would've gotten a scooter. Scooter/public transportation combo would be great in a city. That's awesome 😂
When people compare the savings the often just talk about gas, but you need to also consider car insurance and if you have a new car or a leased car (kind of the new norm now) that means you'll also need full coverage. So your cheap lease on your Chevy Cruise with limited miles on lease now demands full coverage which is around $200/mo and you quickly see how the true cost of having a vehicle even on the cheap end is going to be ~$1,000/mo and that's even before maintenance or when something does go wrong with the vehicle or the tires etc. In this video he says that the average us citizen that commutes to work is driving approx 30 miles a day. Well technically an ebike could do that even a cheap one for $600 could pull that off. So you're talking about spending $600 to save $1,000 for a net of +$400 just in that very month, not to mention the next month like july where you ALSO don't need to blow ~$1,000. Ride the bike as much as possible until the really bad weather rolls in and you hop into an uber or buy a cheap beater car (probably the move, cuz there are going to be raining days in the summer that you still need to get out, so a beater vehicle with the cheapest form of insurance is the move here) You just don't want to fall in love with being like oh I'm tired...and jumping in the car again. I've found that if you do the things in life you least want to do or the hardest thing in life first it ends up making the rest of your day that much easier. Same goes with e-biking around, where I live at worst I'm going 5 miles and that's the WORST, so I think I have it pretty good in this way and glad I locked up something before this 25% tax!
Did this a few months ago. We have 3 kids so we kept the one vehicle. So far I’ve travelled 1100kms(about 10 miles?) and lost 10lbs. I got a back seat and take my youngest never wants to get dropped off to school any other way now.
I love everything you mentioned here. I can't wait to move to a centrally located city so I can sell my car. Bravo!! New subscriber here! Keep making videos! You're a natural.
thanks for the vid! I did this a month ago and I have noticed financial stress is so much less! no registration fees to dread, no services to put off. only thing is i ride a mid range road bike because in Australia ebikes are speed limited to 25kmh and thats not as fun as getting into an aero position and hitting 35 on a road bike. happy riding!
worth mentioning my girlfriend has a car we use between us, I commute to work by bike every day. remember everyone a 30 minute bike commute means your daily exercise is done! so if you think about it it's SAVES time compared to driving then going to the gym.
Cool video, I've had my pedal assist eBike for coming up to 6 years (since 2018), more than 7000km of short trips. Gradually phasing out car trips instead of going 'cold turkey' like you, recently added a trailer so can now do grocery shopping on the eBike, started off with 1-2 work commutes per week & increased from there 🚴
It’d be all lovely if there were bike infrastructures. I refuse to take the - high - risk to ride in traffic. This I pretty much only mountain bike. I’ll always need a car: I live in the Silicon Valley.
Love your vid! I'm making a compromise and going for 3 wheels 😝 Cargo trike with a mobility permit (sidewalk access) 😬 Plus a canopy! Having only a campervan has been rough-- Super cool for trips and even as a base for weekends in the city, but basic everyday commuting is a nightmare! I honestly miss having a commuter car but I need way more time outdoors, can't yet afford the car my disabilities need, and don't want two cars worth of maintenance again! Especially when my van also has "home" maintenance too!
My answer is that I won't be able to get to work on time. My sleep schedule is fucked and I wake up just in time to drive to work in time for the first daily meeting. If I slow down to use an e-bike, I'd have a serious risk of getting run over by commuters in a hurry and I'd be late to my meeting. If there were protected bikelanes and side walks on the route I might be able to get there safely, but there isn't any of that, just a 2-lane road with no side walks and a few house driveways.
That makes sense, but you also might find the opposite - biking requires planning, planning requires actually thinking about how you spend your time. And yes - safety is a reasonable concern that I hope to address soon 😃
I did the same, although I never owned a car, but having an Ebike make mobility so more accessible than before for me. we just need to push for more bikealbe city wherever we are.
I just recently bought a basket for my bicycle, hoping to start grocery shopping with it. My grocery stores are between 1 and 4 miles away, depending on which one I want (from Aldi to Co-op). I can take mostly lakeside trails with a few blocks of suburban residential streets for the co-op... But need to cross a highway for the cheaper options. I'm hoping at least during the non-freezing months, I can do this. If so, I might invest in an e-bike. I wouldn't sell my car nor motorcycle... But I would get exercise I desperately need, and reduce vehicular usage expenses. My return on investment would be much longer, but I still think it could be worth it. Thanks for sharing your experience! Pretty cool.
I use armor-dilloz inside my tires, double the recommended amount. In 2500 mikes I got 2 punctures i know about, just lost a few psi. I also use Bluetooth tire pressure sensors, makes checking the tires pressure easy
I know, I've done it the past 3 years, even as a single father with a grade school aged son, we ride through rain, sleet or snow, as well as brutal heat in Reno, & it's been 1 of the best decisions I've ever made in my life!
Good fenders make a relatively dry bike. I highly recommend using a diy ebike kit on a high-end used bike. A quality donor bike with hydraulic brakes and good components is worth upgrading with a good kit. Then, set the tires and wheels up tubeless. It makes flats a breeze. You won't even notice small leaks and a plug can be inserted in minutes. I recently had a flat on my high end fat ebike. It would have been a pain to pull the wheel and swap out a tube. I stabbed a plug in, trimmed it off, pumped up and carried on. Many ebikers don't have a cycling background and aren't able to recognize cheap crappy components on mass market ebikes and aren't familiar with quality bike technology and advancements like tubeless tires. If you're new to bikes, it's a very good idea to nerd out on acoustic bike tech before buying an ebike. Ebikes are in vogue right now. There's a lot of very low quality product on the market that no experienced cyclist would buy. You want an ebike that an experienced cyclist would by. They are expensive. The best way to get a high quality ebike is to buy a high end donor bike and upgrade it with a quality kit.
I enjoyed that. A nice, friendly, sensible assessment of ebike ownership. I am 70: Live in the UK: Cycle regularly: Thinking (long term) of ditching the car. I seem to use the car mainly as Grandad's taxi and to meet up with people who live further than 20 miles away. My 'analogue' bike is a Cube Touring and I also own a MiRiderGB3 folding electric bike. I was planning to put the MiRider in the car and drive places to cycle; that hasn't happened once! I find the MiRider a bit too small and cramped for me, and the claimed 45 mile range to be fantasy. I managed 27 miles on it three days ago on a level, ex-railway path. That was mainly level 1 and 2 assistance and, at times, no assistance at all; The battery was dead by the time I got home. So, the point I am making is that one needs to choose an ebike carefully, which I clearly didn't. In the UK we are limited to a 15.5 mph maximum assistance limit on ebikes. That sounds rubbish but, in my experience, any faster in cool weather requires warmer clothing, and faster cycling speeds make it harder for drivers to overtake us on our (extremely) crowded roads. I think that there are probably a lot more impatient drivers on UK roads, due to overcrowding and, as I am also a lifelong motorcyclist, I can tell you that driving standards are nowhere near good enough.Too many drivers seem to lack the ability to keep a safe distance or overtake safely, and I feel much safer on a motorcycle than I do a bicycle because I can power myself clear of the danger. Nevertheless, I think it is inevitable, given my advancing years and the way the environmental wind is blowing, that I will sell my motorcycle soon and invest in a decent ebike. Your video has re-inspired me, so I thank you for that young man. 🙂
There have been a handful of UK comments that I've read about some of the challenges there! Thank you for sharing your story and for the kind words 🤝 best of luck on the start of your ebike adventures!
Rain! My waterproof jacket does its job really well and lives in the pannier most of the time. On rare occasions I have gone out without the jacket and had a soaking. Because I am generating heat I dry out quickly and luckily I’m human and not made of sugar! Carrying a ‘buff’ is useful too. It just stops those few drops of rain getting past the neck of your jacket. The rain is never as bad as you imagine it will be.
I like the idea of keeping my car & buying a bike. I live in a climate where I can easily bike 9 - 10 months a year commuting to work. I would keep my car for driving to work in bad weather, grocery shopping, family trips, skiing, etc. So, my car should last twice as long (a Big Plus). My number 1 concern is those bike batteries only last 7 years on average - then what? Bike manufactures are constantly making new & improved models, so no guarantee that a new battery will be available. I don't want to spend thousands and only get 7 years use out of a bike.
Awesome video! For the rain, I've heard rain capes are really nice, although I haven't actually used one. If I was riding in rain more often I'd probably get one
Sold my truck last weekend. Bought an ebike and a train ticket this week. Cancled my insurance too. Im a month in riding so far 240 miles this month. Its fun
. What would happen if you sold your e-bike and bought a conventional bike? 1) You're less likely to need a home fire escape plan. 2) Your fitness levels will increase exponentially. 3) People won't think you're delivering pizza. 4) Fewer people will try to steal your wheels. 5) Charging your battery will be delicious.
ebikes are still better than cars for an alternative. I do fine with a conventional bike in my scenario, but if I was consistently commuting over 45mins each way for my shift work id probably consider an ebike for ease.
