86-Year-Old Cyclist Still Rides Mountains on Ebikes

At 86 years old, Fritz Hasler conquers Utah's Mount Timpanogos trails on his electric bike, feeling like he's 20 again. A 2017 water skiing accident left him unable to walk on uneven ground without difficulty, yet somehow he still navigates challenging single-track mountain paths on two wheels.

Hasler's love affair with ebikes started in 2012 when a bike shop owner let him test ride a European Cannondale that wasn't even for sale yet. He took it up a steep trail near the shop and instantly understood what these bikes could do.

"Ebikes solve the three worst problems of bicycle riding," Hasler explains. They eliminate the struggle of steep hills, cut through headwinds, and prevent arriving at work drenched in sweat.

The electric motor compensates for the leg strength he's lost with age while his balance somehow stays solid on the bike despite failing him on stairs. He completes 33-mile rides around Mount Timpanogos that would have been impossible on a regular bicycle at his age.

Over 12 years, Hasler has purchased seven ebikes, though only three still work. He's learned some hard lessons about what makes these bikes succeed or fail.

The Ripple Effect

Hasler's experience offers valuable guidance for anyone considering an ebike purchase. He strongly recommends mid-drive motors over rear-hub motors because they climb hills more efficiently with less effort, even with fewer gears.

He's had to abandon four bikes because batteries failed and manufacturers couldn't supply replacements. When an ebike company goes out of business or stops making your battery model, you're stuck with an expensive paperweight that's too heavy to ride without power.

Of the motor brands he's tried, Hasler had to repair or replace Brose motors four times and doesn't recommend them. His current collection includes Brose, Bosch, and Shimano motors, with better experiences on the latter two.

His most important advice: buy from a brand with staying power and available parts. Unlike regular bikes where any shop can fix common problems, ebike motors and batteries usually require going back to your original dealer or shipping parts to distant distributors.

Despite the maintenance headaches, Hasler keeps riding because ebikes have given him something precious: the freedom to keep doing what he loves when age and injury could have stopped him.