The e-bike evolution

Swapping pedal power for the battery-induced buzz of an e-bike, actor and writer Elisabeth Easther investigates why so many cyclists are making the switch. 

For MAS Members who ride old-school bicycles, you’ll know there’s a certain cachet to being your own motor. Lined up at the lights with other riders on your way to work, or cycling for fun or fitness, it’s tempting to judge the battery tribe, even though you know you’ll probably make the switch one day yourself.  

I’ve ridden two-wheelers since I was a tot growing up in Hamilton. As I gained confidence at age 4, my GP father Michael (a proud MAS Member) took one of my training wheels off. Bad idea, but when the other one was removed, I took to cycling like a duck to water, and I’ve been riding ever since. 

Living in Auckland now, I believe this city has terrible traffic, but it doesn’t faze me from the saddle of my cycle, and I arrive everywhere in good time. I’ve also done most of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Great Rides, including Alps 2 Ocean, Twin Coast and Remutaka, each of them a joy. What’s more, riding a bike keeps me fit, both physically and mentally, and it’s carbon friendly. 

But I am turning 55 on my next birthday (I’m no spring chicken), which means an e-bike is on the horizon. When I visited the South Island recently to ride the Lake Dunstan trail and a new-ish section that connects Lawrence with Lake Waihola, I rented one to investigate.  

First impressions of an e-bike 

Fitted out with a sweet Merida from Bike It Now! in picturesque Clyde, the 55km Lake Dunstan Trail was borderline transcendent with a battery. I set off outside Cromwell to enjoy this spectacular ride, with some segments cantilevered into the rocky Central Otago riverscape, and I barely broke a sweat. As for the one major hill, I simply let the throttle out. Headwinds? No trouble, because I put the bike into sport mode and the wind died down. When I returned to Clyde 5 hours later, I was grinning from ear to ear.  

Totally hooked, I booked an e-bike for the Lawrence to Waihola leg, and Bike it Now! dropped one to my Lawrence digs, charged up and ready for action.  

Another little beauty, this 52km trail leaves Lawrence and makes use of old rail lines and tunnels, cutting through bucolic countryside, rustic Waitahuna and the service centre that is Milton. Closing in on Lake Waihola, the last leg is a series of elegant boardwalks that protect wetlands busy with bird life, and by the time I was done, I was a bona fide battery fan. 

Health benefits of e-bikes 

Curious to investigate further, I spoke to Nelson GP Dr Andrew Watts. A keen cyclist, the busy medic has an impressive ‘quiver’ of bikes. “I love bikepacking, going on long rides and being completely self-sufficient, and I commute for work,” Andrew says. “I have a gravel bike, a hard-tail for serious trails like Heaphy Track or The Old Ghost Road, and I’ve probably done about 10,000km on my e-bike. I also have a standard mountain bike and I’m now looking to buy an electric mountain bike after hiring one in Glendhu Valley near Wānaka. I loved it.” 

It would be hard to find a MAS Member more committed to cycling than Andrew, and of course he shares his enthusiasm with patients. “Cycling is excellent for improving cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility and joint mobility, not to mention being good for mental health. Although I do suggest older patients use a dropper seatpost (where you press a button to lower the seat) to avoid falls,” Andrew explains. “E-bikes also mean fewer excuses for not getting out there – if riders don’t get as tired, they’re less likely to have accidents. Cycling is also good for focus, balance and brain power, and it lowers stress levels.” 

The final test 

Clearly on to a good thing, my next stop was Dunedin. I hired an e-bike from Electrify NZ on Cumberland Street, and oh my gosh, there is no better way to get around this student enclave, with its one-way system and generous cycle lanes. As for the elegant 36km Port to Port ride, with the added bonus of a boat ride between Portobello and Port Chalmers with Port to Port Cruises, it is utterly charming. 

Back in Auckland, I’m back on my beloved GT, the bike I bought in 1995 that’s still going strong. Admittedly, the transition of returning to my old bike was a bit like getting out of the sea after a long swim and being reminded of gravity. But that’s OK, because the joy I derived from being electrified is still with me. 

So while I’m not quite ready to make the switch, I will be one day because, by crikey, those e-bikes are fun! And when I do transition and those traditional cyclists give me that look at the lights, I’ll just put my e-beast into sport mode and show those pedal pushers who’s boss.  

 6 idyllic spots for an e-bike adventure 

• Tasman’s Great Taste Trail, Nelson 

• Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, Aoraki/Mt Cook to Oamaru 

• Clutha Gold Trail, Central Otago 

• Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail, Northland 

• Remutaka Cycle Trail, Wairarapa 

• Queenstown to Arrowtown to Gibbston