Category: Bike Riding

Why My Pedal-Assist Ebike Changed Everything

September 16, 2025 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

I’ll admit it – I was skeptical about ebikes. Maybe it’s because I’m attached to my vintage Cannondale hybrid, or maybe I had this idea that using electric assistance somehow wasn’t “real” cycling.

My boyfriend bought me a pedal-assist ebike for Christmas. I’d been dealing with some lung issues, and I think he thought it would help encourage me to keep riding. I was sort of embarrassed to have one and felt weird talking about using my bike. Funny how our vanity affects us, isn’t it?

The first thing I noticed? It still felt like riding a bike. You pedal, you steer, you brake – all the familiar motions are there. But then you feel it: this gentle, almost magical push that makes everything easier. It’s not like a motorcycle where you twist a throttle and zoom off. The motor only kicks in when you’re pedaling, amplifying your effort rather than replacing it. (There are ebikes that have a throttle. They’re like large mopeds and that’s not what I have. They’re not allowed on the trails around me.)

I rode through some rolling hills that normally would have had me wondering why I thought this was a good idea. Instead, I found myself actually enjoying the climbs. The assist didn’t do the work for me, but it smoothed out those moments where your legs start burning and your breathing gets heavy. I was still getting exercise (I could feel it in my muscles) but I wasn’t gasping for air at the top of each hill, though I was breathing a bit heavier.

What surprised me most was how it changed my whole mindset about the ride. Instead of mentally calculating whether I had enough energy to make it up the next hill, I was actually looking around, enjoying the scenery, having conversations. The physical challenge was still there, but it wasn’t overwhelming everything else.

A pedal-assist bike has let me ride with my boyfriend and keep up. It’s discouraging to always be lagging behind.

I think there’s room in my garage for one more bike after all.

Curious about the technical side of pedal assist? This beginner’s guide explains how the technology actually works.

Obstacles on the Bike and Hike Trail

June 2, 2022 / Jill McCauslin / 2 Comments

I discovered some obstacles on the bike and hike trail that’s close to my house. I’m lucky to live close to the park’s trail. I use it frequently all year round. This past weekend was a holiday weekend and we had gorgeous summer weather. I was not the only person eager to use the bike and hike trail.

On Saturday, I took Penny for a run on the bike and hike trail close to my house. It was a great day for a run, plus it’s a holiday weekend. There were lots of people using the trail.

I know I’ve written about running with Penny before. Penny is doing well with running with me though I’m so slow that Penny doesn’t actually run. She just sort of trots along with me. She has learned how to stick with me, though, so it’s easier to run with her.

On Sunday, I got out my bike and went for a ride on the same trail. It was another gorgeous day and I rode for a little over an hour, which was the furthest I’ve ridden in a long time.

When I was running, here’s what I noticed. Many bikes zipped past me without saying anything. No “on your left” or even just “I’m passing you!” Several times I was startled by a bike that I was unaware was behind me. I also encountered both groups of bikes and runners running two or three abreast. Each time I’d watch to make sure they moved over so I could continue my run. It felt like I was playing chicken with each group. Running with a dog makes it a bit more challenging. I try to make sure both of us are safe so I would usually make sure Penny was running alongside the trail. A couple of times we both had to get off the trail because there wasn’t enough room for us while people were passing.

When I was riding my bike, here’s what I noticed. A few people out walking and running had complete, over the ear headphones on so they couldn’t hear me say “on your left.” They couldn’t hear much of anything, I guess, except for whatever they were listening to with the headphones. I also noticed groups of bicyclists who were riding three abreast coming towards me. I wasn’t sure if they were going to move over in time.

There were two women walking their dogs on the trail. Both dogs were walking off leash and when I called out, “on your left” the women darted around trying to grab their dogs. I ended up having to stop and wait while they got their dogs back on their leashes. The women thanked me and were grateful that I stopped and waited. The trail seemed busy to be walking dogs off leash but fortunately no mishaps occurred.

For the most part, I think everyone was being careful to share the trail. The people wearing the over the ear headphones were probably the most at risk because I don’t think they knew who was approaching them. They seemed to be at the most risk for an accident.

