Hello, from deep inside Massachusetts!

[BillyLhx]

I used to ride my mountain bike quite a bit; however, as of the last few years, I have reduced my getting out with the bike to only a few times a year. I find that, at 71 years of age, climbing the hills of central Massachusetts is getting to be too much like work. It seems that in my younger days, oxygen energized and propelled me, whereas as I have gotten older, oxygen is only there to keep me alive, with the result of having lost the joy of biking as when I was younger. Therefore, I decided to get an e-bike to fill in for the depletion of my oxygen stores.

Last week (May 10, 2024), I ordered a Wired Freedom e-bike. The company (Wired) did a complete update of their previous model, which even then, had rave reviews, now has over 10 great improvements, including an extra-mounted battery, and at the same price as before the updates. The Wired Freedom model is now in production for the 2024 model; the expected ship date of the updated Freedom is June 2024.

This is my first e-bike, and I feel like a teenager eagerly anticipating delivery. I am confident the exhilaration of biking from my younger years will be greatly restored, the results of which of getting out at a substantially more frequent rate, exploring, exercising, and even doing chores such as going to appointments and doing some light shopping for my wife and me. My wife is officially retired but still working as a Home care health aide, and we have only one vehicle, so I am stuck home a good amount of the time.

As I embark on this new chapter of my life, I look forward excitedly to a new "freedom", ready to embrace all the adventures and possibilities that await.

Billy

 

[HumanPerson]

Hey, Welcome to the forums

That's a solid choice

 

[addertooth]

Yes, you made a rather excellent choice. It is one of my top three choices for a "speed and power eBike". With a net 35 Amp Hour of capacity, it should have a rather solid range (if you are not running full-throttle).

I am loving the top dog battle going on among some of the bike vendors. The purchasers are getting progressively better offerings.

Be prepared to be patient on delivery, as new production runs from the "three companies competing" often face slippage on delivery dates. This is normal, and to be expected.

 

[Annieolnie]

One of the things that is always said when I meet other ebikers is that this sport is the most fun thing out there, that still, not many people know about. You will certainly take in more oxygen and it will be due to the big grin on your face. Enjoy!

 

[JerryB]

Welcome....same age as you....used to ride but due to new knee and hip.....had to go ebike. So fun......I still want the exercise so I ride in PA 1 mostly.....love being out there again......be safe....enjoy that ride!

 

[pagheca]

Hi Billy,

You are right: I recently read in a book - J. Haidt, The happiness Hypothesis - that one of the (scientifically) proven ways to happines is EXPECTATION. And I call it dreaming. I am a bit younger than you but spend lot of time dreaming of travels with my ebike, impossible ones in particular... stuff like from Cape Nord (Norway) down to Finisterre (Spain) with my bike, my wife and.. our beloved cat! . And it makes my life easier.

And thanks for that picture of your older bike on your other post. It has a really "concrete" design...

 

[Smaug]

Welcome, from SE Wisconsin!

You did what a lot of us did and bought the fastest, heaviest, rangiest eBike you could find for your first one. Some people never move beyond that.

I'm a lot younger than you (47) but was a bit out of shape. I bought an eBike and got back in shape on it. I have more energy all the time now. That in turn got me in to regular biking again too. Now my legs are super-strong and I often pedal my eBikes unpowered at lower speeds.

I was glad to read your words: "my first eBike". I think your second one will probably end up being a lighter one. You won't be able to pedal that beast uphill if the battery dies. Maybe not a problem if you plan well, but it could mean a LONG walk pushing a heavy bike at times...

I think you will also find that the rear suspension saps some of your pedaling energy.

One word of warning: DO keep riding your regular bike. As you get used to eBiking, you may take that power for granted and find your legs losing some strength.

Set your expectations for pedaling un-assisted to about 10 mph on level ground and you won't be disappointed.

Another thing: prepare yourself to deal with flats at the roadside. Most of us here with fat tire eBikes run FlatOut in the tubes, which is a sealant similar to (but better than) Slime. Some also run tire liners against thorns. You'll need to carry a wrench for the axles, which is not on the usual bike multi-tools. Probably 18 mm. Depending on how things are set up around those axle nuts, you will need either an open end wrench or a socket. The only thing worse than pushing a dead, heavy eBike is pushing one with a flat. (and it's a HEAVY one too, so getting it hauled back to town won't be trivial; you'll need a minivan Uber!)

Enjoy your stay and I'll see you around!

 

[Smaug]

By the way, I think we all remember that anticipation of the first eBike arrival. I can't remember such anticipation since I was a kid waiting for Christmas. Esp. that one Christmas when my brother and I got Free Spirit BMX's from Sears. That was my first new bike and during the summers, I spent probably 4 hours a day on it.

eBikes are wonderful. I equate it to the type of freedom we got from regular bikes as boys. In my day, it was going miles and miles on my BMX with my brother. When mountain bikes burst on the scene, I got one of those and there was NO STOPPING ME. I rode year around, to any place I wanted to go. When I turned 16 and got my driver's license, I lived with Mom, who had only one car, and since the family's livelihood depended on it, we were rarely allowed to borrow it. She made it so hard I opted to bike instead. Thanks Mom!

Now that we're older, heavier and less fit in general, regular bikes are as much work as they are fun, and therefore not so care-free. eBikes bring back that carefree aspect.

 

[LeftOfCenter]

Greetings and salutations from eastern Massachusetts

 

[dawhoda]

I used to ride my mountain bike quite a bit; however, as of the last few years, I have reduced my getting out with the bike to only a few times a year. I find that, at 71 years of age, climbing the hills of central Massachusetts is getting to be too much like work. It seems that in my younger days, oxygen energized and propelled me, whereas as I have gotten older, oxygen is only there to keep me alive, with the result of having lost the joy of biking as when I was younger. Therefore, I decided to get an e-bike to fill in for the depleting of my oxygen stores.

Last week (May 10, 2024), I ordered a Wired Freedom e-bike. The company (Wired) did a complete update of their previous model, which even then, had rave reviews, now has over 10 great improvements, including an extra-mounted battery, and at the same price as before the updates. The Wired Freedom model is now in production for the 2024 model; the expected ship date of the updated Freedom is June 2024.

This is my first e-bike, and I feel like a teenager eagerly anticipating delivery. I am confident the exhilaration of biking from my younger years will be greatly restored, the results of which of getting out at a substantially more frequent rate, exploring, exercising, and even doing chores such as going to appointments and doing some light shopping for my wife and me. My wife is officially retired but still working as a Home care health aide, and we have only one vehicle, so I am stuck home a good amount of the time.

As I embark on this new chapter of my life, I look forward excitedly to a new "freedom", ready to embrace all the adventures and possibilities that await.

Billy

Awesome, glad you're back to biking and with a beast of a bike! I should of waited a few more months myself for the 24+ but my 24 is not a slouch, anyways I'm also from mass but live in western ma, chicopee to be exact happy biking!

 

[gemineye]

Welcome