By Kevin S. Engle
I never spent much time on a bicycle.
Growing up, I had one. A bright yellow one-speed.
It wasn’t until after we were married that I learned how to ride a 10 speed, although ‘learned’ isn’t really the right word. I’d pedal and my wife would tell me when to change gears and which one to be in.
We’d ride around our neighborhood to practice. Unfortunately, there were lots of cul-de-sacs and that meant going around bends. On at least two occasions, I was going a little too fast and decided the best thing to do was jump off the bike into the grass.
I survived and so did my bike.
Eventually, my wife thought it was safe to ride on an actual trail where I could pretty much go straight all the time.
I was fine with that.
A few weeks ago, I had my first-ever opportunity to try an electric bike (i.e. an E-bike). A brother-in-law gave us a quick lesson on how they worked. My wife took a short test drive first and then it was my turn. Although I made it back unscathed, I wasn’t feeling too confident. All three of us then went for a ride. The two of them on the E-bikes, me on the traditional 10 speed.
Last weekend we were there again. This time I manned up and rode the E-bike.
Disclaimer. My brother-in-law set the gear to one where I probably wouldn’t have to shift at all during our ride. And I didn’t. All I had to do was pedal and steer.
And that was enough.
Steering is a challenge for me.
For whatever reason, I find it hard to just go straight. I sway to the left and right.
When we rode through an old railroad tunnel with our lights on, I have no doubt the people coming toward me were on edge when they saw my light going this way and that.
And I didn’t like those yellow concrete posts we had to pass through at various points on the trail. What was probably a three foot gap between them seemed more like three inches to me.
As we were heading back, I couldn’t help but notice the sloping hillside and river off to my right and knew exactly what this trail needed. Guard rails. Better yet, padded guard rails like bumpers on bowling alleys that keep the ball out of the gutter.
Somehow, some way I made it back in one piece. No scrapes, no broken bones and most importantly, no damage to the bike.
One of our cars has technology to keep it from going off the road.
Can I get an E-bike with the same thing?
When the author hears someone say it’s like riding a bike, he knows he’s in trouble.
The Best of Engle’s Angle is available online or pick up a signed copy at a local bookstore.
