I have just started working with Ampler. As an employee, I’m lucky enough to have my own company e-bike for work and personal use. Now, as someone who enjoys riding a bike, and has used one for commuting since moving to Berlin, admittedly electric bikes were not something I’d ridden before.
A bit about me
I am by no means an engineer or competitive cyclist. I’m a writer with marketing experience in the transportation industry. I believe in sustainability and I’ve always aimed to work with good products and friendly, passionate communities that surround them.
So the aim of this piece is really to highlight the things I’ve noticed as a newly instated e-bike cyclist. If any praise comes off as biased… well, it would be strange if it didn’t. Although I might not be able to build an Ampler from scratch – they’re hand-assembled in Estonia – as a casual cyclist, I have good insight for many people that may be considering switching to e-bikes. So here are my confessions as an e-bike virgin.
Initial thoughts
One thing stuck out immediately, the thing that sparked my interest and drove my determination to start working for Ampler. They’re the best-looking e-bikes I’ve personally come across. They look like a classic bicycle in chic European style with a hidden battery. They’re also part of a movement to reinvigorate alternative and sustainable transport methods.
I was a bit nervous. Here is a bike that was clearly out of my league. Most e-bikes I have come across have been large, sullen-looking creatures. They are usually bulky, battery-exposed robotic-looking things that often run in packs rented out by tour companies. The Ampler before me was sleek and looked as though it could go fast.
I’m admittedly someone who is a bit of a klutz and was concerned about personal safety. I was about to test ride a bike with an engine attached to it and the idea of that added speed was concerning. While I’m comfortable on a bike, a mountain biking speed fanatic I am not. Plus, what would other cyclists think of me? A cheater? A fraud? Someone who can’t get up a hill on their own?
Finally, this bicycle was somewhat of a mystery to me. I had learned about how it operates, and its design from a marketing point of view, but now came the time to get to know the bike intimately. Besides being shown where the charger goes, how to turn it on and off, the gears, the lights etc, there wasn’t much else in terms of instruction. Simplicity is part of the Ampler bike’s appeal after all.
What I experienced
I had a few choices in dance partners. There were the low-step models, the type of frame commonly seen in Amsterdam, Stellar and Juna. Then there was also the more rugged Axel and Stout. Each had up to around 70 – 80 km of battery power and all the thrills like in-built lights and LED information displays. They all looked good and I was reminded that the heaviest was only 17.8 kg.
However, it was the Curt that was winking at me. This is Ampler’s lightest bike at only 14.4 kg. It had a cool, lean frame painted black and came as an 11-speed. I had been in the market for a typical bike of this nature, and the idea of a motor-powered one was too thrilling to turn down. So I set out of the showroom with the push of a button and my life as a regular cyclist was over.
The first thing that came to mind was, ‘wow, this is easy’. That first kick of acceleration is exhilarating. While initially, you do feel that early surge it settles quickly and you realise that you are cruising at a good speed with very little effort. With the full motor assistance, it hardly felt like an effort. Naturally, I wanted to see if this applied to uphill cycling so found my first available slope at the entrance to the park near the showroom.
Lo and behold I was ascending with ease; barely an inconvenience. This was during a hot day and as I went around and around the park exploring all elements of the bike. As I was opening up the speed a bit I found I wasn’t even breaking a sweat. This was after I’d gone up several gears and was pushing for resistance.
How it’s going
It’s been a few months now and I’m happy to say I feel far more confident. Honestly, it wasn’t much of a transition, yet I feel like there’s no going back. My Ampler makes me feel like I’m riding a new bike but on another level. The added speed becomes natural, it looks just like your usual city bike (a good-looking one albeit) and I’m easily carrying it up the stairs to my apartment. Any anxieties of standing out seem to be unfounded with Ampler.
That said, there are some things I’ve definitely noticed that I still appreciate with each ride. Firstly, as someone who would sadly forgo the bike ride to work on hotter days in fear of arriving sweaty, that is no longer a concern. Ampler gives me the freedom to cycle each day without perspiration worries.
Sweat comes from exertion and the absence of both greatly improves my mood. Too many times I have missed a turning, gone the wrong way, or gotten frustrated with traffic lights and steep hills when I’m just trying to get from A to B. Stopping and starting is a smooth process and really isn’t a concern anymore. Just one push of the pedal and the engine kicks in and I’m back on my way making good time. If anything, these little detours have me appreciating the opportunities I get to explore.
I’ll finally admit that it’s incredibly funny being at a traffic light in jeans and a t-shirt next to someone on a road bike and spandex. It’s not the attire that gets me, it’s the look on their faces when they can’t understand how my low-key city bike is able to keep up with them. While it may not look like something you’d ride in the Tour-de-France, it certainly doesn’t look like an e-bike.
Final Thought
Whilst I will probably never grow tired of setting off from traffic lights or climbing hills with a smile, perhaps a part of me will always be nostalgic for the days when I was oblivious to the commuting pleasures that exist. However, I’m excited about the journey ahead. I have my Ampler and with that comes responsibility as well as an opportunity for seamless and sustainable travel. I don’t want to push anyone who doesn’t feel ready but I can tell you as an e-bike virgin no more, it was worth the wait if you find the right bike.