Dear friend, I’m writing to you just to take my mind off things for a bit….

Dear friend, I’m writing to you just to take my mind off things for a bit. I’d like to share my experience as an e-bike rider with you. Over the last few years, I’ve gained a realistic understanding of what it means to use one every day. The bike’s real strength lies in its minimalism: nothing superfluous, everything is essential. This is even more true when you’re pedalling under your own steam. Unfortunately, many e-bikes today are little more than toys, designed for the weekend rather than for everyday life. I’ve used the bike for everything: taking my son to school, doing the shopping, cycling to work. Living in the mountains, however, the standard 250W proved insufficient. For three years I persevered, improving my physical fitness, but the accumulated fatigue limited my other activities. The turning point came two years ago with a more powerful motor. The difference was immediate: less effort, more fun and total control over the intensity of the ride. Now my bike is optimised for my daily routine, but my needs are growing: I’d like to extend my range to 80–100 km, reaching towns or the seaside. The next step? Doubling the motor and battery capacity, with a dual system for redundancy and all-wheel drive. An unexpected advantage that changes the game and makes it possible to envisage the e-bike for even long journeys? The charging network for electric vehicles is already widespread (supermarkets, petrol stations) with standard connectors (such as Mennekes). With the right charger, I can fully recharge the bike in an hour. Traditional e-bikes, with their small batteries and slow chargers, are no match for this. True sustainability doesn’t come from the big brands. Buying overpriced bikes, using them sparingly and then binning them when they suffer an irreparable fault (thanks to proprietary systems, e.g. Bosch) is a contradiction in terms. I prefer to retrofit existing bikes with modular, repairable components – a long-term investment that pays for itself quickly. The electric bike doesn’t solve everything, but it can revolutionise the daily journeys of millions of people, combining exercise, practicality and respect for the environment. And, above all, silence.