Electric bikes are booming, they are increasing in popularity all over the world. They are becoming the go-to way of getting around for many people. This includes people who would not normally find cycling accessible and regular cyclists. But if you’ve made the decision to buy an electric bike yourself, you may be uncertain on which type you want to go for.

After all, there’s so many electric bikes out there. You may find trying to decide on any 1 electric bike overwhelming. 

Therefore, here in this article, I will help make it easier for you to decide on which type of electric bike you want.

Due to the popularity of electric bikes, there’s now an electric version of every type of bike. Every one of these different electric bike types are designed for certain uses and situations.

Knowing what uses and situations you intend to use an electric bike for can help you decide which type of electric bike you want. This can help you to at least narrow down your choice of electric bike, from all the many options out there.

You want an electric bike that suits your needs. So, I will talk about the most common electric bike types, to help point you towards just that. Before going any further, though, is the below infographic. This is clarifying which electric bikes types are most suitable for the main general uses. 

Mountain Electric Bikes

If you’re looking to do a significant amount of off-road cycling, a mountain bike will be the most suitable option. Off-road cycling includes riding on forest trails and down mountains. For this sort of cycling, you want your bike to have good solid suspension. This is to absorb all the bumps from the rugged terrain you will incur, for a comfortable ride. Good solid suspension is something mountain bikes typically provide.

Additionally, mountain bikes will have thick tires, with deep tread. These tires are better equipped to deal with off-road conditions. Mountain bike tires provide the below advantages, compared with tires on many other bikes. Like slick tires, which you’d expect on road bikes, for example:

• Better cushioning, for more riding comfort
• Less likely to puncture
• Provides better grip, for more stability on off-road surfaces

You should also expect mountain bikes to offer a high amount of gears. This is to help you get up varying inclines, whilst out on those off-road trails. 

Essentially, this is the go-to bike choice for rugged conditions.

Road Electric Bikes

The purpose of road bikes is self-explanatory, designed especially for riding on roads. Essentially, they are suitable for any paved or tarmacked surface. This makes road bikes ideal for commuting.

These bikes will have the 2 below defining characteristics.

Lightweight –  Due to a light frame and thin tires.

Aerodynamic design – Road bikes have drop handlebars. These, combined with the geometry of the bike frame, allow the rider to sit in a stretched forward, low down position. This provides increased aerodynamism.

Both of these above features allow for increased speed. So road bikes are the fastest and most efficient electric bike type.

Having said this though. Certain individual other types of electric bikes can be faster than certain individual electric road bikes. This is due to other bike features affecting speed, like the power of the motor. For example, a gravel electric bike with a 1000 watt motor could go faster than an electric road bike, with a 250 watt motor.

Due to road bikes allowing for fast and efficient riding, they are suitable for the below uses and types of cyclists:

• Racing
• For commuters who want to get across town quickly
• Long distance road cycling
• General cycling around town
• For people who want to use cycling to get themselves fit/stay active

In a nutshell, these bikes are designed with speed and tarmacked/paved conditions in mind. They are not designed for comfort and off-road conditions. Not to say that road bikes aren’t ever comfortable, it’s just not a priority in their design. So if you live in the City and want to get about quickly, this type of bike is going to be a good bet for you.

Hybrid Electric Bikes

These bikes are a combination of mountain and road bike. They essentially give you features of both, to provide more versatility. There is some compromise with these bikes though, when compared with pure mountain or road bikes. With these bikes, you would expect the below features and characteristics.

• The flat handlebars of a mountain bike, instead of the drop handlebars of a road bike.
• Ability to accommodate wider tires, compared to a road bike.
• Frame geometry allowing an upright riding position, for comfort. 
• Either have mounts for luggage, or at least able to have mounts attached.
• Mudguards (fenders), or at least clearance to attach mudguards.
• Heavier weight than a road bike, but lighter than a mountain bike
• More hard-wearing than road bikes, so suitable for light off-road.
• Tend to either have no suspension, or at least a suspension fork. You would not usually expect full suspension, which you can usually get on a mountain bike.

The whole thinking behind hybrid bikes is that they are a general purpose bike. They are built to handle light off-road, like gravelly trails. This makes them better equipped for more varying terrain than road bikes. They are not as well-equipped, though, for all out heavy duty off-road like mountain bikes.

The flat handlebars and upright riding position that hybrid bikes provide means they are not as fast as road bikes. These features do provide the 2 below benefits though.

• More comfortable riding position.
• More Safety. The upright position gives you much more visibility of the surrounding environment. This is reassuring when cycling in urban conditions, with all the potential hazards.  

A hybrid bike is a good option, if you’re planning on riding in all sorts of conditions and surfaces. This is as long as it’s never anything too extreme. Below are some of the purposes these bikes are suitable for.

• For commuting and long cycle rides, if you’re more concerned with comfort over speed.
• Rides in the country, where the surface can change throughout the ride.
• For generally cycling around town.
• Light off-road trails.

Gravel Electric Bikes

These bikes are in a similar nature to hybrid bikes, in that they are versatile. They are essentially road bikes, but have a more robust build quality. This makes them suitable to be ridden on all sorts of other surfaces, like gravel or grass for example. Gravel bikes are not as fast as pure road bikes though. A significant reason for this is because they are not as light, due to the more robust build quality. 

Like hybrid bikes, they also allow for wider tires compared to pure road bikes. Again, allowing these bikes to competently deal with more situations beyond the road.

Unlike hybrid bikes (but exactly like road bikes), gravel bikes have drop handlebars. Yet the geometry of the frame is designed for you to sit in a more upright position than a road bike, though. This allows for more comfort. Making use of the drop handlebars still allows you to get in a more aerodynamic position, compared to hybrid and mountain bikes. Therefore, this is more of a halfway house.

Making use of the drop handlebars for more efficiency helps reduce fatigue. You may appreciate this on long rides. The motorized pedal assist can reduce fatigue instead though. After all, that’s what it’s there for.