@JFat5158 The definitely are better than cars. I sold my car back in 2009 and have been cycling to work (coincidentally 45 minutes, one way) and for my other, daily needs. If I'm ever physically unfit to operate a traditional bike, I would definitely go with an e-bike. Granted by the the range on e-bike will be several times what they are now and weight a fraction of what they do now.
I'm from a heavy bike riding german family. I ride around 4500-5000km (2700-3100mi) each year, to commute and just for fun. My parents both have an e-bike, and they both put around 3000km (1800mi) on it a year. We all did not sell our cars, but we ride as much as possible, do most of the shoping by bike. E-Bikes in Germany are only allowed to support up to 25km/h (15mp/h). And with the bike my parents have, Hercules Futura, weighing in at around 23kg (50lb) they have around a 250km (155mi) range. I can only recomment to anyone to get a bike. A "normal" bike or an E-bike, it does not matter. And even if you are still dependent on your car, you will be on your bike more often than not, ditching all the short drives for rides. You will take your bike around town, go to the lokal sports team, or to meet up with your friends in the coffee shop on the corner and sooner rather than later your friends will get a bike, too. And then you will ride together and just have fun on a group ride. Or you will meet new friends alongside your old ones and you will go out riding with them. It's so much fun to get sucked into the biking-community.
Thank you for the km - mi conversion 😂 One of the benefits of the e-bike is that it gives everyone of all ages the ability to get on the road. I agree 100% - any bike increases the quality of life! Thank you for sharing 😃
In short life overall becomes better, even with any difficulty and downsides taken into account. You need a positive and adaptable personality to overcome idiots, weather and any bike issues but you grow with the bike and soon adapt. In 3 years from buying a Bosch eBike, which gave me the ability to progress onto normal bikes, I have lost 124lb/56kg, reversed diabetes, gained new friends and a much better appreciation of my local area. We keep one car now but use it very rarely as we have the clothes, trailer, luggage, organisation and attitude to deal with most trips. Best thing is that a fleet of wonderful, rare, quirky, unusual and interesting bikes (with the owners clubs and social side too) cost a fraction of even one terrible car. Starting with an eBike was the best life change I ever made and any downsides are nothing compared to the huge upsides.
I’ve never owned a car. I’m 46. That’s a hell of a lot of saving. I used to use public transport to get to work and now I work remotely. People love their cars and there are some advantages but for sure way more people could be doing this.
If you're concerned about your battery getting low, here's some advice based on personal experience: 1. Know your range If you don't want to struggle with a dead ebike, then you should learn how far it can go based on pedal assist strength. You wouldn't drive a car so far if you knew there wouldn't be any gas stations around a place, so that doesn't change with an ebike. 2. Use alternatives on the return journey I live in a city with public transit, so I could use the full battery and then just bring it on the train or bus for my ride home. 3. Get extra batteries if you can. If your e-bikes battery or batteries are removable, then perhaps purchase an extra or two and carry them in a pannier while you ride. You can hot swap them when one dies and probably almost double the range. 4. Bring your charger This is only recommended if you're saying...biking to work or gonna be in one place for most of the day. Be sure there's even functional outlets at the place first. A park might appear to have outlets, but they might not have electricity. E-bikes will take some time to charge, so if you're relying on this, make sure you'll have time for it to charge long enough for it to at least get you home.
There arre just so many situations where cycling isn't ideal. Long distances, places where you just can't arrive sweaty, weather conditions like snow, hauling larger items, being in a hurry, just to name some. Obviously you can overcome these things but you have to ask yourself if it isn't just worth it to get a small cheap car instead.
Cycling can solve a lot of the mental, health and social problems we have in society today. One word of adivse on buying a bike is to keep it safe. The simple locks we have out there wont do it.
i have a 1997 mazda miata and a ride1up gravel roadster. i ride my roadster everywhere i need to go and my miata gets to stay in the canyons on the weekends. perfect balance
Congratulations. Well done and utterly charming. You've also stressed a very important factor that's not often mentioned: the increased contact with people you get when not driving a car. Whether you're on foot, on a bicycle or an E-bike, you simply have more connection with the outside world, including nature, than when you're in a steel box. I too sold my car and bought a bike.. It's also a Trek, but an 850 14 speed bicycle that I got for $350 new. This coincided, not accidentaly, with my move from California to Europe forty years ago. I commute daily and take my bike on public or on the train for longer distances. It works fine for me, and there are rental cars when I have heavy loads to move. This is of course much easier to do in Europe, where public transportation is real and bike lanes are ubiquitous. But things are (slowly) changing in the States as well. Nice work. Subscribed. Cheers from rainy Vienna, Scott
@@erictnagle Here in Vienna, only half of all young adults have drivers licenses. It's pretty easy to get by without a car. This is going to have to be the future in the US as well.
What I’ve always wondered…what about shopping for big items? Do you just plan for delivery? Busses out me four miles from my job but I’d have to bike another 4.8 miles to get there. As a female the bikes are heavy and have to be loaded on and off the bus take alone and only parts of the city have a dedicated bike lane so what about safety and distance in that sense?
These are great considerations! - Delivery when I absolutely need it, but I just don't think I buy that many bulky items! - E-bikes are definitely heavy and cumbersome, but to my knowledge buses have a great loading system. - 5 miles is probably around 30 min of biking (at most). - I feel like cities are a bit paradoxical when it comes to safety. In some ways more safe, in some ways less safe. When it comes to biking, I find accepting the risks and trusting your gut is the best way to find peace with it!
This video is dead-on. Results will vary depending on where you live. If you don't know if you can't live with your car, buy the bike first and see how it goes. If nothing else, dropping car miles travelled is a great way to save a ton of money and even if you don't sell your car, the bike pays for itself in many ways. I drove the van to take the family hiking last weekend and was shocked that the gas tank was still full. I think the last time I filled it up was 3 weeks ago. We just don't drive much anymore and it's great.
This is funny to me. I haven't owned a car ever and haven't ever owned an ebike either. I did hire a car/van on a few occasions though to haul large items such as floor standing speakers. But a car is really mostly a thing that's funny to have if you have money burning in your pocket. The three primary reasons for me not to change from a bike to an ebike are: - you don't get any exercise, so endurance declines - the risk of a flat battery - the cost of it makes it a target for thieves.
e-bike’s good for long distance. wouldn’t want to travel 20+ km (45-ish miles?) on a regular bike if you don’t have a literal pancake road. as in very flat for a very long time.
@@n.i.g.e.l Okay. 20km isn't 45 miles AFAIK, but I'm not American so I don't do miles. I ride about 25km / day to work, 5 days a week. I don't get the point; there's really no need for an electric motor to do the work for me. It's perfectly doable all by myself.
@@QoraxAudio Good for you and all others that live on pancakes. Here there is plenty of hills. You are not riding 25km in hills each day. It would be funny if you start claiming to be though. And then being a productive worker too! ;) I primarily drive un-motorized bikes. Don’t like the weight of the assist / battery pack, but there is definitely value in having those available. There’s also plenty of people not as capable as us - old people, disabled people. Still don’t get the point?
Wife and I ditched our car for a motor scooter first, then got an ebike since we live off grid, and producing electricity is easier than producing our own gasoline. Eventually got a second ebike, and the two of those keep us going!
You’ll get wet when it rains. You’ll be colder when it’s cold and you’ll be warmer when it’s warm, but you’ll enjoy your rides.
Yes. Exactly. Not avoiding reality, finding peace with it 🤝
Plus all humans spent the first nine months of life being surrounded by water while inside the womb . So wet is definitely part of life
@@kookamunga2458 Its the combo of being wet while wearing clothes thats uncomforable... If i was able to be naked riding in a tropical rain thatd be a much more pleasant experience haha
There is no such thing as bad weather - just inappropriate clothing; But I've never seen a person go rusty yet! 😂
Rain can be avoided with rain radar websites. Most showers are under 30 minutes. Good raingear keeps you dry for 30 minutes.
Most people heat up their bodies during cycling. I am warming on my bike than in my car the first 5 miles. That is why I wear windproof clothing.
During summer heat cycling provides air cooling, that is why convertibles are popular.
The most enjoyable part of my working day is cycling to work and cycling home again.
The absolute best feeling 🙌
Yes, on a regular bike. No battery or charging needed.
Most enjoyable part of my working daybis getting in the car, turn the radio off and enjoy the peace and quiet
E-job?
I bought a new Giant Cypress comfort bike last week and I woke up this morning actually looking forward to riding to McDonald's for coffee
I was legally blinded a few years ago and no longer able to drive , so I pedal everywhere now , it's not always easy, but I thank God that I can still do it 😊
I bet you’ve taken out a few pedestrians being blind and all that!
