First eBike Ride at 51: Brian Takes the Relax Body eBike Over Hills, Dirt and Pavement

A First eBike Ride at 51

Brian Staer is 51 years old, and until the afternoon this video was shot, he had never ridden an electric bike. Not once. He’s ridden regular bikes, the way most of us did as kids and maybe a few times since, but he’d never felt a motor kick in under him while his hands were on a set of handlebars. So when he swung a leg over the Relax Body eBike and pushed off, we got something you don’t usually see in a bike review: an honest, unrehearsed first impression from someone who didn’t know what to expect.

That’s worth paying attention to, because a lot of the people shopping for an eBike right now are in exactly Brian’s shoes. They’re curious. They’ve heard eBikes are fun, or practical, or easier on the knees. But they also have questions they might not say out loud. Will it feel like it’s running away from me? Will I be able to stop? Am I going to look foolish on the first ride? Is this really for someone my age?

Over the course of about twelve minutes, Brian answers all of those questions without trying to. He rides paved paths, climbs hills, cuts through a dirt section, hits some bumps harder than he probably intended, crosses an intersection, and talks the whole way through. By the end he’s grinning and saying he feels like a kid again. This article walks through that ride, what he noticed at each stage, and what it tells you if you’re thinking about your own first eBike.

If you’re still early in your research, our Bike Advice library and the Ultimate Bike Buyer’s Guide are good companions to this piece. But a real ride from a real beginner is often the most useful thing you can watch, so let’s start where Brian did: standing next to the bike, figuring out where everything is.

Getting Oriented: Where Everything Is

The first thing Brian does is look down at the handlebars and find the throttle. On this bike, the acceleration control sits on the left side. It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind of thing a first-timer notices right away, and it’s a good reminder that every eBike is laid out a little differently. Before you roll anywhere, take thirty seconds to locate the throttle, both brake levers, and whatever display or controls the bike has. Know what each one does before you need it.

He also notices something else in those first moments: you need to steady this bike a bit more than you might expect. That makes sense. It’s a two-wheeler, and it carries the extra weight of a motor and battery compared with a basic bicycle. When you’re standing still or just starting off, you’re balancing it the way you would any bike, so a firm stance and a little patience go a long way.

Brian handles it without any drama. “No problem here,” he says, and then he’s off. That’s really the takeaway from the first thirty seconds: there’s a short adjustment period where you get your bearings, and then muscle memory you probably didn’t know you still had takes over.

If you’re someone who finds the standing-start balance on two wheels genuinely uncomfortable, that’s useful information too. It might point you toward a step-thru eBike that’s easier to mount and put a foot down on, or even an electric trike that stays upright by itself. There’s no wrong answer, only the one that fits how you ride.

Within the first minute, Brian says something that sums up a lot of the ride: “This one’s more like a bike.” He laughs when he says it, but it’s a real observation. Some people picture an eBike as a scooter or a small motorcycle with pedals bolted on. This one, he found, behaves like the bicycle you already know how to ride. The motor adds to the experience. It doesn’t replace it.

That matters for confidence. When something feels familiar, you relax. When you relax, you ride better. Brian immediately says he feels like he can control this bike a little better, and that if he needs to brake, he can, without worrying about falling off. For a nervous first-timer, that sense of control is everything. It’s the difference between a white-knuckle ride around the block and an afternoon that turns into a habit.

It also clears up a common misconception. You don’t have to learn a new skill to ride an eBike. You steer the same way, you lean the same way, you balance the same way, and you stop the same way. The only new thing is the extra push, and that turns out to be the easiest part to get used to.

A little later he puts it even more simply: “All you got to do is ride it just like a bike.” If you’ve been holding off because you think eBikes are complicated, that line is worth remembering.

Leaning Into the Corners

A minute or so into the ride, Brian starts working through some curves on the path, and this is where he gets more expressive. He talks about being able to accelerate through the corners, and about leaning into turns, the same body motion you’d use on any bicycle. Brake a bit before the turn, lean through it, and roll back on the power as you come out.