You may use a bit of trial and error to determine which combination of using the motorized pedal assist and making use of the drop handlebars is best for you. The factors below may influence your execution of this.

• Using the drop handlebars, to reduce fatigue and increase speed, can help minimize your reliance on the motorized pedal assist. This would preserve more battery, to give you more range (the distance you can ride per battery charge).
• You may prefer to use the motorized pedal assist to reduce fatigue and increase speed, whilst you’re holding the top of the handlebars. As opposed to the dropped part of the handlebars. This is so that you’re riding in an upright position, for more comfort.

Electric gravel bikes give you the flexibility to toggle between these 2 options.

In keeping with their versatility, gravel bikes usually host the below features.

Have a high amount of gears – This helps for cycling in various situations, like changing inclines. If you’re cycling up steep hills, your gear choice can complement the electric assistance. The gears can even reduce your reliance on the electric assistance, to help prolong your battery range.

Able to host different tire sizes and types – This is handy for accommodating different riding scenarios. You can swap a thinner tire for a wider tire on this bike, for example. This can be if you wish to switch to off-road cycling, after you’ve used the bike for road use. You can even swap out tires with different tread, for different situations. This can save the need for having more than 1 bike, which will save you money.

Gravel bikes often come equipped with racks to allow you to carry luggage. This increases their suitability for lengthy touring rides.

They’re versatility makes gravel bikes a superb general purpose bike, like hybrid bikes. Yet, as they’re not narrowly focused on any particular discipline, they’re not for everyone. This can be for the below reasons.

• If you want a bike only for off-road (particularly heavy duty off-road), then a mountain bike will be your best bet.
• If you intend to only ride on roads, if say you live in the city, a dedicated road bike may be your preferred option. This is especially if you intend to get about quickly. Having said this, though, the electric motor of a gravel electric bike can make up for any shortcomings in speed. This can be whilst still having the capability of cycling, where pure road bikes would struggle, for if the need ever arises.  
• Gravel bikes tend to start at a higher price point than hybrid bikes. So, if you’re looking for versatility, you may opt for a hybrid bike for this reason.

Cruiser Electric Bikes

A cruiser electric bike is a great option, if your priority is comfort and you want a laid back approach to cycling. These bikes are designed with comfort and leisure in mind. They are not designed to be efficient, fast or for off-road use. You may opt for this type of electric bike, if you wish to go cycling for the below purposes and you want some extra assistance.

• Enjoying leisurely, casual cycle rides. This can be to take in the sights, or a day out to the beach, or park.
• General day to day errands, like going to the shops.
• General cycling around the town.
• To visit friends and places, like a museum or library.

Cruiser electric bikes are comfy because they are designed so that the rider is seated in a comfortable position. The below design features achieve this.

• Large saddles, ergonomically designed for comfort.
• Frame geometry, that causes the rider to sit in an upright position.
• Handlebars that are in a leaning back (easy to grip) position. 

These types of electric bikes usually come with a cargo rack on the back. This makes them ideal for a trip, to pick up a few things from the shop. It is also common for cruiser electric bikes to have stylish designs.

Folding Electric Bikes

It’s good to know you can get electric bikes that can be folded. This makes life a lot easier when it comes to storage and transportation. Folding electric bikes, fold into a compact size to save space. This is ideal for the below situations.

• For storage – Folding your electric bike, can allow you to store it indoors, where you may otherwise not have the space indoors, for an unfolded bike. Like if you live in a small flat, for example. This is ideal for protection against theft and weather.  
• Commuting – Folding electric bikes, can fold small enough for you to take them onto a train or tube. This is providing they’re not too crowded.
• Keeping at your desk – If you’ve used a folding electric bike for your commute, you may keep it by, or under your desk, rather than outside. Again, this will protect against weather and theft.
• General travel – You can even keep your folding electric bike (whilst folded) in the boot of your car. This is a better option than using a roof rack, due to the protection against weather. If you’re driving to a cycling trail, or on a cycling holiday, then this will be handy. Aside from weather, like heavy rain or hail even, this will also protect against any flying debris.

All the other types of electric bikes, such as mountain, cruiser and fat bikes, can also be folding bikes. So, you can buy the most appropriate type of electric bike that best suits your needs, that can also fold as well.

Electric Fat Bikes

These bikes are gaining in popularity. Where they may have once appeared to be a fad, it looks like they are here to stay. With whole fat bike communities forming. These include fat bike social media groups and groups that get together for fat bike rides.

The main feature of fat bikes (essentially their whole essence), is that they have very fat tires. These tires are the widest in the market. Generally speaking, they are twice as wide as mountain bike tires. Fat bikes allow you to ride in all sorts of conditions, where you would not normally be able to ride a bike. These include riding on snow and sand. Naturally, these fat tires are ideal for riding in off-road conditions.

You can pump these tires up to a lower pressure than other tires, due to their higher volume. This higher volume and lower pressure of the tire provides the below benefits.

• Makes for a comfortable riding experience, even when riding on-off road conditions.
• You won’t feel the rocks and bumps as much (if at all) whilst riding on off-road trails. You’ll just feel the gradient of the surface you’re riding on.
• Even if you’re riding a fat bike in urban environments, the fat tires are excellent for allowing you to get over steep curbs and certain steps.
• These tires can give you a floating feeling whilst riding, which can make for a fun riding experience
• Not directly to do with the low pressure and high volume of these tires, but fat bike tires have a huge amount of grip. This is ideal for off-road conditions, as well as giving you more stability. This makes these tires great for wet conditions and cornering.

You will not usually expect full suspension on fat bikes, this is because the fat tires reduce the need for it. This can save you a bit of cash. You may sometimes have a suspension fork, on fat bikes though.

Fat bikes are not the most efficient and fastest of bikes. Due to the weight of the tires, they can take a bit of effort to get accelerating. Although, if you have an electric fat bike, this is where the extra assistance from the motor will come in helpful. Besides this, the design of fat bikes is coming on. We are starting to find that fat bikes are becoming lighter, with some having a carbon frame. This helps mitigate the weight of the tires. 

