Riding my e-bike made me remember what freedom used to feel like as a kid

Posted by FormosaCovers@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 77 comments

I didn’t realize it until recently, but riding my e-bike kind of brought back a feeling I hadn’t felt in years.

Remember when we were kids and bikes were everything? They were our first taste of freedom. No phones, no directions, just the rule that you had to be back before it got dark. That was it. You could ride to the store for a bag of chips, hit every alleyway and shortcut you knew, or just loop around the neighborhood until your legs gave out. And somehow, it never got boring.

That’s what riding my e-bike feels like now. It’s not about going fast or getting somewhere specific. It’s about rediscovering the simple joy of wandering. Exploring places five miles out I never bothered with before. Stopping to look at weird stuff just because I can. It’s the grown-up version of being 12 with a hand-me-down bike and a whole Saturday.

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Live-Perspective-782@reddit

Thats great other than its not a bicycle. I feel bad for your purchase

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123akarichan@reddit

I am the same, I alwaya can't wait to ride my ebike.. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️

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CaptainCurious25@reddit

I've been able to take my ebike to places I would never go normally. National parks, remote areas, even in my neighborhood. Definitely feel that excitement and wonder.

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leothelion634@reddit

I feel the lack of bike infrastructure limits this much more than the boosted power

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Laserdollarz@reddit

Nobody is stopping you from riding after dark now!

My commute home is the high point of my day because I roam and explore. I pack binoculars and I know where the wildlife hangs out.

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JustTheBeerLight@reddit

binoculars / wildlife

Stay out of those trees, McFly!

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FantasticWrangler83@reddit

Don't get hit by a car

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Adventurous-Rope7870@reddit

Fuck where was this 2 months ago ! Tboned for nothing! Lol

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HowaManFlies@reddit

Oh man almost t-boned a car myself yesterday that made a right in front of me with no turn signals or warning. skidded out and stopped inches away....somehow the driver never even saw me even after the incident. Was wet and slick too, so happy I drive extremely defensively

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blueskyredmesas@reddit

It's because of shit like this that, every time I see a car, my brain does a Sherlock and I'm sitting there like "What's the most stupid combination of pedal and steering wheel activations the person in that driver's seat is capable of doing?"

I'm glad you made it out of that shit friend. It sucks being the crumple zone.

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Adventurous-Rope7870@reddit

Dam man ! But na i got tboned by a car at 40mph lol at a flashing crossing use a full face helmet!

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HowaManFlies@reddit

Oh wow that is scary, hope you are alright

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Adventurous-Rope7870@reddit

I'm better than I should be, thanks ! Use a helmet!

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HowaManFlies@reddit

What kind of you have? I use a giro and like it but now want a better one

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Adventurous-Rope7870@reddit

I just use a fox v1 I'm sticking to that brand now because I know it works Two slams back to back and a slide on my face, and I'm good 👍

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Laserdollarz@reddit

That's where the eagle nest are!

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RabidWolverine2021@reddit

He’s a peeping Tom!

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jonathanfv@reddit

For real! I love riding back from work after dark. Whenever I get the chance, I take my bike to check out new places, too. I also explore on foot. Back in January, I moved to a different city next to the one I previously lived in. Two months ago or so, I discovered there was a forest where few people go, with a super deep ravine and a creek, massive trees, etc., and I found a guy who lives there. We became friends. Last night, my girlfriend, her dog and I went to pay him a visit. We ate by his campfire, I practiced throwing rocks with a sling (David and Goliath type), as a nearly full moon rose to the sounds of the owls and the howls of the coyotes down in the ravine.

It's crazy what you can find if you take the time to explore. I had no idea how awesome my new neighbourhood would be before I did that.

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leftwich07@reddit

Wow that’s amazing. Does the guy have a house back there or is he just rawdogging it in the woods?

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jonathanfv@reddit

To give you an idea of the size of the trees... I'm in the photo, near the middle.

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Laserdollarz@reddit

Awesome! I'm near Denver, so I miss random spats of massive vegetation. It never gets that green here!

I also have a slingshot, I go to "no man's lands" near bridges and stuff and practice my aim on cans and stuff.

