3000 Miles of Pure Joy: Greg’s Story with the Heybike ALPHA | Heybike Community

Greg's Feeling Like a Kid Again

They say you can’t turn back the clock. But if you talk to Greg, a 68-year-old rider from Minnesota, he might disagree. Or at least, he’d tell you that you can certainly pause it. For Greg, the secret wasn’t a magic potion; it was two wheels and a battery.

"I'm 68 years old, and it has brought the kid back out of me," Greg says.

Riding an electric bike isn't just about getting from point A to point B. It is about the wind in your face and the freedom of the road. For Greg, living with heart disease meant he needed serious cardio. But let’s be honest, staring at a wall while pedaling a stationary bike indoors can get boring fast. Greg needed an escape. He needed something that made exercise feel less like work and more like play.

That is where the Heybike electric bike came into the picture. Greg picked up the ALPHA model, eager to see if it could keep up with his ambition. He wasn't looking for a short trip around the block. He was looking to reclaim his active lifestyle. And as soon as he hopped on, he knew he made the right choice. The ALPHA allowed him to exercise and enjoy the outdoors at the same time.

Hit 3000 Miles Before Minnesota's Deep Winter

The snow in Minnesota doesn't ask for permission. It just arrives. Knowing this, Greg set himself a massive challenge. He wanted to hit 3,000 miles on the ebike before the famous Minnesota freeze kicked in.

"My goal is to hit 3,000 miles before it snows," he declared early in the season.

It was a race against the thermometer. Greg averaged about 42 miles every other day. That is a serious commitment! His route wasn't always easy, either. He rode 90% on blacktop, but he also took his ALPHA electric bike through dirt wooded trails, and city streets. He spent 70% of his time cruising county roads along the Mississippi River. Imagine the views!

The bike became his reliable partner in this race against winter. Greg noted that the bike performed flawlessly for thousands of miles. He didn't have to worry about breakdowns. In fact, over nearly 3,000 miles, his only hiccups were two flat tires—one at 2,936 miles and another right after replacing it when he ran over a staple. "Dang!" as Greg put it. But he patched it up and kept moving. He didn't let a little setback stop him. "It's supposed to be -11° tomorrow night," Greg said with a smile, "And I made the 3000-mile goal in the end!"

Why the ALPHA? Performance Meets Efficiency

So, why did Greg choose the ALPHA? He was specific about what he needed. "I chose the ALPHA because of the mid-drive motor on the crank, and not the hub," he explains.

For riders who know their tech, the mid-drive motor is a game-changer. It offers better balance and a more natural riding feel. Greg found that the bike handled great and had plenty of power. But power is nothing without range, especially when you are doing 50-mile trips.

Greg was impressed by the efficiency. "Battery charge lasts 40-50 miles," he noted. Even on his longest ride of 54 miles, he rolled in with roughly 3% to 4% battery left. He usually stuck to Power Assist 2, finding the perfect balance between his own pedaling effort and the bike's boost.

Of course, no machine is perfect. Greg mentioned that the speedometer reads a little high and the battery indicator takes some getting used to. But these were minor quirks in an otherwise stellar experience. The power stayed strong right until the last 10% of the battery. On those final miles, when his legs were tired, he admitted he sometimes cranked it up to Power Assist 3 or 4 just for fun. That is the charm of the Heybike electric bike. It is there to help you finish strong.

Ride Towards A Healthier and Happier Future

Our Heybike community is not only about the specs of the bike, but also about what the bike allows you to do. For Greg, it was an incentive to get good cardio exercise without the dread of the gym.

"The ALPHA allowed me to feel like a kid riding again," he repeats. It’s a sentiment we hear often, but it never gets old.

Now that the Minnesota winter has parked his bike for the season, Greg admits, "I miss it already." He is stuck on an exercise bike until spring, counting down the days until the ice melts. But he rests easy knowing he hit his goal. He proved that age and health conditions don't have to limit your horizons.

At Heybike, we love stories like Greg’s. Seeing our riders smash their goals and improve their health is exactly why we make these ebikes. Greg’s final verdict? "Definitely recommend the Heybike ALPHA electric bike!" If you are looking for a way to make fitness fun again, maybe it is time you followed in Greg’s tire tracks.