Hi Maria, tell us about your Gazelle? Which model do you have and how long have you had it?
I am the proud owner of a Gazelle Medeo T9 (step-though ebike) that I’ve had for just over a year.
How has owning a Gazelle changed the way you live?
I bike everywhere now. Nothing can stop me – hills, wind, carrying a lot are all trivial. I bike through all boroughs in the city and even bike out of town for the weekend.
How long have you been riding and is this your first ebike?
I’ve been riding regularly for 20 years and this is my first e-bike.
I’m a longtime bike rider but an ebike seems the most realistic for a car replacement. Carrying more weight – whether that’s kids or groceries or whatever – is not a problem, nor are hills, and distances are much more manageable. Ebikes aren’t as tiring or make you all sweaty, which can be nice if you’re just taking an everyday trip. I’m so glad so many cities are taking steps to make biking safer and easier so that more people ditch their cars for the joy of the bike lane!
How do you use your Gazelle–for commuting, errands, fitness, fun–or all of the above? Tell us how you enjoy the ride.
Mostly for city riding (errands, commuting, going out) but also for light touring in the region.
Presently my commute is on the short side, down a hill from Washington Heights to Harlem, and then up the hill on the way home. I find my other adventures around NYC more fun by bike. I feel limitless with my ebike in that I’m not deterred by distance or topography. It’s fun to bike out to the botanical garden in the Bronx, down to the beach in Brooklyn, or even out of town for a day on one of the pleasant trails that lead out of the city.
What has been your greatest or most memorable adventure with your Gazelle?
Midway through my chemo treatment, my husband and I packed our Po Campo bags with enough stuff for a week away, loaded them onto our Gazelles, and rode to the infusion center. After treatment, we rode to Grand Central station, got a train upstate, then rode about an hour and a half along beautiful trails to a lovely country home Airbnb. After waiting a couple of days for me to recuperate from treatment, we explored the area by bike and had a wonderful time. Of course, I was in Turbo for most of this because I was feeling weak, but it was awesome to be able to ride and keep up with my husband. And he enjoyed loading up his bike with groceries for us.
