How Gazelle rider Ethan Chase reclaimed his health
February is American Heart Month—a reminder that pathways to healthy living don’t exist only in doctor’s offices or workout classes. An essential part of maintaining a healthy body comes from regular movement, especially later in life. But locking into new physical routines can feel like a real hurdle, especially when extra weight, aches and pains, or chronic health concerns make exercise feel uncomfortable or unsustainable.
For Ethan Chase, that hurdle had become impossible to ignore. After months of isolation during COVID, an unhealthy diet, and a steady decline in his physical health, he knew something had to change—urgently.
“I went to go see my doctor and she said, ‘You know, you’re on a bad path. You gotta do something.’ That was the motivating factor; health.”
Chase needed a way to start moving again—one that felt practical and realistic. That answer came in the form of an ebike. More specifically, his Gazelle Ultimate T10+—and a decision to rebuild his health one commute at a time.
Today, Chase is 62 years old. He’s logged more than 20,000 miles on his Gazelle ebike. He rides more than 25 miles a day across Los Angeles—often at night, often over mountains. Along the way, he’s lost over 50 pounds, reversed pre-diabetes, and rebuilt daily movement into his life in a way that feels sustainable and enjoyable.
He lives in the San Fernando Valley and works on the Westside of Los Angeles—two places separated by a literal mountain range. Traffic can be relentless, and commute times are unpredictable. To ease into things, Chase began with a hybrid commute, taking his Gazelle onto public transit—riding to the train, taking the subway under the mountain, and finishing the remaining miles on the bike.
“It always just facilitated me getting up over a hill which I would not have been able to do on an analog bike in the state I was in,” he says. “Suddenly I’m losing weight and I’m feeling good. I notice my legs are getting stronger. People started noticing. It really got me back in shape—and that happened quite quick.”
Why the eBike Worked—When Everything Else Didn’t
From the beginning, Chase was clear-eyed about what an ebike was—and wasn’t.
“I never felt like the ebike was a crutch,” he says. “It just made something possible that wasn’t before.”
That distinction matters. For Chase, the electric assist didn’t replace effort—it removed barriers. It allowed him to climb hills he couldn’t yet climb on an analog bike. It let him arrive at work without being drenched in sweat. Most importantly, it made consistency possible.
His daily commute quickly became a ritual: roughly 26 miles round trip, including a 1,000-foot climb on the way home. Some days still involved combining trains and subways. Others were full rides over the mountain. Slowly, as the weight came off and his legs grew stronger, he stopped avoiding the climb—and started conquering it.
The Moment It Became Real
Weight loss is often talked about in numbers. Fifty pounds. Three thousand miles. Twenty thousand miles. But for Chase, the most meaningful moment came quietly, at home, when one of his children commented on his weight loss.
It’s a reminder that health isn’t just about metrics. It’s about presence. About feeling at home in your body again. About being able to show up fully for the people you love.
Medically, the changes were significant. Chase had been pre-diabetic. That condition has now reversed. His energy levels are up. His endurance is real. And while he’s candid that diet changes and medication played a role, the bike remains the constant.
“This guaranteed that I would move every single day,” he says. “Even in Turbo mode, a thousand feet of climbing still gets your heart rate up.”
In other words, the bike didn’t eliminate effort—it ensured that the effort happened.
Heart Health, Without the Pressure
American Heart Month often focuses on structured exercise and cardiovascular targets. But Chase’s experience highlights something equally important: movement that feels natural is movement that lasts.
An ebike doesn’t demand intensity. It invites consistency. It encourages riders to choose the bike instead of the car—for errands, commutes, and daily life. Over weeks, months, and years, that steady cardiovascular activity adds up in ways that are both measurable and deeply felt.
Chase’s Gazelle Ultimate T10+—now with more than 20,000 miles on the frame—has been through potholes, crashes, paint chips, and one dramatic theft-and-recovery story involving AirTags and an enthusiastic Los Angeles Police Department response.
Despite it all, the core components remain remarkably intact. The original frame battery is still in service. The motor continues to perform. And when issues have arisen, Chase has felt supported—by local dealers and by Gazelle itself.
“This bike has been through a lot,” he says. “That creates a bond.”
A bike that becomes a primary vehicle needs to be more than fun. It needs to be trustworthy. Designed for daily use. Built to last. Comfortable enough that your body wants to get back on it tomorrow.
Bright Horizons
These days, Chase is still riding daily. Still logging miles. Still imagining bigger adventures—cross-country routes, long-distance tours, even the Continental Divide. He’s begun to think about a future that includes more time on an analog bike, something that once felt entirely out of reach.
The ebike didn’t replace his strength. It revealed it. Today, Chase says without hesitation that he believes in the life-changing value that ebikes can bring to people.
Chase’s story isn’t about shortcuts or hacks. It’s about designing movement that fits life—especially later in life, when routines are harder to change and the stakes feel higher. It’s about comfort, confidence, and the quiet power of showing up day after day.
This American Heart Month, Chase’s journey is a reminder that physical health and well-being don’t have to start with intensity. Sometimes, they start with a ride that feels good enough to repeat. A bike that meets you where you are. And a small decision that, mile by mile, changes everything.
Does Chase’s story of healthy living get you thinking about ways to add daily movement into your life? Check out our ebike buyers guide!
