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Has the idea of riding an electric assist bike, or e-bike, piqued your interest? If so, and you are looking to extend your range of bicycle travel, you are in luck. E-bike technology has improved, and many e-bike brands now offer increased range or distance you can travel. Some of the newer brands and models can travel more miles on a single charge, making this mode of transportation more practical for long commutes and extended rides. Plus, new battery technologies can significantly reduce the charging time, allowing riders to quickly return to the road or trail.
So first, what is a pedal-assist electric bike?
Pedego’s Ridge Runner is a great e-commuter that offers off-road options.
An e-bike has a battery and motor incorporated into a pedal-assist system, allowing bicyclists to ride farther more easily. With the class 1 and 3 models, the rider must pedal to engage the motor, enabling a more leisurely ride. A class 2 model comes with the addition of a throttle. If you’re worried about the legal stuff, remember that in the U.S., a motor that doesn’t exceed 750W will do just fine.
Now, with the latest technology, some cyclists can reach 60 to 90 miles on a single charge, making it easier to use the bike for commuting, recreational riding, hauling cargo, and shuttling the family.
Visit e-bike dealers and take a test ride.
After scouting all your options online and narrowing down your e-bike selection, visit the local bike shops that carry the brands you are interested in. Contact them to arrange a time to take a demo bike out for a spin. Some stores rent demo bikes and will apply the rental fee to the purchase if you want a lengthier test ride.
What you will discover
The best electric bikes will help you get around quickly and safely with a zippy electric power boost to complement your pedaling. What was once a tiny hobby has ballooned into a massive market with many different electric bike options, features, and more.
They’re certainly pricier than your average pedal bike but perfect if you want to commute without spending money on a car or public transport. They’re certainly an investment that could pay off in the long run, both in terms of your health and your wallet.
The natural advantages of an electric bike include its climbing efficiency, taking a bite out of wind resistance, and the ability to expand your range of travel. Before purchasing an e-bike, knowing how far you want to go and what type of terrain you will be riding it on is essential.
For those who have experienced a medical issue or sports injury, an e-bike can breathe new life into staying active while having fun. With some assistance, you may again want to reconnect with your cycling buddies or add that #NextBikeAdventure to your list. Plus, if you are planning on commuting to work by bike, you will arrive feeling fresh.
Now that you have a reason to consider an electric bike, it’s time to choose the right one! With thousands of electric bike models on the market, several things must be considered. The last item on our list here at HaveFunBiking is to test-ride the e-bike you want. Consider visiting several bike shops to compare.
First, when buying an electric bike, know your style of riding
With hundreds of e-bikes on the market today, design options will vary to fit people differently and their preferred use. It’s up to you to decide what is most important. With so many to choose from, first, you should figure out where you will be riding your e-bike.
Geared to accommodate different activities (cargo-hauling; relaxed cruising; trail riding; mountain biking; child transportation; road biking; fat bike riding; touring; and urban commuting), compile a list of questions. The first one, ask yourself before entering a store, what will be my preferred bicycling activity with a new electric bike?
The electric bike drive
There are two main types of e-bikes. The most common is what has come to be called the “pedal assist.” This system monitors the rider’s pedaling and automatically adds a certain amount of motor assistance, usually depending on the rate, force, and speed.
In most places, the motor’s output is regulated and limited to no more than 750 watts, and the maximum speed is up to 20 mph or 32 km/h. When you reach this speed, the motor automatically disengages. A few models in this category also offer the twist-n-go option. A switch on the handlebar, like a throttle on a motorbike, is used by the rider to trigger assistance from the motor.
The second drive train system is set for high-performance electric bikes that can quickly achieve faster speeds. Riders with these faster drive train systems must have a particular driver’s license, plates, and insurance. The regulations differ in every state and country, so it’s essential to ask your local bike shop for details.
The e-bike motor and its location
There are two main types of motors and where they are located. The most common, the hub motor assist is situated in one of the wheels. Hub motors are the most common, which place the electric motor in the center of a bicycle wheel. This e-bike power source tends to be quieter but often doesn’t handle hills, as well as a crank assist center mount system.
Rear motor system for an electric bike
Located over the center mount in the crank and pedal area, the crank motor assist is at the bottom of the frame, transferring the motor’s power to the rear wheel via the bicycle’s chain. That means the electronic controls can include a sensor that detects how hard you’re pedaling and can measure the assistance accordingly. Typically, crank-assisted bikes have become much more common over the last couple of years and have a reputation for doing well on steep hills.
