How E-Biking Helped Me Find Strength Again
Even if we think we know what’s coming, life can still surprise us. For me, that happened one spring day a couple of years ago. I woke up slowly, groggy and with pain in my chest, unsure where I was. As the mental fog lifted, I realized I was in the ICU after having open heart surgery. What my doctors had warned me about had happened.
Absurdly, one of my chief concerns in the early post-op days was not so much the recovery period, but whether I would ever be able to ride my bicycle again.
“Would I ever be able to ride my bicycle again?”
Some months before that, after trying out different brands of e-bikes, I had easily settled on a Velotric commuter model. It was love at first sight after a short test ride. For me, it was the perfect answer for a 71-year-old with long-time heart trouble: a way to stay active and fit without overexertion.
My first e-bike was surprisingly light, responsive, and maneuverable, with powerful brakes and great steering even at quite low speeds. The low step-through frame and adjustable seat height were particularly comfortable for someone like me, with a medium height and build. Better still were the easy-to-use digital assist settings that let me use as little or as much motor support as I wanted, adjusting on the fly.
My hopes about using my e-bike for activity and fitness turned out to be completely fulfilled. Lots of fresh air every day, a renewed connection to the outdoors, and a way to feel as healthy as possible until the inevitable heart surgery finally arrived.
Back on the Bike
The bypass graft operation turned out to be completely successful. On my first postoperative visit to the heart surgeon, I asked him when I could get back to bicycling. He smiled and said, “I would give it a couple of weeks, Martin. We’ll call it your cardiac rehabilitation.”
That’s when the next surprise happened. Once the chest incision had healed enough, I was back on my beloved Velotric. Slow, short rides at first, of course, but after about six weeks I was back to my usual 10 miles a day without any problem. Pretty soon, I was on Eco mode all the time and barely using the motor.
For me, this was a personal achievement of great significance. I had survived major surgery and was feeling better each day. Without exaggeration, I largely attribute that progress to the healing power of e-biking. The ability to successfully match my exercise level to my stage of recovery was extremely valuable.
“Most people of your age who have this operation take over a year to fully recover. You have achieved that in less than six months!”
My physicians agreed and actively encouraged me to exercise this way every day. One doctor later told me exactly that, and I have never forgotten it.
More Than Physical Recovery
Physical benefits aside, the emotional advantages of e-biking after surgery were equally important. One of the well-known after-effects of any major operation is a temporary reduction in self-confidence. You can feel as though you should not overdo former habits like physical activity until your body has fully recovered.
That feeling can quietly lower your confidence. It varies from person to person, of course, but I recognized it in myself as I continued rehabilitation.
As I was able to bicycle more and more, I felt my self-confidence rise. I began to realize that I was not risking my continued recovery with a sensible amount of activity. In fact, as time progressed I felt so good about the benefits of bicycling that I began eagerly looking forward to my daily rides—not as “cardiac rehabilitation,” but for the pure joy of being outdoors and doing something I love.
Thankfully, my steady progress has continued. Now, two years after surgery, I am feeling better, stronger, and ever more confident with e-biking. Confidence building is, for me, a direct result of Velotric’s excellent design and engineering.
Many cyclists around my age have told me that getting older made them feel apprehensive—or even unable—to use a regular bicycle, due to conditions such as arthritis or heart disease. They worried about falls and thought they might have to give up a beloved hobby. After the operation, I initially had some of those thoughts as well.
In my case, I quickly came to appreciate and rely on the stability and balance of my e-bike due to its low center of gravity and safe, predictable handling. With practice, older riders can become proficient, comfortable, and positive about e-biking. Above all, the superior design and build quality of Velotric bikes reduce the chance of unpleasant surprises for older riders with average bicycle skills.
Why I Now Ride Almost Every Day
The many health benefits of bicycling for seniors are well documented, and I think I am living proof of that. I am quite certain that my recovery would not have been so quick and successful without riding my e-bike as frequently as possible. These days I feel completely recovered and very optimistic about a healthier old age with plenty of e-biking ahead.
E-biking has made such a positive impact on my well-being that my collection now includes both a Velotric Discover 2 and a Nomad 2. I ride one or the other almost every day, as Florida weather permits and depending on the terrain of each trip.
The Discover 2 is ideally suited for paved trails. Under those conditions it maneuvers well, handles predictably, and has excellent braking, even if the trail is wet. On the flat and with no other traffic, I can usually reach 17 mph on straight sections with almost no motor assistance. The exhilaration is beyond belief, and I always finish a ride with a big smile on my face.
When I am riding slowly in a local park, with due respect for walkers, people often stop me to admire my bright red Discover 2. That gives me the chance to talk about the advantages of owning a Velotric bike, and they usually seem impressed.
My more recent Nomad 2, on the other hand, is wonderfully at home on unpaved trails in the scenic city and state parks of North Florida. On gravel, compacted sand, or grass, the bike handles very well and radiates safety, comfort, and maneuverability for the rider.
In one oceanside location that I visit frequently, I am easily able to ride 18 miles a day on often deserted trails. For a former heart patient, I think that is a pretty good achievement.
The Best Surprise of All
In my view, one of the most valuable and satisfying parts of riding my Velotric bikes is the emotional connection with the natural world that this experience makes possible. The virtually silent progress along a scenic nature trail lets me stop and quietly observe birds and wild animals whenever I can.
Last year, for example, I encountered two wild otters on a trail and was able to noiselessly ride quite close to these beautiful creatures without disturbing them. It was a magical, uplifting experience.
I also value the fact that I am riding a quiet, non-polluting machine that can be recharged with power from renewable energy sources. I try in daily life to minimize my carbon footprint, and e-biking supports those values. To me, the famous slogan “Think globally, act locally” is strongly reflected in the choices many e-bike riders make.
My e-biking journey has been full of surprises, but one of the biggest has been the sheer intensity and joy of the experience. That moment when you lightly touch the throttle to get moving and balanced, and then the trail opens up ahead of you—it never gets old.
It might be a paved suburban cycle path winding between backyards, a forest trail covered in pine straw and squirrels, or a grassy upland track climbing toward distant hills. The exhilaration of the ride is exceeded only by the beauty of the surroundings and the sense of freedom that e-biking provides.
In today’s crowded, noisy world, an e-bike is not just exercise. It is also peace, confidence, freedom, and a way back to yourself.
In today’s crowded, noisy world, an e-bike is an affordable and versatile way to seek out the peace and silence of nature. That may be the most enjoyable surprise of all: the fact that an e-bike is not simply a source of great exercise, but a way of counteracting the pressures and challenges of 21st century life.
Go try it.