There are many Fat Bike fans out there, mainly for the 2 below reasons.

• Fat bikes are very versatile, like gravel and hybrid bikes. This is due to all the many conditions they allow you to ride in.
• They are so much fun to ride. Riding fat bikes, allow you to monster truck your way through all sorts of obstacles. This is as well as the general floating feeling they give.

Electric Cargo Bikes

If you’re intending to carry cargo, an electric cargo bike will be very beneficial. The motorized assistance comes into its own here. It will help you maintain speed, accelerate easier, get up hills and minimize fatigue, whilst carrying cargo on your bike. You can even use these bikes to carry passengers.

Cargo bikes generally come in the 2 below variations.

Front loader – This type of cargo bike is fairly self-explanatory. It has a large bucket at the front for carrying cargo. These bikes can be problematic to maneuver though. This is due to the position of the cargo bucket being at the front.

Rear loader – With these bikes, the rear of the bike is often stretched to allow you to have room for a lot of cargo. Here, you can have lengthy pannier bags. You may even sometimes find floorboards on each side of the bike for carrying cargo. If you’re carrying people on the back of the bike, they can rest their feet on these floorboards.

Cargo electric bikes can act as a replacement for your car. This can even be if they are only used to replace some of your car journeys. They can be used for shopping trips, school runs and commuting. Generally, anywhere you need to take anything with you. Using a cargo electric bike to replace certain car journeys has the below benefits:

• Better for the environment
• Reduces congestion
• Saves on fuel costs
• Solves parking issues and cost
• Keeps you fitter and healthier

If you can use a cargo bike to replace a car altogether, think of all the money it will save you.

Many businesses have started using cargo electric bikes for haulage. This saves them the expense of maintaining a van, not to mention the cost of purchasing a van in the first place. Often, cargo electric bikes help businesses to deliver their goods quicker than vans. This is especially in towns and cities. The below statistics back this up.

Average speed of driving a car/van in UK city centers – 5mph to 11mph

Average speed of cycling in UK city centers – 10mph to 15mph

This is because bikes are far less affected by congestion than motor vehicles, due to that you can cycle past gridlocked traffic. The increasing amount of dedicated cycle lanes helps further with this. Cycling can also open up short cuts and more direct routes not available to motor vehicles. This can include through parks, or alongside canals, for example.

If you’re thinking of buying an electric cargo bike, you may want to pay particular attention to the below considerations.

Motor – It’s worth considering opting for as powerful a motor as you can afford. This is though, as long as it’s within the legal limit of local laws. You may want all the assistance you can get, particularly when carrying heavy cargo and/or going up hills. 

Battery – Carrying cargo draws more power from your battery, due to the extra weight. Therefore, your battery capacity is likely to be a bigger consideration than normal with a cargo electric bike. The higher the capacity of your battery, the more range you’ll get.  

Conclusion

Hopefully, I’ve now been able to give you a clearer idea of what type of electric bike you want. Having said that, the information in this article, can only help you narrow down what you want so far. Once you at least have an idea of what type of electric bike you want, there are other considerations to account for. These will help you fine tune your choice of electric bike, even further.

These other considerations can include:

Once you have established what type of electric bike you want, that is the first step out of the way, when buying an electric bike. This helps eliminate that initial overwhelm you may incur when you first start searching for an electric bike to buy. When you’ve finally bought an electric bike, it’ll open up a whole new world of cycling for you. 

The post Which Type of Electric Bike Should I Buy? appeared first on Electric Bike Planet.

Electric bikes are great for getting you cycling more. They can get you cycling further and for longer, to expand your cycling horizons. You may be someone who finds cycling difficult. This could be due to a lack of fitness, or if you’re of advancing years. In which case, an electric bike could really help you here. So if you’ve decided on an electric bike, should you buy a pre-built electric bike, or add a conversion kit to a regular bike?   

Choosing between a pre-built electric bike or a conversion kit is down to personal preference. Neither option is necessarily better than the other. Conversion kits are a great way to save money, due to the fact that you can add one of these to an existing bike. This is rather than buying a whole new pre-built electric bike. If you buy a pre-built electric bike though, then you’re good to go straight away. Additionally, with conversion kits, there’s a degree of technical skill involved in setting them up.

Here, in this article, I discuss at length how pre-built electric bikes compare with electric bike conversion kits. 

Electric Bike Conversion Kit Pros

You Can Save Money

If you have a regular bike already, then you can save money by buying a conversion kit and then adding it to this bike. A decent electric bike can be in the thousands, but a decent conversion kit can be in the hundreds. This is either for dollars or pounds by the way.

You Get to Keep Your Existing Bike

You may already have a decent regular bike that you really like. In which case, adding a conversion kit allows you to still keep it. This is rather than possibly having to sell it to generate enough cash to buy a pre-built electric bike. You always have the option to remove the kit whenever you like, so the bike is back to what it was before. 

Allows for Customization and Upgrades

Conversion kits allow the flexibility for customization and Upgrades. You typically don’t get this though with pre-built electric bikes. You can have the option to change between different batteries and even motors. So you can switch between different capacity batteries. This is useful if you want a high capacity battery for more range for longer rides. You still then have the option to change it for a lower capacity battery for shorter rides, to save on weight. 

Having the ability to switch out motors is handy as well. You may have a low powered/wattage motor to start with. This may be to save money and may still be powerful enough for your needs. You can still have the option to upgrade later to a more powerful motor, if you choose. This may be due to you moving to a country, or a state where the laws allow for a higher powered motor. It may be that your needs change. For example, you may later decide to go on more adventurous cycles, like up the mountains. This is where you’ll likely need a lot of power to get you up those tough climbs.

Conversion kits giving you the flexibility to upgrade parts can save you money. For example, if you’re upgrading to a more powerful motor, then you’re only paying for a new motor. This is rather than paying for a whole new electric bike.

