Do you remember the first time you rode a bicycle somewhere meaningful? Do you remember how it felt, like you had the world on a string, and all you needed was your own pedal power to go anywhere…Do you remember how exhilarating and free that felt?
Well, I’ve found that feeling once again with the new Electric BCycles in Madison. They are aah-may-zing…there you are, cruising along without even realizing that the electric bike is propelling you faster than you normally would on your own.
It’s the greatest feeling – so freeing, and enjoyable. The fresh air, the sunshine, the exercise, the benefit to the world around you that comes from riding a bicycle rather than driving a car. And most days you can blow past the cars waiting in traffic…so cool! I’ve been riding my bike for errands and to work for many years, and frankly some days it’s more work than it’s worth, especially when it gets really hot like this past week.
Then last weekend I purchased a BCycle membership after trying out the electric bikes for the first time…and I got my husband hooked as well. After his first ride he literally said, “the sky is bluer and the sun is shining brighter”…because the ride made him feel so happy and free.
In just a week I’ve already ridden multiple times, even in the extreme heat we had this week I rode to and from work a couple of days. It’s so awesome riding to your destination, parking at one of the many rental stations and then later picking up a new bike for the next leg of your ride. Each rental or ride is good for 60 minutes. If you get to a rental station and there are no open spaces to return the bike, you can use the app to find another nearby station and you get an extra 15 minutes to return the bike to the next closest station. Easy Peasy.
On Saturday I rode to the Dane County Farmer’s Market early in the morning before the heat kicked in and bought some Door County Cherries so I could make some Cherry Bounce (watch for my next blog on that!). It was a great ride,and so much fun! And I was back home in no time, cherries in hand and a spring in my step. And no, BCycle is NOT paying me to say any of this…but they should, just sayin’!
Madison is the first city in the country to go all electric with the BCycles and I’m so happy they did! Give it a try next time you want to cruise around town…you just might find yourself riding a bike more often when you find out how effortless it is!