An inspiration 🙌
I'm very short sighted so I couldn't drive without without glasses. But I could cycle. Keep up the good work man! 💪
@@tconnolly9820 thanks man
This is my fifth week of recovery from detached retina surgery. I took the keys to the car away from myself. Started riding my commuter bike all over town. It’s doable but sometimes I still need someone to drive me around. Keep pedaling!
The changes ive seen to my mental health are amazing since ive started comuting only by bike a year ago
I love hearing this 🙌
especially in the summer with the sun out. just getting a little bit of exercise saving some money and enjoying the beautiful sunlight it's tough to pass up!
I know this one. You would have one e-bike more, and one car less.
Haha but for real, you can save up to .50¢ a mile :)))
I was just about to comment this 😂
@@SonneyLouisthere’s no way it’s only 50 cents a mile considering insurance and maintenance
Full time ebiker here, 365, even through the snowy Canadian mountain winter where I live ( I go studded tires). You are right that the #1 most important piece of advice is "don't cheap out". Buy the best bike you can afford. Like you my decision wasn't about the environment, but cost.
The scariest piece of advice. But the best long term, both with my bike and with my camera gear. Appreciate you!
I'm in Maine and also bike year-round. Work, recreation, run errands.
The ebike was very beneficial, especially on those windy days when it seems it's always blowing against you, lol
Or I bought heavier things, and the extra power just makes it more doable.
Windproof/waterproof outwear, a face mask and goggles, and I'm good!
Oh, and I got ice breaker tires this winter and absolutely loved them.
I couldn’t afford a 3000$ e bike unfortunately. I did buy one for 1200$ for my first one and I hope it pans out for a while. We lost our car a few mths ago and I’m excited for a lifestyle change.
Still figured out how to make it work! Awesome. Enjoy the ride 😃
There are plenty of good ebikes around the $999 mark. Most of the cost for more expensive bikes are in components you can add to your own bike incrementally.
@@cjl2351 very good to know thank you! I’ve been worried if we made the right choice, but seems like a decent bike for the price. Many good reviews.
@@KozyKubGam3r No problem! There are videos on how to maintain and install hydraulic brakes, upgrades to lights, derailleurs and more all over youtube. The important thing is if you're fine with what you have, there's no immediate need to do anything more than maintain what you have. Stay safe!
@@cjl2351 Tsm:) appreciate the info!
I love my car. I also hate the idea of buying a new one with what they cost. My ebike allows me to keep miles off the car and use it when I want to, not have to. Also has saved me thousands in fuel and maintenance reduction (actually tens of thousands probably)
"Bike first, car second" seems like a super awesome way of doing it 😃
Ya im trying to make my e bike my primary. But it's nice having the car still, especially when it rainy lol
Tomorrow I will sell my 4Runner and I will buy a e-bike my job is about 2 or 3 blocks from my house.
This is the kind of boldness we need in this world
2 or 3 blocks is walking distance. Dude at 2 or 3 blocks you can probably look down the road and see your work😂
@@Machasnofunds yes but I want the bike to get my groceries and other stuff around and I will save a lot of money. We have to play smart.
@@Machasnofunds - Yep! Haha. If all of us can be so lucky to work within 5 miles to work, I would probably use my ebike 90% of the time.
Get a regular bike. You need that exercise 😢
Nice video.
I got rid of my car in January 2011. I haven’t needed to buy one since. One thing I can recommend is looking into car share services. They offer access to a car for the few times you really need it without all the baggage that comes from owning a car.
Anyway, I really enjoyed your perspective! Enjoy your bike and be safe 😊
Great tip 📝📝📝
Thank you!
Uhaul is decent for those days where you really need a truck to move something too, especially if it's more of a planned thing
Unfortunately they aren’t readily available in some states and cities.
I bought a 2021 Trek Allant Plus S7 and have since put 6400 miles on it and about 900 miles in 2024 alone. I feel better when riding. The birds are my radio. The smell of trees and flowers is my air-freshener. People who wouldn't give me a glance in a vehicle will smile and say hi when I'm pedaling. Even children, who I will not look their way if I'm driving will give me a smile and a wave when I'm bicycling. I can't get rid of my car, Idaho Winters will not allow it. But during the warmer months the car parks in the garage. I love cycling!
Poetry in motion 🚲 You get it!
I would love to do it in the winter too here in Nevada - we could get snow tires
I just ordered the same bike, the allant plus s7 and I can't wait to ride it!
For the people who want to get an e-bike, don't buy the name-brand ones, they charge a premium that's unjustifiably high, instead you just choose a nice regular bike you like and get a Bafang e-bike kit, it's a mid-drive motor, this will save you thousands. Of course, if you don't mind giving thousands away or that you don't wanna build an e-bike yourself (there are tons of step by step tutorials), just get any e-bike you can find, some bike shops also sell ready made e-bikes with Bafang (and other brands) mid-drive motors. Other than saving money, the more important reason I'm recommending this is that these name brand bikes have increasingly locked down proprietary software and hardware, with the goal of making repairs impossible and having a complete control over what we bought, this already happened to everything we paid money for from phones to computers to appliances, bikes are our last refuge, we need to do everything we can to fight this and not reward and grow the companies that are dragging us to the same anti-consumer hell hole.
Well said, it's very important people are educated on these issues.
This is a sentiment that I've heard a few times. Building your own or supporting open-source brands sounds like it's something really worth looking into, thank you for sharing this 🙌
@@erictnagle Thank you for the support, if enough us work together championing what's best for the people we'll all be better for it.
I just put a payment on the Swytch ebike kit. It's only a few pounds and probably the easiest kit to add to your bike.
There are tradeoffs, though. Some bike frames aren't great at accommodating battery. Also, since bafang motors are hanging down from bracket, it is easy to get hit if you ride offroad a lot. Only thing I want to see is universal integrated middrive-bracket ebike frames what work with whatever motor/gearbox customer choose to use.
I have a non-e bike (just a bike) that I commute in and my mental health has benefitted tremendously. Driving in traffic is not a great way to chill out after work. Used to hate driving to the store for just eggs, now I'll go gladly. I have extra bikes (mountain bike and my wife's) and my friends and family are always like "no, let's just drive to the bakery" when they visit but then later they're like "let's go for another bike ride"
TREMENDOUSLY. I don't realize just how much until I'm in a car
Meh plenty of days that riding a bike isn't chill either.
The rain.
The hail.
The snow.
The burning sun.
The strong headwinds.
The blinding headlights of cars.
@@QoraxAudio I ride in all those conditions and never has it not felt fun. I have full fenders and a bike-specific poncho for rain, bar mits (pogies) for my hands in winter (I live in Montana so I still have mine on, we just got snow 3 days ago) studded tires for snow too. Since I go to work early, summer heat isn't an issue and I don't pedal too hard to get too sweaty - after work can be a bit hot, but it's never that bad where I live. Sun sets long before I'm done with work in the winter here, so I have a nice light. Most of my commute is bike paths so I don't have to worry about car headlights. But if the weather ever does seem rough enough, I can always take the car. This last year I don't think I ever did though. Weather is an inconvenience, but most days are sunny and dry (even if it's cold). A common saying where I live is there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes
@@jadinc77 Sure, most of the times when it comes to "bad weather" it's just a matter of clothing and bike type, but that doesn't make shitty weather less annoying IMO.
But YMMV...
There are just two weather types that are actually bad weather in that literal sense: storm and black rain.
I've had both once, both lead to an accident - lessons you don't forget that easily 😅
not getting a car and getting an e-bike was one of the best choices I've ever made. sure rain sucks but damn is it good exercise. great vid!
“what gets wet will dry” is my mantra when I get caught in some rain 😂 thank you! 🤝
@JS-yi9cr I disagree. at least with the one I have, there are modes to turn down the assist to negligible amounts
@JS-yi9cr actually nvm, you’re right. Selling the e-bike, running everywhere from now on 😂
We get flash floods here. I'm not working currently so hopefully I can pick my days. Here the weather's weird lol
I left a longer comment about cycling in the rain above. Get a good big rain poncho. Covers you completely from the back of your seat to over your handlebars. Completely open underneath and let's lots of air circulate. And it's covering your battery and mid drive motor even in the heaviest downpours which is also good for your e-bike. Win-win all around.
Love this idea. I’ve been going down the e-bike black hole here on TH-cam. And I’m ready to get rid of the car for sure. Having three kids is the main issue haha. Being connected to the community and getting fresh air is a major plus. Great video!
I'm happy its led you here! Best of luck and thank you 😃
Have a look at cargo bikes
in my opinion having a family is a pretty good reason to have a car, but it’s also a good reason to have some bikes. getting your kids used to riding for utility and not just pleasure will make their lives so much better now and in the future. get some panniers for you and for your kids and make a family trip for groceries to the closest market instead of costco across town (or whatever your situation is), stuff like that. sure a car is probably a necessary thing to have in the case of being late for school or taking the kid to medical care or whatever, but it doesn’t have to be the only tool or even the main tool
This is an excellent video. The commentary, the filming, all top notch.
Thank you 😃
Thanks! This is a great video - encouraging and inspiring! I ride my bike and ebike as much as possible for my own needs and errands. But my husband is too visually impaired to drive or ride a bike, so I drive him to work and all the places he needs to go. We’re 70, and I love my bike and ebike! Thanks again Eric!
Simply amazing. Thank you!
You are amazing. Keep on doing it for as long as you can. 👍❤️
@@tconnolly9820 Thanks! This evening I took my husband to a meeting and got in almost 15 miles, ending as the sun was setting as I returned across the Arkansas River (flowing through my town in Oklahoma.) It was beautiful and I explored a few new spots and met some lovely people! Then back to 4 wheels and picking up my husband! 👏👏👏😊😊😊🚴🏻♀️🚴🏻♀️🚴🏻♀️
Main thing I’ve noticed (no e-bike yet, but doing pretty well whatever I can by analog bike) - no more “autopilot/ I don’t remember the drive home”, ever bike trip is memorable in a way car trips just blend into the monotony - even if it’s just to get groceries.
🎯 Couldn’t have said it better myself
They call this "cyclist memory." You remember a lot more on a bike since you're going slower and you're exposed to your environment. You can remember every part of a road 😁
From my experience, even if I bought a new ebike every year, and I took a taxi into work on bad weather days, working 5 days a week, I'm still saving thousands of dollars a year. People don't believe that because either don't know how expensive cars are, or they've accepted it as a fact of life.
"Accepting it as a fact of life" 10000000% 🙌 It's amazing what happens when you start questioning your own biases and thinking outside the box
Ebikes are disposable items, sadly. After 2 years the battery & motor are finished, repairs to the motor under warranty can take months & you will NOT be provided with a courtesy bike, insurance is ridiculously expensive, etc. If it's just for weekends, fine, but if you're using it as everyday transport that must be relied on, budget for replacing every two years, maybe even every one year.
@@papalegba6796 Cars are also disposable items as well. I literally save enough money by using an ebike to get a new ebike after 6 months. My experience of being on a motorcycle with liability insurance tells me that the same kind of coverage is probably roughly $20 a month, which is nothing compared to a car. Cars are definitely better in a lot of categories, but it's primarily because US infrastructure has such a heavy bias toward automobiles that it heavily tilts the scale in their favor, but the costs all around are ridiculous for automobiles.
@@papalegba6796 this is why you pay the extra for quality to begin with. No issues at all with our 4 year old cargo bike.
@@stephaniethompson469 it's a bosch. Still trash
In my area there are quite a few households who have replaced one of their 2 cars with an e-bike.
I kept my old, paid-off car when I bought an e-bike 4 years ago and that’s allowed me to stretch out its useful life for a few extra years. To make it easier, I moved 5 miles closer to my friends and the places I typically go. Once the car needs a really expensive repair, I’ll get rid of it and transition to car-share, carpooling, or Lyft for some nearby stuff, and car rentals, buses, trains, and planes for longer trips.
Excellent video! Makes me want to go ride. I commute to work about 1/3 of the year and I love it. I don't have an e-bike but the sense of peace I have when I get to work is the best. It just sets the tempo for a great day!
Thank you! I'm glad 😃 I agree 100%
I did this myself back at the start of the pandemic. When work shifted to remote, I really didn't need the car anymore (I loved my Chevy Volt). I sold my car at CarMax, used those funds to get my eBike, and never looked back.
No car insurance.
No car payment.
No oil change.
No car inspection.
No worrying about traffic tickets.
No worrying about car accidents.
With the right equipment, I can go grocery shopping, to the Dr Office, out to eat, out to the local coffee shop to work, and visit friends. Everything Erics says about meeting friendly people wanting to talk about your bike is true. There are tons of little things that make bike commuting enjoyable.
My only downside is that I had a friend who disapproved of my decision which strained our relationship.
Sounds like we have the same experience - not a bad life!
@@erictnagle I really love it. I switched my eBike to a cargo eBike and I really love that bike (Specialized Globe Haul ST). The only negative is that here in South Texas, the summers are brutal with 100+ degree heat!
I'm waiting on my first e-bike but as a utilitarian shopping and commuting cyclist for years, good racks front and back for baskets and pannier bags is essential for a real car replacement bike.
I also have two trailers. A large sized dog trailer with a 250 litre completely covered and enclosed cabin I use as my main cargo and shopping trailer. Just load everything in, zip it up and go. It's fully enclosed and nothing will fall out.
And an actual cargo trailer I use less but can comfortably carry a full sized lawnmower or let down the back section and I can fit a large 400 litre container with a lid which gives a great deal of versatility and options for carrying almost anything.
The trailers were €131 and €105 each respectively 3 and 2 years ago. I'm in Ireland by the way. And this is just using an ordinary hybrid no e, just me bicycle.
A good sized trailer turns a €600 bicycle into a €6,000 cargo bike and a real world alternative to a car.
I've had over 70kg on a trailer behind me with just an ordinary bike but I average between 30-50 most weeks when I'm using one. Take it off and you've got your bike back again.
@@tconnolly9820 I've also got a dog trailer that I use for my grocery shopping! My dog runs alongside the bike to the grocery store, hangs out in the trailer (his safe space) while I'm shopping, and then runs back while the groceries ride in the trailer 🙂 It works great! I've got a tween and a surly teen, so I still need a car to transport them to appointments and the like, but I'm trying to do as much as I can on my ebike. Better for my health, my wallet, and the planet 🌏
@@RayGarza-sr3zjwhere at in south Texas? I’m in the valley
I like how you went over different parts of your life and how the bike can affect that.
Thank you for the kind words 🙌
great video! I haven't given up the car, but became about a 80%-20% bike commuter for work, and use it for about 60-%40 on errands etc. and you were spot on!
I appreciate that! Awesome approach 😃
I went the e-bike route recently. I still have to take the bus to get to work, but I bike to the bus stop (normally a 35 minute walk!), pop the bike on the bus's bike rack, then get off downtown and bike to work from there. It's made my day easier. And yes, not having to pay for a car is a plus. I love riding my ebike. It's fun to cruise around downtown here too; I live in a fairly small city so it's not crazy traffic-wise.
Love to hear this 🙌
There is an easy way for the US to make biking safer and with less conflict between cars and bikers... Just build dedicated and safe bike lanes, separated from traffic, preferably in nice and enjoyable green environments. That's what we do in Sweden and to be honest, it's one of the best investments a city can make. Because it takes away car ridership. Because people can choose to bike safely instead of feeling the need to own a car.
I remember when they built a new bike line from the suburbs to the city 30 years ago. It has never been repaired, and there's not a single pot hole in it and the surface is still super smooth. why? Well, there's no real weight put on the asphalt for it to crack, and since there's no crack, the asphalt doesn't rupture due to rain, snow, ice, and hot weather.
Yes - a lot of bike lanes I ride on are just road shoulders with a bike painted on the pavement. Dedicated, blocked-off lanes are lovely, I've seen them around Boston but they haven't spread too much beyond.
I hear a lot of lovely things about Sweden, and hope to travel there one day!
Unfortunately in America most of those sylvan ways were destroyed to lay concrete for cars!
That's a nice idea if you're building a city from scratch, but if you're trying to add bike paths to an existing city you have to work around existing infrastructure.
That almost always means adding bike lanes (i.e. some paint) to existing roads, or allowing bikes to share footpaths. The frustration of cycling on footpaths is that many pedestrians straggle all over the path and are blissfully unaware of other people using the path.
Hi, I live in Europe and recently I have started commuting by ebike. My city subsidies a company that rents an ebikes for $18 per month. I love this bike and I love this everyday trip (I have 10 miles distance to ride). The only concern I have is that since ebikes are so expensive, I do affraid leaving it in the grocery store bike stand.
That's so cool! And yes - that was (and still is) a concern of mine too.
