As a mini velo enthusiast, I'm here to tell you all about the appeal of mini velo bikes for commuting and school, especially "electric mini velos."

While "electric" might sound a bit like cheating, I encourage you to ride them with pride.

Preventing the spread of infection and self-restraint are important, but let's go out for a change of pace once in a while.

About 10km is the guideline for commuting

If you're using an electric mini velo for commuting or school, a distance of about 10km is probably ideal.

Based on experience, if you keep it to about 5km to 6km, there will be almost no damage even if something unexpected happens.

The "troubles" referred to here are punctures, running out of battery (or forgetting to charge), and sudden rain.

Not limited to bicycles, problems during commuting or going to school are inevitable.

Therefore, by planning some countermeasures in advance, you can avoid being in trouble when the time comes.

If you limit the distance to about 5km to 6km, and something happens along the way, you can switch to public transport such as trains or buses and still arrive at work or school on time.

In the worst-case scenario, a taxi.

It costs money, but there are times when adults just have to make it work.

If you have a long commute or school route, I think switching part of it to an electric mini velo would make it more enjoyable.

Now, let me tell you specifically what makes it fun.

Discover interesting roads

When cycling to work or school, unlike trains or buses, you can choose your preferred route.

Riding the same route every day can get boring, so varying your path little by little can significantly change your mood.

And as you ride different paths, you'll discover "new things."

For example, as shown in the image, you might suddenly discover a path that looks like a wall.

You're probably a little curious about what lies beyond, aren't you?!

Find shops with cute exteriors

There are surprisingly many shops with exteriors that make you wonder what kind of shop it is.

If you're on a train or bus, it's not practical to go out of your way to get off, even if you're curious.

With a bicycle, it's easy to just stop for a bit and peek inside.

You might find unexpected discoveries or encounters.

Interesting signs

The city is full of interesting signs.

There are signs that make you think, "What's that!?" at first glance.

Such small discoveries can make your heart flutter.

When you're on a train or bus, you can't stop and look slowly.

This is unique to bicycle commuting/schooling, unique to bicycles.

Nowadays, if you post something like this on Twitter or Instagram, it might even go viral.

The key to such discoveries lies in how much attention you pay to your surroundings and how well you're tuned in.

You can also pass through narrow roads.

There are roads that you would never discover by train or bus.

However, such roads can surprisingly lead to unexpected places or hidden shops deeper in, making them quite interesting.

Such discoveries can enrich your daily life just a little bit.

In days with less excitement, actively seeking it out can help you live a more joyful life.

Can be loaded into a car

Being able to load it into a car is incredibly helpful in case of trouble.

Of course, it's useful for punctures and dead batteries, but it's also a relief when it's sunny in the morning and then rains in the afternoon, meaning you'd have to leave your bike at work or school.

It often happens on a Friday, making you worried about leaving it there... In such cases, you can just pick it up with your car.

A mini velo can fit even in a Kei car, and in a regular car, you can easily load it by just folding down the back seats.

If the bicycle is foldable, it becomes even more compact, so it should fit in any car.

It's also advantageous for travel, which will be discussed later.

Ideal for short trips

It is said that COVID-19 arrived in Japan in January 2020.

There were probably regions with states of emergency or measures to prevent the spread of infection, depending on the area.

While preventing the spread of infection and self-restraint are important, why not try going out for a bit, with sufficient caution?

When you load a mini velo into your car and go out, you can enjoy places with different scenery than usual, and your mood will change considerably.

Moreover, you'll also benefit from the advantages of cycling mentioned above, so it's hitting two birds with one stone.

You don't need a mask outside, so putting your mask in your pocket for a while and enjoying a solo cycling trip might be the ultimate luxury right now.

Dead battery ≠ regular bicycle

There are also caveats.

Many people seem to think that once an electric bicycle's battery dies, it's just like a regular bicycle.

However, that's completely different, so caution is needed.

What's different is the weight.

Being electric, the frame and other parts are reinforced to some extent.

If it's a carbon frame, you probably wouldn't notice it much, but most electric mini velos are made of steel.

They are quite heavy, so they are heavier than regular mini velos, and it's hard to make progress even when pedaling.

Also, because you're used to the image of gliding along easily with electric assistance, when the battery dies, the feeling of not moving forward feels much more pronounced.

Batteries are expensive

One unavoidable aspect of all electric bicycles is battery life.

Repeated charging gradually degrades its performance.

This is similar to smartphones.

It's impossible to maintain 100% performance indefinitely, so when considering commute or school distances, it's safer to plan with about 80% capacity.

If you have to replace it, it can feel quite expensive.

However, if you take good care of it, it can last for over 5 years, so simply cleaning and wiping your bike occasionally can unexpectedly extend its lifespan. Please give it a try.

External Writer: Koichi Okuno