You Can Swap the Conversion Kit Between Different Bikes

You can even swap a conversion kit to another bike. This is useful if you have a different bike (or wish to have a different bike) for different purposes. For example, you may have a mountain bike for off-road use and a road bike for commuting. So if you wish to have electric assistance on both these bikes, you can then always swap a conversion kit between them. This will save on cost compared to buying pre-built electric versions of both bikes.  

Provides a Great Starting Point

Conversion kits are a great starting point if you wish to try electric biking, without forking out the cost of a pre-built electric bike. This will mean it is less of a financial risk, in case you find having an electric bike doesn’t suit you. If you find electric biking really is for you though, then you may eventually buy a pre-built electric bike later. 

Fun For DIY Enthusiasts

You may be a DIY enthusiast. In which case, you may get a sense of achievement upgrading your regular bike with a conversion kit.

Electric Bike Conversion Kit Cons

Technical Skill is Required

There is a degree of technical/mechanical skill required with adding an electric bike conversion kit to a regular bike. Not to mention it’s generally an effort anyway. Some kits are less technical and easier to attach to a bike than others, though. Nevertheless, if you’re not very technically minded, or you just don’t fancy the effort involved, then a pre-built electric bike may be the best option for you. However, if you like the idea of a conversion kit, but not the idea of attaching it, then you could take your bike to a shop. Some bike shops will be able to attach a conversion kit to your bike for you. This is providing you can find one in your area. 

There May Not be Enough Space on the Bike to Fit Parts

You may not have enough space to fit the controller and the size battery you want. Electric bike batteries and controllers as part of conversion kits, often fit to the bike frame, within the front triangle of the frame (as shown below). There may not be enough space though, in the area within the front triangle of the frame to fit these. In which case, you may have to compromise on the capacity of the battery, to have one that fits. 

You may be able to locate the battery on a different part of your bike, though. For example, if you have a pannier rack at the back of your bike, you could place your battery on there. There are even conversion kits where the battery can sit in a backpack. Here, a lead runs down from the battery to the bike. This option may, or may not suit you, though. It depends on whether or not you don’t mind riding with a backpack, with the weight of a battery inside it.

Can be an Issue if you have Rear Suspension

This links with the above. If you attach the battery to the bike frame within the inner front triangle, then this can be an issue if you have rear suspension. The battery should be positioned so that when the suspension depresses down, none of the suspension parts catch on the battery. If this happens, then this could pierce the battery, causing it to vent and then catch fire. 

Can Have an Untidy Appearance

Attaching a conversion kit to your bike means you’ll have more exposed wiring compared to a pre-built electric bike. This means that when compared to a pre-built electric bike, it will look untidier. You may be able to do a good job though of making the appearance as tidy as possible. This can be through the use of clips to secure the wiring against the frame and cable ties. The more technical you are with DIY projects, the more likely you’ll do a good job of this.

Electrical Parts will be More Exposed 

The main parts of a conversion kit, such as the battery, motor and controller, will also be more exposed. The battery and motor can be exposed on a pre-built electric bike, but this is not always the case. For example, pre-built electric bikes can have the battery embedded within the frame. However, with conversion kits, the electrical parts are more exposed to the elements. These include rain, mud and dirt. You don’t want dirt and water getting into these electrical parts, to possibly cause damage.

So, if you’re buying a conversion kit, you want the parts to have a very high water resistance. Some conversion kits have their parts of a higher water resistance than others. Ebikeling, make a good range of waterproof electric bike kits. Also, the Bafang 8fun BBs03 mid drive motor conversion kit is a high end waterproof kit.

If you’re buying a conversion kit. You can look out for something called an IP rating. This is a rating for how resistant an electric item is to water and dirt. My article “Can I Ride My Electric Bike in the Rain?” talks further about these IP ratings. You can protect the controller and battery from dirt and water, by housing the controller in a project box and using a battery cover for the battery. Both of these items can be bought on Amazon.

May have to Replace Bike Parts

You may have to replace bike parts to accommodate a conversation kit. For example, you may need to replace the wheels for wider ones and maybe also the brake calipers. This would mean extra cost, time and effort. The reason why you may need to replace the wheels is due to that if the kit has a hub motor. Your existing wheels may be too light/thin to withstand a hub motor. You would only need to attach a hub motor to one wheel though. However, if you’re replacing one wheel, then you’ll need to replace the other so that they match. 

Bolt-on Mid Drive Motors can be Low Down Possibly Causing Issues

There are some conversion kits on the market that have a bolt-on mid drive motor. These are sometimes designed to attach underneath the bottom bracket of the bike. This means the motor will be low down and very near to the ground. Therefore, there is a risk of it getting bashed and damaged if it hits obstacles. This will be more likely the case if you’re off-road riding. There is even the risk of you coming off your bike if the motor hits obstacles.  

Pre-Built Electric Bike Pros

You Can Start Riding the Bike Straight Away

Pre-built electric bikes give you the luxury of knowing that the bike is good to go straight away. There is no extra effort or time needed on your part to make the bike electric. You can start riding it from the moment you get it home. This is very handy if you’re not technically or mechanically minded. 

Neater Look

Having a pre-built electric bike looks neater and slicker than having a conversion kit added to a regular bike. The electric parts, like a mid drive motor, the battery and the controller, are integrated within the design of the bike. This is rather than attaching a collection of parts to the bike. Again, you won’t have many wires showing externally with a pre-built electric bike.

Better Bike Geometry

The electric components being integrated within the design of a pre-built electric bike helps with the bikes geometry. This is aside from the visual aspect. You should expect the electric parts, such as the battery and motor to be strategically positioned, so that there is a good weight distribution throughout the bike. The weight and shape of the electric parts should fit with the overall geometry of the bike as well. This will give the bike good handling and a good comfortable riding feel. This is as long as the bike is good quality and well made by a reliable manufacturer. 