We had such beautiful days over the weekend that I really wanted to enjoy running and riding on the trail, but it did remind me why I prefer using the trail on weekdays. I still enjoyed both days and will continue to use the trail, despite encountering obstacles on the bike and hike trail.

Do you encounter similar obstacles? Let me know.

Mountain Biking and Being Fit with Jane Crawford

December 8, 2020 / Chris Brown / 0 Comments

Mountain biking – Episode 72

In episode 72, Jill and Chris talk with Jane Crawford, a mountain biker and a Recreation Therapist who lives in Calgary, Canada. She walks the talk about wellness and healthy living. As a Recreation Therapist she has learned the clinical tools to support those with chronic health conditions and been able to use those tools in her own life.

In 2008 she set the goal of 10,000 steps a day and continues to do this today. In 2010, she used a simple check mark on the kitchen calendar of completing 30 minutes most days for physical activity. This simple way of holding herself accountable has lead her to become a triathlete and a passionate mountain biker.

We talked about the challenges of staying fit. She shared with us tips and tricks that she uses to stay fit, including:

Strength Training
Cardio
Exercising before getting home from work
Ways she gamifies exercise

Links mentioned in this podcast:
Zwift app for indoor cycling (Please let Jill know if you want to ride in a Becoming Elli Group)
Becoming Elli Private Facebook Group – You’ll need to answer a few questions before joining the private group.

Like so many of us, Jane has fun and works hard at staying fit after 50.

The Fun of Fall Biking

October 3, 2020 / Chris Brown / 3 Comments

With the change of seasons here in Northeast Ohio I am missing the sun of summer, but I have to admit that I am really enjoying the fun of fall biking.

The weather is a bit more brisk in the morning, the haze of summer is gone and I don’t get overheated. The fall leaves are just starting to change.

After consistently riding almost every weekend of the summer, I feel strong. This was a record breaking summer since I started riding my bike again and tracking it in Strava. Due to the corona virus pandemic, I severely limited gatherings with my friends. This meant that I didn’t get together with alot of friends and I’ve really missed doing the very fun, long long bike rides with them.

The good news is that I’ve been more consistent on my riding than any other year. I’ve loved doing the Kent Loop, a 22 mile ride and have been riding it almost every weekend.

Fun of Fall Biking Compared to Other Years
The 2020 year started off great, but this is definitely a different vibe for staying fit and strong for me. My normal is off. So far in my 2020 season, I’ve only ridden 353 miles over 20 rides (averaging 17 miles a ride.) My totals for the 9 years that I’ve been riding are 5657 miles over 269 rides. If I take out 2020 numbers, I usually average 663 miles a year. So while the riding mileage is about half as many miles and the number of rides this year is about a third less, considering 2020, I’m still proud of myself for getting out there.

At the end of summer I usually start to feel like it is time to make new goals (I think because of school starting and new weather patterns), so this week I’m planning to figure out a new work out plan. It won’t be long before my bike will need to get put away for the cold weather!

Do you find that the fall brings out a change in your exercise patterns? How has 2020 changed your “usual” routines for staying fit and strong?

Ode to My Vintage Cannondale Hybrid Bike

September 3, 2020 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

I’m not too keen on the title Vintage Cannondale Hybrid Bike. It’s hard to believe that something I own should be called vintage. I guess being part of the Becoming Elli community means that I may well own something that is considered to be vintage.

Recently, I rode my old, original bike and fell in love with it again. I rode on a lovely bicycle trail, the Kokosing Gap Trail, that was paved and flat and very scenic. It was a great ride. I noticed how comfortable my bike was.

It has straight handle bars, the brakes are easy to use and reach, and the gear shifter was also easy to use and reach. I never felt like I had to move my hands or position to brake or change gears.

Also, I have a gel seat on that bike and it’s very comfortable.

My Life with the Vintage Cannondale Hybrid Bike

My husband bought me this bike in 1993. I suspect it must have been a Christmas present because I didn’t ride it much before I found out that I was pregnant. My son was born in 1994, which is how I’m pretty sure what year it was.

