
Originally Posted by
Rogar
Would you prefer the term, regular bike vs. real bike as a better descriptor? Calling e-bikes is pretty standard but I don't know if there is a common term for human powered bikes. Legacy bikes. Does it matter.
Since retiring I've ridden many thousands of miles mostly on local bike trails. Before that, and when I was younger, I once rode east to west through British Columbia and south to north across Colorado over three mountain passes ("Ride the Rockies"). For years I bike commuted to work about seven mile one way. I've gone through eight or so bicycles that have worn out, become obsolete, or stolen. Some people go to the gym, jog, or play pickle ball. Bicycling has always been my form of fitness. I'm far from any uber athletic, I just have done it a lot and stick to it. I am nudging 70 years old. Age should not be an excuse for an otherwise healthy person. I once stopped to talk with a guy along the trail who was 65 and said he rode a hundred miles (a century) once a month along with his normal fitness routine. He said it had helped reverse a diabetes condition. And much cheaper than Ozempic. I have to say that level of fitness requires some dedication to work up to and it might be beyond me.
My perspective on getting a new bike for some one who has never biked much is this. If a person wants to ride a couple or few miles to the park or store or coffee shop, there's really no reason for an e-bike and about any economy bike is probably the most cost efficient. Most people should be capable of that.
For longer rides, like a cruise of say for example, ten or fifteen miles every week or two in the few warm months of the year, a person will probably find a human bike unpleasant to the rear end and basic fatigue and become discouraged. That's probably a place for an e-bike. Or if there is nearly insurmountably steep terrain.
If a person wants to challenge themselves as a fitness routine a couple or few times a week and doesn't have physical limitations or is adverse to exercise, my advice would be an e-bike as a gateway bike, or the challenge of working out on a human bike. The human bike will probably give a greater pleasure of accomplishment, a better physical work out, and avoids the cost of an e bike (or a gym membership), plus it keeps the eventual e-waste out of a landfill, if that matters these days. Once into a routine, bicycle fitness comes pretty easy after a coupe of weeks, but the breaking in period might be uncomfortable. My community does snow removal on the trails and a person can pretty much bike 8 or 9 months a year.
E-bikes have a place and a person can get a little fresh air, explore, and and a bit of exercise as casual outing. Regular, real or human powered bikes, for whatever name also have a place and with a little conditioning and a routine, a person can get a better aerobic workout, even more fresh air and and still explore, but the fitness doesn't happen overnight. Some people are adverse to physical exercise, but I've always enjoyed sweating a bit and getting the heart rate up and cycling is gentle on the joints and helps a lot of people with knee problems. I once was threated with knee surgery and my PT rehabilitation was on a stationary bike.
I might add that other than my recent purchase, I've always bought quality used bikes off Craig's list or other source. Some people get an idea about bike conditioning, e-bike or regular, and give up quickly, sort of like how New Years resolutions last for may three weeks. So there if a person knows what they want and the right size, there are a large quantity of great garage find bikes that have been collecting dust.