You may remember that moment when your mom or dad gave you the final push after the training wheels came off your bike, and you wobbled your way down the sidewalk. The farther you went, the steadier the bike became and soon you were experiencing a whole new world of freedom.

Want to do that again? An e-bike just might be the ticket.

More and more, people are hopping onto this trend and finding they can explore places they never thought possible, giving them the freedom they first found at age 6.

“Just have fun with it,” says Jason Kraft, owner of Electric Bike Technologies in Bucks County, “because that’s what it’s about. It’s about being out there on a bicycle. It’s just a really good feeling.”

Unlocking new worlds

As a concept, e-bikes have been around for a long time, with the first patent issued in 1897. And when it comes right down to it, not much has changed: a motor, powered by a battery, drives a chain and off you go. But throw in today’s technology and you have some choices to make — pedal-activated? throttle-based? class 1, 2 or 3? Take a deep breath, heed the advice of those who have gone before you and you’ll be pedaling (or not) in no time.

The modern e-bike came into its own in the mid-2000s. When gas prices topped $4 a gallon, Kraft was working in New York City and saw people using electric bikes. The entrepreneur in him saw an opportunity and soon he was selling conversion kits. At the time, e-bikes sold for $3,500 or more, but for 20% of that, people could retrofit their own bikes. His manufacturing business in Croydon soon expanded to include e-bikes and tricycles. By 2018, the market had really taken off and then COVID-19 came along — and sales went through the roof.

Now, e-bikes are everywhere.

“I use it for recreation and hunting,” says Ralph Martone of Grampian, a member of DuBois-based United Electric Cooperative. “It has opened up so many more areas for me. I can go places where you wouldn’t want to walk because you don’t know how much time it would take, or you have to drag out your deer. But with the e-bike, you can get in and get out, carry your deer and your tree stand. It has definitely given me a lot more range.”
 

Greg Henry of Hustontown, a director for Huntingdon-based Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, agrees. A longtime “regular” bicycle rider, he says the e-bike has unlocked new worlds.

“It’s more of a mountain bike; you can take it into the woods,” says Henry of his heavy-duty, fat-tired machine that gets him to his fall archery hunting spots. “And I can see them helping people who’ve had surgeries. They want to start exercising and [with the e-bike] they’re still moving their legs, but don’t really have to exert themselves.”

Removing barriers

E-bikes definitely offer mobility opportunities a traditional bike can’t. The new market, says Kraft, who’s now concentrating on e-tricycles, is the older demographic who’s looking for stability as well as the ability to go the distance.

A walk around the 29 square miles of Gettysburg National Military Park would be out of the question for some, with its hills and valleys, but Josh Henson’s GettyPeds, a scooter and e-bike rental business, removes those barriers so you can enjoy the history before you.

“[They] give you the opportunity, instead of getting a workout, to enjoy the tour. They’re just amazing,” he says of e-bikes and scooters. The national military park, located in Adams Electric’s service territory, has welcomed the e-bikes to trails that already host traditional bikes as well as pedestrians. “They are perfect for this environment.”

If you’re looking to buy rather than rent, Henry and Martone stress the importance of doing your homework. E-bike prices can range from $300 to more than $1,000.

“Know how you’re going to use it,” Henry says. “Are you looking for an all-terrain bike or something to ride on paved roads? There are dealers out there who can help you.”
 

Martone suggests a test drive.

“My first one, I had trouble riding it; it was just too tall for me,” he said. “The second one was much lower, and it has worked great.” He also suggests doing some research on the available accessories — racks, cargo storage and trailers. When hunting, he says his accessories allow him to take in his tree stand and drag out his deer.

“And get a backup battery,” Martone adds. “You can always take it with you, and it will give you more confidence as you ride.”

From the manufacturer’s point of view, Kraft can’t stress enough the need to take your time when choosing not only the e-bike, but the manufacturer. While you can buy a bike sight unseen on the internet, it’s best to be cautious, he says.

“You want to buy it from a reputable company that uses reputable parts,” he says, adding buyers should look for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety seal on the bike and battery. “Make sure that they’re going to be there if you need any parts; most bike shops won’t work on the bikes they don’t sell.”

With the technical and logistical issues behind you, it’s still just a bike ride — a wobble down the road to newfound freedom.

“I think people should just let all the other stuff we talked about melt away,” Kraft says, “and just go for a ride.”