Center motor system for an electric bike
Both have unique advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the correct motor depends on your requirements and which benefits seem more practical. Generally, looking for a brand with a good reputation would be best, such as Bosch, Brose, Panasonic, Shimano, and Yamaha.
Battery storage
One of the most expensive components of your new e-bike is the battery. The bike’s lithium-ion battery pack size is most of the price involved in buying a ready-to-go e-bike. These batteries are everywhere, so it’s no surprise to find them powering e-bikes.
More expensive e-bikes have higher-tech batteries that are lighter, charge quickly, and last longer. Batteries degrade over time, holding less charge as they age. The quality of the battery makes a difference, so look for a reputable named battery manufacturer. Then make sure the warranty covers the battery for at least two years.
Conservatively lithium-ion batteries are typically said to last for 1,000 complete charge cycles. That’s about three years of weekday commuting. They survive longer with careful use, so you should get at least 2,000 half-charge bikes. In practice, several years’ battery life is easily achievable depending on how often you charge and store the battery.
The distance an electric bike can travel.
The distance an e-bike will go on one battery charge is called range. It’s probably the most important specification. For example, if your commute involves a big hill, you don’t want to run out of juice halfway up. Without power, an e-bike is just a heavy bike.
The range depends on the battery capacity, the speed, weight, profile of the commuting tour, the assistance level you choose, and the percentage of the given pedaling power. If you’re only going to do six to ten miles of daily commuting, you don’t need a battery and motor set for a 50 to 70-mile range. However, it would be best to buy a bike with a higher range than you necessarily need because the range will drop as the battery ages and loses capacity.
Cost is another factor.
Good e-bikes are not cheap, as I mentioned above. You can pick up a basic model, but how long will you be happy with it? An average bike with a quality frame, functional brakes, suspension, and other components is expensive. Now, when buying an e-bike, you have to add the cost of the motor and battery. With a reputable warranty, the battery’s cost can run from $500 to $1,000, so don’t be surprised by the higher price; a better bike lasts much longer.
Test ride before you make a final commitment.
Perhaps the most important (and fun) part of buying an electric bike is test-riding it. Trying an electric bike allows you to put aside skeptics, reviews, and research and answer the most basic question: Do you love this bike?
If so, here are a few other questions to ask: Does it climb hills easily? Does the bike fit me in the way I would like it too? And does it have the quality and functionality I would like?
So make it fun, ask many questions, and test-ride that new bike!
Electric bike motors have technically come a long way in the last few years. Typically these motors are located in three different areas of an e-bike. The first two locations are found in either the front or rear wheel, called hub motors. In recent years the center mount motor, in the crank area has gained in popularity.
Electric bikes wheels with hub motors
Rear motor system for an electric bike
The hub motor is in the center of either bicycle wheel, and for many years was the most common. This e-bike power source was known to be quieter. The biggest negative, if you are off-road, a hub motor doesn’t handle hills like a motor that’s directly connected to the crank.
Front motor system for an electric bike
E-bikes motors in the center crank area
Center crank motor system for an electric bike
Becoming more standard, the motor in the center crank/pedal area is at the bottom of the frame. It transfers the motor’s power to the rear wheel via the bicycle’s chain or belt. That means the electronic controls can include a sensor that detects how hard you’re pedaling. It can also measure the electric assistance needs, accordingly. Generally, a crank/drive motor will take advantage of your gears. Helping you to keep your weight distribution low and near the center of your bike, especially when climbing steep hills.
The voltage output of the electric bike motor you choose
When it comes to voltage output and power of the motor, here again, you need to assess your style of riding to figure out what is best. To meet government regulations, as a legal pedal-assist bike, the top speed is generally capped at 28 mph depending on the system. If you are riding relatively flat areas around town lower power motors may be enough when you only need a boost, from fatigue or headwinds. More power is best if you plan to tow a load or are a larger rider.
On the plus side, a higher voltage motor will allow you to extend your batteries life by drawing less current for the same amount of power, minimizing potential overheating problems. However, if you don’t need to sustain maximum power, a lower voltage system will work just fine and cost you less.
Overall, both motors have some unique advantages and disadvantages. So choosing the right power module for your e-bike will largely depend on your requirements and which advantages seem more useful to your needs. Generally, look for a brand with a good reputation, such as Bosch, Brose, Panasonic, Shimano, or Yamaha.
So first define your riding style to select the right motor for an electric bike. Then test ride several options as you narrow down your selection. Be sure to mark your calendar for the E-bike Challenge Minneapolis here. Or visit a couple of local bike shops in your area to define your choice.
