Stories:ON | Q&A with our E-Bike customers

Josè is 43 and lives in Marsciano, Italy. He rides his Roadlite:ON to work, around town and in the hills surrounding his home.

Before switching to the E-Bike, did you already enjoy cycling?

Yes, the bike has always been part of my life. As a kid, I went out with my friends, then as I grew up I commuted to work. In recent years to balance my sedentary life, I have integrated my E-Bike into my evening rides.

What impact has the electric bike had on your everyday life? Or more generally, in your bike rides?

Not being able to train properly, the E-Bike has been a bit of a rebirth for me. It represents that extra boost that encourages me to go out and train despite the long, stressful days at the office.

Has the E-Bike allowed you to tackle routes you would not otherwise have thought possible?

Certainly! What used to be a mind setback has now become a strength! The toughest climbs have become my most favourite gym, being able to complete a challenging session with the idea of reaching a rewarding goal is great.

What was the most special adventure you had on your E-Bike? And the most fun one?

Not for commitment, nor even for competitiveness, but my most beautiful and enjoyable ride was certainly the Trasimeno Lake loop together with one of my best friends. 60 kilometres between cycle paths and well-maintained gravel roads surrounded by nature.

Have other people around you switched to E-Bike after seeing your bike? If so, what was their feeling?

My colleagues always want to try it and are impressed by the assistance power!

What were your first thoughts the first time you tried an E-Bike?

Very, very positive. I’ve rediscovered the pleasure of afternoon rides, as well as being able to replace the car for the daily ride to work. It has definitely improved my daily routine.

What advice would you give to other people looking to buy an E-Bike?

Before I decided to buy an E-Bike, I had to push through the fatigue of riding a push bike for several years. The E-Bike gave me the desire, but above all the pleasure, of riding after the age of 40.

3 reasons why I think you should choose an E-Bike:

1. They’re time efficient and you get to work without breaking a sweat

2. Brand new routes, without too many distance limits given the assistance.

3. Possibility of being able to disconnect from the electric assistance at any time by simply deactivating the battery, so you have two bikes in one!

Alberto rides a Grail:ON along the trails near his home in rural Bologna.

Before switching to the E-Bike, did you already enjoy cycling?

Yes, cycling is a passion that I have always had, especially cycle touring. In fact, years ago, I travelled through the Netherlands twice, Denmark, Ireland and various cycle routes in Germany, as well as countless rides in Italy

What impact has the electric bike had on your everyday life? Or more generally, in your bike rides?

It was my damn age that suggested to add an E-Bike to my collection! I love to ride uphill trails and too often with the push bike, I realised my heart rate was too high.

Only after careful and extremely thorough analysis I chose Canyon's Grail:ON and today I'm so in love with it!

Now, thanks to my Grail:ON, I ride out of the house on it, ride roads that I wouldn't have tackled before, and when I'm on my way home, I switch on the sport support and ride home with ease. Yay!

Has the E-Bike allowed you to tackle routes you would not otherwise have thought possible?

Absolutely YES! Above all, the electric support allows me to ride through secondary roads, which are mostly steep in my area. Now I have no limits in terms of what I can do on my bike!

What was the most special adventure you had on your E-Bike? And the most fun one?

I mainly use my Grail:ON for commuting rides - so every ride is a little adventure. If we are talking about the fun side, every kilometre covered in the saddle makes me happy!

Have other people around you switched to E-Bike after seeing your bike? If so, what was their feeling?

I usually try to convince my purist friends who disdain the idea of electric assistance on bikes, explaining to them the added value of being able to cover otherwise unattainable routes.

What were your first thoughts the first time you tried an E-Bike?

Positive thoughts! I admit that many years ago I also rejected the idea that a bike could have a motor, but I was wrong!

The versatility that an E-Bike gives to you is priceless, and the great thing about the Grail:ON is that with the assistance switched off it performs like a push bike, so only positive thoughts and feelings.

3 reasons why I think you should choose an E-Bike:

1. You can use it in any way you prefer.

2. Ride without (too much) fatigue.

3. You can cover longer distances compared to rides on a push bike.

On the trails around Perugia and Lake Trasimeno, you’ll find Massimiliano shredding on his Neuron:ON.

Before switching to the E-Bike, did you already enjoy cycling?