You may not be able to achieve the above quite as well with a conversion kit. Again, this is down to conversion kits being a collection of parts added to a bike. Whereas, pre-built electric bikes are more a system that’s designed for the electric parts to specifically integrate within the particular bike they’re part of. For example, a pre-built electric bike may have full suspension and a battery that embeds within the frame. A battery embedded within the frame will not get in the way of the suspension parts, as the suspension depresses down. It will also help give the bike a neater look and reduce drag. 

The fact that the electrical parts of a pre-built electric bike tend to fit in better with the bikes overall geometry, compared to adding a conversion kit to a regular bike, links with where I spoke about possibly having to replace certain bike parts, if fitting a conversion kit. For example, you may have disc brakes. In which case, a conversion kit hub motor may not fit well with your existing disc brake parts. So you may need to replace these with ones that do fit well. Again, replacing parts requires a degree of technical skill. This may be something you’re not willing to embrace.      

Longer Warranties 

The warranties on pre-built electric bikes are usually longer than for conversion kits. Warranties can vary for both pre-built electric bikes and conversion kits. However, some warranties for pre-built electric bikes can be as long as 5 years. For conversion kits, some warranties can be as long as 2 or 3 years. The minimum length warranty you can expect either way is for 1 year. Even so, if you want a good warranty you’ll have to shop around.

Reliability

You have the reliability factor with pre-built electric bikes. They give you the assurance that the manufacturer has put the whole thing together professionally. You may get more peace of mind here compared to if you attach the kit yourself. This does depend though, on your confidence in your own ability to do a good job of attaching a conversion kit.  

Generally Good After Sales Support

You can usually expect better after sales support with a pre-built electric bike compared to a conversion kit. This can be from the shop, website or manufacturer you bought it from.

Less Hassle

If you don’t already have a regular bike to upgrade, then buying a pre-built electric bike can be less hassle. You may know exactly what you want (say, in motor power and battery capacity) and be able to find it all in one electric bike. Also, you may be confident that you’ll never want to upgrade or customize your bike later. Therefore, buying a pre-built electric bike can be a very simple, straightforward choice.  

Pre-Built Electric Bike Cons

More Expensive

Pre-built electric bikes are more expensive than conversion kits. You may see some overlap sometimes though. This is where you may see a high end conversion kit costing more than a low end pre-built electric bike. Nevertheless, if you see a conversion kit and a pre-built electric bike both of similar performance, then you should expect the pre-built electric bike to be higher in price.   

Less Scope for Customization

You’ll typically be limited to the original electrical parts that came with the bike in the first place. This means you won’t be able to mix and match parts if you want to tailor your electric bike more to your preference.

Less Scope for Upgrading

Like above, there is little scope for upgrading pre-built electric bikes. There are some pre-built electric bikes on the market where you can get an upgraded battery from the manufacturer though. There’s even some options where you can add an additional twin battery for more range. However, these options are very rare and not the standard for pre-built electric bikes. This is at least how it stands currently in the market.

There are a few other ways to get more battery capacity with a pre-built electric bike though. These include, adding a triangle battery, adding a range extender, or carrying a spare battery in a backpack. I talk further about these options in my article “How to Choose the Right Electric BIke Battery”. Ultimately though, if you want the flexibility to upgrade parts such as the motor, battery, or LCD screen even, then a conversion kit is the way to go. 

Expensive to Replace Parts

Replacing parts is typically more expensive with pre-built electric bikes. These parts can include the pedal assist sensor, LCD display, the controller and the battery. With pre-built electric bikes, you’ll usually be restricted to only being able to buy replacement parts made by the manufacturer. You will tend to find the price of these parts at a higher premium. However, with conversion kits, there is more scope for third party parts. These tend to be cheaper than parts that come directly from a pre-built electric bike manufacturer. 

May Not be Legal in Other Countries or States 

If you have a pre-built electric bike, you may wish to take it away on cycling trips to other countries, or to other states if you live in America. If you do this though, your electric bike may not be legal in these other countries or states. This is due to the fact that the power of the motor (in watts) may be above the legal limit, even if it’s legal for where you live. You won’t have the option to replace your motor, for a lower powered one to get round this issue, like you would with a conversion kit. If you have a low powered motor in the first place though, like a 250 watt motor, then this may not be an issue. 

Conclusion 

When it comes to deciding between a pre-built electric bike or a conversion kit, it’s down to whatever option suits you best. The cost of a pre-built electric bike may not be a problem for you and you may not want the hassle of attaching a conversion kit. In which case, a pre-built electric bike could be the option that’s best for you. Also, a pre-built electric bike can be a suitable option if you’re not concerned with customization. Therefore, you may prefer the simplicity of an electric bike that’s good to go from day one. Not to mention that you’ll get a tidy looking bike, with less wires and external electrical parts with a pre-built electric bike.  

Conversely, you may prefer a conversion kit to save money and to have the flexibility to mix and match parts. You may even be a DIY enthusiast and enjoy the thrill of attaching a conversion kit. Making modifications and upgrades as you go may also be appealing to you. It may even be the case that you’re attached to your existing regular bike. However, you may have to sell it to afford a pre-built electric bike. Again, here, a conversion kit could be the answer. 

Whatever choice you make, either option works and will provide you with a lot of fun. They will both get you out there on many cycling adventures. 

The post Should I buy a Pre-Built Electric Bike or an Electric Bike Conversion Kit? appeared first on Electric Bike Planet.

Electric bikes are excellent for making cycling accessible if you’re a heavier person. This is especially if your weight normally makes it difficult for you to cycle. So if you’re a heavier rider looking to buy an electric bike, you should ideally buy one that supports your weight. 

Some electric bikes will support your weight better than others if you’re a heavier rider. An electric bike that doesn’t support your weight very well, wouldn’t necessarily fall apart the moment you sit on it though. However, the better a bike supports your weight, the longer it will last. Also, the less likely it is that any parts will break. Rest assured though, that no matter what your weight is, there will always be an electric bike for you. 

Here in this article, I will talk about what to look for when choosing an electric bike, if you’re a heavier rider. 