It's nice to see this video. I personally made this transition 10 months ago. I live in mountainous terrain (the sierra foothills) and have to be able to carry fairly large loads so I opted for a cargo bike. I got extra batteries and very large panniers to be able to transport groceries or store purchases more easily. For me a trip to the hardware or grocery is around 5-7 miles each way and involves climbing 800 to 1000 feet. Even with a motor it is definitely a fair bit of exercise. So far I have travelled just over 2300 miles on the bike. Like the video says, interactions with cars can be interesting, but in my case have been mostly positive. I'm not sorry I did this when my car died. Im better off financially to the tune of many thousands of dollars of investment. I do find that maintenance is a constant need. The ebike wears out parts at a much faster rate than a car does. For example, I find that a set of tires (only about $50) lasts around 1000 miles. Brake pads are good for about 700 miles, after 2200 miles I needed a new chain and rear sprocket set which set me back a few dollars and a couple days at the bike shop. Luckily for me the weather where I live is dry much of the year so I don't have too serious a problem with rain.
so the big question is if I had known last October what I know now, would I have gone ahead with an ebike or would I have replaced my car? I think I would still have gone with the ebike. The drastic reduction in operating expense combined with very noticeable health improvements from the additional exercise make this choice obvious for me. I would have done a few things differently though... I would not have bought the cheap cargo bike (Lectric XPedition) but would likely have gone with a better built unit. I really cant tell you how much I would give to be running a bike with some suspension and 4 inch wide tires instead of 3 inch tires and no suspension. I would love to have more low speed torquie on the motor in order to make hill climbing easier, though I manage quite well up to about 15% grades. Given the combination of my weight (250+#) and the cargo bike (70+#) I would really have liked to see better brakes. 180mm rotors are the very minimum edge of what is needed for safety and that is the reason I have to replace pads so often. 205's would be much safer and have less of a tendency to overheat. I'd also have changed out the seat for a more comfortable one much sooner than I did if I had the chance.
Even with all of the above I remain a committed ebike commuter. Im healthier, happier, and can ALWAYS find a parking space.
My 1000watt fat tire 20ah ebike is my 2 wheeled work truck, bicycle and motorcycle all in one. couldn't be happier.
I’ve been hearing a lot about fat tires..need to do some research
@@erictnagle yes you do, there are considerations too be met with them. although, no regrets on my part coming from a unreliable gas bike.
I've been a long-distance bicycle commuter, since 2005. I was already car-free (I was a skateboard/bus commuter, before I got a job in an area with no bus service). I made the switch to an e-bike about three years ago. I love this thing. It flattens the hills. It allows me to haul stuff in my trailer that used to be huge chore. I occasionally still take my "pedal bike" out, around the neighborhood, but the e-bike is now my main ride.
The life 🙌 that's so cool to hear
Never been an e-bike person but I’m 21 I drive a 5.0L V8 mustang as my daily driver, my monthly payment is $680 and insurance is another $380 and fuel with my “heavy” foot is about $250 a month that’s $1110 a month on my car not counting maintenance or other things that can happen. I just sent the last payment for my car, after working hard to pay it off and I’m done with getting scammed on insurance and not having money to live and enjoy life. My plan now is to get an e-bike not selling my car however won’t go that far I will just put it on non-op and take off insurance and store the car in my garage. The bike I’ve been looking at if a $3500 Talaria XXX they can do about 50mph good range and they look nice. I can’t wait to start my e bike journey and start living life with more money in my pocket to do things I want 💯💯 not only that saving over 1k a month will help me pay off other debt which I have a total debt of about 9k from a personal loan and family, so paying 9k will be a breeze and when all that’s payed off I will hope to be debt free by my mid 22s and travel the world for some time 🌎
Man you've got a solid approach and sound like the type of person who will figure it out no matter what. This is so cool. Thank you for sharing!
A Mustang is a peculiar choice for a 21 year old, unless someone else is paying for it or you have inherited money to burn.
@@ziploc2000 nope I was just dumb, always wanted a mustang so I got one however It did come with an interest rate of 18% 🤦🏻♂️ but hey payed it off in a year and a half lost 4K in interest over that time don’t have much bills besides rent little to no debt that’s how I was able to get the car and no help from anybody to pay the car off or the monthly payments.
@@ziploc2000 and honestly here in the U.S a mustang is common for kids my age now in this generation, a cheap car too at that, most kids I see now have 80k hellcats and other expensive cars that make mine look like I’m in poverty 🤷🏻♂️
@@jonathan_s1977 have you looked into getting mileage based insurance?
This also pretty much all applies to just about any PEV too, so if you're not into a bike, there are also Escooters, EUC, and even onewheels.
💯. Scooter would be my #1 choice in a city
@@erictnagle yeah my partner loves her e scooter, it's great because it can hop up to road speeds, but is still very intuitive to ride. I commute on an EUC, because I'm the person who always rode my bike without using the handlebars anyways. I'm thinking about getting a fat tire EBike for my winter commute for the wide studded tire's extra traction.
thing that puts me off scooters etc is their lack of storage capabilities. Sure you can carry some stuff but if you need to replace the trips to the shop you limit yourself more
@@JFat5158 that makes sense, especially if you have a lot of people to get groceries for, or need to move large things regularly. For us, we go to the grocery store once a week and pretty much everything we buy regularly can fit into my 40L backpack. We do occasionally do go to Costco or get bigger items and if they won't fit in our bags we'll usually just get a taxi or ride share. Essentially we think about it as a $20 surcharge, which even if we did that every week would be cheaper than a car payment and insurance. If we had a garage I'd probably want a cargo bike, but we live in a 3rd floor condo with no elevator so we're a bit size limited on what we can get.
The most difficult thing for us is that we have a few events each year that need us to go about 50+ miles from home, and then camp a few days. Like this year it's a week long kayak trip, so we'll be renting a truck of Turo for the whole week, which is a bit expensive.
Thanks for making this video !! I love the Internet❤
I currently own one new car (commuter) because my home base is Texas which is a sprawl, one Truck, one road bike. (retired), one HT trail bike, One gravel bike I took with me to Washington and as of this past weekend - one fat tire Ebike. I feel like this was the best purchase I made this year bc I can see now how enriched life can be on this thing. Really loved the premise of this video and stumbled upon it whilst doing some basic spec research on mileages. Only a few days into owning this and I'm already aware I need to cut the ownership down a few notches and sell off a car and a few bikes. Keep up the shares man!
The word "enriched" is 🎯. Those words mean so much, thank you! 😃
Some have no choice. I might not be able to pass my next vision test for a car license, so I already have it figured. The nearest town is within range using vacated back roads. What me worry?🙂
You got this!
I’m 44 and never had a license. I’ve moved from NC to OR on a bicycle, and own a bosch powered DIamondback union 2. I love it. It’s my commuter, my fitness rider, and my adventure bike all in one.
Simply amazing 🙌
I made custom e bike, 500W motor and 48V24 Ah battery, total cost was 1600$, range w/o pedals assist is
100 km when 30 kph speed and 70 km when averaging 40 kph speed. I usually don't use legs because I don't like to sweat, only spinning pedals when I am cold.
E Bike is the best thing ever I bought, probably even more fun than PC.
Wow thats so sick. I've heard a handful of bicyclists doing a custom build, sounds like a good option if you know what you're doing!
I've been commuting 3 years now. Living in Kingston Ontario means I have snow tires for my ebike. Have a Trek as well but last year bought a specialized with a belt drive. Less maintenance.
Less maintenance is always nice. I lived in Quebec City for a few weeks! Awesome bike infrastructure
I've always been a cyclist as a means to get from A to B. Bikes are just a win on so many accounts in my book, which your video covered very well. We did opt to keep our 1 family car, but both my wife & I have an annual target of each putting more miles on the bikes than on the car collectively, and given that's no longer a challenge we might have to up the stakes!
Unfortunately e-bikes are a bit more restricted over here in the UK, limited to 15.5mph instead of 20(?)mph, and a 250w motor. They're still worth it for some people, especially in urban or hilly areas, but I'll continue to be a fan of the humble "acoustic" bike, mainly because I know how to take one apart and service it!
As for what we should be doing for the environment, bikes + e-bikes are leagues above electric cars. The battery from one electric car could power 100-200 e-bikes (~50-80kwh car vs ~500wh for a bike), and then you've got all the other considerations of space on the road, parking, tyre wear etc. A recent stat I heard was that if globally everyone cycled as much for transport as the Dutch do, we'd be saving 700 million tons Co2 annually.
This is an awesome breakdown. Also, "acoustic bikes" is now quite possibly my new favorite phrase
What car company paid the UK govt to limit ebikes to that speed? That's nuts.
@@DanielLoveReelUnfortunately it's an eu-wide regulation, anything above that is essentially classed as a moped and requires insurance. Which would be fine if local governments allowed mopeds to use bike paths where it makes sense, but most don't.
Good Morning, I just subscribed to ur channel. My E-bike is my main source of transportation. Before I bought it, I used to ride the bus, I quit driving years ago. I bought my e-bike 14 months ago (March 2023) from Ride the Glide, a local e-bike shop and I rode over 6,000 miles. My e-bike has changed my life completely and I absolutely love it. Back in July 2021 I fractured my spine and I had 3 crush virtabre bones in my lower back, I couldn't feel my legs and walking would hurt my back very much. So, I use pedal assist 3 and ride about 10-15 MPH on average and I ride about a distance of about 15-25 miles on daily rides. Now I DON'T hardly have any back pain and have full mobility of my back and continue to ride. I still have 3 crush bones, but I don't hardly feel the pain because of my e-bike. Thank You & Good Video 😎
WOW. What an impactful story, I feel like people need to hear that! Thank you for sharing 😃
@@erictnagle Thank You ❤
My boyfriend did this a month and a half ago, and I haven't seen him so happy and excited before. He got an e-bike secondhand for $600 and bikes to work five days a week. He seems so freespirited without his car. I was inspired to follow him (Though I will still be keeping my car, hopefully this means less spending on gas). I'm getting my bike this Saturday and I can't wait for all the adventures we're going to have!