That’s actually solid technique, and it’s good to see a beginner find it on his own. A lot of new riders make the mistake of braking in the middle of a turn, which can make the bike feel unsettled. Doing most of your slowing before the corner and then letting the bike carry you through is smoother and safer, especially once you’re carrying a little more speed than you would on a regular bike.

Brian also comments on how easy the bike is to balance once it’s moving. That’s a common experience. The hardest moment on any two-wheeler is the first few feet from a standstill. Once you have some momentum, the bike wants to stay upright, and the motor makes it easier to reach that steady speed quickly instead of wobbling while you crank on the pedals.

Later in the ride he goes back to this theme, swinging a little wide on a turn but still able to accelerate the whole way through it. He says that’s one of the things he likes most: how little effort it takes to accelerate, and how easily he can slow down when he wants to. Turning, it turns out, is one of the most fun parts of riding an eBike once you trust it.

17 to 19 mph, and Still Feeling in Control

Around the two-minute mark, Brian checks his speed. He’s doing about 17 mph, and he’s quick to point out that he feels in control and isn’t worried about braking or stopping. A little later he’s nudging close to 19 mph. For someone on his first ever eBike ride, that’s a meaningful number. It’s faster than most casual riders go on a regular bike, and it’s fast enough that you’d expect a beginner to feel at least a little uneasy.

He doesn’t, and he explains why. He can feel the acceleration as it comes on, so there are no surprises. And when he wants to back off, he just lets go of the throttle. That predictable relationship between what your hand does and what the bike does is what keeps speed from feeling scary. You’re never wondering what the bike is about to do, because it’s doing what you told it to.

He also makes a point that a lot of first-timers will relate to: “For me, it’s the first time doing this, so I don’t want to go super fast.” That’s exactly the right instinct. You don’t have to max out an eBike on day one, and you shouldn’t. Brian picked a pace that felt good, stayed there, and built confidence. The fact that 17 to 19 mph felt comfortable to him is a sign the bike makes speed approachable, not a challenge to go faster.

Later in the video, he raises the question many new riders worry about: sometimes acceleration can feel like it’s getting away from you. His answer, after the full ride, is that with this bike he felt in control the entire time, including braking. For anyone who’s nervous about power, that’s the most reassuring part of the whole video.

Comfort comes up again and again in Brian’s commentary. He calls it a very smooth, very comfortable ride more times than we could count, and he gives specific examples. When the path dips, he says, it doesn’t hurt. When the ground gets bumpy, the bike stays composed. Even heading slightly downhill and accelerating, he can feel the bike solidly underneath him.

That feeling of the bike being planted is underrated. A bike that feels nervous or twitchy over uneven ground makes you tense up, and when you’re tense, every bump feels worse. A bike that feels stable lets you stay loose, and staying loose is how your body absorbs the small hits naturally.

Comfort isn’t just about the bike, either. Fit plays a big role. Partway through the ride, someone off camera points out that he can raise the seat if he wants, and he does. It’s a small adjustment that makes a big difference. A saddle that’s too low makes pedaling awkward and puts extra strain on your knees. Too high, and you’ll feel unstable at stops. Getting it right in the first few minutes is one of the easiest ways to make a good ride better.

If you’re not sure what size or setup suits you, our Get Fitted tool is built to match riders with the right frame and riding position. And if comfort is your top priority, browsing our comfort eBikes is a good place to see what’s designed specifically around an easier, more upright ride. A well-chosen seat can also change how a bike feels on longer outings.

Climbing Hills: Why People Buy eBikes

If there’s one moment in the video that explains the whole appeal of electric bikes, it’s when Brian heads uphill. On a regular bike, this is where the fun stops for a lot of people. You shift down, stand up, breathe hard, and maybe end up walking the last stretch. On the eBike, Brian just keeps rolling. He describes it as a very smooth ride uphill and says he loves the way the bike seems to juice itself up the hill.

