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'An e-bike changed my life' | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
Cycling is just a hobby to many, but for others the battery power of an e-bike has transformed their lives - enabling them to cycle when they otherwise couldn't, find new career paths and improve their mental health. | Cycling is just a hobby to many, but for others the battery power of an e-bike has transformed their lives - enabling them to cycle when they otherwise couldn't, find new career paths and improve their mental health. |
'It gave me a second chance' | 'It gave me a second chance' |
Cycling was everything to Tim Gregory. As a teenager, he founded the Norwich Flyers BMX club and was at the forefront of Norwich getting its national public access BMX track at Sloughbottom Park, a project he describes as his "baby". | Cycling was everything to Tim Gregory. As a teenager, he founded the Norwich Flyers BMX club and was at the forefront of Norwich getting its national public access BMX track at Sloughbottom Park, a project he describes as his "baby". |
But 10 years ago, a lung condition "ruined his life". Doctors told him he had two years to live and he began using an oxygen tank to manage the disease. He says about 75% of his lung surface became scarred from fibrosis. | But 10 years ago, a lung condition "ruined his life". Doctors told him he had two years to live and he began using an oxygen tank to manage the disease. He says about 75% of his lung surface became scarred from fibrosis. |
Tim, who had ridden since the age of 13, gave up cycling as he struggled to breathe. | Tim, who had ridden since the age of 13, gave up cycling as he struggled to breathe. |
"If you could imagine riding your bike with a tennis ball in your mouth and how that would affect your breathing then you're getting there." | "If you could imagine riding your bike with a tennis ball in your mouth and how that would affect your breathing then you're getting there." |
Giving up his lifelong hobby at 41 meant he spent less time with his friends, started suffering from depression and had a breakdown. | Giving up his lifelong hobby at 41 meant he spent less time with his friends, started suffering from depression and had a breakdown. |
When a friend recently suggested he tried an e-bike, the now 51-year-old initially turned his nose up at the idea but now admits it "completely changed my life". | When a friend recently suggested he tried an e-bike, the now 51-year-old initially turned his nose up at the idea but now admits it "completely changed my life". |
"With the illness and having had to give up cycling, my life came tumbling down. | "With the illness and having had to give up cycling, my life came tumbling down. |
"So to be able to ride again, and ride with my friends again, meant the world to me - it felt like I had been given a second chance at life." | "So to be able to ride again, and ride with my friends again, meant the world to me - it felt like I had been given a second chance at life." |
Since that eye-opening first ride with his friends, Tim has bought an e-bike and enjoyed riding off-road trails with people he has not been able to cycle with in 10 years. | Since that eye-opening first ride with his friends, Tim has bought an e-bike and enjoyed riding off-road trails with people he has not been able to cycle with in 10 years. |
He has even switched careers as a result and now sells e-bikes to help others like him. | He has even switched careers as a result and now sells e-bikes to help others like him. |
"I thought, 'I've got my cycling back, I've got a new life' - if [an e-bike] has done this for me it can do it for other people." | "I thought, 'I've got my cycling back, I've got a new life' - if [an e-bike] has done this for me it can do it for other people." |
'It's given me confidence' | 'It's given me confidence' |
Kara Beal, 21, was used to filming her boyfriend Tom Cardy doing stunts on his mountain bike for his social media channels - but she never thought it was something she could do herself. | Kara Beal, 21, was used to filming her boyfriend Tom Cardy doing stunts on his mountain bike for his social media channels - but she never thought it was something she could do herself. |
When he was given an opportunity to ride an e-bike, he encouraged her to have a go too. Within a few months, the critical care nurse had gained the confidence to pedal up Snowdon and has now entered her first competitive e-bike race. | |
"I would never have done it without an e-bike," says Kara. "The weight of the bike helps me with big rocks and even though it's heavy for down-hilling, it makes me feel more stable on the bike. | "I would never have done it without an e-bike," says Kara. "The weight of the bike helps me with big rocks and even though it's heavy for down-hilling, it makes me feel more stable on the bike. |
