Chapter 1: The Journey Up Mt. Washington

E-bikes have indeed made their way up Mt. Washington, and while I can't confirm a bumper sticker just yet, it feels like an inevitable addition. Reflecting on my experience, I realize that the phrase "all I got" rings true, though it also highlights what I didn't gain.

Sure, I enjoyed the breathtaking view from the summit and got a fair amount of exercise pedaling uphill. However, what’s missing from this experience is something much more significant.

> "The harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it." — Anonymous

I lacked the opportunity to discover whether I could conquer the mountain independently, testing both my physical and mental limits. The confidence and satisfaction that stem from achievement were absent. My body—my legs, lungs, heart, and mind—successfully ascended Mt. Washington, but I missed the sense of accomplishment that could have come with it.

Additionally, I didn’t experience the endorphin rush from an intense workout, which often elevates mood and boosts feelings of well-being. This paradox is deeply woven into the fabric of our humanity. It is during physical and mental trials—when we are pushed to our limits, feeling cold, hungry, and exhausted—that we often feel most alive.

With the e-bike, I find myself in a constant state of uncertainty, caught in a gray area between having accomplished the feat and attributing it to the bike.

> "As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler . . ." - Henry David Thoreau

The presence of e-bikes diminishes the stark contrast between ease and hardship. This lack of extremes leads to a diluted experience. As Michael Easter illustrates in his book, The Comfort Crisis, many Americans instinctively opt for comfort over challenge, which contributes to a decline in both physical and mental health.

Easter argues that a society that avoids extremes results in feelings of anxiety, lethargy, and depression. Without experiencing pain, true pleasure remains elusive; we cannot fully appreciate comfort unless we also encounter discomfort.

Life devoid of extremes is akin to listening to music where all treble and bass are filtered out, leaving only mid-tones.

Easter describes this phenomenon as "problem creep":

> "As we experience fewer problems, we don't become more satisfied. We just lower our threshold for what we consider a problem." (22)

In a recent study, it was revealed that only two percent of Americans opt for stairs over escalators when given the choice. However, this isn’t universal—certain cultures still embrace stair climbing, while others have made it a tradition.

Interestingly, e-bikes are now being manufactured for toddlers. If a child's first experience on a bike is with an e-bike, they miss out on valuable lessons in resilience and challenge, reflecting a broader trend of overprotection in childhood.

While it's natural for parents to want to shield their children, I worry about a generation that may be shielded from essential physical challenges. Athletes often highlight that sports teach persistence in the face of adversity, cultivating grit.

This discussion does not apply to those who rely on e-bikes due to health issues or those using them as a car substitute.

When life throws us unexpected challenges—as it invariably will—how will we respond? Will we confront obstacles with confidence? Do we possess a reservoir of willpower? Have our bodies been tempered through adversity, equipping us with the strength to navigate hardships such as illness, job loss, or personal loss?

Our past encounters with difficulty prepare us for future challenges. We need to embrace healthy hardships in our lives.

Chapter 2: The Joy of Resistance

One of the pleasures of exercising lies in the dynamic feedback between myself and the activity—whether running, hiking, skiing, or paddling, I relish the varying resistance from the terrain and elements. This resistance is a vital, joyful aspect of the experience.

Moreover, considering the environmental impact of our energy consumption, forgoing an e-bike is a small yet meaningful choice I can make for the planet.

As long as I am able to power my bike with my own legs, I’ll choose to forego the e-bike. I want to feel my muscles burn, my lungs strain, and my heart race. When I finally reach the peak, I’ll be the one grinning, flooded with joy and fully aware of the breeze created by gravity as I descend the other side.

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