I just got an e bike solution for my bikes that works for me better than a traditional e-bike. I still want to ride unmotored as much as possible, I want the exercise at full effect and
I like powering my self. However, as I get older (nearly 70 now) the distances I am willing to go, the weather conditions I am willing to ride in, and the hills I am willing to tackle
all have diminished. Part of it is knee issues, part of it is concern about having the steam to get home if I go too far, and part is knowing how much big winds take out of me.

So I now have something called "Onemotor"....it is a friction drive system (but much more sophisticated than anything before) that magnetically connects into a very small package and removes from the bike in seconds, then stores in my little riding sling bag (Patagonia Atom). I can head out with it in the bag and sometimes it will just stay there, sometimes it
will come out and get attached (10 seconds max) depending on my need. It only weighs 4.5 lbs and I don't even notice it in the bag; I've carried heavier water bottles, lol.

I also can use it on either of my two bikes as it is not a permanent install, it's a modular system with wireless PAS and wireless throttle.

I went this route because I had a dedicated e-bike when I first returned to riding 7 years ago, and they are heavy (my folders with the e-bike system installed are both less than 26 pounds) and having the motor "there" all the time seemed to mean I used it more (albeit to counteract the heavy bike weight). I just didn't want another "e-bike" because
I didn't want to be stuck on a heavy bike if I ran out of juice, and I didn't want to encourage continuous use.

I might use my motor once or twice a week, that's it. I might decide to ride someplace I haven't been able to go because of a big hill, or ride even though there is a bad headwind,
or ride with my adult son and use it to keep up. I like having it in the bag on my back as it gives me more confidence to just go and ride and not overthink where I am headed and
whether I will be exhausted on my return.

Someday, maybe, I'll be using it all the time just to be able to keep riding, period, but I like that it gives me so many options before that happens.

Seniors on bikes are not all the same, and our e-bike solutions need to be as varied as we are! Whatever works to keep us riding =). Here's a pic of one of my bikes with the
motor and drive (the other has the motor on the front wheel). In spite of the stickers, this is a Dahon Mu Uno single speed. My other Bike is a Bike Friday pakiT (where I
stole the sticker, lol).


This is not a pakit, it's a dahon mu uno with a pakit sticker on it.