As requested, I've put together some bits about my experience so far.
I've had an e-bike for a couple of years now. I inherited her when my dad died (he bought her to enable him to continue walking the dog a bit longer). She was a no-brand risky internet purchase but has the same frame and very similar components to this bike. She's 6-speed but her assist function is either on or off, no choice of levels.
Prior to getting 'Trixie' I'd been pedalling a vintage 3-speed shopper style bike. Having not cycled for 30 years or so, I found her very hard going and couldn't do more than a couple of miles before my legs gave out entirely. As in went noodle-y and I had trouble even walking after. I should add I was actually reasonably fit and regularly went for 10 mile walks at that point. Anyway, the noodle-legs led to me never venturing past what I knew I could do and kept my roaming area too small to be interesting. Hills were beyond me and, well, Edinburgh is full of hills! I was pretty demoralised within a few weeks despite really loving the feeling of firing along on my bike.
Enter Trixie. The freedom was unbelievable. I now had the safety net that if I felt my legs getting tired, I could put the assist on and basically just spin my legs to get home. I could rattle up steep (Craigmillar Castle) hills without a thought. Suddenly I went from pootling round my neighbourhood to heading into town or to Porty via the Innocent. After a few weeks I took myself on a 15 mile jolly linking up as much of the off-road infra as I could. All unthinkable little adventures before. The e-bike grin is a very real thing! The more I rode, the less I needed the assist. However I always had to use it on hills because she's such a hefty wee rear-heavy monster.
After 6 months or so of e-bike ownership, I had the chance to try out a hybrid bike that was lying unloved in a garage: 27 gears, 29 inch wheels, a whole different kettle of fish to anything I'd ridden before. I loved it. I did not need another bike; I could barely store the 2 I now had but I bought her anyway.
'Elvira' became my weekend-only bike due to having to board her on the other side of town with someone who had space. I knew I had 12 easy miles in me on Trixie (with a bit of boost up hills) but I could do 15 on Elvira and not feel any more tired. On the e-bike, pedalling up a hill unassisted feels like someone is holding on to the back of the bike so it was only an option on very short stretches. Little by little, I got stronger and could at least manage bits of hills on the hybrid. The day I made it up the length of Cultins Road without getting off was a truly joyous one. Meanwhile, I was finally able to do a bit more on hills on Trixie the e-bike because my fitness was being boosted by using the hybrid and her very-many gears on hills.
Yesterday, Elvira the hybrid moved in with me. For the first time, I cycled her on a route I've previously only done on Trixie. I normally use the assist at least twice on that trip. I did it all under my own steam on Elvira fairly easily.
So I'm feeling like I may have outgrown my e-bike.
In short, I'd probably not have carried on cycling had the e-bike not fallen in my lap. She was absolutely the gateway I needed to enable me to get fitter with the confidence that I wasn't going to end up a quivering wreck miles from home. For many people who have physical limitations on how much they can do, she is absolutely 'the answer'. For this fairly average middle-aged wumman, she was just my gateway. There comes a point where the motor is as much a hindrance in terms of the weight and drag it creates as it is a help. It's only solving the problems it creates.
If you're thinking about getting an e-bike, do it. I've not heard of anyone yet who regretted the decision. However, don't assume your journey ends there.
If you've already had an e-bike for a while, borrow a nice 'manual' bike and test yourself. It's quite surprising.
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