We discussed E-Bikes with Dean from Boogie Bikes and got some great info!

E-Bikes have been around since the 1990s. Have you tried one? I hadn’t until recently when a friend purchased one instead of buying a car to get to work. He came over and asked if I’d like to try his bike. I rode it for a very short distance and was hooked! It was such a natural high! It raised my serotonin levels instantly and I knew this would be my go-to exercise moving forward.

Here’s The HIP Senior Podcast episode where we discuss with Dean DuMez of Boogie Bikes why his bikes are amazing.

I have always had a cruiser-style bike. I grew up in Florida and that was the norm. I knew I wanted that type of bike again. I started researching E-Bikes and discovered Boogie Bikes and learned that they are located in Wisconsin and employ employees that assemble their bikes there locally. They test the bikes before they leave the warehouse. They carefully box them and send them to your door 90% assembled. If you are anything like me, I stink at assembling things that require directions to do so. Although I did read the directions, they were simple and minimal.

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You might be asking, “What needs to be assembled? How simple can it be? Can I do it myself?” Let me tell you just how easy it is. First, you have to be able to get the box somewhere that you can open it. (The FedEx guy put it in my living room for me). I asked a neighbor to come down and help me get it out of the box. Instead of trying to pull it up and out of the box, we laid the box down and pulled it out horizontally then lifted it up and discarded the box. Another person has suggested cutting the front of the box open and then just bringing the bike forward toward you. Either works but the latter one is probably easier. (Eh, hindsight).

After that, the handlebars need to be placed in the tube. I recommend putting them in and don’t tighten them yet. Next, put the seat in the post and adjust that height. THEN adjust the handlebars. You need to have your seat at the right height to have the handlebars at the right height. Take your battery and either put it on your bike or do like I did and set it on a counter and plug it in. When it’s fully charged, the indicator light will turn green. If you don’t see it, turn it over. It’s there.

When your battery is charged, insert it into your bike and go for a ride! Start out slow and do your research. Watch bike videos on Youtube and learn how to fall. Learn how to stop. I had a bit of trouble with this at first. I learned: slow down farther than you think you need to. Use your back brake first (you don’t want to go flying over your handlebars!) Put your left foot down first, lean a bit in that direction, and step forward off your seat, then step off the bike. As a step-thru bike, don’t try to lift your leg over the seat to get on. Stepping thru is much easier!

Stay off the main roads while you are learning about your new bike. Riding an E-Bike is a bit of a learning curve. Start in a parking lot, move to bike paths, and then roads if you need to.

To save $50 off 1, or $100 off two bikes, visit www.TheHIPSeniorEbike.com or use the discount code ‘HIPSENIOR’ at checkout.

Here are some Amazon items I like when it comes to E-bikes: (these are affiliate links)