I have been riding MTB for as long as I can remember. A few years ago, I also started road cycling, competing in the national and international Granfondo calendar.

Cyclotourism is now my favourite discipline; I find myself cycling with my fellow "Bikelikealakers" mates to discover unique places.

What impact has the electric bike had on your everyday life? Or more generally, in your bike rides?

E-bikes make cycling more fun and enjoyable regardless of your fitness level. There are some climbs that I would only face when my physical condition would allow it, with the eMTB I can do them without suffering too much. Not to mention the group rides with people who would not be able to cover certain distances and who instead, together with us with E-bikes, are able to enjoy the ride, ending all together with pizza and beer!

Has the E-Bike allowed you to tackle routes you would not otherwise have thought possible?

The E-Bike allows me to enjoy cycling with more freedom and freshness, while being able to complete rides in less time and return home to spend more time with my family.

What was the most special adventure you had on your E-Bike? And the most fun one?

The most special adventure was the climb to the Stelvio Pass from Bormio. It was a challenging ride that I faced together with my son, who would not have been able to climb that kind of ascent. Thanks to the electric bike we were able to enjoy the ride, among nature. Unforgettable.

The most fun rides are definitely those we do with close friends, perhaps at night in the summer. Rides that invariably end with a pizza.

Have other people around you switched to E-Bike after seeing your bike? If so, what was their feeling?

We are a group of friends who have gradually switched to electric to continue hanging out with us. Some have been convinced by the practicality of the bike, others have been won over by the stories. As a family, we regularly use the E-Bike to get around in towns and cities.

What were your first thoughts the first time you tried an E-Bike?

"I wonder if I will be brave enough to put the assistance on BOOST" - as a push bike fan, I initially wondered how much pedal assistance I should use. Slowly, I became convinced that there are no questions to be asked, but only routes to explore.

What advice would you give to other people looking to buy an E-Bike?

Obviously there are people who do not appreciate that someone else can pedal without suffering. I feel privileged in this, because I know how demanding it is to climb the Stelvio with a push bike and therefore I can send the message that everyone is free to pedal with the assistance they prefer. What counts is pedalling.

3 reasons why I think you should choose an E-Bike:

1. You get to cover routes that otherwise would be difficult to complete.

2. You get to enjoy riding with as much or as little effort as you like.

3. You’ll enjoy the electric assistance on the climbs that you would otherwise do slower.

Giorgio loves cycling. With a garage full of push bikes, he decided it was time to experience e-bikes to help him navigate his home city of Milan.

Before switching to the E-Bike, did you already enjoy cycling?

Yes, I always used to go cycling - I owned all kinds of bike models, from MTB to road bikes, I can call myself an all-round enthusiast. Some time ago, I decided to add an E-Bike to my garage!

What impact has the electric bike had on your everyday life? Or more generally, in your bike rides?

I mainly use it for my daily commute, both for going to work and for running errands close to home. The best bit? It has helped me reduce my commuting time considerably.

Has the E-Bike allowed you to tackle routes you would not otherwise have thought possible?

I use it mainly through the city and I still use my push bike to routes further afield. On the other hand, the E-Bike allowed me to avoid using my car for small trips, with all the advantages that come from that.

Have other people around you switched to E-Bike after seeing your bike? If so, what was their feeling?

No, the exact opposite! I was the only one without an E-Bike, so I made up for it by following the example of my other friends.

What were your first thoughts the first time you tried an E-Bike?

The first thought? 'Nice, I won't use the car anymore'.

3 reasons why I think you should choose an E-Bike:

1. Improving your daily commuting.

2. Reduce the time wasted waiting in traffic.

3. Enable even newcomers to tackle routes that would otherwise be too demanding.

Cristina’s first taste of cycling was her Grand Canyon:ON. She continues to expand her horizons beyond her home in Perugia.

Before switching to the E-Bike, did you already enjoy cycling?

No, it was thanks to the E-Bike that I started cycling! As I was still a beginner, the help of an electric support immediately allowed me to tackle scenic routes - something otherwise impossible, at least for the first time, with a push bike.

What impact has the electric bike had on your everyday life? Or more generally, in your bike rides?

Absolutely positive, cycling is for me a unique pleasure and a fabulous way to discover the territory. Using an E-Bike allows me to maximise this, discovering places that are always different.

