KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Tom Pierce has been cycling for years. The 69-year-old recently started using an electric bike.
"The E-bike is a compromise that allows me to do things I might not do otherwise. It allows you to ride longer or ride farther and be more comfortable, particularly on hills,” said Pierce.
Electric bikes have a small motor inside that kicks on when there’s enough resistance.
Most models have different settings depending on how much assistance you want.
“It just gives you that little umph,” said Christina Decker, the owner of Midwest Cyclery.
Decker said sales of E-Bikes have increased quite a bit over the last year, and many of the customers purchasing them are doing so under their doctors’ orders.
"I love the cardiologists around Kansas City. They have sent several people in to go get an E-bike,” said Decker.
Decker said she has sold several pedal assist bikes to heart patients who need low impact exercise.
"Because the cardio from riding a bike is not stressful; it's very good for you, so it's going to help your heart a lot,” said Decker.
While some cyclists like Pierce are using the electric bikes for convenience and to save money on gas, those benefiting the most are people who can’t handle to full challenge of a typical bicycle but still want to get out and exercise.
“In the older generation of people, the 50 plus, the ones with handicaps, the ones with disabilities, there's different things you can do that will help them get on the bike,” said Decker.
Electric bikes start around $2,000 and can get up to about 20 miles per hour.
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