Then he says the line that a lot of people will nod along to: “This is why you get an ebike, because I could be pedaling myself and then I wouldn’t be able to walk tomorrow.” It’s a funny way of putting it, but it’s true. Hills are the reason many people stop riding, or never start. Take that barrier away and suddenly routes that used to be off the table are possible again.

He also connects this to distance. Because the bike shares the work, you can go a lot farther than you would on a traditional bike without being wiped out the next day. That’s what makes eBikes so appealing for longer recreational rides, for people getting back into cycling after years away, and for anyone with joints that don’t love long climbs.

Toward the end of the ride he comes back to hills from a different angle: momentum. On a regular bike, if you don’t pedal harder and faster as the hill steepens, you lose speed and the climb gets harder. On the eBike, he says, you don’t lose your momentum. You keep flowing up the grade. That feeling of carrying speed through terrain that would normally slow you down is a big part of why eBike riders tend to ride more often.

The Joy of Just Being Out There

Not everything Brian says is about specs or handling. A lot of it is about how the ride feels. He talks about the wind in his face, about what a beautiful day it is, and about that wonderful feeling you get when you’re riding a bike. He mentions that this is one of his favorite places to come, the kind of spot where, at the end of a long day at work, a ride is the perfect way to decompress.

That’s easy to overlook in a product review, but it’s one of the most important things an eBike does. It lowers the cost of getting outside. If a ride means an hour of hard effort and sore legs, you’ll talk yourself out of it on days when you’re tired. If a ride means cruising along with the breeze on your face and arriving home refreshed, you’ll go far more often.

Brian says it directly: you let the bike do the work and you still get that great feeling of riding. You don’t have to choose between enjoying the scenery and getting where you’re going. Some days you’ll pedal more and get a real workout, and some days you’ll lean on the motor and just enjoy the view. Either way, you’re outside, you’re moving, and you’re having fun.

If you’re looking for inspiration on where to take your bike once you have one, the Ride Ideas section of our blog is full of suggestions.

About five minutes in, someone asks Brian if he wants to ride in the dirt. He does. He makes a left onto an unpaved section, notes that it’s pretty bumpy, and lets out a “woo” as he rolls into it. From here, the tone of the video changes. He’s not testing the bike anymore. He’s playing.

He compares it to riding a mountain bike, but faster, and says the bike really kicks you through the rough stuff. He’s still calling it very comfortable even on the bumpy sections, which is impressive given that the terrain is noticeably rougher than the paved path he started on. A little later he says he could do this all day long.

This is one of the more interesting parts of the ride, because it shows that an eBike isn’t just for smooth bike lanes. Dirt paths, gravel connectors, park trails and unpaved shortcuts are part of a lot of real-world rides. Being able to roll onto them without hesitating expands where you can go.

A sensible note here: if you plan to spend a lot of time on loose or rough surfaces, tire choice matters. Wider tires give you more grip and cushion, which is why many riders who like mixed terrain look at fat tire eBikes. And no matter what you ride, slow down when the surface gets unpredictable. Brian was enjoying himself, but even he admits he doesn’t want to try any jumps.

“I Feel Like a Kid Again”

Somewhere in the middle of the dirt section, Brian says the line that probably captures this video better than anything else: “I feel like a kid again right now. I’m 51 years old. Can’t believe I’m doing this.” He follows it up with: “This is so much fun.”

It’s a genuinely happy moment, and it’s one a lot of eBike riders recognize. There’s something about that combination of speed, ease, wind and open space that takes years off. For many adults, the last time they rode a bike just for the joy of it was decades ago. An eBike can give that back without demanding the fitness they had at twelve.

He also says he doesn’t have to worry about cardio or his heart. That’s worth a careful word. eBikes absolutely make riding less strenuous, and many people find them a comfortable way to stay active when traditional cycling feels like too much. But you’re still in control of how hard you work. Pedal more and you’ll get more exercise. Lean on the motor and it’ll be gentler. If you have a heart condition or other health concern, it’s always smart to check with your doctor about what level of activity is right for you.