THIS IS SO COOL. Keep me updated with how you like e-bike life!!
I have a non e-bike but I'd love to be able to ride E-bikes to work everyday if only it was legalized on busy roads in my country. Anyway, I'm still happy to be able to ride non e-bike to work 🥰 Good video it motivates me to continue riding!
Didn’t know e-bikes weren’t allowed in places! Where do you live?? That’s good though, can’t go wrong with a classic bike 🚲
@@erictnagle E-bike are too fast apparently can be dangerous on public street, cause people usually breaks law cause they like going fast, which can be very dangerous. This is exception for when you're just riding on local areas to go to store. Malaysia btw
So interesting 😮
@@n275.it’s illegal here in uk we’ll not really you’re limited to a 250 watt bike
Hey Eric,
Did you ever ridden the Potrero loop?? Newbury park to Thousand Oaks to Westlake Village back to Newbury park(Hidden Valley., Lake Sherwood area)!!I did it a lot in the 70s and 80s!! I loved it!!
I have not! I love bike adventures though...I'll add it to the list 📝
Very well done. Thanks for producing and posting.
Thanks for the video, really enjoyed watching it and fully understand your choice :). I'm an avid cyclist since my childhood and being in Germany it's fairly easy to just use everyday. I'm riding several older non-e bikes, my girlfriend has an e-Bike and it's been our main transportation within the city and beyond. And if the weather is really too bad (which happens just a handful of times over the year) we can always hop on public transportation if we need to get somewhere. Our "latest" discovery are folding bikes. I did pick up an old one last year which turned out to be a really awesome bike. Since you can take it for free on city transport or trains it's just easy to take it if you go for a weekend trip. And discovering new places by bike is always the best :).
I'm just now hearing about folding bikes! I was kicked off of public transport once because of my e-bike (green line train in Boston). They sound like a good solution. Such a cool story, thank you for sharing 😃
I’m a car guy and never plan on selling my car realistically because to me it’s more then just driving the car…but I’ve biked ever since I could remember and a majority of my life during my childhood was spent biking…I also biked to school for about 6 years back when I was in middle/high school.
Few years ago I started getting the biking itch that I haven’t had in a while so decided to build myself a E-mountain bike. Let’s just say it’s been awesome…it definitely forces me to go outside on days where I wouldn’t have much to do outside in the first place and being able to ride my bike and do simple tasks that I could of used my car for is very relaxing and enjoyable.
That's awesome - I feel like that approach is a happy medium 😃
Best regards fro, Germany from someone who commutes to work (10 miles) by EBike on a daily base and who‘s wife does the same. I fully agree to all that was mentioned - the bike commuting situation is propably better in Europe. Have always a safe trip.
That is awesome - thank you for sharing. Hopefully the US can adopt the bike-friendliness of Europe!
Many people can't do this at all so it's great you were able to!
I have a 1996 Oldsmobile, it's in fairly good condition and it gets OK gas mileage.
And in the cost of basic maintenance and insurance, I could buy a new ebike every year and still spend less than owning that car.
This is before concerning myself at all with fuel and tolls, that's extra money I'd never have to spend on top of never having to change motor oil ever again.
Folks always stop at gas prices and forget the big picture.
Cars' costs go way beyond the price tag!
Great video, love the unbiased perspective
Thank you 😃
I've been ebiking since 2011, but i never sold my car. I just drive it drastically less. I filled up my tank for the second time this year... in May.
😮 that’s awesome
I agree that going complete car free is a step too far for most people. But going car lite, like you it great.
I did the calculations and got rid of the car. Renting a car, public transportation or taxi/uber as needed, came out as less expensive when commuting by bike every day.
@@playlist5455 Do not you mean: "came out as less expensive when commuting by CAR, instead of bike every day?"?
Cycling is the most inexpensive form of transport at 5.5 USD cents per mile. Or 3 Euro cent per kilometer. Cycling is only expensive when you have to buy a bike, which when new and buying a quality bike can costs thousands of Dollars/ Euros. But after that, the maintenance is cheap.
Love my ebike, we share a car between 3 of us and the ebikes get used plenty.
Here in the uk though its tough with the weather , terrible roads and drivers and bike theft,
I get around that with good clothing, good locks and staying off road as much as possible.
One thing is certain , i enjoy riding the bike a lot more than driving the car.
It seems like there is a big bike culture in the UK! Beautiful that you go through those challenges to still ride. Thank you for sharing!
My ebike is the best thing ive ever purchased. It has done so much for me... for my life. It feels close to me like a family member. Treats me better than my mother ever did.
This video was great! I haven't sold my car, but since early 2022 I have been riding e-bikes almost exclusively, long distance trips I still use a vehicle. I have done some long distance trips with my bikes though, it's something that I plan, charging points and such. I own a commuter and a cargo model, I have two batteries for each plus accessories and a trailer, so it hasn't really been about cost saving. Between the two bikes and all of the added things it's more than my Honda Civic is worth, but I ride one of them every day. I've ridden 14k miles between the two since 2022 and don't intend to quite riding, barring something that forces me to do so. They have been extremely reliable so no complaints there and now my community knows me as the guy that is out riding year round. At this point I feel like people would be disappointed if I started driving a car more instead.
😂 I relate so much to that "guy riding year round." Drove a car the other day and I feel like people were looking at me weird. This is so cool to hear, thank you!
Although I can’t get rid of my car, I did invest about $1000 on a new bike and some kit. I intend to run errands on weekends with it, or maybe after work if there’s time.
I work from home, so car usage is already pretty sparse for me unless I go out of town occasionally.
Bike ridership is a challenge outside of urban areas however. I’ll need to share the road and use backstreets when available.
I'm not on an ebike, but I have an escooter (Gotrax Flex Ultra). Can't tell you how immensely this thing improved so much of my daily life. I don't work far from home so commuting to work isn't a problem. Also, I don't hate going to the grocery store or going on a food trip. I would ride to the front door of Ralph's, walk in the store with my escooter, put the items im buying in the basket of my escooter, pay at self check out, and then ride off! Even went into the McDonald's drive thru with the thing and it makes all the small tasks fun!
I lived in Vegas for a few weeks - if I stayed out there I think I would've gotten a scooter. Scooter/public transportation combo would be great in a city. That's awesome 😂
When people compare the savings the often just talk about gas, but you need to also consider car insurance and if you have a new car or a leased car (kind of the new norm now) that means you'll also need full coverage. So your cheap lease on your Chevy Cruise with limited miles on lease now demands full coverage which is around $200/mo and you quickly see how the true cost of having a vehicle even on the cheap end is going to be ~$1,000/mo and that's even before maintenance or when something does go wrong with the vehicle or the tires etc. In this video he says that the average us citizen that commutes to work is driving approx 30 miles a day. Well technically an ebike could do that even a cheap one for $600 could pull that off. So you're talking about spending $600 to save $1,000 for a net of +$400 just in that very month, not to mention the next month like july where you ALSO don't need to blow ~$1,000. Ride the bike as much as possible until the really bad weather rolls in and you hop into an uber or buy a cheap beater car (probably the move, cuz there are going to be raining days in the summer that you still need to get out, so a beater vehicle with the cheapest form of insurance is the move here) You just don't want to fall in love with being like oh I'm tired...and jumping in the car again. I've found that if you do the things in life you least want to do or the hardest thing in life first it ends up making the rest of your day that much easier. Same goes with e-biking around, where I live at worst I'm going 5 miles and that's the WORST, so I think I have it pretty good in this way and glad I locked up something before this 25% tax!
Yes! This is some good insight. And that e-bike first, car second lifestyle is something that sounds very doable for the average person 😃
Did this a few months ago. We have 3 kids so we kept the one vehicle. So far I’ve travelled 1100kms(about 10 miles?) and lost 10lbs.
I got a back seat and take my youngest never wants to get dropped off to school any other way now.
Hahaha! I love to hear that about the youngest. I feel like kids know best 😃
I love everything you mentioned here. I can't wait to move to a centrally located city so I can sell my car. Bravo!! New subscriber here! Keep making videos! You're a natural.
Holy smokes, Trent. That means so much 🤝 Thank you!
thanks for the vid! I did this a month ago and I have noticed financial stress is so much less! no registration fees to dread, no services to put off.
only thing is i ride a mid range road bike because in Australia ebikes are speed limited to 25kmh and thats not as fun as getting into an aero position and hitting 35 on a road bike. happy riding!
worth mentioning my girlfriend has a car we use between us, I commute to work by bike every day.
remember everyone a 30 minute bike commute means your daily exercise is done! so if you think about it it's SAVES time compared to driving then going to the gym.
