If you’ve been following along, you know that Linda and I just finished a week of biking from Prague, Czech Republic to Dresden, Germany. We rode over 160 miles in five days, following the Vtlava and Elbe Rivers. It was a great trip that took us through a very beautiful place in Europe.

I have always had a bike and have always loved riding. I’ve owned Schwinn Stingrays, Schwinn Varsity derailleurs, road bikes, and mountain bikes. I still ride bikes often, for the joy and for the exercise. This bike trip we just finished has created a dilemma for me. It goes like this.

When I reserved the ride, I had, among other things, a choice of bikes. Since I ride often, am in good shape, and have always liked a challenge, I chose a 26 speed cruising/touring bike for me. It had a rack for a pannier, a handlebar bag, and a water bottle cage – all that I would need. Linda wanted an eBike. She is a strong rider as well, but because of a recent knee injury, she wanted to make sure she could finish the ride without difficulty.

We picked our bikes the evening before the ride. Mine was semi-lightweight. Linda’s bike weighed a ton. When I picked it up, it felt like it had a six-pack of bowling balls strapped to the back rack. Half of the weight I assumed was for the battery, a large black cylinder that probably could power our home back in Arizona for a month. But Linda is worth it.

The next morning we started our trip. We left the hotel in Prague and had to navigate several busy streets. I had the lead and pedaled through pedestrian-rich squares and car-rich streets. Linda by then had figured out how to use the accelerator button to zoom here and there. I’d peddle around a garbage truck that was driving straight for me. Linda would press a button and gently glide by.

We made it across the Vtlava River to a place called Trojska Lavka. The riding became quite pleasant as we rode through quiet parks and along the river. That didn’t last long. About 10 miles out of Prague we encountered a hill – a big hill. Nothing like I’d ridden before in Idaho or Colorado or even Arizona. But I was on a heavier bike with a pannier full of stuff. Plus, there was a strong head wind.

I started up the hill, using all my little gears. Linda, who was by my side, pressed the little red button, and . . . whoooosh . . . she was up ahead of me.

The sound of her bike reminded me of the sound a TIE fighter made in Star Wars when it was in pursuit of the Millennium Falcon. As it turned out, Linda’s bike has three speeds- 1) with me, 2) ahead of me:

And 3) way ahead of me.

I stopped twice on the side of the mountain. I told myself the stops were to take in the beauty and make a few photographs. Actually, the stops were to catch my breath and let my burning leg muscles cool down. Part way up the hill, I caught up with Linda. She was stopped along the side, smiling. And not breathing hard. As soon as I caught her . . . whoooosh . . . .

I made it to the top. I conquered the hill, only to be met by gale force winds. The rest of the ride, all the way into Melnik, was against the wind. The same scenario lasted the rest of the ride.

Me: pant . . . pant . . . pant . . . pant . . . .
Linda: Whoooosh . . . .
Me: pant . . . pant . . . pant . . . pant . . . .
Linda: Whoooosh . . . .

The rest of days riding into Dresden followed suit. None were as bad as the first day, but I usually found myself bringing up the rear while Linda breezed here and there. I even found myself carrying her eBike up and down stairs when necessary to stay on the designed route.

So here’s my dilemma. As much as I consider myself a strong, able-bodied bike rider, I felt that I often was holding Linda back and making her wait for me. I also think we would have enjoyed the ride more had I been able to keep pace with her. We could have explored more sights that were off the main route. We could have stopped more. We could have talked more as we rode side by side.

I think it’s time to let my ego take a break. It’s time for an eBike.

We are planning more bike trips in the future. Maybe the Mosel Valley next year, or perhaps the Douro Valley in Portugal. When we do, I will be ready. I too will get an eBike.