What’s clear from Brian’s reaction is that the bike made riding feel approachable and fun again. That’s the real point. The best bike is the one that gets you out the door, and enthusiasm like his is a good sign you’ll keep riding.

Pushing a Little Harder, and Knowing Your Limits

Riding high on that feeling, Brian says he’s going to step it up a notch. He picks up the pace on the rough section, tries a bump from a different angle, and jokes that you really could jump this bike, though he doesn’t think you’d want to. A few moments later he decides against jumping anything, and shortly after that there’s a moment where he says, “All right, that hurts. That’s fine though. That was cool.”

It’s a good-natured, honest moment, and it’s included here because it’s useful. Even confident riders get caught out by rough ground now and then, especially when they’re still learning a bike. Bumps you’d roll over at walking speed feel very different at higher speed, and the extra pace an eBike makes so easy to reach also means you arrive at obstacles sooner.

A few practical lessons follow. Wear a helmet every time, not just on rides you think will be risky; our helmets are a simple place to start if you need one. Build up to rougher terrain gradually rather than tackling it on your first day. Keep your weight light on the saddle and your arms and knees relaxed over bumps so your body can absorb them. And remember that an eBike built for comfortable everyday riding isn’t a dedicated trail or jump bike, so ride it accordingly.

Brian shrugs it off and keeps going, and his takeaway is still positive. But the smartest version of his advice is the one he gave earlier: on your first rides, you don’t need to go super fast. Confidence comes quickly on an eBike. Let it come at its own pace.

Brakes come up throughout the video, usually in the same breath as speed. Early on, Brian says that if he needs to brake, he can, and he doesn’t have to worry about falling off. Mid-ride, he notes that he isn’t worried about braking and stopping. In his wrap-up, he specifically mentions feeling comfortable with both the acceleration system and the braking system.

For new riders, braking is often the hidden concern behind all the others. Going fast isn’t scary if you know you can slow down. A bike that stops predictably is what makes it possible to enjoy the speed in the first place.

A couple of habits will help any new eBike rider here. First, remember that letting off the throttle reduces power, but it doesn’t replace using the brakes. Get in the habit of using both levers smoothly instead of grabbing one hard. Second, brake earlier than you think you need to, especially on downhills and before turns, because an eBike carries more momentum than a regular bike. Third, practice a few stops in an empty parking lot or quiet path before you head into traffic. It only takes a few minutes and it builds a lot of trust.

If braking performance is high on your list, it’s worth comparing models and features before you buy. Our Choosing A Bike articles cover the differences between setups in plain language.

Momentum, Flow and Steering

Back on the paved path after the dirt section, Brian slows things down and spends some time just cruising. This part of the ride is quieter, but some of his best observations come here. He talks about mobility and how easy it is to turn, then climb a hill, then steer again, without losing momentum.

He describes the momentum as pure, saying you just feel like you’re flowing. It’s a nice way to put it. On a regular bike, every stop, turn or incline costs you speed, and getting that speed back takes effort. On an eBike, the motor helps you recover quickly, so the ride feels continuous instead of a series of starts and stops. That flow is a big part of why people describe eBike rides as relaxing even when they’re covering serious distance.

He also points out how swift and easy the acceleration feels. That combination of smooth power and easy steering means you can think less about managing the bike and more about where you’re going and what you’re seeing. For a beginner, that shift happens surprisingly fast. In Brian’s case, it was well within one ride.

It’s also the stage where you can see how relaxed he has become. Compared with the first minute, when he was steadying the bike and finding the controls, he’s now riding with one eye on the scenery and talking easily the whole time. That’s what confidence looks like.

A Few Words on Riding Near Traffic

Brian’s intersection moment is a good prompt to talk briefly about riding around cars, since many new eBike owners will end up using their bike on streets at some point. The quick, smooth pickup he describes is a real advantage, but it works best alongside a few good habits.

Ride predictably. Hold a steady line, signal your turns, and avoid weaving. Drivers handle cyclists best when they can guess what you’ll do next. Make yourself visible with lights and bright clothing, especially around dawn, dusk or on cloudy days. Remember that some drivers still misjudge how fast an eBike is moving, so assume they haven’t seen you until you’re sure they have.