Wheels 

If you’re a heavier rider, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the wheels when buying an electric bike. The heavier you are, the more pressure you’re placing on the wheels. This can mean that you’re more likely to break a spoke. So to reduce the likelihood of this as a heavier rider, you can make sure your wheels have more spokes. Being a heavy rider, opting for wheels with 32 or 36 spokes should give you good peace of mind. Any fewer spokes, and it’s more likely a spoke will break here and there over time.

The heavier a rider you are, the more pressure you’re placing on the wheel rims as well. This can lead to enhanced wear and tear on these. However, having more spokes helps here as well. This is due that this spreads the pressure placed on the wheel rims more evenly. So the more spokes, the less concentration of pressure on any given part of the wheel rim. This is due to there being more contact points. 

Below are some further considerations with regard to wheels if you’re a heavier rider.

• Smaller wheels with wider tires will be better supported under your weight if you’re a heavier rider. This is opposed to large wheels with thin tires. Generally speaking, 26 inch wheels (in diameter) is a suitable wheel size for heavy riders. The smaller the wheel you opt for below this size, the more likely you’ll experience handling issues. This is due to the frame needing to be a certain design to accommodate the smaller wheels. A suitable tire width if you’re a heavier rider is 2 inches or wider. This should support you very well. Anything below an inch ⅓ is not ideal for heavy riders. 
• Wider tires are also especially beneficial if you’re riding on rough terrain as a heavier rider. They’ll absorb the bumps better than thin tires, reducing impact on the frame. This will particularly benefit the frame, due to the extra pressure already imposed on the frame from your weight. So this will minimize the chance of any cracks in the frame. 

• Opting for wider and deeper rims, ideally double wall aluminium rims, are suitable for heavier riders. These are heavy duty and will make the wheel stronger. Again, making the wheel better able to accommodate the extra weight. 
• Wheels tend to be stronger on fully hand built bikes. Here, they will hold out better if you’re a heavier rider.   

Brakes

Having effective brakes is particularly important if you’re a heavier rider. This is due to that the extra weight will mean it’ll take longer for your bike to stop. When it comes to brakes, you’ll find there’s 2 main types. These are rim or disc brakes, as talked about further below.

Rim Brakes

This is the most common type of brake you’ll find on bikes. These brakes work by pads that clamp down on both sides of the wheel rim to create friction. You should find that if tuned correctly, these types of brakes can have plenty enough stopping power for even the heaviest of riders. So if you’re a heavier rider with rim brakes, then it’s a good idea to make sure they’re always well maintained.  

Disc Brakes 

These types of brakes are more effective than rim brakes. This means they give you better stopping power and therefore more safety. So if you’re a heavier rider, this can give you extra peace of mind. Also, disc brakes do not cause any wear and tear on the wheel rims, like rim brakes do. They also provide the 2 below benefits.

• Work very well in all weather conditions.
• Provide greater control than rim brakes, as braking is more consistent.

Disc brakes work in a similar way to rim brakes. The difference though, is that you have a disc (called a rotor) at the center of the wheel, which has pads on each side of it. When you apply the brakes, the pads press down on this disc to create friction to slow down the bike. These brakes tend to cost more than rim brakes. However, due to the better stopping power they provide, this can be worth it if you’re a heavier rider. 

Saddle

Some saddles are made to accommodate more weight better than others. In particular, the saddle rails can fail if they’re not made to handle extra weight. These rails are on the underside of the saddle, which connects it to the seat post clamp. The materials that saddle rails are available in varies. These can include steel, titanium, aluminium and carbon. However, steel and titanium are the strongest materials that saddle rails come in. So a saddle rail made from either of these 2 materials is going to withstand your weight better as a heavier rider. This means the saddle rails will be less likely to break or bend, under any extra pressure due to more weight. 

Luckily, steel and titanium are not the most expensive saddle rails materials. This is due to the fact that the cheapest saddle rail materials are the lightest ones, not the strongest. You may consider saddle weight not much of an issue though, by the way. This can be due to the weight of the saddle having a negligible impact on the overall weight of the bike. 

Some saddles have extra thick padding, especially for heavier riders. This helps the saddle to support the extra weight better. Again, this will help the saddle rails to last longer, due to less stress placed on them. If you opt for a saddle with extra thick padding, then this will add more weight to the saddle again though. If you’re concerned with extra saddle weight though, due to if you have steel or titanium rails and extra padding, then you can negate this by opting for a carbon chassis. This will add more cost though, as carbon is the most expensive saddle chassis material. This is due to it being the lightest.    

A lot of cyclists think that the bigger you are, the wider the saddle needs to be. This is not always the case though. The ideal width of your saddle depends on the width of your sit bones. This is the part of your anatomy which comes into contact with the saddle. If you’re big bottomed, it does not always mean that your sit bones have a big width. So you can have a big bottom, but your sit bones can be of a small width. If a saddle is too wide in relation to your sit bone width, then this can cause chaffing.

Conversely, if the saddle is too narrow, then this can cause undue pressure on your sit bones. Both cases will mean discomfort. Many bike shops have devices that measure the exact distance between your sit bones. This will then allow you to determine the most appropriate width of saddle for you. 

Frame 

The frame material choice (in terms of strength) is not really an issue if you’re below 120 kilos, 19 stone or 165 pounds. Any frame material should be strong enough here, whether it be aluminium, steel, titanium or carbon etc. So if you’re within this weight range, other factors may influence your choice of frame material. For example, you can pick a carbon frame, for the bike to be lighter. Although carbon is the most expensive frame material by the way. 

If you’re above 120 kilos, 19 stone or 165 pounds, then you should consider the strength of the frame material more. Steel and titanium are generally considered the strongest bike frame materials. Titanium frames are more expensive than steel frames though. However, many riders consider titanium to be the best all round frame material. This is due to the fact that it offers a great balance of many properties. These include strength, being fairly lightweight, shock absorbent qualities and rust resistance. Furthermore, titanium frames are easier to repair than other material frames. This is in addition to the fact that they are well-equipped to withstand heavier loads anyway. So you can have extra peace of mind, for just in case the frame was to ever break. 

