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Gina Grain is a Canadian retired professional road and track cyclist. She won a silver medal in women' scratch at the 2006 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Bordeaux, France, and later represented her nation Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Notable International Results
Gina is currently a personal trainer offering strength training programs tailored to your needs. Contact Gina.
]]>It’s no doubt that OHM customers love their e-bikes. From commuting, to pleasure use, to trail exploration — there’s a use case for everyone. But what’s their unique story? We sat down with OHM customer Ken Schwantje to get some insights.
I'm a minimalist workaholic. I enjoy my job too much to retire so you can assume my age is closer to 70 than 60, and I do like to push things on the physical side to keep the body from becoming...complacent. Seems I was cycling almost before I could walk. I remember a lot of skinned knees falling off the hand-me-down bike that was 3 times too big for me. Once I got over that, there was no stopping me. I didn't get a full drivers’ license until I was in my late teens as I cycled everywhere. Cycling was in my blood – it must be the Dutch in me.
Thinking back, it first came to me a few years ago in Denmark after an all day bike ride on a standard, fixed-gear utilitarian bike. Half the ride — the easy half — was with the wind. The other half was against it. As my legs cramped up on the way back I thought, “It sure would be nice to have tailwind all the time.”
Back home a couple years later, my commute changed from 10km each way to just over 20, and from generally flat to significantly hilly terrain. To add to this, my age was creeping beyond 60. I commuted with my regular bicycle occasionally, but the 80-90 minute uphill ride home was getting tough. It was then I looked at the e-bike solution.
My first two e-bikes were not OHM, and if they were, I would have saved some frustrations. These bikes were gear-hub based and a little on the flimsy side. With my usage being a tad extreme, they could not keep up. From component issues to general wear and tear, the support from the sellers was subpar for the price I paid for the bikes. I began to research other e-bike manufacturers and came across OHM and their stellar reputation for customer service. OHM's support has been top notch, and with a locally-made reliable e-bike, it's an unbeatable combination.
I initially thought the electronic derailleur was over-the-top, but after a year of use, I really like it and I would greatly miss this feature if I did not have it — it shifts sharply and never requires adjustments.
If it counts as a feature — reliability. This bike has not missed a beat for over a year. My previous e-bikes and original OHM were all hub motor based. I was sad to see the hub motor be discontinued at OHM, but understood why. Over the 4 years with my first OHM e-bike, I watched the industry evolve while enjoying my ride which clocked over 40,000 kms in 3 years. Based on my research, I did have some doubts about the mid drive motor technology. Boy was I wrong! The performance is unparalleled — I have plenty of power and more to spare. I had initially thought the wear and tear would increase on the drive train, but it turns out it has actually decreased compared to the hub motor bikes. I am officially a convert to the OHM/Shimano partnership!
It just seemed like a natural progression as age caught up with me. I really can keep on going and going with the help of some electrons. The decision and subsequent experience has not just met, but greatly exceeded my expectations.
I use my car once in a blue moon. I've put less than 500km on it since February 2020, and more than 9,000km on the e-bike in the same period. I only use the car if the road is a skating rink, or if I’m unable to transport something of substantial weight or size on my back.
Here’s the kicker: my life has not changed! And I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you can maintain the same pace when you’re pushing 70 as when you were younger, then maybe you just might be onto something. It's been just over 3 years now with a new hip. I rode nonstop for 3-4 weeks after the surgery, then after several physiotherapists and a lot of hard work, I’m nearly as good as new — and a lot better than I would have been without all that e-bike riding. It's a habit, but a good one. I feel guilty anytime I drive.
I do wish that my route was congested with bikes. I'm seeing more and more each year, and hopefully younger generations will be the change to a sustainable future. For now, I'm going to stick with being a bit selfish and enjoy riding the best e-bike by OHM.
]]>Recent purchaser of an OHM Sport, James Day, shares his experience of e-biking to work.
1) Tell us about yourself: What keeps you bustling at work? what's your life like outside from work?
2) Where do you live/work?
3) How have you traditionally commuted to work?
4) What were your reasons for wanting to try an E-Bike for your commute?
I had started suffering some physical symptoms from spending so much time in the car daily: sore lower back, stiff shoulders, and achy hips. Being stuck in traffic and not knowing when I might get to my destination would cause mild stress. I needed a healthier way to get to and from work, and biking was an obvious option. I did the math and convinced myself that e-biking would additionally reduce my commute time.
5) Does your commute affect your performance/mental state at the office and/or at home?
Without a doubt, my e-bike commute has had a positive effect in my life. My mind is clearer when I get to the lab and I have been working more productively. A few friends have commented that I appear a bit trimmer and I have noticed an improvement in my cardiovascular fitness. Additionally, my sleep has been the best it has ever been; I fall asleep quickly, sleep soundly, and wake feeling well-rested on a daily basis.
6) What were the biggest obstacles to cycle commuting, and how have those changed?
For a number of years my primary obstacle was probably the inertia I had developed with driving. I was used to it, plain and simple, and making a change can be difficult. Friends and family had suggested I try biking but I was wary of the infrastructure in and about the city, especially given the distance I needed to cover. Biking from Lynn Valley to UBC was always possible, obviously, but it didn’t always seem straightforwardly easy or particularly safe. I think that the city and surrounding communities have done an admirable job in making Vancouver much more bike-friendly. There is still lots of room for improvement, but I am happy with the changes that have happened and that are planned to come.
7) Any particular thoughts/revelations you'd like to share?
E-bikes are surprisingly fun to ride: I still crack a smile every time the assist kicks in to help me up a hill or to start from stopped. Also, a good workout can still be had, even with 500W at your feet. My ride to work is easier on an e-bike, but I still arrive with sweat on my brow.
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