The distance an electric bike will go on a battery charge is called range. This is an important specification to pay attention to when comparing e-bikes with your desired riding style. For example, if your commute involves steep climbs, you don’t want to run the battery low halfway up the hill. Without power, an e-bike can be an uncomfortable mode of transportation that demands more energy for the cyclist to pedal. So the range of an electric bike generally depends on the following.
The electric bikes battery capacity or volts
Lithium-ion batteries typically last for 1,000 complete charge cycles, adding back depleted volts. Maybe more with these helpful tips. Now think of a volt as the “force” pushing an Amp through the system. The higher the voltage, the more energy the motor can move. So, a higher voltage system can send more power through the circuits to the motor. Most common are 36-volt batteries, but more bikes use 48-volt batteries and some high-performance bikes with additional voltage. All else being equal, a higher voltage system will deliver more torque for quicker starts, but it will drain your battery faster.
The voltage output of the motor
Because most e-bike systems are standardized, what you want to look for to maximize your total range, is the time it takes before you need to recharge the battery. To do that, look for an e-bike battery with a high Watt-Hour rating.
The average speed you travel and cadence
The average riding speed is a part of the equation to your preferred riding style, factoring in varying conditions (hills, paved to unpaved or irregular surfaces, and wind resistance). If your overall comfort level, riding a bike, is at 13-miles per hour (mph) on average. Your speed range may vary down to six mph on a climb and 20 mph, with a tailwind zooming downhill.
For maximizing your e-bike range – knowing how much pedal-assist to apply to your favored cadence is essential to your average speed riding an e-bike.
A better understanding of cadence
Commonly talked about for measuring performance rather than the actual speed, cadence can also benefit your e-bike range. Counting the number of times your pedal rotates per minute (RPM), the rhythm for the average cyclist is somewhere between 70 and 100 RPM. With a regular none-motorized) bike, this is achieved by using the bicycle’s gears so your cadence stays in the desired range. Using this same practice on an electric bike will decrease the demand on the motor, as it assists you for a longer sustained range.
Use your gears to make it easier
There will be less resistance on the pedal when shifting into lower gears, so it turns faster (called spinning). Moving into a higher gear to go more quickly will give you greater resistance to the pedals. This will also slow your cadence down, making the pedal-to-wheel ratio closer to even. So, by shifting your gears appropriately, your legs will maintain the same average pace, regardless of how fast or slow you are physically moving. The end result of keeping your cadence on the e-bike will be less strain on the motor, which will extend your pedal assist range from the battery.
Your weight
The load your e-bike is expected to carry or pull will also be a factor in the range you can expect from a trip.
Plan your ride to extend your range
If you can define a specific route you want to use for the commute, it will help you better predict the distance you will travel between charges safely. Then, knowing how many hills there are to climb will further help you define the workload you will put on the motor.
Properly inflated tires
Regardless, if you are driving a regular bike, electric bike, or automobile, having your tires properly inflated will improve your performance. An under-inflated tire adds more friction against the road or trail surface. For an e-bike, the motor will work harder and decrease your range.
If you are only going to commute six to ten miles daily, you don’t need a battery and motor system that goes a long distance. However, a bike that goes longer distances than you currently need could be a good investment because the range will drop as the battery ages and loses capacity.
For more information
Be sure to mark your calendar for the E-bike Challenge Minneapolis. Or visit a local bike shop in your area that sells and services electric bikes.
This Bike Pic Thursday we wanted to show you some of the fun attendees had at the E-bike Challenge Minneapolis, checking out the latest in electric bikes.
If you missed the Challenge this last weekend and want to check out some of the latest e-bikes, stop by your local bike shop and test ride some of their demos in stock. Then, get ready for 30-days of biking.
What better way to continue your fun than finding your #NextBikeAdventure with an e-bike. See all the great ideas and bike destinations in the E-bike Challenge Bike/Hike Guide. Then plan your next outing with family and friends in one of HaveFunBiking bike-friendly destinations.
Thanks for Viewing Our ‘Thursday’ Bike Pic
Now rolling into our 12th year as a bike media, our goal is to encourage more people to have fun. In this expanded e-guide issue, we have added more free bike maps to review for planning your next adventure.
As we continue to showcase more destinations you can explore, we are all about capturing fun photos to capture those memories. Hopefully, some worth a grin. As you scroll through the information and stories we have posted, enjoy!
Do you have a fun bicycle related photo of yourself or someone you may know that we should post at HaveFunBiking (HFB)? If so, please send your picture(s) to [email protected]. Please include a brief caption (for each), who is in the photo (if you know?) and where you shot the picture. Your photo submitted should be at a medium resolution or more, for consideration. If we do use your photo, you will receive photo credit at HaveFunBiking and acknowledgment on Facebook and Instagram.
