Simon Cowell All Smiles After Getting 'Lost' on £8K E-bike, Five Years After Breaking His Back

Simon Cowell's latest ride through London may have looked carefree, but it comes five years after a moment that nearly changed his life forever.

Simon Cowell appeared in high spirits during a solo cycling trip through Central London on Sunday, despite getting briefly lost on his £8,000 electric bike. The 65-year-old television personality and music executive was recognized by a fan who filmed their chance encounter outside a local pub.

Cowell, best known for his roles on "Britain's Got Talent" and "The X Factor," was dressed casually in a black puffer jacket, shorts, and sunglasses as he navigated the capital’s busy streets.

The outing caught attention not only for his unexpected detour but also due to his history with e-bikes. In 2020, Cowell suffered a serious back injury after falling from a similar model at his Malibu home.

In a video shared to TikTok, fans in a passing car pulled over to speak with Cowell, asking if he felt nervous riding in city traffic. Unfazed, he replied, "I got lost, but it's quicker," and assured them he'd stay safe before continuing on his way.

Online reactions quickly followed the viral moment. One viewer observed, "Ever since he had a child, he [sic] been a different version of himself." Another joked about his attire, writing, "I think the jacket is more dangerous than being on the bike. He is lucky he didn’t get heat stroke."

Others focused on his unexpected mode of transport, with one remarking, "How is this man worth like £450 million, and he's going around getting lost on a bike with a ripped bomber jacket." Another simply added, "No one's gonna mention his ripped jacket cause he got bread."

Despite the minor detour and unexpected fashion critique, Cowell's recent e-bike outing in London may have seemed lighthearted, but it follows a life-altering moment that nearly changed everything.

Earlier this month, the television personality opened up about the traumatic aftermath of the e-bike crash he suffered five years ago — an accident that left him fearing he might never walk again.

Cowell was testing an electric bike at his Malibu home when he was thrown from the vehicle. The crash left him with serious back injuries and required extensive surgery, including the insertion of a metal rod to stabilize his spine. Speaking on the "How To Fail" podcast with Elizabeth Day, Cowell revealed the gravity of the situation at the time.

According to Cowell, his surgeon presented a sobering assessment. "He showed me the X-ray and he said, 'Look, I'm not going to lie, Simon, I don't know if I can fix this, which means you probably won't walk and secondly, the operation could take 11 hours,'" he recalled.

Cowell said he immediately thought of his family and realized that, above all, health should come first. The incident, which he now calls a wake-up moment, forced Cowell to confront what he described as a "crazy" lifestyle.

He admitted that while he believed he was in good shape at the time, the rehabilitation process, including intense physiotherapy, made it clear how serious his condition had been. Since the crash, Cowell has made significant lifestyle changes and focused on recovery, slowly rebuilding his strength and confidence.

His recent ride through the streets of London, while seemingly casual, marks a powerful milestone in a long road back. Reflecting on the moment of the crash, Cowell recalled that the accident happened shortly after he received the electric bike, which he had shipped over from England.

He said he had been eager to try it out and was riding it in his driveway with his son nearby. Cowell explained that when he pulled the throttle, the bike did a powerful wheelie and launched him about seven to eight feet into the air.

Cowell explained that he fell hard onto his back and instantly understood how serious the injury was. He said he could physically feel that his back was broken and immediately feared the worst.

His first reaction, he noted, was to test whether he could move his hands and feet. Upon confirming he could, he felt somewhat reassured and thought the situation might not be as catastrophic as he initially feared.

Despite early fears from his surgeon that the injury could leave him paralyzed, Cowell has made a full recovery. He now says he is fitter than he was before the accident. He has lost three stone and gradually cut down on smoking — a habit that once saw him consume up to 80 cigarettes a day.

In a 2023 interview with The Sun, Cowell said he came close to spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair, which dramatically altered his perspective. He acknowledged that the injury was painful but emphasized that it brought about positive changes.

He said the incident made him realize that health is more important than anything else and pushed him to make significant changes to achieve a better work-life balance.

The accident also influenced how he prioritizes family life. Cowell said he began focusing more on his partner Lauren Silverman and their 11-year-old son, Eric. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also scaled back his professional commitments.

Once known for working overnight, Simon Cowell now avoids working past 6 p.m. or on his days off — another major shift driven by his experience.