Here's my very majestic bald eagle friend I check in every day

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jonathanfv@reddit

Ha ha ha ha, I love the little poop at the end. 😂 That's awesome! And I love slingshots, as well. I got a bunch of them! (Earlier, I was referring to a fabric sling, like singers from the Bronze age would have used.) My friend was saying yesterday that we should make a shooting range near his camp. I'm thinking, maybe I can design and 3D print him a slingshot of his own. We talked about air rifles as well, but I'm debating whether I should bring one because I'm not too sure what the local laws say about that and would rather avoid trouble. Slingshots are likely a better choice. Quieter, smaller, and less scary looking than guns of any type.

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Laserdollarz@reddit

Hell yea! Harder to hit your thumb with a full sling!

Yeaa I feel like someone by seeing someone with a sling or slingshot is lot less concerning than a air rifle.

Maybe find a nice Y in a branch and give him a whittling knife and some bands?

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jonathanfv@reddit

Ha, I do have some old Y branch ones that I made years ago! I even have one I made with popsicle sticks and crazy glue, lol. Maybe we can look for cool trash around and build a slingshot out of that. I do have a bunch of 1842 and 1745 tubing on hand.

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Laserdollarz@reddit

I haven't built one myself, but it definitely sounds like you can put one together with him!

I spotted this fox on my commute tonight. I've seen them around their den here before but they're getting more brave.

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jonathanfv@reddit

Oh he's so pretty! I've seen many foxes back in Quebec, but they all looked more gaunt/skinny than this one. I hope he keeps coming back around and gets used to you!

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irena888@reddit

I read once that besides swimming, bike-riding is the nearest thing to flying humans can experience. I feel the same joy as you when I ride.

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t0reup@reddit

I'd guess hang gliding, sky diving, and piloting a small aircraft are prolly closer. But yeah, bike riding is the shiz.

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FormosaCovers@reddit (OP)

Totally agree. There’s a kind of weightlessness to it, like you’re gliding through the world instead of moving on it. That feeling never gets old

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t0reup@reddit

A couple of weeks ago I took a long time friend on his first e bike ride. His words were: "I feel like I'm in 5th grade again!!".

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MickyBee73@reddit

I can relate to this feeling, as I fondly remember the good old days of 'push bikes', as we called bikes back in the day..and that looming feeling of having to get back home for a certain time (or get 'grounded' 😅)

You're right about the joys of riding an E-bike, it's liberating, costs nothing (..well, hardly) and they are just fun to blip about on 🚲⚡👍

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bbqtom1400@reddit

Just so you know. A 40lb Australian Shephard knocked me off my ebike at 9:15 pm last year. Two broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and lots of pain. I was just cruising along and he came out of nowhere. I was on mile 27 of my ride for the day. I don't ride at night anymore. Just be careful.

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Hot-Aspect8998@reddit

You can always just turn the “e” off. My trek has all the gears. Best of both worlds!

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landonburner@reddit

I don't use the gears. Pretty much every bike I have ever had had failed because gears. I'm afraid to shift. I stay in top gear and use electric power to get me up to speed.

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GriftyMcBegg@reddit

Shifting on a modern bike can be extremely reliable. Perhaps you were shifting under load, or otherwise don't understand proper shifting technique, or how to adjust for tension changes?

You do you of course, whatever works, and definitely no judgment here, just curious why it might not have been working out for you.

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WillingShilling_20@reddit

Both are valid.

My throttle doesn’t work anymore so shifting has become a necessity

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geoguy78@reddit

Yes!!! I felt like a kid again, riding around exploring neighborhoods in my community, finding all the hidden bike paths and trails. Just so much fun, and I'm definitely getting a workout. Those that say an ebike isn't a workout just don't know what they are talking about. Or they use a throttle

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FormosaCovers@reddit (OP)

Exactly! You still put in the effort, just with a bit of help when you need it. E-bikes don’t take the work out, they just make it feel like fun again.

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GriftyMcBegg@reddit

It depends.

My Class 1 pedal assist e-bike agrees, but the throttle-equipped e-moto style are a different beast entirely.

If the only use for your pedals is to skirt regulation and insurance, just suck it up and get a motorcycle or register a moped.

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Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit

Mate, I have 50 years, and believe me, I know how I feel riding this amazing bikes. Im young again, and Im old motorcycle biker,so, I still love big speed, no matter,if this bike are still unlockable or not... I enjoy riding,just like you...cheers....

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eliza31@reddit

This is exactly how I felt on my first ride!