It was an expensive bike for someone who really wasn’t a bike rider. At that time, Cannondales were made in Pennsylvania by hand. That was their big claim for quality. My husband was big believer in buying the best that you could afford though he also loved finding deals.

I rode that bike a lot while my son was growing up because we’d go on bike rides together. I remember one year for Mother’s Day we rode our bikes across town to go to the library. My son was young enough then that it was a big adventure to ride that far. When we got to the library, we discovered they were closed for the holiday. Wow. We were disappointed, for sure. We rode back into town and found an ice cream shop and had ice cream. A good bike memory for sure.

My husband passed away in 2011 when my son was 16. He was driving by then and wasn’t really interested in riding bikes with his mother. The bike sat in the garage for a long time. Finally, I took the bike to a shop and had it cleaned up and new tires put on and made sure it was safe to ride but I still didn’t ride it much. However, I couldn’t get rid of it because I had a lot of emotional history with it.

Getting More Bikes

In 2018, I began to think about maybe doing a triathlon. Everyone said my bike was too heavy for a race so when my brother said he was going to get rid of his Raleigh road bike, I asked for it. I had that bike cleaned and serviced and have ridden it much more often. I know this is silly but I struggle to remember how to shift the gears and the brakes feel harder to use.

Now I also have a tri-bike. I have it set up in my home gym and have never ridden it outside.

Reconnecting with My Bike

When I got on my Cannondale bike recently and rode on the bike trail, I felt so happy. It was such a pleasure to ride and I had all of that history in my mind as I rode. So, while my vintage Cannondale bike might be too heavy for road riding and might be really old technology bike-wise, I’m keeping it. I think it will be the bike I use on my local bike and hike trail because I like it. That’s all that matters, right?

Riding My Bike Outside is Amazing

August 27, 2020 / Jill McCauslin / 3 Comments

Yes, riding my bike outside is amazing. I went on a short vacation recently to Catawba Island on Lake Erie. It was a perfect trip: gorgeous weather and lots of outdoor activities.

We went for a bike ride at East Harbor State Park. It was my first ride outdoors in over a year. Yes, I know. Very strange.

Differences between Indoor and Outside Riding

I’ve been riding my bike indoors using Zwift and my smart trainer. I really like my virtual rides because I’ve ridden my bike through London (I never realized how many hills there are in London!), Richmond, VA, New York, and a variety of other places. I also don’t have to worry about traffic or other people. I’ve shared my inside riding adventures before.

Getting on my bike and riding through the state park was fantastic. I did have to remember how to use the brakes on my bike and how to change gears. My indoor rides don’t require any of that.

I also had to wear my helmet instead of using a virtual one.

The Glories of Nature

It was glorious riding outside along Lake Erie. The view was inspiring and it was just a lot of fun. I’d forgotten that bike riding can be fun. I’ve been thinking of it as just another kind of exercise but forgot that there’s something wonderful about riding your bike in nature.

Seeing the lake along side the trail and spotting herons nearby was soothing to me. I could have done without the flock of Canada geese on the road but I did enjoy seeing the wild flowers and trees.

I was riding in a state park and even though I was on a road for part of the ride, there wasn’t a lot of traffic and everyone in the park is aware that there are people out enjoying the park. They know to be on the lookout for runners, bikers, fishermen, and walkers.

I do live by a bike and hike trail. I’ve been using it for running and walking but this is a good reminder that I should be using it for biking too.

Even though I like riding my bike indoors, jumping on my bike and riding it as it was meant to be ridden, outside, that is, was so much better.

Truly, riding my bike outside is amazing.

Grab and Go Supplies for Easy Exercise

September 23, 2019 / Chris Brown / 0 Comments

I have found that sometimes 90% of getting to the gym or going for some exercise is getting out the door. That’s why I try to do what I call “grab and go supplies.”

One way I decided to make that a little easier is to create a spot where all my bike riding gear goes. Helmet, sun brim hat, gloves, water bottles, neckerchief, and bike shoes are stored together in a little cubbie area. My bike and pump stay in the garage. It works for me to keep everything together, so I can just grab and go.

