Big News: I’m a Pedego Electric Bike Ambassador!

Hi friends!

You may have noticed I’ve been hanging around the DCD again lately, and it feels good to be back! Today I’m thrilled to share that I’m one of four brand spankin’ new Pedego Electric Bike Ambassadors! Over the next few months I’ll be blogging weekly about my experience with my beautiful Pedego bike. Now, the first thing people want to know is: what’s an electric bike? Well, it’s a bike you pedal and ride just like any other bike; but this one has the option to get a little boost if you need it (up to 20 mph!). I have the Pedego Interceptor, which is a cruiser and has an easy step through, so there’s no need to swing your leg up high to get on the seat. Once you’re on your bike and ready to go, you can pedal like normal, twist the throttle, or turn on Pedal Assist, which helps speed up and power your pedaling. It’s pretty much the coolest thing ever. I’ll share a meme next week about how it makes me feel 🙂

I chose the coral and aqua Pedego with brown wheels, seat, and handle bar trim. Isn’t it gorgeous? I love the bright, beachy feel and the retro styling. I have decided to name her Cora (And yes, of course I have color coordinated shoes. Gotta make sure my pedaling fashion is on point.) However, the best thing about this bike isn’t its cute styling — it’s that this bike is going to help me maintain my fitness and reach new levels of health. Now, a few people that hear about electric bikes always say the same thing “If it’s electric, how is that going to help you get exercise?” While on my lazier days I may *want* to just use the electric option the whole time, I find in the 7 miles I’ve already ridden that I only use the electric options when accelerating from a stop, or heading up a hill. In fact, because I have the electric option, I end up riding longer and further — certainly something you can’t debate when you’re biking for exercise. You still get the exact same benefits of biking on a Pedego that you do from a normal bike — the wind in your hair, the breeze kissing your cheeks, the joyful “WHOOSH!” as you cruise down an empty street. Plus, isn’t anything better than nothing? (Always. No matter how slow you go, you are always, always, always lapping somebody who is still on the couch. Progress, not perfection!)

Because I work from home, I’m most excited about using my Pedego for errands rather than driving my car. For example, this week I already rode to the post office, the grocery store, and even my acupuncture appointment! On Friday, I’m having lunch with some friends and I can’t wait to check out Reseda’s new protected bike lane. Of course, I’m learning all about bicycle traffic laws and always make sure I wear my helmet (the photo above was just for photographic purposes!). I’m looking forward to seeing how Cora helps me accomplish my fitness goals, because I know I do best with exercise when I can make it multi-purpose. If I have a nice long bike ride while doing an errand, it doesn’t feel like exercise: it feels like a fun way to be productive. That’s why I had success last year when training for the 3-Day, because suddenly I was able to walk long distances to do things like visit the crafts store or meet friends for dinner. When I’m able to make exercise less tedious I always end up doing more of it!

I’ll be sharing more about why exactly Pedego makes such unique bikes in the coming weeks (spoiler alert: USB charger on deck, a range of sizes for all body shapes and sizes, over 6 models of bikes including a tandem and a cargo version, awesome customization, super sturdy build, the list goes on…) If you’re interested in learning more about Pedego, definitely check out their website, and see if there’s a dealer near you. Almost all dealers offer bike rentals, which is a fantastic and low-cost way to get to know the bikes. I’m lucky to be working closely with Pedego 101 in Westlake Village, which is even cooler because it’s owned by a friend from journalism school, Linda C.

Allright… I’m off to take a bike ride! Do you have a bike? Do you love bike riding, too?

Disclosure: I have received a Pedego bike in exchange for blogging and sharing on social media about my experiences over the next several months. All opinions are my own.