First, I stepped away from the Doritos and stepped up to a bag of carrots. Then I dropped the cookies and picked up some apples. The first 25lbs melted off in the first month.

I got my ebIke conversion for climbing one particular hill to get to a trailhead to go hiking. While it is still muddy or snowed in up there, I take other routes when it is a nice day. I bought a trainer stand too as the bike has a regenerative mode. I believe I get a better workout on the trainer than coasting around town. But I reside in a mountainous area of eastern Oregon, if I want to get off the highway it means climbing a hill. Since my ride is either going up, or going down with rare flat spots, I don't notice much time spent in the neutral mode of the ebike. It is either assisting or regenerating.

However, there is a loop I wish to do this summer. The last couple of weekends I've been going as far as I dare with enough daylight to get back. Its good to see how much battery is left if I use it or not. The trip is 25 miles out and a rise of 2000', most often facing a headwind on the way up too. But I got lucky last time with no wind and went most of the way without using the battery so, I'd be pretty weak indeed if I said that ebikes can't be ridden without their assist. If it matters, I'm 55.