Battery powered bikes, commonly known as e-bikes, are an up-and-coming transportation method that serves as a great way to exercise while also being environmentally friendly. However, if you’re new to bike riding in an urban area, there are some tips and tricks you should know before you begin your biking journey.
The most important tip when riding an e-bike in an urban area is safety. Always be sure to wear your helmet, obey traffic laws, and be alert when riding your e-bike. There’s also tons of tricks you can learn, like how to care for your e-bike or test riding your e-bike before venturing into more crowded urban areas.
In this article, we’ll be going over general safety tips, care instructions, fun facts, and so much more. Whether you’re entirely new to the biking world or are just making a transition from a standard bicycle to an electric one, these tips and tricks can help improve your overall riding experience and keep you safe.
Read Also: A Comprehensive Guide to E-Bike Safety Essentials
Urban E-Bike Riding Tips and Tricks
Even if you have experience biking, whether in a park or in a city, riding an e-bike is actually quite different from riding a traditional bicycle. It’s especially important to take these differences into consideration if you’re starting to use an e-bike as an alternative method of transportation than a motorcycle or a car.
Knowledge really is half the battle here and keeping this information in the back of your mind can help you keep safe every time you use your bike. Below are the biggest key differences and tips to keep in mind:
- Brake earlier: E-bikes are faster and heavier. Even though many e-bikes have great brake systems built in, you’ll still need to break sooner than you’d think to compensate for the heavier weight and faster speed.
- Pedal faster: An e-bike tends to ride smoother and have longer battery life if you pedal with a faster cadence. Using lower gears helps a lot too.
- Use low-assist modes: There are various motor settings on most e-bikes, like “eco” or “turbo” mode. Using lower assist modes when you’re first starting out will help you get used to the bike, plus it also provides more of a workout.
- Check your battery: It may sound like stating the obvious, but be sure to check if your e-bike has enough charge to get you where you need to go. Unlike a traditional bike, at some point your e-bike will run out of battery and the motor will switch off.
- Obey traffic laws: Last but not least, be sure to observe traffic laws. This can include knowing where you’re allowed to ride, obeying speed limits, and being aware of cars or pedestrians.
To summarize, the best tip to keep in mind when riding your e-bike in urban areas is to brake earlier, pedal faster, and follow your state’s bike laws. As always, be sure to keep yourself safe by wearing a helmet and keep others safe by being aware of your surroundings.
Read Also: 10 Tips To Master E-Bike Cornering And Handling Like A Pro
Brake Early But Evenly
As stated previously, breaking earlier than normal is one of the best tips when first learning to ride an e-bike. E-bikes can move faster than traditional bikes and tend to be noticeably heavier, so breaking earlier helps compensate for both factors.
However, this does not mean you should brake hard. Slamming on the brakes can have an adverse effect, causing you to come to a sudden stop. Braking too hard can also wear down your bike, particularly the tires. This can result in you needing to replace the tires more often or just a general shorter lifespan of your e-bike.
Overall, the trick here is to focus on your timing but avoid putting too much pressure on your brakes too fast. If you’re a beginner, it’s best to test out your braking by riding your e-bike in an open area with little to no traffic.
Pedal Speed vs. Bike Speed
People often confuse pedaling speed with bike speed. Since an e-bike is heavier, you may need to use a faster pedal cadence to get the bike to move more smoothly. However, this doesn’t mean you need to pedal as hard as you possibly can.
Much like using the brakes on an e-bike, using the pedals requires some timing and practice. The key is to apply a steady pressure and controlled speed at which you pedal. This will help you maintain traction without flying out of control.
Once again, practice is key. Find a safe space to test out your e-bike and get a feel for the pedal speed you need. When you’re more comfortable, you can then learn how to make your bike go faster or slower depending on your needs.
Assist Modes: Should You Use Them?
E-bikes have some great modes and systems built into them that have all kinds of benefits. If you’re new to using e-bikes, these can seem a little daunting at first. Although the amount of modes built-in and their names will depend on the brand of bike you have, generally speaking assist modes are there to fine tune your riding experience.
Lots of e-bikes have an eco-friendly mode, which helps extend battery life and riding range. Another common mode is a turbo mode, which increases your bike speed but shortens its battery life.
When you first start using an e-bike, start with a low assist mode so you can get a feel for how your bike rides. As you get more experienced, then you can learn when and which modes to utilize.
Check Your Battery
This is a straightforward but important tip. If your e-bike isn’t charged enough, it will reduce how far you can travel. Things like overall weight, bike mode, steep incline, and temperature can also affect battery life.
Many e-bikes have detachable batteries so you can charge the batteries indoors to solve the temperature issue. Additionally, it’s possible to get a second charger to take with you on the go to help maintain the battery’s charge.
Read Also: 4 Steps to Maximizing E-Bike Battery Longevity
Obey Traffic Laws
Last but not least, it’s important to follow traffic laws for your safety and for the well-being of others. Whether it’s cars, pedestrians, or other bikes, be aware of your surroundings. Many cities will allow e-bikes on sidewalks too, so be aware of moving crowds.
When in doubt, look up what your state or local city dictates and follow the rules accordingly. Some cities do allow e-bikes to be on roadways alongside cars, and as such you’d need to follow the same traffic laws as a car would.
Conclusion
Overall, the best tip for riding an e-bike in an urban area is to learn to control your speed and how to brake. Keeping the battery charged and in good condition will help extend the life of your e-bike. Last but not least, following rules and being mindful of others will keep you safe wherever you’re going.