What was the most special adventure you had on your E-Bike? And the most fun one?

The most special adventure I have ever faced with my Grand Canyon:ON is not the most scenic ride, but the first ride I ever did on it! It was 60 km around Perugia, just me and my husband.

Have other people around you switched to E-Bike after seeing your bike? If so, what was their feeling?

Most of our friends are addicted to push bikes, so it will take a while before we convince them to switch to the e-bikes! However, some of our relatives periodically rent e-bikes when they are on holiday. Sooner or later they will buy one, we are sure about that!

What were your first thoughts the first time you tried an E-Bike?

Now I can finally go for nice rides among the nature, do sport and have fun at the same time.

Father of two, Matteo, struggles to find the time to get out on his MTB. Thanks to his E-MTB, he can still push his limits when he gets an hour to himself.

Before switching to the E-Bike, did you already enjoy cycling?

My previous bike was a Canyon Endurace. I also had an MTB before switched to an electric bike.

What impact has the electric bike had on your everyday life? Or more generally, in your bike rides?

The E-Bike has had a positive impact in my life. I’m a father of two with a job that often keeps me away from the bike for months at a time meaning I can no longer train like I used to.

Has the E-Bike allowed you to tackle routes you would not otherwise have thought possible?

Despite the lack of training, I can still tackle routes that I could only have done before in a better shape and in much more time.

What was the most special adventure you had on your E-Bike? And the most fun one?

I can face difficulties that for me would be impossible to tackle with a push bike. The funniest part is the descent, an e-bikes have more stability than a push bike, so I can ride highly technical single tracks with more confidence.

Have other people around you switched to E-Bike after seeing your bike? If so, what was their feeling?

Other people have switched to E-Bike following my advice and now they are very happy to have done so.

What were your first thoughts the first time you tried an E-Bike?

My first thought as soon as I jumped on the bike was unreal. It was a mix of magic feelings - for the first time I can smile while struggling uphill!

What advice would you give to other people looking to buy an E-Bike?

I've found different opinions during the rides I often do with my "push bike" friends, I used to explain to them that it's a great alternative to the push bike because you can choose how hard you want to ride by setting the various assistance modes.

3 reasons why I think you should choose an E-Bike:

1. You can ride anytime you want even when you are untrained and of course you can also go out in a group with friends who are much more trained than you are.

2. If you have a hectic life and little time to train, you can quickly complete routes in a shortest time.

3. It's the future of MTB. It's pure fun both uphill and downhill. I enjoy setting personal records on very steep climbs by riding them on BOOST!

Diego calls Naples home. He’s usually found cruising the streets on his Roadlite:ON inspiring those around him to do the same.

Before switching to the E-Bike, did you already enjoy cycling?

Yes, I started cycling with some old, rusty steel bikes after graduation. They gave me a great sense of freedom. Back home I first switched to a city bike and then to an MTB which I still use for occasional rides.

What impact has the electric bike had on your everyday life? Or more generally, in your bike rides?

It has given me the opportunity to use my bike more often, especially for my bike to work rides! Sweating less allowed me to arrive to the office fresh and ready to start my workday. My Roadlite:ON also led me to prefer the bike instead my private car.

Has the E-Bike allowed you to tackle routes you would not otherwise have thought possible?

As I use the E-Bike mainly for city rides, I still not have had the occasion to do some adventures rides. I am looking forward to integrating some longer rides in the near future.

What was the most special adventure you had on your E-Bike? And the most fun one?

I always try to take long way to work, both to avoid the busy streets and to enjoy the hilly and scenic roads! When I get the chance, I leave home for work a few hours earlier to be able to ride a few more kilometres.

Have other people around you switched to E-Bike after seeing your bike? If so, what was their feeling?

Many of my friends were already using E-bikes, and after seeing my Roadlite:ON they decided to switch from rear- to mid-engined models.

What were your first thoughts the first time you tried an E-Bike?

Convenience, ease of use, expand your possibilities.

3 reasons why I think you should choose an E-Bike:

1. It keeps you fit and keeps you cycling (if you’re out of practice or older, or if you live in a city that is not very 'cycle-friendly').

2. You make an initial investment but amortise it by saving on public transport costs, petrol, car insurance, parking...

3. They make cities more liveable and cleaner.

Check out this year’s events around Italy for your chance to test ride a bike in our range.