Electric bicycles, simply called e-bikes, are popular these days, but they still look like a curiosity on city streets. They ride noticeably faster than ordinary bicycles, while the cyclist sometimes does not pedal at all. It is completely harmless to the environment, does not make loud noise, does not emit exhaust gases and does not in any other way poison the environment.

There are fast and maneuverable city rides for everyone, various sports-like models for trekking, mountain e-bikes for off-road riding and even heavy-duty cargo bicycles for courier jobs. You can choose yourself a best-suiting model of, for example, ebike for heavy rider, using an article by Stevie Owen at e-Bikes USA website as a basis. And it is completely perceived as a natural addition to the urban environment.

How to choose yourself an e-bike

How to choose yourself an e-bike?

When choosing a specific model of an e-bike, you need to take a huge number of characteristics into account. The main ones are the type of the motor-wheel and its location, power of the electric motor, power reserve, maximum speed, maximum load capacity and, at least, but not the last, degree of dust and moisture protection. These characteristics can vary, so it is imperative to determine the future use of an e-bike.

City riding

City electric bicycles are designed for driving on asphalt and good dirt roads. Equipped with a medium power (250-500 W) geared motor, they can accelerate to 25-40 kph. There are also models with a high carrying capacity, capable of withstanding even a heavy rider and the weight of the load. However, these e-bikes lack shock absorption and are not suitable for off-road.

Road riding and trekking

Sports equipment designed for fast driving on a good road. These e-bikes feature a special design with a downward-curved steering wheel and a tall but short frame. The motor power of these e-bikes is around 250-750 watts with a top speed of up to 60 kph. And of course, these e-bikes are not designed for off-road riding. And there are practically no models that can support a lot of weight.

Country riding, off-road and wilderness riding

Mountain e-bikes have good cross-country riding capabilities, wide tread wheels, high ground clearance and load capacity. Equipped with a good damping system, sometimes even two-suspension, and a powerful 750-1500 W motor. Despite the powerful engine, these e-bikes cannot reach high speeds, although most e-mountain bikes can carry even a heavy rider without any issues.

Rules of safely riding an e-bike

Riding an e-bike is fun and healthy. An e-bike has a lot in common with a regular bike, so things about your safety are literally the same and even some more on top of it.

Rules of safely riding an e-bike

  • Pay attention to traffic. An e-bike can easily accelerate to 20-25 kph very quickly, and some models are capable of moving at speeds of 50 kph or more, so it is literally vital to be careful when riding at all costs.
  • Make yourself visible. Equip your bike with headlights and a bell so that road users can see and hear you. And it's not just for car drivers - you can be too fast for pedestrians or other cyclists who won't hear your fast approach.
  • Watch your speed. Electric bicycles can reach very high speeds, but the higher the speed, the more likely it is to crash into something. So study the behavior of your e-bike at different speeds before going fast.

How to charge an e-bike battery?

Proper e-bike battery maintenance is the key to a long and successful e-bike life. Incorrect charging can cause rapid battery failure. Lithium-ion batteries can be used for a long time if they are properly charged and used. Therefore, it is important to follow some rules.

  • It’s necessary to charge the battery with the engine off. And it’s not necessary to remove the battery, but it’s necessary to use the original charger. If it breaks down, do not skimp on buying an original accessory.
  • Do not overcharge the battery by exceeding a recommended charging time - it’s usually recommended to charge it for 3-8 hours, depending on the battery capacity and charger output.
  • Avoid deep discharge (less than 5%) of the battery - this will significantly shorten the battery life. If you plan to store your e-bike for a long time without using it, fully charge the battery and remember to charge it every 2 months.

It is recommended to charge the lithium-ion battery at room temperature, and if the battery has been in cold temperatures, do not connect it directly to the charger. Leave it indoors for a couple of hours to warm up its components or it could be damaged.