Whether you love them or hate them, electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular on streets and trails around the US. First embraced across Asia and storming their way across Europe for the last decade, e-bikes are now exploding in popularity in North America.
But while you’ll see plenty of people espousing the supposed advantages of electric bikes, it’s important to keep in mind some of the hidden costs of owning and using these two-wheeled electric vehicles.
The physical exertion of e-bikes
A lot of people think of electric bikes as effortless since there’s an electric motor and battery to assist you. But in actuality, you’ll likely be getting more exercise than you expected.
Pedal-assist e-bikes (the ones without a hand throttle) require to you to pedal in order to active the motor. And even on throttle-controlled e-bikes, most riders…