Rebel Talk: E Everything

Everywhere I drive these days, I see kids zipping by on little e-bikes—mini electric bicycles that take all the sweat out of a good old-fashioned ride. It’s wild, isn’t it? The same stretch of sidewalk that used to echo with the rhythmic grind of pedals and the chatter of friends huffing up a hill together is now a silent lane for quiet motors and thumbs on throttles.

Everything in this world is turning to E. E-bikes. E-cars. E-everything. We want it fast, easy, and instant. Push a button, skip the work. But here’s the question that keeps punching me in the gut: Is this really good for us?

When I was a kid, my bike was my freedom. It wasn’t some sleek battery-powered gadget—it was a heavy hunk of metal I earned with a paper route and some relentless begging. It had rust spots and a squeaky chain, and I was proud of every mile I pushed those pedals. We’d ride miles just to find the best hill to bomb down, or the roughest trail to conquer. By the time we got home, our legs burned, our shirts were stuck to our backs, and our smiles were stretched from ear to ear.

We worked for it. And the work made it worth it.

Now, I look around and wonder—are we raising a generation of kids who expect a throttle for every uphill battle? A battery pack for every ounce of effort? Maybe I’m old school, but I refuse to be part of that trend. I’m guilty, too—I’ve made things easier for my kids at times—but I draw the line at buying them e-bikes. Not because I’m cheap, but because I’m determined. Determined that my boys will learn to push their own weight up the hill. Because that’s where the character is built. In the burn. In the push. In the work.

This isn’t just about bikes—it’s about life. We don’t get to coast through the tough parts with the push of a button. We don’t get to skip the struggle. And truth be told, we shouldn’t want to. Because when you shortcut the sweat, you shortcut the satisfaction.

That’s one of the reasons I’m so damn proud of our Relentless Rebel crew. If you haven’t met them yet, let me tell you about two of our team members—Megan and Kelli. These two embody the opposite of E Everything. They’re not looking for shortcuts. They’re doing the work. Kelli has a goal to run a half marathon—and not just cross the finish line, but to place. Megan is right beside her, building her own personal fitness goals brick by brick. They’re grinding. Sweating. Showing up for themselves and for all of us.

They remind me every single day that it’s not about making life easier—it’s about making yourself tougher. They prove that the finish line feels different when you’ve earned every single step toward it.

So maybe you’ve got kids begging for e-bikes. Or maybe you’re feeling the tug yourself—some new “easy button” for your own uphill climb. I get it. It’s tempting. But don’t forget what the push does for you. Don’t forget the lessons buried in the sweat. Don’t forget the pride that comes when you look back and say, I did that the hard way. I did that my way.

This world will keep handing out shortcuts. It’ll keep telling you there’s an easier way. But here’s my promise to you: the Relentless Rebel way will always stand for the harder path—the path that builds muscle, grit, and something so much stronger than a fully charged battery.

So keep pushing the pedals. Keep climbing the hills. And when you feel the burn in your legs, smile wide—because that’s the feeling of becoming something you can be proud of.

Relentless Rebels don’t coast. We grind.

And when we reach the top, we know we earned every inch.

Stay Relentless,

Ryan