Keep your speed sensible on shared paths. Just because an eBike reaches higher speeds easily doesn’t mean every path is the place for them. Slow down around pedestrians, kids and dogs, and give a friendly ring of a bell before you pass. Rules about where eBikes can ride and how fast also vary by city and state, so it’s worth checking what applies where you live.

None of this is meant to scare anyone off. Brian’s ride shows how relaxed eBike riding can be. A few simple habits just help keep it that way, whether you’re cruising a quiet park path or crossing a busy road on the way to work.

Brian’s ride is a pretty good template for anyone about to try an eBike for the first time. Here’s what stands out when you watch it from start to finish.

Start by getting to know the controls while you’re standing still. He found the throttle on the left before he went anywhere, and that simple step made everything after it easier. Know where your throttle and brakes are, and if the bike has a display, understand what it’s telling you.

Set up the bike to fit you. The seat-height adjustment partway through his ride is a small thing, but it’s one of the biggest factors in comfort and control. Take a few minutes before your first ride to get the saddle where it should be.

Pick a comfortable speed and stay there. Brian said outright that he didn’t want to go super fast on his first ride, and that’s a sensible approach. Even at a moderate pace, he still had a great time.

Ride it like a bike. The skills you already have, balancing, leaning, looking where you want to go, all transfer directly. The motor adds power, not complexity.

Respect rough terrain. Dirt and bumps are fun, but they reward caution. Slow down when the surface changes, stay loose, and save the bigger challenges for when you know the bike well.

Wear a helmet. Every ride, every time. It’s the easiest piece of protection there is.

And finally, enjoy it. Brian’s enthusiasm is infectious because it’s real. The best reason to ride an eBike is that it makes riding fun again.

Is This the Right Kind of eBike for You?

Brian ends by saying that if you’ve never tried an eBike before, this is one you’re going to really enjoy. Based on his ride, it’s easy to see who it suits: people who want an eBike that feels like a familiar bicycle, who value a smooth, comfortable ride, who want hills and longer distances to stop being a barrier, and who want enough capability to roll onto a dirt path without worrying about it.

That said, choosing a bike is personal. If you’re a two-wheel rider who wants something easy to mount, a step-thru eBike might be a better fit. If you love relaxed, upright styling, take a look at our electric cruisers. Riders who want extra reassurance as they get older often browse our eBikes for seniors, and anyone who would rather not balance at all can explore our electric trikes.

The simplest way to narrow it down is to start with fit and riding style. Our fitting tool asks about your body and how you plan to ride, and points you toward bikes that match. And because a first ride is so revealing, we offer a 30-day test ride, so you can see whether the bike feels as good on your own streets as it did for Brian on his.

Once your bike arrives, our assembly instructions walk you through the final setup, and our warranty and shipping pages cover the details you’ll want to know before you buy.

Final Thoughts: Confidence Comes Fast

What makes this video work is how ordinary it is in the best way. There’s no stunt rider and no rehearsed sales pitch. It’s a 51-year-old guy trying something new, a little cautious at first, then relaxed, then having a blast. Over twelve minutes, he goes from steadying the bike and finding the throttle to cruising at nearly 19 mph, climbing hills without breaking a sweat, playing around on dirt and saying he could do this all day.

His closing summary is simple: it was his first time ever on an eBike, he felt comfortable with the acceleration and the brakes, and he loves the bike. He’s also pleasantly surprised by how quickly he got comfortable with it, which might be the single most useful thing a nervous first-timer can hear.

If you’ve been on the fence about trying an eBike because you’re worried it’ll feel unfamiliar, too fast, or too much for you, Brian’s ride is a pretty strong argument that those worries fade quickly. Most of what you need, you already know. The bike handles the rest.

For more first rides, reviews and real-world tests like this one, browse our Video Blog and eBike articles. And if you’re ready to find your own fit, start with our electric bikes and see which one feels like it was built for you.