"It's really cool, I just love it and I don't think about going to a non e-bike." | "It's really cool, I just love it and I don't think about going to a non e-bike." |
It has also opened up opportunities for her. Since she started to ride an e-bike, she has set up a YouTube channel, documenting her trials and tribulations on camera. Her videos get thousands of views, with people commenting on her improved skills. | It has also opened up opportunities for her. Since she started to ride an e-bike, she has set up a YouTube channel, documenting her trials and tribulations on camera. Her videos get thousands of views, with people commenting on her improved skills. |
"Before mountain biking, I didn't really have a hobby. I used to go to the gym and I did bit of Thai boxing, but nothing I wanted to do all the time," says Kara, from Crawley in West Sussex. | "Before mountain biking, I didn't really have a hobby. I used to go to the gym and I did bit of Thai boxing, but nothing I wanted to do all the time," says Kara, from Crawley in West Sussex. |
"Riding the e-bike has given me a lot more confidence. I would only ride with Tom at first but when I gained more confidence, I started to go to places on my own so I can practise and get better. | "Riding the e-bike has given me a lot more confidence. I would only ride with Tom at first but when I gained more confidence, I started to go to places on my own so I can practise and get better. |
"I love it and it's become part of my life." | "I love it and it's become part of my life." |
'Riding an e-bike isn't cheating' | 'Riding an e-bike isn't cheating' |
You might also be interested in: | |
'Prescribe them on the NHS' | |
For Dom Thompson, an e-bike has helped transform her health. | For Dom Thompson, an e-bike has helped transform her health. |
She says she got back from a walking holiday in Scotland in September 2015 and remembers thinking how difficult it had been just to walk. | She says she got back from a walking holiday in Scotland in September 2015 and remembers thinking how difficult it had been just to walk. |
"I was fat, unfit and smoked, I was having a rough time with menopausal symptoms and decided I had to do something before I ended up as a statistic and possibly dead too early," says the 55-year-old nurse from Telford, Shropshire. | "I was fat, unfit and smoked, I was having a rough time with menopausal symptoms and decided I had to do something before I ended up as a statistic and possibly dead too early," says the 55-year-old nurse from Telford, Shropshire. |
On their return, she and her husband each bought a bike. But, although she found cycling enjoyable, she says it was very hard work and she stopped, using excuses such as it's "too cold or too wet or too windy". | On their return, she and her husband each bought a bike. But, although she found cycling enjoyable, she says it was very hard work and she stopped, using excuses such as it's "too cold or too wet or too windy". |
Her husband researched mountain e-bikes and since buying a pair, the couple have "never looked back". | Her husband researched mountain e-bikes and since buying a pair, the couple have "never looked back". |
Dom says she is riding more miles, setting harder goals and tackling tougher terrain, which has given her "confidence in more ways than one". | Dom says she is riding more miles, setting harder goals and tackling tougher terrain, which has given her "confidence in more ways than one". |
The mother of two says she's also been spending more time with her husband and they have both lost weight. She has even bought a second e-bike. | The mother of two says she's also been spending more time with her husband and they have both lost weight. She has even bought a second e-bike. |
"I can't tell you how it helps my mental health; even in the depths of despair, I get out my bed and get out on the bike. It should be prescribed on the NHS," she says. | "I can't tell you how it helps my mental health; even in the depths of despair, I get out my bed and get out on the bike. It should be prescribed on the NHS," she says. |
"This is what I call my mid-life crisis: two e-bikes, got my hair cut short and dyed purple and then got a tattoo - I finally plucked up the courage to do what I'd been wanting to do for years." | "This is what I call my mid-life crisis: two e-bikes, got my hair cut short and dyed purple and then got a tattoo - I finally plucked up the courage to do what I'd been wanting to do for years." |
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