I’ve had my old ten-speed bicycle for a long, long time. Case in point, I can’t remember the bike that I owned before that one. I couldn’t begin to guess how many miles I put on the old Green Machine but I know that I used it a lot. I used it for runs to the grocery store, post office, bank, Hubber games, and any other in town commute. Any time I could substitute that bike for my truck, it was always a healthy win. Oh, I’ve had passing thoughts about upgrading to a new one or even an electric bike but I dismissed it because of the sentimental value of the Green Machine. I felt that way until I used an electric bike while elk hunting last fall and then it was “Goodbye Green Machine!”

When I returned from Colorado last year, I began searching through the online information and reviews. When the dust settled, I decided to purchase a Rambo Pursuit 2.0 Step Thru. I bought my bike from A1 Archery in Hudson and they were terrific. Thank you, Dan and Todd.

As I mentioned, I bought my electric bike for elk hunting. Once the trails opened out west, permitting these types of bikes, it was a no brainer to trade in bootwear for rubber tires. The fact that I’m not a young billy goat any more is another reason for the purchase. 

I bought my Rambo last spring and the first time that I thought about other benefits of this bike was when I was walking to my turkey blind on opening day of that season. It only took me half of that mile walk to figure out that I should be riding my bike to my blind. From that day on, that’s what I did. After that I used it for turkey hunting every chance I got.

After that initial epiphany, the Rambo bike uses suddenly became endless. Last spring was the first time that I ever road a bike to hunt for morel mushrooms. Actually, that was a secondary reason because I had started out the day turkey hunting when I accidently stumbled into some morels and that changed the whole focus of the day.  

When turkey and mushroom season ended, I thought that my outdoor bike usage was over until another great thought struck me: Rush River trout fishing. Fast forward a hundred miles and some decent trout to make trout biking a thing for me as well.  

That brings us to the brink of the fall hunting seasons. I am sure that I will rack up some serious miles because, after all, that’s why I bought the bike in the first place. Until then my short day trips will be confined to the errands in and around town. I wonder if I should consider riding it to the fitness center to make up for the pedal assist?

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal