Riding an electric bike is fun, and it’s a great exercise and good for you. While there are various similarities between e-bikes and conventional ones, there are some differences. You should be aware of those and how to handle them.
How do you go about riding an e-bike? There are a few things to ponder. For example, you want to ensure that the battery is charged fully and learn about assistance levels.
This article focuses on riding an electric bike. You learn about the preparation stages, what to do on the road, what safety information you should know, and how to maintain it.
Before the Electric Bike Hits the Road
Before taking the e-bike out on rides, you should focus on the basics. These include:
Fully Charged Battery
Riding an e-bike is just like a normal bike because you can be pedaling ahead. However, the motor and battery offer you more power and electric assistance, which makes this bike an electric bike!
Sometimes, you don’t need to have a fully charged battery for the ride. However, it’s a good idea to get into the practice of having your battery charged up completely. That way, you can take your electric bike wherever you want to go.
Helmet
Safety is a priority when you are on any bike. Therefore, you want a bike helmet when using an e-bike. Many state laws require helmet use for any type, and an e-bike could be slightly more dangerous, so wear it every time you go anywhere!
Water Bottle
It’s easy to get thirsty very quickly, especially when you’re exerting force. It could be the stress level from doing something different, but regardless, you should pack a water bottle. E-biking is no exception here! Take a bottle of water with you. Even if you don’t need it, you’ve got it in case.
Tire Pressure
It goes without saying that your e-bike is still a bike. Therefore, before you ride on your trip, ensure that the tires are inflated properly. It’s dangerous to use an electric bike without the right tire pressure.
While some people feel that it makes them go faster, this is untrue. You’ve got to put in more effort when the tires aren’t inflated correctly. Standard e-bike tire pressures are about 30 to 40 psi or 2-2.4 bars. Most pumps show the tire pressure, so check it.
Launching off the First Time
Here’s what you should know before the first launch on your e-bike:
Turning on the Electric Bike
For the electric power to be available to rotate your e-bike wheels, you must turn/switch on the electrical system first. There’s often a switch located directly on the battery. Lightly press it.
You can see the light signal from the battery, showing that the power system is activated. This also turns on the control display on the handlebar.
Electric Assistance
As you start off, the e-bike doesn’t use a lot of electric power because electric assistance is in the off mode. However, as you begin pedaling, switch that off and go to the first speed (usually ECO). Now, you can feel that the bike helps you and offers more motor power, reducing the amount of effort you must put in.
Depending on the model, your e-bike could have up to nine electric assistance options. Most models have four to five. These can include OFF, TOUR, SPEED, TURBO, and ECO mode.
Each electric assistance option offers more propulsion, which discharges the battery more quickly. That way, you can have some fun while you travel on the e-bike.
Switching Gears
For every electric assistance level, many e-bike models have corresponding gears. These gears are quite similar to conventional bikes, which are on both sides of the handlebar.
Generally, electric assistance levels are found on the left while mechanical (speeds) gears are on the right.
On some e-bike models, you can find eight mechanical speeds with five different electric assistance levels. That means that for each electric assistance option, you have eight speeds.
Even on a single ECO version, you have eight different speed options. That fits many different terrains and the training capabilities of the cyclist.
How Electric Bikes Are Different
As you move along on the e-bike, they are different, and here’s how:
Stay Seated
One detail you must pay attention to when you ride your electric bike is to stay seated. This is important when you use electric assistance. The motor adjusts the rotation powers based on your pedaling effort.
If you choose to stand up, the pedaling is more erratic. That confuses the e-bike and makes it rev/slow. That’s not the best one for the situation, and it makes the adventure less fun for you.
Maintain Traction
Another element that’s specific to e-bikes is maintaining the traction of your wheels all the time. For example, mountain biking is different for that purpose. However, with other e-bike options, it makes sense that both of the wheels are on the ground when moving.
This primarily has to do with the weight distribution and powerful motors while moving. One wheel uses the electric motor while the second one stabilizes the e-bike on the track. If one wheel is up in the air, you can’t maintain balance while biking.
Making Turns
Turning with an e-bike is similar to that of a conventional bike, but there are some things to note. Generally, an e-bike has a low gravity center compared to traditional ones. That’s because the battery and motor are found lower and closer to the ground.
Simple turns at a low speed aren’t a problem. However, when at a higher speed, you should stop pedaling as you enter the turn, stand up slightly, and incline gently with the turn. That way, the machine follows the curve, making biking much easier. As you exit the turn, sit down and start pedaling again to accelerate.
Braking
As your center of gravity is much lower, you should avoid braking quickly. If you must, stand up and put your weight and its power onto the handlebar. That lifts your gravity center higher, making it a similar experience to that of a conventional bike.
Speed Limits
Every electric assist level on the e-bike has its own pre-set speed options and limits.
There’s often a high speed limit of about 25km per hour (16mph), so the top electric assistance option is cut at about 25hm per hour of speed. Take those limitations into account, even when you’re not in TURBO mode.
Helpful Tips for Riding an Electric Bike
Here are a few tips to make biking fun for everyone!
Uphill Biking
You must pedal faster when you’re uphill on an electric machine. That doesn’t mean you really have to work harder. Instead, you can use the mechanical gears to adjust levels while using electric assistance.
As you pedal faster, you get more power from your motor, making it easier to climb up the hill.
For those steeper hills, it’s best to maintain about 80 or 90 rotations a minute. When you pedal at that speed, you feel that your efforts are lower and you’re getting support than if you work slower.
Mounting Hills
If you must dismount from the bicycle on the hill, it could be hard to start up again.
Use these techniques to help you get going on a hill:
- Put the machine about 45 degrees to the mountain.
- Place one pedal up and the other down.
- Put your foot on the top pedal.
- Switch to TURBO mode for more power.
- Mount the machine quickly and push off from the top pedal.
Conclusion
You should always check the battery and recharge it after your rides. That way, you’re ready for more trips to or out of the city. It’s also a good idea to switch off the battery so that you’re not wasting it.
A conventional bike doesn’t have a battery, and most people forget about the battery check because of that.
Understanding how to ride an electric bike is crucial so that biking is fun. As you’re biking along, pay attention to traffic. That way, you don’t injure yourself or others.
When you ride, you need to know a bit about the rules of the road. However, focus more on the batteries and getting the power you need. That way, your electric machine can give you many years of enjoyment.