As we continue to encourage more people to bike, please view our Destination section at HaveFunBiking.com for your next bike adventure. Here you will find all the information you will need when visiting one of our Community Map Partners, accessible on your mobile-friendly devices.
Watch for our spring print guides Coming in April
As 30-Days of Biking progresses in April, the spring 2019 Bike/Hike Guides will be available in both print and digital format. So bookmark HaveFunBiking.com and find your next adventure.
Please share all our pic’s with your friends and us on our Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to smile; we may be around the next corner with our HFB camera, ready to capture you for the next ‘Pic of the Day’ posts.
Has the idea of using an electric bike, called an e-bike, piqued your interest? If so and you are looking to extend your range of bicycle travel, you are in luck. Coming to Minneapolis, the E-bike Challenge, Today and Sunday,s March 23–24, 2019. Mark your calendar and plan to see and test all the latest e-bike models on the shows indoor test track.
So what is a pedal-assist electric bike
Also called a “pedal-assist” bike, an e-bike has a battery and motor that allows a bicyclist to ride farther, with greater ease. Some cyclists, using an e-bike, can reach a distance of up to 70 miles on a charge. With a pedal-assist system, the rider must pedal to engage the motor to enable a more leisurely ride. see more in the shows: E-bike/Hike Guide to prepare the questions you will want to ask.
With more than 30 bicycle brands exhibiting at the show. Each brand will have several models, so choosing the right type of e-bike for your style of riding. Making it easy to find an electric bike for commuting, recreational riding or hauling cargo, Plus options for shuttling the family, e-trikes, e-fat-bikes, and many e-bike accessories.
A fun test track, many workshop presentations and more
Just imagine, after narrowing down your e-bike selection, taking the bike out for a spin on the indoor track set up around the at the E-bike Challenge. The event also features breakout sessions, a kids’ bike test track, an e-bike theater space, fun family activities, and more.
Breakout sessions at the event include, “Easy commuting by e-bike” and “The secret of ice fishing with a fat tire e-bike.” Another keynote presentation will feature, “How to build the future bicycling friendly city.”
Tickets for the E-bike Challenge are six dollars at the door. When purchased online, they are four dollars; and children up to 12-years with a parent or guardian are free.
For more information about the E-bike Challenge, see the KSTP TV video clip.
Has the idea of using an electric bike, called an e-bike, piqued your interest? If so and you are looking to extend your range of bicycle travel, you are in luck. Coming to Minneapolis, the E-bike Challenge, Today and Sunday,s March 23–24, 2019. Mark your calendar and plan to see and test all the latest e-bike models on the shows indoor test track.
So what is a pedal-assist electric bike
Also called a “pedal-assist” bike, an e-bike has a battery and motor that allows a bicyclist to ride farther, with greater ease. Some cyclists, using an e-bike, can reach a distance of up to 70 miles on a charge. With a pedal-assist system, the rider must pedal to engage the motor to enable a more leisurely ride. see more in the shows: E-bike/Hike Guide to prepare the questions you will want to ask.
With more than 30 bicycle brands exhibiting at the show. Each brand will have several models, so choosing the right type of e-bike for your style of riding. Making it easy to find an electric bike for commuting, recreational riding or hauling cargo, Plus options for shuttling the family, e-trikes, e-fat-bikes, and many e-bike accessories.
A fun test track, many workshop presentations and more
Just imagine, after narrowing down your e-bike selection, taking the bike out for a spin on the indoor track set up around the at the E-bike Challenge. The event also features breakout sessions, a kids’ bike test track, an e-bike theater space, fun family activities, and more.
Breakout sessions at the event include, “Easy commuting by e-bike” and “The secret of ice fishing with a fat tire e-bike.” Another keynote presentation will feature, “How to build the future bicycling friendly city.”
Tickets for the E-bike Challenge are six dollars at the door. When purchased online, they are four dollars; and children up to 12-years with a parent or guardian are free.
For more information about the E-bike Challenge, see the KSTP TV video clip.
Has the idea of using an electric bike, called an e-bike, piqued your interest? If so and you are looking to extend your range of bicycle travel, you are in luck. Coming to Minneapolis, the E-bike Challenge is March 23–24, 2019. Mark your calendar and plan to see and test all the latest e-bike models on the shows indoor test track.
