I just took my first long range electric bike ride on the world's longest floating bridge – 3 things I learned

Trek Verve+ 1 LT bike in red on a bridge with a blue sky.

I just got back from my first long range electric bike ride, a 17.5-mile jaunt through the forests, suburbs and cities of western Washington state. And I could not have picked a better day. With a mix of rain, wind and hail in the forecast, I suited up in my best wet weather gear and headed out to the Trek store in Redmond, Washington, to pick up my e-assist ride. 

Properly briefed on the ins and outs of the Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT, a commuter-friendly ebike with a big comfy seat and high handlebars, I thanked the store staff — good looks, Alex —  buckled my helmet and headed out into the wet, 40-degree afternoon (that’s 4 degrees Celcius, for my non-American friends).