From Sceptic to Convert: My Cannondale Canvas Neo eBike

I'll admit it. Years back, when e-bikes first started appearing, I was one of those cyclists who said, "that's cheating." In my defence, I was riding 100-mile sportives and mountain biking a lot at the time. It doesn't excuse a daft opinion, but there you go!

Fast forward a decade, and things have changed. I'm now in my mid-50s, working from home, and while I'm still fit, my health has had a few setbacks. I also no longer own a car. I can borrow my wife's, but as a reluctant driver living in the sticks with no public transport, a quick trip for a pint of milk can become a two-hour affair on foot.

The obvious solution was an e-bike, but the insane cost always put me off, especially as I'd never even ridden one.

However, one day I spotted a Cannondale Canvas Neo in XL on clearance at a client's shop. It seemed perfect: a big, strong frame with a long wheelbase for stability and clearance for fat tyres and mudguards. A few calls later, I'd scored a great deal. The dealer was delighted to get rid of it because nobody liked the colour (I loved it!).

After getting lost by the carrier for two weeks, the biggest, heaviest box I'd ever seen arrived unannounced at the door. My e-bike had landed.

First Ride & Modifications

A few hours later it was built, and the first test ride was done. The immediate reaction?

"My God, this thing is fun!"

For someone who has ridden performance bikes their whole life, e-bikes really put the fun back into just riding. On that first day, I took it for a 20-mile spin around a regular route. Instead of getting kitted out in lycra, I just went in my jeans and a hoodie. It was a blast! I got back faster than usual, only slightly sweaty, and with a huge smile on my face.

For those who haven't ridden one, e-bikes don't have a throttle. You have to pedal, and the motor "assists" you based on the mode you've selected. In "Turbo" mode, it can feel like a gentle, constant push up the steepest of hills.

The great thing about a heavy e-bike is that adding more weight doesn't matter much. I've kitted it out with mudguards, a rear rack, and bags for day-to-day use, turning it into my sole means of transport.

Modifications and Upgrades

Since getting the bike, I've made a few key changes to make it even more capable. The most significant of these was the upgrade to the Bosch Kiox display from the basic Purion unit, which gave me access to a ton more data and features.

So, Is It Cheating?

There's still a big school of thought that says e-bikes are cheating. From a purist's perspective, if you're on a club run and getting a helping hand from a motor, then yes, you're cheating yourself and others. But it's less of an advantage than you might think.

I've done rides of the same duration over similar terrain on both my road bike and my e-bike. On average, my heart rate on the road bike is only about 10bpm higher. The difference in actual effort is surprisingly small.

But let's put that nonsense aside and look at e-bikes not through the eyes of a blinkered cyclist, but those of a regular person.

For 99% of people, the "cheating" issue is irrelevant. Most new e-bike owners haven't ridden a bike in decades. The promise of assistance to get up the hills is what gets them back in the saddle.

The fact you don't arrive at your destination hot, sweaty, and looking like a Tour de France reject means people are finally using them as genuine car replacements. And that's a good thing for everyone, especially car drivers, because one more e-bike on the road means one less car in the traffic jam ahead of them.

It's not cheating; it's just a smarter, healthier, and infinitely more fun way to get around.

You can see more pictures in the Bikes Gallery.