Having my gym bag packed with all the essentials is another trick. Swimming suit, googles, and cap, all live in my gym bag, along with a hair brush and deodorant.

I keep another bag for skiing. It contains my favorite ski socks, handwarmers, liners, pants, gloves, helmet and goggles. I hang the bag over the wooden hanger that holds my ski jacket. Boots, poles and skis are stored in the basement.

My running gear is more spread around, especially since I haven’t been running very much this past year. I don’t use as much equipment, but the clothes, socks and shoes make the biggest difference. I love to create a “flat Chris” the night before an event. Most running events are very early in the morning and many roads are closed well before the event, so I’ll be getting up to go we;; before the sun and leaving the house super early.

It really helps to keep me on track in the morning. Having things ready the night before calms the nerves about forgetting something.

Yoga is pretty simple. My mat is about all I need, because my gym supplies blocks, blankets, straps and bolsters. I used to have yoga socks with the little stickies on the bottom of the sock and the toes open, but I think my washing machine ate one of the socks.

For each one of my “sports” I put together a list. It really helps when I change seasons. The check lists include the long version (weekend ski trip or bike trip) along with a just quick trip. It really helps when I keep everything together.

For me it is okay to skip the lip balm when I am biking, but not when I’m skiing! Or skip water bottles if it is a short run, but include electrolytes and snacks if it’s a long one.

For all of my sports, I have my sport fanny pack. Even walking! In it goes my glasses with case, my phone and that all important bee sting kit.

How do you organize? Do you keep lists? Do you keep your gear all together? Let me know how you manage. I’m always looking for a better way.

NEOC Cookie Century Ride Recap

September 16, 2019 / Chris Brown / 0 Comments

Yesterday was the perfect weather for a long bike ride and the NEOC event on Sept 15 2019 put on by the Out-Spokin’ Wheelman didn’t disappoint!

My biggest challenge of the day was trying to not overindulge in the cookie table. You see, I had forgotten what the initials NEOC stood for – I thought it was Northeast Ohio Century, but when I asked one of the organizers they jogged my memory. The initials stand for Northeast Ohio Cookie ride.

This was their 46th year of putting on this ride. Wow! I’m amazed I never heard of it before.

PRE-RIDE:
The ride was held at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds which is about an hour from where I live now. I left around 6 am. I was rewarded for getting up before dawn with the most beautiful sunrise! The weather was chilly, so I brought my bright zipper sweatshirt for the early part of the ride.

The people at the check-in registration table couldn’t have been nicer! Friendly and organized, they handed me a giant bag of “goodies.” I preregistered on line for only $20 and day of registration was still only $20. I have to say I was amazed at all the support, food and prizes that the $20 provided!

ROUTE:
Route maps with both the turn-by-turn directions and a mile marker route image were perfect. The turn-by-turn directions were on the back of the map and stacked so it was easy to attach to the bike so you knew exactly where you were. The ride featured different choices – 5 loops of varying mileage, surfaces and degree of difficulty. All the routes started and finished at the fairgrounds. I think all 5 routes were flat, although I only rode three of them. One was the Western Reserve Greenway Hike and Bike trail which was straight and flat, surrounded by beautiful trees and greenery. (My bet is this would be a gorgeous fall ride route!)

Great maps for each of the routes. All routes had a small color coded arrow sprayed on the road as well. Outstanding job by the Out Spokin Wheelman for the 46th year!

If you are a fast rider, or at least faster than me, this is the perfect ride to get a century. If you are a cookie lover, this is also a great ride! Regardless, I had a really great day of riding. This year, and maybe many other years, the ride was all around my hometown of Cortland, Ohio and Mosquito Lake Reservoir.

This was a screen shot from my Strava app that shows our route for the whole day. I grew up in Cortland and went to Lakeview High School. Lots of memories while riding around!

