How my e-bike changed my life
From the moment she first saw her motorised cycle, Veronica Henry says she was hooked
Ilive in a tiny village on the North Devon coast. When lockdown struck, it was idyllic; the beaches empty, the skies periwinkle blue without the usual criss-cross of aeroplane trails, the sea crystalline with an edge of white surf that, on a plea from the RNLI, was out of bounds.
Enchanting though my daily walk was, I was missing a really good cardio workout, unable to go to the gym or swim in the sea. I longed to explore what was on my doorstep but was never going to get very far in the exercise time allotted. I noticed a preponderance of bicycles – might this be the way to go?
There was one problem. There’s no way out of my village except up a choice of exceedingly long, steep hills, one of which is earmarked by extreme cyclists as particularly challenging: three quarters of a mile with a gradient of up to 23 per cent. At 57, there was no way I was going to be fit enough to cycle up one of these on an ordinary bike.
Yet I had seen a few women my age glide effortlessly up them, as serene as a village postmistress. How did they do it? On closer inspection I realised they were on e-bikes. A friend had one, and extolled its virtues, insisting it made even the steepest hill a piece of cake.
Initially cynical, I began to do my research. E-bikes have shed their fuddy-duddy image, now looking very much the part. Sales surged during lockdown as people sought a means of escape from their claustrophobia.
In the window of my local bicycle shop hung a khaki green Moustache Friday 28.1. French, hunky, understated and impossibly sexy, it was love at first sight. I took it for a trial ride and fell deeper in love. It was like riding a magic broomstick. The mere flick of a button gave me an extra surge of power that meant I was gliding up hills like the other ladies of a certain age I had seen. The promise of freedom and adventure was irresistible.
It was the swiftest engagement ever. Soon, we were married and, like newly-weds, spent as much time together as we possibly could. The first time I attempted one of the torturous hills around me, I was convinced I wouldn’t make it. My friend urged me on until suddenly there I was, on top of the world. The descent was terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure. I screamed with fear and delight, the sea a dizzying drop to my left, initially too nervous to release the brakes but eventually letting go. The sense of freedom and the thrill was intoxicating. Addictive. I was hooked.
I rode my bike to the local organic dairy farm to buy milk. When sociallydistanced drinks were allowed in gardens, I rode to friends for an evening aperitif, cycling back in the pollen-scented dusk, the breeze caressing my face as I grinned from ear to ear. As lockdown eased, my friend and I would cycle to the beach for an evening swim. It was like a Famous Five adventure. I ordered a basket for the front for carrying picnics, or swimming towels, or bottles of wine.
Clouseau, as my e-bike has been christened, has had a huge impact on my physical and mental health, my social life, my sense of adventure. I’ve discovered places on my doorstep I would never have found on foot or by car. Hidden lanes leading to secret beaches. Rugged coastal paths a car would never go down. And it’s the best way to beat the horrendous holiday traffic that has sprung up this summer.
Now, I need a bike rack so I can take it with me when I go to stay with friends. And perhaps, when things have settled, I could take it across the channel for a tour around the vineyards of Burgundy. Clouseau has opened up the possibility of a new world, viewed from the saddle as I eat up the miles. For anyone wanting a raised heart rate, an adventure and a love affair combined, an e-bike is a match made in heaven. Get on it, though – the most coveted models have a waiting list. E-bikes are, literally, the way forward.
It was like riding a magic broomstick. The thrill of it all was intoxicating