Ebikes have exploded in popularity but as with anything new, it will take a while for them to be understood and accepted.  If you ride an ebike, you may have been subjected to insults, harassment, and negativity.  Motorists may have shouted that you do not belong on the road and other cyclists may have told you ebikes are “cheating.”  Why do they hate ebikes?  Here are some reasons people resist this new form of transportation and recreation:

During this year of disruptions most of us have spent more time than usual avoiding other people and forgoing our favorite activities.  It might be comforting this holiday season to reach out to our business associates, friends and family with a holiday card.  In this age of social media, texting, and email, a physical holiday card with a newsletter or hand written message might be welcome.  If you have been the recipient of bad holiday newsletters in the past you might think a newsletter is the last thing you want to do, but a newsletter or hand written message tucked into a beautiful card would probably be most welcome this year.  Even if the newsletter is obviously sent to others, people will feel more connected to you just for received your special news.  Just the act of mailing a holiday card signals that you took the time to think of them and create a bond during the holidays.  The addition of a message makes it personal. 

If you want to extend your biking season into the colder months, what gear should you have?  What is the best type of bicycle to ride in the cold?  How do you talk yourself into rolling out when the weather is not sunny, warm and dry?  These topics and more were covered at the Nov. 10 virtual Zoom Chicago Cycling Club meeting.  Panel members that shared their insights were Charlie Sax, Dave Barish, and Melanie Shaw.

If you are interested in purchasing an electric bike, or ebike, and researching the options, you probably discovered there are two types of ebike motor systems on modern ebikes: the hub drive and the mid drive.  Besides your budget, where the motor is located is the biggest decision you will have to make.  While both options will provide you with assistance when you pedal, there are big differences in the technology and it is helpful to understand the benefits of a hub drive versus mid drive motors before you commit.