There are some areas that were covered twice. My total mileage for the day was 63 miles. While it wasn’t a century ride, it was a metric century. A century ride is a 100 mile ride. A metric century ride is 100 Kilometers or about 62 miles. I had originally thought I would try 100 miles but my pace is more like 10 or 11 miles per hour, which means a very very long day. I think we still did about 6 hours of moving to get the 60+ miles in, so I feel like I got plenty of enjoyment from the ride!

FOOD:
A large table full of homemade cookies. Oatmeal raison, peanut butter with Hershey kisses, date bars, coconut flaked, chocolate chip! It reminded me of some of the weddings I have been to in western PA and eastern Ohio. Lunch was home made meatballs with pasta, salad and choice of lunch meats and cheeses with rolls for sandwiches. While it wasn’t overly healthy, it sure was delicious!

In between routes, they had water and Gatorade in large cooler jugs for filling water bottles. I enjoyed a coffee as well during one of the breaks – delicious. It was a big spread!

WEATHER:
The weather was around high 70’s low 80’s but overcast. That made for the perfect ride day. I had put sunscreen on before riding early morning, but the sun never got to that hot cooking feeling like sometimes happens in July and August. Light breeze at one point made me realize we might have a slight headwind, but it never was very noticeable. Around 2:15 or 2:30 we were on our 3rd route and it started sprinkling, with a bit of drizzle. Rather than get another 10 miles out, we decided to cut short and head back to the fairgrounds. Of course it stopped after we started heading back, but I didn’t have any rain gear with me.

My trusty bike is an 1988 Cannondale. Water bottles courtesy of Eddie’s Bike Shop. The front one has about a cup of Gatorade in it, that’s why it is blue. Plus, matches the bike!

AFTER:
Since this ride was located so close to my parents’, I stopped over for a quick “hi, how are you” drop-in visit. That also added to fun of the day!

Next year is going to be their 47th year and will be held 9/20/20. Although it’s hard to plan a year out, I think this ride is going on the calendar for next year!

Do you have a favorite event that you’ve participated in this year? Tell me about it! Leave a message in the comments below or call our voice mail line at 330-970-6662. You can also leave a post on our Facebook page.

Strava App Review – My Favorite Bike Riding App

August 18, 2019 / Chris Brown / 1 Comment

Strava App Review
On most of my bike rides, before we even leave the parking lot, someone invariably says “Strava On?”

It’s become like a mantra. The bike riding (and running) app was originally designed for competitive people who really like to see how fast they are doing a similar course compared to others. I like to use it to document rides. (I guess you can use swim also, but I’ve never tried that.)

I don’t use it as much of challenge but more like documentation or logging my rides. I love looking back over the years of riding and remembering the fun we’ve had.

On this past Saturday, I rode my favorite ride. It’s a large circle that we affectionate call the “Kent Loop.”

It hardly goes into Kent, Ohio at all, just the outer edge. It’s the southern part of the Bike Hike Trail for Summit Metro Parks. If you click through on these links, you’ll see how great this route is! We are so very lucky to have so many trails.

One reason I really like this route: about 70% is on a bike trail, 25% on pretty neighborhood streets and only 5% along or crossing large highway (4 or 5 lane monsters.) Most of them have a cross walk.

The Strava app keeps track of your moving time, so if you’re like me and like to take breaks to drink water or talk a bit, it captures your moving time, not just how long you are out riding. I also like tracking the calories and the elevation. The Watts for average power kind of aludes me, or I guess I don’t care about it as much, since I’m mostly riding for fun and secondarily for the exercise.

Strava lets me document with photos, elevation, speed, the map, and I can text changes to the route.

One of my fastest sections is along a 1 mile flat area that has a hill down from the crossing road. I’ve done this section 55 times, first starting in 2012.

Someone has named various sections of the Kent Loop and this section is called SPRINT! so I guess lots of people like to ride fast along here.

I know from tracking all these rides that I like to ride a little over 11 miles per hour. I’m happiest as a casual ride, chatting and enjoying the wildflowers along the trail.

The SPRINT! section is also one of my running and walking routes. Loyal readers may remember these flowers from last fall!

