Get Outside with a Maui Electric Bike

Remember when you were a kid, and the only way to get to your friend’s house was on your trusty 10-speed bike? Many of us relied on our bicycles as a form of transportation long before we got a license to drive. In our childhood, bikes weren’t just the vehicle that transported us to our next adventure… Riding itself was the adventure! And most of us were never motivated to get outside for a bike ride because we needed to burn some calories. Our reasons for riding were much simpler: We just wanted something fun to do on a Saturday! 

As adults, our reasons for riding a bike can often be outweighed by our reasons not to ride: We’re not in shape enough to ride. We’ll arrive a sweaty mess if we ride a bicycle to work. And a car will get us from Kapalua to Kahului faster than a bike!   

Enter the electric motor-assisted bicycle!  Electric bicycles are similar to a bike that is strictly human-powered, but with several electrical components added to it, such as a battery, a controller, and an electric motor. With the electric motor, riders can toggle between a few levels of assistance, allowing them to choose between getting a workout in, or letting their electric bike do the work.  The electric bike offers assistance to the user, so they can arrive at their destination faster than they would on a traditional bike.  How fast exactly?  If you are pedaling, you can ride as fast as you can pedal. While most e bikes stop providing electric assist while pedaling at speeds of 20 mph, some provide assist while moving at 28 mph. 

Not only can e bicycles be faster than standard bikes, but they are also regarded as safer. E bikes give commuters the boost they need to take longer routes rather than shorter and possibly more dangerous routes. The e bike also enables commuters to get through risky intersections faster. Areas once regarded as challenging and even off-limits for cycling become more accessible with an electric bike! 

Electric bikes may be slightly slower than automobiles, but they are a more eco-friendly option, as they are considered zero-emission vehicles. Unlike cars or even scooters, you don’t have to fill up your e bike at the gas pump, making it a more economical transportation option. 

Whether you’re commuting on your e bicycle, or you’re just riding a rented e bicycle for recreation, you can avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot associated with owning a car, and feel good about reducing your carbon footprint too!  

You don’t have to be an athlete to reap the health benefits of riding an electronic bike either. Around 50% of people who buy e bikes don’t consider themselves cyclists. Often, they are simply individuals who appreciate how the electric bike’s small motor gives them a moderate workout. Research suggests that comparing the energy used to pedal a standard bicycle versus an e-bike is like comparing running to brisk walking. Both burn calories, but the former happens to burn more. 

So the next time you take your e bike out for a spin, remember that you’ve chosen a fantastic option for outdoor recreation and transportation. Riding an electric bike is a physical activity that will get you outside… and may just make you feel like a kid again!