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Can-I-remember@reddit

That’s the feeling I get and I have a pedal assist only e-bike. I set out for a leisure ride and just take paths and roads without having to worry about how tired I’m going to get. If I’m feeling tired or come to a hill I just up the assist level. Now my only concern is making sure I have enough battery left to get home.

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Boblawlaw28@reddit

I was just saying the same thing the other day!

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Evening-Turnip8407@reddit

You don't even notice the weird stuff in the car, apart from amazing cloud formations that I always wish I could just look at but I'm glued to the machine lest I kill 20 people.

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Inner-Contest9357@reddit

very true

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aaronboy22@reddit

Dude, I hopped on my e-bike the other day and bam—instant flashback to being a kid. You know that feeling when you used to ride your bike with no real plan? Just cruising around the neighborhood like you owned the world? Yeah, that kind of freedom. No traffic stress, no to-do list buzzing in your head—just wind in your face and that little voice going, keep going you got this!, Seriously, it’s like unlocking cheat mode for your legs It made me think… when was the last time we did something just for the fun of it? No reason, no goal—just pure joy.

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stephenmakesart@reddit

I tell people this very thing, they all just say it's cheating, it's not a bike it's a motorcycle. I couldn't care less anymore. You can't convince people past the high cost either

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vdog5061@reddit

I agree, I've also found myself thanking who ever the city officals were that decided to put the bike paths in or random pieces of art.

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nightoftherabbit@reddit

Well said! I feel the exact same way still and I’ve had the e-bike for 3 years. Jon Stewart recently said something about the difference between happiness and joy. E-bikes (and bikes in general) for me have always been pure joy.

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Multiverse-of-Tree@reddit

Welcome to the 10 yr old club- makes me feel 10 again!

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MeatVulture@reddit

It’s so true

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chewmattica@reddit

Well put! I have very similar memories riding around on my BMX bike in the 90's. Riding to the local Dairy Queen was a 30 minute journey (which was fine, and I loved).

As adults we have less time. Exploring is much accessible.

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FormosaCovers@reddit (OP)

Totally get that, back then, time felt endless. Now, e-bikes kind of bring that magic back in bite-sized pieces.

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Ganjaebiker84120@reddit

This is what I tell my snobby friends that do not have major knee or back issues. They may not understand now, but they will!

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Torin_Miasma@reddit

This is exactly how I feel. And I have found myself at coffee shops and record stores and little places that I never really noticed in my surrounding area. And the amount of little free libraries that I pass while on my bike I don't think I would ever have just stopped my car to check out.

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FormosaCovers@reddit (OP)

Yes! It’s wild how the slower pace lets you actually see your neighborhood. Bikes turn everyday places into little adventures you’d miss in a car.

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Anxious-Depth-7983@reddit

The first upgrade I installed is lights. Riding after dark is great after it's been in the 80s all day.

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FormosaCovers@reddit (OP)

Smart move! Feels peaceful, almost like the world slows down just for you.

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almostbuddhist@reddit

But why would this be specific to an ebike? Wouldn't a regular bike bring back that feeling as well? I ride both regular bikes and an ebike, and regular bikes connect me with my childhood much more than my ebike.

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mcdulph@reddit

For this fat, out of shape, 68-year-old woman…I would probably pass out if I tried to ride a regular bicycle. I live in a slightly hilly area. Plus, one of my knees gets aggravated easily.

There’s an e-bike-share station five minutes from my house. I may or may not ever work my way back to riding my old Trek bicycle, but my e-bike membership is life-altering.

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FormosaCovers@reddit (OP)

That’s beautiful to hear. E-bikes really are a game changer, they make movement feel possible again, without the pain or pressure. I’m rooting for your rides!!

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almostbuddhist@reddit

That’s awesome! Glad the e-bike is helping you keep riding.

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mcdulph@reddit

Thank you! I hadn’t ridden in at least ten or fifteen years, and I was a bicycling freak back in the day. Really missed it, but thought those days were behind me.

Now I’m bugging all of my older friends to come try e-bikes with me. 😎

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lpmiller@reddit

I would think any person who ebikes could figure that out.

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Substantial_Oil678@reddit

I still remember my first bike, and waiting patiently for the weekend for my Dad to repair my flat, until I learned to do it myself. Still had to wait once in a while for that patch kit.

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FormosaCovers@reddit (OP)

That's such a core memory. There's something special about learning that kind of self-reliance, especially when it’s passed down from someone you love

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