An electric bike is an investment. An e-bike won’t break the bank, but it’s still smart to do your research before deciding which e-bike is right for you.
From style and build to model and motor, there are a ton of factors you need to consider before you upgrade from a standard bike to an electric model. Today, we’re here to teach you about the essential components of an electric bike so that you can choose a bike that will work for your needs.
Why Buy an Electric Bike?
If you’re unsure whether you need an electric bike, you may be wondering if it’s that different from a standard bike. Once you get out on the open road, you’ll know that an e-bike was the right decision. That said, we understand you can’t just take our word for it.
Before we explore what to look for in an e-bike, let’s look into the benefits of e-bikes in general.
Workouts
If you use cycling as one of your primary forms of exercise, you might not realize that an e-bike can help boost your workouts.
Many cyclers choose biking as their go-to workout because it’s fun, it’s outdoors, and it’s a low-impact cardio option. Others reach for their bikes because they want to workout without exacerbating an existing injury, like chronic knee pain, and e-bikes are an exercise option that can support their needs.
If your injury flares up during a ride on a standard bike, you’ll need to cycle through the pain or walk to get home. On an e-bike, you can turn on the motor and get home without pushing yourself too hard.
Cycling is already an excellent workout, but switching to electric can help alleviate pain and make this workout more low-impact than it already is.
Riding Versatility
Suppose it’s your rest day, but you still really want to go for a bike ride. You’re sore and tired, but you want to coast around outdoors. An e-bike can help you coast around town without putting any pressure on your body.
Many e-bikes typically have a pedal assist system (PAS) or throttle assist. At Velotric, our e-bikes are equipped with both options, so your ride is even more versatile.
Even if you’re in the middle of a workout and need a rest, you can turn up the PAS or the throttle and rest for a few minutes while keeping your heart rate up.
Exploration
With the PAS and throttle assist, you can go further on your bike.
Instead of shorter rides that leave you out of breath, electric bikes can extend your ride by hours and allow you to take in every second of the beautiful world around us. Biking on trails, coasts, beaches, and urban roads has never been easier or more enjoyable.
Commuting and Environmental Impact
Using an e-bike as a primary mode of transportation has a variety of benefits. In addition to saving money on gas by using your car less frequently, you’ll also be putting fewer miles on it. This means your maintenance costs might decrease, too.
Next, you can beat the morning traffic and help clear traffic congestion by getting another car off the road.
Finally, driving less often helps reduce your carbon footprint. Getting a car off the road — even for short trips to the grocery store — makes a huge difference in the world.
It’s our home, and it’s time we started caring for it.
Key Factors To Consider Before You Buy
Now that you know some of the countless uses you can get from your electric bike, it’s time to start looking at how you can maximize these benefits.
We'll start with the two most important factors to consider before you buy: where and why you’ll be riding. If you can answer both, you’re probably ready to make the switch.
Aside from these two, you’ll also want to consider the power, size, and accessories you might need.
Where Will You Be Riding?
Wherever you plan on riding, consider the distance, road type (like pavement, trail, or dirt), and other details you think are important.
There are various types of electric bikes available, all with different sizes, weights, tires, and power. If you’re planning on using your bike primarily for trail riding, a commuter bike won’t give you the features you need to make the most of your trip. If you plan to use your bike to commute, a fat tire (trail) bike would similarly be a less ideal option.
Why Will You Be Riding?
Where and why are the two most important factors when purchasing an electric bike, and they directly correlate with one another.
Now that you know where you’re going, why are you going there?
For example, if you live in a city and plan on using your bike to commute, you'll need a commuter bike. Continuing our example from earlier, you'll need a fat tire bike if you’re using your bike for exercise and plan on riding on trails.
Power and Size
The power and size of your bike can have a big impact on how it performs.
If you’re going to commute, you probably want a lightweight bike that prioritizes speed and motor skills. If you’re going trail hopping, you’ll want a bike with bigtires specializing in mobility and probably weighing a little heavier.
Every electric bike model has a different type of motor and frame that helps serve whatever function that bike is meant to have. Be sure to do your due diligence and know what you need before buying.
Accessories
If you’re fashion-savvy, you know accessories can make or break an outfit. The same can be said for electric bikes.
If you plan on running to the store to grab groceries, you’ll need a rack or basket.
IF you want to protect your tires from harsh conditions, Fender packs are a must.
Extra battery packs, stylish helmets, and handlebar grips can also turn a good ride into a great one. There are so many different ways to accessorize your bike, and they maximize your biking experience.
If you want to go further, you can grab an extra battery pack and add another 60 miles to your journey. Mix and match at your pleasure to create a truly unique and personalized biking experience.
The Bottom Line
We hope this article gave you some valuable information so you can make an informed purchase when you buy your first (or next) electric bike.
From the numerous benefits to the countless ways you can maximize your return on your investment, there are very few reasons that you shouldn't make the switch from traditional to electric.
Consider all the factors we listed above, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming an electric biking machine.
Sources:
Cycling - Health Benefits | Better Health
Increasing Active Transportation Through E-Bike Use | JMIR Publications
E-Bike Research Shows Environmental and Economic Benefits | CalBike
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