[Old School Hound]

Do you walk very much? My right knee and feet used to ache and I suspected that it was the onset of arthritis. I have also had sporadic bouts of gout. About 8 months ago, I began taking public transportation to and from my office, which includes 6-7,000 steps a day. My feet get tired sometimes from the walking, but the pain has completely disappeared. 

I also recently bought an e-bike and plan to commute to work on it when the weather cools a bit. The nice things about e-bikes is that you can control the amount of peddling effort with the push of a button. I had not been on a bike in 40 years, so right now, I'm focused on not crashing it on the parking lot.

If you are able to increase your physical activity, that may bring you some relief. Sitting in a chair 8 hours a day or more, with virtually no exercise was killing me.

Good advice. No, I haven't been very active, especially after mom died and the depression set in.  About 5 or 6 years ago I was running about 30-35 miles a week( a big reason for my knee problems now).  I really enjoyed running, and I got really good at it, but it took its toll on my knees. With the recent flareup of pain in my knee, I would'nt  have been able to walk. The pain has eased off since I started taken the medications Jet recommended.  Of course, I felt okay a couple of weeks ago and then all of a sudden, I could barely walk. It's been terrible.   The e-bike idea is interesting. I might look into that. How much do those bikes run, Hoot?

I spent $2,000 for mine, but it would be overkill for most people my age. My commute would be around 2 hours on a bike. I'm also heavier than an average biker, so I wanted to make sure that the bike could make the round trip with a load on a single charge. You can get a good Lectric bike starting at around $800. You can get cheaper brands, but they often require a lot of assembly and support can be non-existent. 

I also had to buy some tools, mostly some Allen wrenches and a couple of torque wrenches to make sure that the factory had tightened everything right. Lectric has an extensive library of YouTube videos on preparing for your first ride and for making basic repairs.

The company is based in Phoenix, but like most e-bikes, the components are made in China. However, the company has not raised prices in response to the increased tariffs and customer support is also based in Phoenix.

Assembling my bike consisted of attaching the front wheel, adjusting the handlebars and seat height, and then checking bolts with the torque wrenches. The tires are shipped deflated, so I had to inflate them. 

I'm planning my first trip out of my neighborhood tomorrow. Just let me know if you have any questions. I'm no expert, but I have spent countless hours researching e-bike on YouTube.

Let us know how your first e-bike excursion goes. It sounds like a lot of fun. I would definitely consider getting one at some point. What are the advantages of  e-bikes over mopeds?  e-bikes gives you the option of peddling, which allows for more eercise, right?

E-bikes don't require a license or insurance in most jurisdictions, as long as they operate within the parameters of the appropriate class. E-bikes can be ridden legally in most locations that a bicycle can be ridden. That includes bike trails, mixed-use running, walking, and bike paths in state, national, and local parks, as well as streets and most roads.

The electricity for me to ride my particular e-bike 200 miles a week would cost under $50 per year. The cost for a person weighing 165 to 180 pounds to ride the same distance would be be between $30 and $50/year. The cost for a lighter bike would be even lower. In other words, my daily commute would cost me pennies and I can haul a few bags of groceries home.

An e-bike runs very quietly, so you can hear vehicles approaching.

My only experience riding a moped in eastern Kentucky was pretty scary because it was too loud to hear cars approaching from behind and too slow to keep somebody speeding around a curve from running over me from behind. I never wanted near a moped after that ride.

For me, there are too many blind curves and hills with nowhere to go but a ditch or steep bank to get out of the way of a speeding car on a moped in areas like eastern Kentucky. At least with an e-bike, I could hear a car coming before it hit me.

Wow, those are some nice advantages. I will definitely consider an e-bike. I appreciate the info.