One category of electric mobility gaining lots of attention is battery-powered bicycles. After many decades of remaining the same, the bicycle industry is going through its own electric revolution.
If you are tempted to dump your car for an electric bike, it is vital that you know some facts about electric bike ownership. In this article, we present what you need to know before buying an electric bike.
You will still pedal your electric bike
Some people assume the electric motor will take over the pedaling, but that is not the case. Electric bikes are known as pedal-assist, which means you still pedal to move even an inch. However, you won’t exert yourself as much because the motor will kick in and boost your effort.
Electric bikes are heavier
As you can imagine, you get an electric bike by adding extra components to a standard bicycle, for example, the battery and electric motor. These add to the bike’s weight, so it won’t be fun pushing it up the stairs to store it.
You have to factor in the extra weight during braking, too, as it means more distance before coming to a complete stop.
Also, an electric bike is no fun to ride when the battery is dead due to the extra weight.
Consider the range
Your electric bike range should cover the distance of the commute, else you will have to cycle with a dead battery too often, which is a bore. You can carry your charger, but it is better to have enough battery to take you to your destination and back.
If you want to do touring with an electric bike, you need an extended riding range
Electric bikes generally do not have enough battery for touring, so don’t expect to do tours on your e-bike. However, some models allow you to swap a spent battery for a fully charged one, but you still have to pay attention to the battery indicator.
Buy where you get a warranty
In electric bike ownership, a warranty is essential because things might break down that you have to fix. For this same reason, it is advisable to buy local where you get repair services easily. Else, you will spend days without your bike while you ship it out for a repair.
Quality electric bikes are not cheap
You basically get what you pay for with electric bikes because they are not cheap to manufacture. If you buy from reputable brands, you will probably pay more. However, the high quality is reassuring. However, if you go for the very cheap ones, be aware the manufacturer has cut corners.