To be extra safe though, you can always check the manufacturers specifications, with regard to the bikes maximum weight limit. In terms of the frame shape, the standard triangle frame, where the fame consists of a front and rear triangle, will be the strongest. As a scientific rule, triangles are always the strongest shape. Having said this though, there are low step bikes that have a different type of frame. Some of these types of bikes are stronger built, especially for heavier riders. The advantage of these low step bikes is that the frame design makes it easier for larger/heavier people to get on and off the bike. Again, if you’re buying a low step bike as a heavier rider, you should check the specified maximum weight limit first.  

Bike with low step frame

Electric Bike Types Considerations for Heavier Riders 

Electric Hybrid or Gravel Bike

If you’re a heavier rider who will be doing a lot of road riding, then a suitable option can be a hybrid or gravel bike. These types of bikes have a more robust build quality compared to road bikes. This means that they are better equipped to handle your weight if you’re a heavier rider. So the frame of these bikes will be more likely to last longer and less likely to break. 

The reason why hybrid and gravel bikes are more robust than road bikes is because they are general purpose bikes. So with these bikes, you also have the advantage of having a bike that’s suitable for light off-road. Additionally, these types of bikes can accommodate wider tires compared to road bikes. Wider tires offer more support and stability, which is also handy if you’re a heavier rider.  

Electric Cargo Bike

Another consideration as a heavier rider is possibly opting for a cargo bike. These bikes tend to be overbuilt, due to that they’re designed to carry heavy loads. Cargo bikes will typically have heavy-duty parts, such a robust frame, robust wheels and robust tires. This can be a good option for you, even if you’re not planning on carrying much cargo, if ever. However, the option to carry cargo is always available to you though, for if you ever choose to. 

Electric Mountain or Fat Bikes

If you’re intending to do a lot of off-road cycling, then the go-to option is going to be a mountain bike. As long as you’re opting for a good quality mountain bike, then you should always expect it to be robust. Again, this is what you want if you’re a heavier rider. Another option to consider as a heavier rider is a fat bike. These have very fat tires for support and stability. Again, they tend to have a robust build quality, to accommodate heavier riders.

Electric Folding Bikes

Folding bikes are a popular option. This is due to the storage and transportation conveniences they provide. These types of bikes tend not to have a very robust build quality, or heavy-duty parts though. So if you’re a heavier rider, a folding bike may not be strong enough to withstand your weight. This doesn’t mean that a folding bike will fall apart on you straight away, but it may not last very well. Sooner or later, a part here and there might break. 

These days, some folding bikes are coming onto the market with a more robust build quality though. However, if you’re tempted to buy a more robust folding bike as a heavier rider, I’d certainly still be careful. As with buying any bike as a heavier rider, it’s advisable to check the  manufacturers maximum specified weight limit. Also, robust folding bikes will have a higher price premium. 

My article “Which Type of Electric Bike Should I Buy?“ talks further about the bike types mentioned above. This can further help you to decide which bike type you may feel is most suitable for you. 

Pedals 

It’s also worth considering the robustness of the pedals as a heavier rider. Pedals can break during rides if they’re not strong enough to handle the weight of the rider. Some pedals are made lightweight, where the spindle is not very thick. These are therefore not ideal for heavy riders. A pedal with a standard bearing though (as opposed to a sealed bearing) can generally be a bit thicker. This will make them heavier duty and so more suitable for heavier riders. You’ll also find that pedals found on mountain bikes will generally be heavier duty. 

Suspension 

Generally speaking, full suspension bikes are too demanding for heavier riders around 300 pounds or over. This is due to the fact that the rear suspension often can’t handle enough pressure to keep you in the appropriate sag, if you’re this sort of weight. Sag by the way, is to do with setting your suspension specific to your weight. This video talks further about suspension settings, which includes talking about sag. 

You should be aware that some shocks absorbers (as part of a full suspension system) can handle more weight better than others. This is even if you’re below 300 pounds, or above for that matter. So if you’re considering a full suspension bike as a heavier rider, you should definitely check if the suspension can accommodate your weight. If the shock absorbers are not rated for your weight, then you may prematurely wear them out. 

For more information about suspension on electric bikes, you can read my article “Do I Need Suspension on an Electric Bike”. 

Suspension Seatposts 

You may find a suspension seatpost to be a viable alternative to full suspension. This is a seatpost with shock absorbing technology, which you can replace the existing seatpost on the bike with. These seatposts can absorb any bumps and impacts whilst cycling, to provide comfort. 

There are suspension seatposts especially for heavier riders, available on the market. Kinekt makes a good range of these suspension seatposts for heavier riders. These particular suspension seatposts have heavier duty parts to accommodate more weight. So aside from the suspension benefits, these heavy-duty suspension seatposts are likely to be better equipped to deal with more weight than the seatpost that came with the bike.

Gears

Riding up hills can be tricky whoever you are, let alone if you’re a heavier rider. A compact or a sub-compact chainset will provide a low gear ratio to give you more help up hills. Therefore, these types of chainsets are a suitable option for an electric bike if you’re a heavier rider.

You may think that gears are not so important if you have an electric bike, due to the boost you’re already getting. However, gears are still beneficial on electric bikes for the below reasons.

• They give you even further assistance up hills, in addition to the electric motor. An electric motor may only help you so far up very steep hills, especially if the motor’s not high-powered. This can particularly be the case if you’re in the UK or EU, where the legal motor power limit is 250 watts. 
• Even if the electric motor is helping you up hills, having gears can help you get up hills faster. 
• Using gears to help you up hills also helps prolong the battery range. This is due to the fact that gears leverage your pedal effort, which reduces the effort needed by the motor.  

Motor Type 

An electric bike’s motor will either be a hub motor or a mid drive motor. A hub motor is positioned in the center of either the front or rear wheel of the bike. A mid drive motor is positioned at the center of the bike, between the pedals. Neither of these electric bike motor types is better than the other. Your choice of motor type should be down to what suits you best. Nevertheless, mid drive motors offer some advantages over hub motors that are beneficial for heavier riders. I talk about these below. 

