Electric Bikes: Convenience At The Cost Of Health And Environment

Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular, but they are not without their critics. Some people argue that they are bad for your health, making people lazy and depriving them of the endorphin rush that comes with riding a traditional bicycle. They are also criticised for being expensive and potentially unsafe.

Electric bikes are bad for your health as they make people lazier and can reduce physical activity

E-bike enthusiasts like to boast about how much they save on gas and bus passes, but the biggest flaws with e-bikes are physical and psychological. The bicycle is meant to be an endorphin-multiplier, but e-bikes do the hard work for you, cheating people out of that accomplishment and ultimately making them lazier.

There are two broad categories of e-bikes, each with its own set of problems. The first category is cheaper and less durable. These are the bikes that are brought in once a month for the mechanics to look at—a do-it-yourself conversion kit slapped onto a Blue Light Special. The main issue with these rigs is safety. Install the kit incorrectly or on a bike with cheap parts, and it could fall apart under you. I have seen DIY motors bend frames, corkscrew spokes and shatter brake calipers.

Then there are the bikes built around the motor. These pass the safety inspection test, but fail when it comes to price. The e-bikes we sold at our shop cost at least four times as much as a “regular” bike. The battery alone cost half the price of the bike.

They can be expensive and it may take a long time to recoup the initial investment

Electric bikes can be expensive and it may take a long time to recoup the initial investment. The cost of an e-bike can be four times that of a regular bike, with the battery alone costing half the price of the bike. This means that it may take a while for the savings on gas and bus passes to add up to the initial cost of the bike.

There are two broad categories of e-bikes, each with its own set of problems. The first category is cheaper but less durable, while the second category is more expensive and built around the motor. These bikes pass the safety inspection test but fail when it comes to price.

The high cost of e-bikes can be a barrier for some people, especially those who are already struggling financially. It may be difficult for them to justify the expense, even if they are interested in the potential benefits of an e-bike.

Additionally, the cost of maintaining and repairing an e-bike can also be significant. The batteries, for example, are often stolen due to the inability to lock them up. This means that e-bike owners may need to factor in the cost of replacing batteries on top of the initial investment.

Overall, the high cost of e-bikes can be a significant drawback, and it may take a long time for some people to recoup their investment. This is something that potential e-bike buyers should carefully consider before making a purchase.

They are not durable and can be unsafe if the kit is installed incorrectly

Electric bikes can be unsafe if the kit is installed incorrectly. This can cause the bike to fall apart under you, with DIY motors bending frames, corkscrewing spokes and shattering brake calipers. The cheaper the bike, the less durable it is. The battery alone can cost half the price of the bike, and it is impossible to lock up, so it is often stolen.

They can make people feel a sense of false accomplishment

Electric bikes can make people feel a sense of false accomplishment. By doing the hard work for you, e-bikes cheat people out of that accomplishment and ultimately make them lazier. They enable entitlement to motion and a sense of false accomplishment. People will convince themselves they’re doing more work than they are to achieve the same results, and their health will suffer for it.

E-bike enthusiasts like to beat their chests about how much they save on gas and bus passes, but it's unclear how many miles it takes to recoup the initial investment. The biggest flaws with e-bikes are physical and psychological. The bicycle is meant to be an endorphin-multiplier.

The cheaper e-bikes are less durable and are brought in once a month for the mechanics to look at. The main issue with these rigs is safety. Install the kit incorrectly or on a bike with cheap parts, and it could (and likely will) fall apart under you. I have seen DIY motors bend frames, corkscrew spokes and shatter brake calipers.

Then there are the bikes built around the motor. These pass the safety inspection test, but fail when it comes to price. The e-bikes we sold at our shop cost at least four times as much as a “regular” bike. The battery alone cost half the price of the bike.

They are not 'true' bicycles as they are electric-first and have lots of rolling resistance

Electric bikes are not true bicycles as they are electric-first and have lots of rolling resistance. They are not human-powered and therefore do not provide the same health benefits as traditional bicycles. Electric bikes can also be unsafe, with DIY conversion kits causing bikes to fall apart, bend frames, corkscrew spokes and shatter brake calipers. They are also expensive, with the battery alone costing half the price of the bike. This means that they are not accessible to everyone and may not be worth the cost, especially when compared to the price of a regular bike.

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