January ecyclist 2017 | 27
1 in 4 Brits Want to Explore the Outdoors on an E-bike
The UK ’ s forests , parks and moors are seeing a growth in ecyclists year on year , eager to explore the great outdoors
Getting the roof racks on and heading to the peaks for a sense of adventure has become more common and opening up the outdoors for e-bikes is something manufacturers are keen to encourage . A survey by Shimano STEPS unveils that 25 % of Brits would love to use an e-bike for recreational purposes on the weekends and holidays .
Getting less tired during an adventurous ride is for almost one in four ( 23 %) the biggest advantage of using an e-bike . Another 22 % truly appreciate being able to maintain a constant speed , even with a strong wind or climbing a hill – making it easy for everyone to test their skills on gravel paths and forest roads . An e-bike is predominantly considered for recreational purposes on the weekends or holidays , followed by commuting and sports / exercise . Over a third ( 37 %) would consider actually buying an e-bike for leisure purposes .
The knowledge that riding an e-bike not only boosts your health but also enables less fit people to conquer longer distances , has meant that almost one in five Brits expect e-bikes to replace motorised vehicles like scooters in the near future . Another 14 % think they will replace our current pedal bikes . The survey has revealed that it is predominantly the younger generation who are convinced that electric bikes will replace current bikes or motorised vehicles .
Mark Greshon , Shimano Senior Brand Manager at Madison says : “ Knowing the huge interest in e-bikes for leisure and commuting , Shimano is making the step to electrify mountain bikes with the recent development of trailspecific Shimano STEPS technology . Difficult terrain can make it extremely challenging for some riders to explore the great outdoors and get to the top of a trail , which can be an intimidating prospect for some people . Crossing generations , electric mountain bikes make the impossible possible as everyone now has the ability to explore new grounds at a more relaxed pace . No longer is there an excuse not to jump on a bike , either for leisure , commuting or exercise purposes .”