When electric bikes first emerged as a trend several years ago, everybody thought that they would never be able to replace traditional bikes. People thought they would go out of style quickly. But electric bikes have proved otherwise.
Contents
They are here to stay!
Many people have switched from using cars to e-bikes for different reasons, from health to environment-friendly reasons. With that being said, not everyone knows how to begin their electric bikes journey properly. In this article, let us give you some insights on how to do that.
How to pick the right electric bike for you
According to Just Not Sports, The process begins with you choosing the right electric bikes for your needs, preferences, and budget. Picking the suitable e-bikes ensures 70% success in your daily operation. So it’s worth putting some thoughts into it.
The Purpose
Determining why you want to buy an electric bike is extremely important before you actually start to go into the shop and snatch one.
What do you want to use that for?
If you look for something to commute to work every day on hardy urban roads, mostly anything can work for you. Go with something that is lightweight so that you can easily bring around. A frame that allows you to attach and secure your laptop case or baggage on is always a bonus.
On the contrary, if you want to buy e-bikes to go trekking on long, challenging trails, you may want to look for very different traits. There are e-bikes on the market that are designed for this very special purpose, with longer battery life, better speed moderation, and more comfy saddle.
The Cannondale Quick Neo Tourer is a great option to begin with.
The Budget
This is undoubtedly a crucial factor in your decision-making process. Not only do you have to know the price range you can afford for your initial investment but you also need to consider necessary maintenance and amendments for the bikes.
If you are even more cautious about how to spend your money, you may want to think about the frequency of bike riding. Even if you buy a dirty cheap e-bike but only plan to ride once a year, think twice. A car to use on a daily basis may be a wiser investment.
Don’t worry! No matter how much coins you’ve got, there is always an option for you. The e-bike industry has been developing so quickly that you definitely find something to your will. Just keep looking, reading online reviews, and running a few test rides, you will get there.
Img source: kickstarter.com
The Components
Now Just Not Sports get to a more technical part: all that you have to test and see before making the purchase decision.
E-bike classifications
The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) classifies e-bikes based on their top speed. If you take a look at the classification, you will know what type of bikes suits your speed preferences, how much work it takes to get to that top speed, and most importantly, if you get a license to ride certain types of e-bikes. So make sure you do that!
E-bike motors
E-bike motors decide how fast, long and easy you can ride. The stronger the motors are, the faster and easier you can run. That’s why all e-bikes made for racing or trekking have better motors than that of all-purpose bikes.
For e-bike motors, there are three things to take notice: motor location, wattage, and weight. The location decides how the motor adds power to the ride, and how natural your experience is. Two popular options these days are mid-drive and hub-drive motors. While mid-ride gears more toward mountain bikers with a lot of uphill and downhill roads along the way, hub-ride is more affordable and great for everyday commuters. The wattage and weight affect the acceleration and comfort of the ride.
E-bike battery
This factor is harder to check as you have to use the bike to see it. Inquiring an expert or the seller is a decent solution. You should ask about the battery life, the charge time and the number of batteries.
Compare all the numbers to your lifestyle to see if it matches and you will be fine. Check out: https://justnotsports.com/best-electric-bike-conversion-kit/
Img source: sj-works.com
How to ride electric bikes safely
Now that you finally come up with the right electric bike let’s talk about how to use them. People may say “Hey, it’s simple! Just turn the key, pull the handle and go. If the battery dies, just ride it as you do with a normal bike.” Yes, it’s that simple.
However, not everyone knows how to ride safely.
First thing first, wear a helmet at all time. Buy a strong, durable helmet that fits you because you never know if you are ever in an accident no matter how carefully you ride. Helmets protect your head from injuries.
Secondly, pay close attention to traffic and make yourself seen. Electric bikes are not equipped with mirrors and other guiding equipment like your cars so you should be extra careful with it. When you ride in the dark especially, wear a flashy outfit. It’s best to add mirrors and a bell to your electric bikes.
Thirdly, keep an eye on the lane you are allowed to and all the traffic signs. You obviously cannot enter the car lane because your top speed is much lower than cars’. If you do so, you are risking your life and other drivers’ life as they are riding at high speed and cannot brake in time to avoid you.
Img source: focus-bikes.com
Next, watch out for intersections. Most accidents take place at intersections as drivers don’t look carefully enough. They assume others see them and don’t bother to slow down. This is such a dangerous habit, especially for e-bikes riders. You guys are harder to be seen yet more exposed. At least car drivers have the car frame to protect them. For that reason, we recommend you keep a healthy amount of doubt on the road.
Finally, ride with responsibility. It means that you have to respect the rules and be cautious on the road. The fact that you ride an electric bike doesn’t mean you can be drunk while riding. If you feel like your condition is not suitable for being on the road, park the e-bike somewhere near and call a cab home. That’s how you respect people’s life.
In conclusion
Overall, riding an electric bike is not something hard. It’s something that almost everyone can do. That’s why it becomes so popular. If you consider buying one to improve wellness and help the environment, Just Not Sports hope this article sheds some lights for you.