If you are a bike rider, you probably already know about and use Strava to document and log your rides. If not, give it a try and see if you like it. I used to use MapMyRide and have also tried RideWithGPS. I sometimes use Charity Miles too, but they all offer different features.

Why I Like the Strava App:

With Strava I can connect with friends and give them “kudos.” There’s a friend from Rhode Island who started riding later in life, and we support each other with our bike riding.
I like to look back a prior years and see when was the last time I did this route
If I’m looking for a “new” but familiar route, I can quickly flip back to see my rides
Uploading the photos was a cool way to further jog my memory
It’s easy to let the phone log my rides. Much easier than jotting down on a paper or entering into the computer.
Tracking helps me know how “prepared” I am for a longer or more difficult ride. It gives me confidence.

Do you track your rides or runs with an app? Ever tried Strava? What do you like, or not like, about it? Let me know by leaving a comment below, sending an email to Chris@becomingelli.com or calling 330-970-6662.

Bike Ride Recap of the 2019 Buckeye Breakaway

August 10, 2019 / Chris Brown / 4 Comments

Fun. Challenging. Hot. Lots of food and laughs. Exhausting. Sleep Depriving. Happy. Silly. Tiring. Inspiring. Great.

The recap of the bike ride for 2019 Buckeye Breakaway with my team the SOB’s was all these things and more. Take a couple minutes to watch the video below with the Skiers on Bikes, read this recap and learn about my experiences this year!!

About my bike:
My bike is a 1988 53″ Cannondale with downtube shifters that we bought from Craigslist in 2012. The previous owner barely rode it and it was like new. Except for the bent fork. I suspect during one of their first rides, they ran into a ditch and then didn’t ride again. Then 24 years later I bought it. The bike is 31 years old (half my age!) and still has a lot of umph left.

My Goals for the Buckeye Breakaway:

This year for the ride, I used the idea of an A, B and C goal to help me define success. Overall, I met with success because I

A) HAD A LOT of FUN! Lots of silly times and fun jokes along the way.

B) Met my fundraising goal and even went over. Thanks to all those who provided support.

C) Rode all 75 miles the first day, but only 36 miles the second day. So this goal fell a little short, but I feel the effort was an overall success.

This was my annual big ride event (you can read about all my yearly experiences here.) It’s like reading 9 years of a bike ride recap! Click thru to find out:

How many MS rides have I ridden?
Why do I ride?
What’s it like?
What do we eat?
Where do we sleep?
How long does it take?
Is it hard?
Is it fun?
Is it hot?
Did it rain?

There were many funny and inspiring stories from the 2019 ride that I want to include in this bike ride recap:
Here are just a few stories:

Second morning as we were riding out of town, the sun was coming up. A little rooster was Cack-a-Doo-Doodle-Doing all over the place seeing all the bike riders going past. It was like he was talking to us! While the seat was uncomfortable, the weather was perfect.
We rode past a whole group of goats (flock? gaggle?) and I had to stop to get a photo. Reminded me of goat yoga. I think I’m the only one that thinks Goat Cycling is funny. Okay, I’ve got a quirky sense of humor.
We got a corn photo too, and got a SAG driver in trouble for stopping to take our picture!
There was a blue bike on the ride that had a seat approximately 9 feet off the ground. I don’t know how the guy even got on it!
While riding up some steep hills Sunday morning I was super inspired by the handcyclist in front of me. I don’t know that she had MS, but she sure had a whole lot of spunk, heart and determination! I think she did better than I did on day two for sure this year!
I also met a guy who posed under the big orange inflatable for a photo. He had a bunch of medals around his neck from many different years. When I congratulated him, he said, “Yeah, I’ve ridden this 15 years… 14 of them after I was diagnosed with MS.”

Wow. That’s inspiration.

I’m glad I did it. Although I’ve spent the last few days trying to get my “oomph” back, I’m already to commit to next year! How about you? Want to join us?

Do you have a big physical challenging event each year? What is it? How do you prepare? If it doesn’t go exactly to plan, how do you regroup? What’s next on your goal list? Let me know by leaving a phone message at 330-970-6662 or an email to Chris@BecomingElli.com. Thanks!