Yes, yes, and yes 💪 I feel like this approach is so much doable than people think
Cool video, I've had my pedal assist eBike for coming up to 6 years (since 2018), more than 7000km of short trips. Gradually phasing out car trips instead of going 'cold turkey' like you, recently added a trailer so can now do grocery shopping on the eBike, started off with 1-2 work commutes per week & increased from there 🚴
Yeah I'm much more of a cold turkey guy! That approach sounds awesome 🙌
It’d be all lovely if there were bike infrastructures.
I refuse to take the - high - risk to ride in traffic. This I pretty much only mountain bike.
I’ll always need a car: I live in the Silicon Valley.
Yeah some commutes are quite challenging!
Love your vid! I'm making a compromise and going for 3 wheels 😝 Cargo trike with a mobility permit (sidewalk access) 😬 Plus a canopy! Having only a campervan has been rough-- Super cool for trips and even as a base for weekends in the city, but basic everyday commuting is a nightmare! I honestly miss having a commuter car but I need way more time outdoors, can't yet afford the car my disabilities need, and don't want two cars worth of maintenance again! Especially when my van also has "home" maintenance too!
WOW! This sounds so cool. Best of luck with it 😃
I have 2 e-bikes and no car. Love it! If I need a car I borrow or rent one. I love riding my bike and love the lack of car costs.
LOVE to hear this!!
After my car getting totalled in 2021, I knew that was the sign to make the ebike my daily commuter. Can't recommend it enough
What a way to turn a negative into a positive. Beautiful 🙌
My answer is that I won't be able to get to work on time. My sleep schedule is fucked and I wake up just in time to drive to work in time for the first daily meeting. If I slow down to use an e-bike, I'd have a serious risk of getting run over by commuters in a hurry and I'd be late to my meeting. If there were protected bikelanes and side walks on the route I might be able to get there safely, but there isn't any of that, just a 2-lane road with no side walks and a few house driveways.
That makes sense, but you also might find the opposite - biking requires planning, planning requires actually thinking about how you spend your time. And yes - safety is a reasonable concern that I hope to address soon 😃
I did the same, although I never owned a car, but having an Ebike make mobility so more accessible than before for me. we just need to push for more bikealbe city wherever we are.
Yes! It's so counter-intuitive how a bike is more mobile than a car!
I just recently bought a basket for my bicycle, hoping to start grocery shopping with it. My grocery stores are between 1 and 4 miles away, depending on which one I want (from Aldi to Co-op). I can take mostly lakeside trails with a few blocks of suburban residential streets for the co-op... But need to cross a highway for the cheaper options. I'm hoping at least during the non-freezing months, I can do this. If so, I might invest in an e-bike. I wouldn't sell my car nor motorcycle... But I would get exercise I desperately need, and reduce vehicular usage expenses. My return on investment would be much longer, but I still think it could be worth it. Thanks for sharing your experience! Pretty cool.
Of course! That sounds like a good plan 😃
I bought a Hey Bike for 1700, I use it daily in Denver and besides a flat tire its been great no issues. I think going a bit cheaper works too
That sounds like an awesome deal 🙌
I use armor-dilloz inside my tires, double the recommended amount. In 2500 mikes I got 2 punctures i know about, just lost a few psi. I also use Bluetooth tire pressure sensors, makes checking the tires pressure easy
Gotta look into that! I have these kevlar liners that have worked well so far *knock on wood*
I know, I've done it the past 3 years, even as a single father with a grade school aged son, we ride through rain, sleet or snow, as well as brutal heat in Reno, & it's been 1 of the best decisions I've ever made in my life!
Wow! I usually hear that having children is a big hurdle when it comes to bike life. Awesome to hear that it's possible!
Love the intro. Great storytelling 😊
Thank you 🙌 that means a lot
Great video! I have been riding my ebike to commute everyday 42 kms in total in Perth Australia and I haven't own a car in the last 14 years! 😊
Beast!! That's awesome 🙌
Good fenders make a relatively dry bike.
I highly recommend using a diy ebike kit on a high-end used bike.
A quality donor bike with hydraulic brakes and good components is worth upgrading with a good kit.
Then, set the tires and wheels up tubeless.
It makes flats a breeze. You won't even notice small leaks and a plug can be inserted in minutes.
I recently had a flat on my high end fat ebike. It would have been a pain to pull the wheel and swap out a tube.
I stabbed a plug in, trimmed it off, pumped up and carried on.
Many ebikers don't have a cycling background and aren't able to recognize cheap crappy components on mass market ebikes and aren't familiar with quality bike technology and advancements like tubeless tires.
If you're new to bikes, it's a very good idea to nerd out on acoustic bike tech before buying an ebike.
Ebikes are in vogue right now. There's a lot of very low quality product on the market that no experienced cyclist would buy.
You want an ebike that an experienced cyclist would by.
They are expensive.
The best way to get a high quality ebike is to buy a high end donor bike and upgrade it with a quality kit.
I have seen a few comments about the benefits of building your own and could definitely see how it would be worth it!
I enjoyed that. A nice, friendly, sensible assessment of ebike ownership. I am 70: Live in the UK: Cycle regularly: Thinking (long term) of ditching the car. I seem to use the car mainly as Grandad's taxi and to meet up with people who live further than 20 miles away. My 'analogue' bike is a Cube Touring and I also own a MiRiderGB3 folding electric bike. I was planning to put the MiRider in the car and drive places to cycle; that hasn't happened once! I find the MiRider a bit too small and cramped for me, and the claimed 45 mile range to be fantasy. I managed 27 miles on it three days ago on a level, ex-railway path. That was mainly level 1 and 2 assistance and, at times, no assistance at all; The battery was dead by the time I got home. So, the point I am making is that one needs to choose an ebike carefully, which I clearly didn't.
In the UK we are limited to a 15.5 mph maximum assistance limit on ebikes. That sounds rubbish but, in my experience, any faster in cool weather requires warmer clothing, and faster cycling speeds make it harder for drivers to overtake us on our (extremely) crowded roads. I think that there are probably a lot more impatient drivers on UK roads, due to overcrowding and, as I am also a lifelong motorcyclist, I can tell you that driving standards are nowhere near good enough.Too many drivers seem to lack the ability to keep a safe distance or overtake safely, and I feel much safer on a motorcycle than I do a bicycle because I can power myself clear of the danger. Nevertheless, I think it is inevitable, given my advancing years and the way the environmental wind is blowing, that I will sell my motorcycle soon and invest in a decent ebike. Your video has re-inspired me, so I thank you for that young man. 🙂
There have been a handful of UK comments that I've read about some of the challenges there! Thank you for sharing your story and for the kind words 🤝 best of luck on the start of your ebike adventures!
I’d consider an e Ike for commuting to work except that it’s 30 miles each way on interstate roads and city streets.
Rain! My waterproof jacket does its job really well and lives in the pannier most of the time. On rare occasions I have gone out without the jacket and had a soaking. Because I am generating heat I dry out quickly and luckily I’m human and not made of sugar!
Carrying a ‘buff’ is useful too. It just stops those few drops of rain getting past the neck of your jacket. The rain is never as bad as you imagine it will be.
10000%. A bit of prep and a mindset change go a long way. Thank you for the tips 📝
I like the idea of keeping my car & buying a bike. I live in a climate where I can easily bike 9 - 10 months a year commuting to work. I would keep my car for driving to work in bad weather, grocery shopping, family trips, skiing, etc. So, my car should last twice as long (a Big Plus). My number 1 concern is those bike batteries only last 7 years on average - then what? Bike manufactures are constantly making new & improved models, so no guarantee that a new battery will be available. I don't want to spend thousands and only get 7 years use out of a bike.
This is a good point! Hopefully manufactures will address that.
Great message Eric, inspired me for sure!
Thank you! 🙌
Awesome video!
For the rain, I've heard rain capes are really nice, although I haven't actually used one. If I was riding in rain more often I'd probably get one
I'll look into rain capes! Thank you! 😃
Sold my truck last weekend. Bought an ebike and a train ticket this week. Cancled my insurance too. Im a month in riding so far 240 miles this month. Its fun
So great to hear this 🙌
.
What would happen if you sold your e-bike and bought a conventional bike?
1) You're less likely to need a home fire escape plan.
2) Your fitness levels will increase exponentially.
3) People won't think you're delivering pizza.
4) Fewer people will try to steal your wheels.
5) Charging your battery will be delicious.
ebikes are still better than cars for an alternative. I do fine with a conventional bike in my scenario, but if I was consistently commuting over 45mins each way for my shift work id probably consider an ebike for ease.
These are pretty convincing reasons... I might just sell it all and run everywhere 😂
@JFat5158
The definitely are better than cars.
I sold my car back in 2009 and have been cycling to work (coincidentally 45 minutes, one way) and for my other, daily needs.
