Recently when I’ve been out on my bike I’ve been noticing an increase in the number of e-bikes out and about. When I was on Arran in September most of the tourers I saw were e-bikes, maybe hired ones being used by visitors who hadn’t brought bikes with them.

Amongst people my age (mid to late 60s) I think e-bikes are becoming especially popular. I just listened to an article on Radio Scotland’s Out of Doors extolling the virtues of e-bikes for people whose fitness is not what it used to be or may even have some sort of disability which excludes them from using a normal bike. An electric assisted bike can really mean the difference between cycling or not for some folk.

For myself, I am going to continue to pedal. It helps me keep my fitness levels up and for cycle touring and camping an e-bike just doesn’t have the range to be practical. So, for the next few years at least, I’ll stick to the old-fashioned way. Not to say I’ll never go electric.