So what is a pedal-assist electric bike
Also called a “pedal-assist” bike, an e-bike has a battery and motor that allows a bicyclist to ride farther, with greater ease. Some cyclists, using an e-bike, can reach a distance of up to 70 miles on a charge. With a pedal-assist system, the rider must pedal to engage the motor to enable a more leisurely ride. see more in the shows: E-bike/Hike Guide to prepare the questions you will want to ask.
With more than 30 bicycle brands exhibiting at the show. Each brand will have several models, so choosing the right type of e-bike for your style of riding. Making it easy to find an electric bike for commuting, recreational riding or hauling cargo, Plus options for shuttling the family, e-trikes, e-fat-bikes, and many e-bike accessories.
A fun test track, many workshop presentations and more
Just imagine, after narrowing down your e-bike selection, taking the bike out for a spin on the indoor track set up around the at the E-bike Challenge. The event also features breakout sessions, a kids’ bike test track, an e-bike theater space, fun family activities, and more.
Breakout sessions at the event include, “Easy commuting by e-bike” and “The secret of ice fishing with a fat tire e-bike.” Another keynote presentation will feature, “How to build the future bicycling friendly city.”
Tickets for the E-bike Challenge are six dollars at the door. When purchased online, they are four dollars; and children up to 12-years with a parent or guardian are free.
For more information about the E-bike Challenge, see the KSTP TV video clip.
Has the idea of using an electric bike, called an e-bike, piqued your interest? If so and you are looking to extend your range of bicycle travel, you are in luck. Coming to Minneapolis, the E-bike Challenge is March 23–24, 2019. Mark your calendar and plan to see and test all the latest e-bike models on the shows indoor test track.
So what is a pedal-assist electric bike
Also called a “pedal-assist” bike, an e-bike has a battery and motor that allows a bicyclist to ride farther, with greater ease. Some cyclists, using an e-bike, can reach a distance of up to 70 miles on a charge. With a pedal-assist system, the rider must pedal to engage the motor to enable a more leisurely ride. see more in the shows: E-bike/Hike Guide to prepare the questions you will want to ask.
With more than 30 bicycle brands exhibiting at the show. Each brand will have several models, so choosing the right type of e-bike for your style of riding. Making it easy to find an electric bike for commuting, recreational riding or hauling cargo, Plus options for shuttling the family, e-trikes, e-fat-bikes, and many e-bike accessories.
A fun test track, many workshop presentations and more
Just imagine, after narrowing down your e-bike selection, taking the bike out for a spin on the indoor track set up around the at the E-bike Challenge. The event also features breakout sessions, a kids’ bike test track, an e-bike theater space, fun family activities, and more.
Breakout sessions at the event include, “Easy commuting by e-bike” and “The secret of ice fishing with a fat tire e-bike.” Another keynote presentation will feature, “How to build the future bicycling friendly city.”
Tickets for the E-bike Challenge are six dollars at the door. When purchased online, they are four dollars; and children up to 12-years with a parent or guardian are free.
For more information about the E-bike Challenge, see the KSTP TV video clip.
Has the idea of using an electric bike, called an e-bike, piqued your interest? If so and you are looking to extend your range of bicycle travel, you are in luck. Coming to Minneapolis, the E-bike Challenge is March 23–24, 2019. Mark your calendar and plan to see and test all the latest e-bike models on the shows indoor test track.
So what is a pedal-assist electric bike
Also called a “pedal-assist” bike, an e-bike has a battery and motor that allows a bicyclist to ride farther, with greater ease. Some cyclists, using an e-bike, can reach a distance of up to 70 miles on a charge. With a pedal-assist system, the rider must pedal to engage the motor to enable a more leisurely ride. see more in the shows: E-bike/Hike Guide to prepare the questions you will want to ask.
With more than 30 bicycle brands exhibiting at the show. Each brand will have several models, so choosing the right type of e-bike for your style of riding. Making it easy to find an electric bike for commuting, recreational riding or hauling cargo, Plus options for shuttling the family, e-trikes, e-fat-bikes, and many e-bike accessories.
A fun test track, many workshop presentations and more
Just imagine, after narrowing down your e-bike selection, taking the bike out for a spin on the indoor track set up around the at the E-bike Challenge. The event also features breakout sessions, a kids’ bike test track, an e-bike theater space, fun family activities, and more.
Breakout sessions at the event include, “Easy commuting by e-bike” and “The secret of ice fishing with a fat tire e-bike.” Another keynote presentation will feature, “How to build the future bicycling friendly city.”
Tickets for the E-bike Challenge are six dollars at the door. When purchased online, they are four dollars; and children up to 12-years with a parent or guardian are free.
For more information about the E-bike Challenge, including vendor information, visit www.ebikechallenge.com, or view this video.