If I'm ever physically unfit to operate a traditional bike, I would definitely go with an e-bike.
Granted by the the range on e-bike will be several times what they are now and weight a fraction of what they do now.
I enjoy cycling everywhere when I do shopping I use my cargo trailer I just love it
A friend of mine uses a child's seat attachment as a cargo trailer. She says drivers are much friendlier around her 😂
just found this channel, great video man loved the editing and information you gave
Thank you for the kind words! 😃
I'm from a heavy bike riding german family. I ride around 4500-5000km (2700-3100mi) each year, to commute and just for fun. My parents both have an e-bike, and they both put around 3000km (1800mi) on it a year. We all did not sell our cars, but we ride as much as possible, do most of the shoping by bike.
E-Bikes in Germany are only allowed to support up to 25km/h (15mp/h). And with the bike my parents have, Hercules Futura, weighing in at around 23kg (50lb) they have around a 250km (155mi) range.
I can only recomment to anyone to get a bike. A "normal" bike or an E-bike, it does not matter. And even if you are still dependent on your car, you will be on your bike more often than not, ditching all the short drives for rides. You will take your bike around town, go to the lokal sports team, or to meet up with your friends in the coffee shop on the corner and sooner rather than later your friends will get a bike, too. And then you will ride together and just have fun on a group ride. Or you will meet new friends alongside your old ones and you will go out riding with them. It's so much fun to get sucked into the biking-community.
Thank you for the km - mi conversion 😂 One of the benefits of the e-bike is that it gives everyone of all ages the ability to get on the road. I agree 100% - any bike increases the quality of life! Thank you for sharing 😃
In short life overall becomes better, even with any difficulty and downsides taken into account. You need a positive and adaptable personality to overcome idiots, weather and any bike issues but you grow with the bike and soon adapt. In 3 years from buying a Bosch eBike, which gave me the ability to progress onto normal bikes, I have lost 124lb/56kg, reversed diabetes, gained new friends and a much better appreciation of my local area. We keep one car now but use it very rarely as we have the clothes, trailer, luggage, organisation and attitude to deal with most trips. Best thing is that a fleet of wonderful, rare, quirky, unusual and interesting bikes (with the owners clubs and social side too) cost a fraction of even one terrible car. Starting with an eBike was the best life change I ever made and any downsides are nothing compared to the huge upsides.
This ^^^^^ so many benefits, so much to gain, so little to lose. Thank you for sharing 🙌
@@erictnagle I now feel sorry for the car drivers, bizarrely. Even in the rain- as I know it’s making me fitter and happier every day.
I’ve never owned a car. I’m 46. That’s a hell of a lot of saving. I used to use public transport to get to work and now I work remotely. People love their cars and there are some advantages but for sure way more people could be doing this.
WAY more people. What an awesome approach 🙌
If you're concerned about your battery getting low, here's some advice based on personal experience:
1. Know your range
If you don't want to struggle with a dead ebike, then you should learn how far it can go based on pedal assist strength. You wouldn't drive a car so far if you knew there wouldn't be any gas stations around a place, so that doesn't change with an ebike.
2. Use alternatives on the return journey
I live in a city with public transit, so I could use the full battery and then just bring it on the train or bus for my ride home.
3. Get extra batteries if you can.
If your e-bikes battery or batteries are removable, then perhaps purchase an extra or two and carry them in a pannier while you ride. You can hot swap them when one dies and probably almost double the range.
4. Bring your charger
This is only recommended if you're saying...biking to work or gonna be in one place for most of the day. Be sure there's even functional outlets at the place first. A park might appear to have outlets, but they might not have electricity. E-bikes will take some time to charge, so if you're relying on this, make sure you'll have time for it to charge long enough for it to at least get you home.
This is some good advice 📝
Eric, nicely done. Enjoy your bike freedom!
Thank you Bill 😃
ironically if you lived where I live you would get hit by the person who bought your car
Also the option to rent a car for super big trips or just when biking wouldn't be practical!
Great vid!
🙌 Thank you!
Well . I got an Ebike but do have to sell my car because it's control arm broke in half 😢.
???
Opportunity in disguise??
There arre just so many situations where cycling isn't ideal. Long distances, places where you just can't arrive sweaty, weather conditions like snow, hauling larger items, being in a hurry, just to name some. Obviously you can overcome these things but you have to ask yourself if it isn't just worth it to get a small cheap car instead.
Yes - there are challenges and it wouldn't fit everyone's situations. But the cool thing about those problems - they're always worse in our heads 🙂
@@erictnagle Definitely agree, I commute 20 miles to and fro on e-bike in AZ and never arrive to work sweaty (thanks pedal assist!)
Cycling can solve a lot of the mental, health and social problems we have in society today. One word of adivse on buying a bike is to keep it safe. The simple locks we have out there wont do it.
Absolutely. And yes - that's some good advice 😃
i have a 1997 mazda miata and a ride1up gravel roadster. i ride my roadster everywhere i need to go and my miata gets to stay in the canyons on the weekends. perfect balance
Balance is key 🤲
Congratulations. Well done and utterly charming. You've also stressed a very important factor that's not often mentioned: the increased contact with people you get when not driving a car. Whether you're on foot, on a bicycle or an E-bike, you simply have more connection with the outside world, including nature, than when you're in a steel box.
I too sold my car and bought a bike.. It's also a Trek, but an 850 14 speed bicycle that I got for $350 new. This coincided, not accidentaly, with my move from California to Europe forty years ago. I commute daily and take my bike on public or on the train for longer distances. It works fine for me, and there are rental cars when I have heavy loads to move. This is of course much easier to do in Europe, where public transportation is real and bike lanes are ubiquitous. But things are (slowly) changing in the States as well.
Nice work. Subscribed. Cheers from rainy Vienna, Scott
Thank you for the kind words! 😃 The more I hear about Europe the more it sounds like they're doing it right. Awesome approach!
@@erictnagle Here in Vienna, only half of all young adults have drivers licenses. It's pretty easy to get by without a car. This is going to have to be the future in the US as well.
What I’ve always wondered…what about shopping for big items? Do you just plan for delivery? Busses out me four miles from my job but I’d have to bike another 4.8 miles to get there. As a female the bikes are heavy and have to be loaded on and off the bus take alone and only parts of the city have a dedicated bike lane so what about safety and distance in that sense?
These are great considerations!
- Delivery when I absolutely need it, but I just don't think I buy that many bulky items!
- E-bikes are definitely heavy and cumbersome, but to my knowledge buses have a great loading system.
- 5 miles is probably around 30 min of biking (at most).
- I feel like cities are a bit paradoxical when it comes to safety. In some ways more safe, in some ways less safe. When it comes to biking, I find accepting the risks and trusting your gut is the best way to find peace with it!
This video is dead-on. Results will vary depending on where you live. If you don't know if you can't live with your car, buy the bike first and see how it goes. If nothing else, dropping car miles travelled is a great way to save a ton of money and even if you don't sell your car, the bike pays for itself in many ways.
I drove the van to take the family hiking last weekend and was shocked that the gas tank was still full. I think the last time I filled it up was 3 weeks ago. We just don't drive much anymore and it's great.
Yes - such a happy medium. Bike first, car second seems like a popular approach. So many benefits 😃
This is funny to me.
I haven't owned a car ever and haven't ever owned an ebike either.
I did hire a car/van on a few occasions though to haul large items such as floor standing speakers.
But a car is really mostly a thing that's funny to have if you have money burning in your pocket.
The three primary reasons for me not to change from a bike to an ebike are:
- you don't get any exercise, so endurance declines
- the risk of a flat battery
- the cost of it makes it a target for thieves.
That sounds like a solid approach. And yes - we share those same thoughts 😃 when I got a flat battery it became almost un-usable
e-bike’s good for long distance. wouldn’t want to travel 20+ km (45-ish miles?) on a regular bike if you don’t have a literal pancake road. as in very flat for a very long time.
@@n.i.g.e.l Okay.
20km isn't 45 miles AFAIK, but I'm not American so I don't do miles.
I ride about 25km / day to work, 5 days a week.
I don't get the point; there's really no need for an electric motor to do the work for me.
It's perfectly doable all by myself.
@@QoraxAudio Good for you and all others that live on pancakes. Here there is plenty of hills. You are not riding 25km in hills each day. It would be funny if you start claiming to be though. And then being a productive worker too! ;)
I primarily drive un-motorized bikes. Don’t like the weight of the assist / battery pack, but there is definitely value in having those available.
There’s also plenty of people not as capable as us - old people, disabled people. Still don’t get the point?
@@n.i.g.e.l Ah yes I agree on that, electric bicycles are definitely great for disabled and the elderly that would otherwise be homebound!
Wife and I ditched our car for a motor scooter first, then got an ebike since we live off grid, and producing electricity is easier than producing our own gasoline. Eventually got a second ebike, and the two of those keep us going!
This is so cool to hear! 🙌