Nov. 2024 | Vol. 4 Iss. 11
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Bountiful/West Bountiful
YOUR C O M M U N I T Y N E WS PA P E R
A NEW SPIN ON CYCLING: BOUNTIFUL’S E-BIKE BOOM By Gail Newbold | g.newbold@davisjournal.com
W
hen Bountiful resident Bill Ernest was 68, his longtime cyclist wife Ronda bought him an e-bike as a retirement present, thinking it would be a good way for him to keep up with her. She was used to grueling rides like the 50-mile Little Red and 100-milers in Hawaii riding her non-motorized bike, and had no intention of buying an e-bike. That is until Bill started passing her up on hills. “He would ring his bell as he passed,” she said. “It felt like he was rubbing it in my face,” she said smiling. Two years ago, she broke down and bought herself an e-bike. Now at age 70, she wonders how she ever used to ride up Emigration Canyon on her own power. She purchased a bike with low handlebars like she was accustomed to, and because she “didn’t want to look old.” She was surprised to discover she burned almost the same amount of calories on the new bike as long as she used the e-power sparingly. Brady Edwards, owner of Bountiful Bicycle, is quick to agree that e-bikes can be great exercise and are definitely not for wimps. “I can still ride hard and get a workout by keeping the power low on my e-bike,” he said. “When I started riding my first e-bike in 2016, I lost 40 pounds.” That was the same year Bountiful Bicycle began selling e-bikes. Sales were fairly slow at first, according to Edwards, but their popularity has skyrocketed at the same time prices have dropped. Now e-bikes account for over 50% of sales in his three Davis County shops. National stats are much lower with reports that e-bike sales account for anywhere from 5% to 20% of total bike sales with predictions the market will continue to climb. Edwards’ prices range from about $2,000 to $15,000 per e-bike with recreational e-bikes on the lower end and mountain and road-bikes on the higher. The 45 to 65-plus age range of his buyers mirrors national figures. Continued page 9 Bountiful residents Ronda and Bill Ernest set off for a ride on their e-bikes. Courtesy photo
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