The aim was to clock up 100 miles before handing the ebike back, but a technical issue meant only half that distance could be covered by Mike Storrar who had to hand his bike back a week early.
That hitch, however, didn’t spoil the joy he got from riding the ebike, which he’d secured through the Falkirk Active Travel Hub ebike scheme run in partnership with Home Energy Scotland, because he found the whole experience exhilarating.
Having purchased a hybrid bike through the Cycle to Work scheme a few years back, the Web & Digital Services Officer (pictured on the left) has been pedalling to and from work for the past three years.
Already a lover of cycling, not least because of the mental health benefits it brings, he decided to hire an ebike from the Active Travel Hub after having a shot during a demonstration day at work.
Hiring the bike was very straight forward “I added my name to the waiting list and waited my turn” and getting to grips with riding it even more so.
“It’s actually easier to ride than my normal bike,” he said. “Knowing when to use the assistance is the main thing, but after a short ride you get to know when you need a bit more power and when you can just ease off.”
Carrying an injury he sustained after coming off his own bike earlier this year, the ebike has helped take the strain off his knees allowing him to cover considerable distances and elevations with ease – including the climb from the Union Canal to Callendar Estate cycle trails, something he’d only been able to do once before on his own bike.
He said: “I wasn’t sure how much the motor on the ebike would help but it really has allowed me to do so much more than I could on my own bike. Riding an ebike is a sheer joy. The elation that comes from using one is indescribable. It makes journeys far more comfortable and can give you time to enjoy the scenery.”
Ebiking is a great way to increase your fitness, and having that little bit of assistance while in the saddle can open up a whole new world to those currently not convinced by cycling.
For more information on ebiking visit the Falkirk Active Travel Hub or read about the Forth Bike hire scheme.
A fantastic shared path network criss-crosses more than 500km of the Falkirk Council area. This includes mountain bike trails, high quality parkland routes, canal paths and the Round the Forth cycle route – there’s something for everyone, from beginners to experienced cyclists.
If you want to get started on a more traditional push bike and are unsure of cycling there’s also a wide variety of cycle training available in the area for young and old.