Oliver Montague, CEO and co-founder of Swytch, the UK’s leading e-bike conversion company, discusses how e-bikes can help Brits make the most of the summer of sport.
Research from Swytch Technology, the UK’s leading e-bike engineers, shows that 23% of 55-year-olds no longer cycle despite it being one of their most enjoyable pastimes due to its physical toll on their body.
If you have taken time away from exercise, but want to get back on the bike, e-cycling can offer the perfect solution for this. Swytch have created the Swytch kit, which can be fitted to virtually any bike to convert it into an e-bike, making cycling both fun and more accessible, whilst still allowing riders to burn up to 70% of the calories they would normally expend when riding a conventional bike.
Oliver Montague, CEO and co-founder of Swytch, provides some key tips to bear in mind when planning for a bike ride:
1. First, make sure you pack the right kit – even if the forecast says it’s going to be dry, at least bring a compact waterproof. Bring spare cash, a bike pump with a couple of spare inner-tubes and a few basic tools for any mechanical eventuality. Oh, and make sure to wear sunscreen!
2. Make sure to bring water, and if you are going for more than an hour, some snacks too – nobody wants to run out of energy on a long bike ride, and in the heat, it is super important to stay hydrated. Snacks are great motivators, too!
3. Try to ride at your own pace. If your riding partners are going too fast, don’t feel pressured to keep up. Alternatively, turn on the Swytch kit, and you can keep up with other riders for longer!
4. Make sure to plan your route properly. Nobody likes getting lost, so make sure to either bring a map or at least plan the route before you head out the door.
With the weather getting better and days getting longer, more people are jumping back on the saddle to take the benefits of cycling. This being said, data shows that 25% of Brits say their age or lack of fitness has stopped them from partaking in physical activity. A Swytch kit, which can be fitted to almost any bike to convert it into an e-bike, revolutionises this, making exercise both physically less demanding and more fun. Where nearly a quarter (23%) of Brits say that they do not cycle because it is too hilly where they live, the Swytch kit adds up to 250 watts of power, making cycling far easier, but still allowing the user to reap the benefits of exercise.
CEO and co-founder of Swytch, Oliver Montague, emphasises that cycling is not just for the fit, and that it is accessible to all:
“It’s important to realise that cycling is not only reserved for the fit and active few. With e-bikes making cycling a less strenuous activity, riding can become a breezy and enjoyable part of your day and accessible to all. Not only is this a cost-effective way to travel, but our research has further emphasised the mental health benefits of cycling.
“With the Swytch Kit, exercising has never been easier as users can quickly accelerate to 20mph and easily climb gradients of 30% without breaking a sweat, yet still burning 70% of the amount of calories as traditional cycling, allowing people to reap all of the health benefits without the full physical strain that can put someone off cycling.”