Do be aware though that mid drive motors are higher in price than hub motors. So having a mid drive motor will increase the overall cost of an electric bike. 

Mid Drive Motor Advantages for Heavier Riders

More Efficiency 

Mid drive motors are more efficient than hub motors. This is because they directly leverage your pedaling power. So therefore, mid drive motors help with cycling up hills more. This is along with other challenging cycling conditions, like rough terrain, or cycling against the wind. So if you’re a heavier rider who finds cycling in these conditions difficult, then you may really appreciate a mid drive motor. 

Kinder on the Battery

Mid drive motors allow for longer battery range compared to hub motors. This is because mid drive motors are only moving a sprocket, rather than a whole wheel. Therefore, the motor is not working as hard, which means less drain on the battery. Anything that helps prolong the battery range, will really benefit you if you’re a heavier rider. This is due to that the extra weight you’re carrying, is already draining the battery more compared to a lighter rider. So having a mid drive motor can help minimize the impact of this compared to a hub motor. 

Better Weight Distribution 

As mentioned above, mid drive motors are at the center of the electric bike. This means they provide better weight distribution throughout the bike, compared to hub motors. Better weight distribution throughout the bike makes it easier to climb hills. You will have less weight behind you pulling you back, or less weight in front of you, to push up. 

Also, as mentioned before, disc brakes give better stopping power than rim brakes, which is especially advantageous for heavier riders. So if you have disc brakes and a hub motor, then you will have even more weight on the wheel that the hub motor’s situated on. This negatively impacts the bike’s weight distribution even further. So if you do have disc brakes, then this can be even more reason to opt for a mid drive motor.   

My article “Hub Motors Vs Mid Drive Motors” talks further about the differences between these 2 motor types. 

Motor Power 

This is a particular consideration if you’re a heavier rider, looking to buy an electric bike. The more powerful the motor, the more assistance you get from the electric bike. So as a heavier rider, you’re more likely to appreciate the benefit of a powerful motor. As you may expect though, generally, the more powerful the motor, the more cost it will add to the bike. 

The power of electric bike motors is measured in watts. You will usually find electric bike motors are either 250, 350, 500, 750 or 1000 watts. Depending on the electric bike laws of where you’re based, there’s likely to be a limit on the power of the motor you’re allowed to ride with. For example, the maximum power electric bike motor you’re allowed to ride with in the US depends on what state you’re in. However, in most states you’re not permitted to ride on an electric bike with a motor above 750 watts. In the UK and EU, the electric bike motor power limit is 250 watts and in Canada it’s 500 watts. 

Nevertheless, as a heavier rider, you may want as powerful a motor as your budget allows. The more power you have, the more help you’re going to get riding up hills. This is as well as other challenging riding conditions. My article, “How Much Power does my Electric Bike Need?”, talks further about electric bike motor power considerations. 

Conclusion

As mentioned before, there is an electric bike out there for everyone. So no matter how heavy you are, you will always find an electric bike that will accommodate you. It may just take a little bit of searching and research to find one that is suitable for your weight. Again, having a bike that’s not built to handle your weight very well doesn’t mean it will break straight away. It’s more that it’s less likely to last very well and parts can break and wear prematurely. 

Being a heavier person certainly shouldn’t put you off cycling. Remember cycling is a fun way to keep active, whilst getting some quality outdoor time. If you do find cycling difficult as a heavier person, that’s where electric bikes come into their own. Electric bikes break down barriers and make cycling accessible for all sorts of people, including heavier riders.

The post Electric Bike Buying Considerations if You're a Heavier Rider appeared first on Electric Bike Planet.

Riding a bike is a fun and active way of getting around town to get various errands done. Whether it be commuting, shopping, or even a trip to the hairdressers/barbers. The risk of theft when you’re leaving your bike outside your destination though, may be a major concern if you’re riding around town. This may be even if you’ve locked your bike. Riding a folding bike can be a great solution though. You can usually fold the bike small enough to take with you into your destination. This therefore reduces the chance of theft. You can even get electric folding bikes, for those of you who could do with the extra boost.

You may be someone who could do with the space saving benefits that folding bikes provide. This could be for various reasons. These could include if you live in an apartment/flat and have limited storage space, or if you wish to regularly take your bike in your car trunk for cycling trips. You may also be someone who could do with an extra boost while cycling. This could be if you need extra help up steep hills, or if you’re currently lacking fitness, among other reasons. If this is the case, then an electric folding bike could be for you. 

Here in this article, I talk further about electric folding bikes. This is to help you determine if one of these would be the bike for you.  

Why an Electric Folding Bike?

There are many reasons why you would opt for an electric folding bike rather than a regular folding bike. These can include the below.

• They can get you to your destination quicker than a regular bike. This is due to the fact that you can maintain a fast speed with less effort, which is handy if you’re starting to tire. You can also find this handy if you don’t want to start to tire in the first place. This is why electric bikes are great if you’ve got a lot of places to get to, or a lot of errands to run. So you can get these errands done/to these places quicker, which is handy if you’re pressed for time. This makes electric folding bikes a great utility/city bike. Many people prioritize the utility element of cycling over the fitness element. You’re still getting some fitness though, due to that you are still exerting some effort. Some effort is better than no effort, fitness wise.
• Electric bikes allow you to get to your destination without sweating. This is why many people use electric bikes for commuting, as they can arrive at work without being in a sweat. You may find it handy to get to other destinations not in a sweat as well. For example, to the hairdressers/barbers, or even to quickly get some groceries before cooking dinner. This is particularly handy if you have people coming round for dinner. All this ties in with the above, as you can get to your destination without working up a sweat and quicker than a regular bike. This is particularly if you’re riding on a high pedal assist setting.

• Electric bikes are a great way to get people cycling who have a reduced ability to cycle. These people can include riders of advancing years, or people with injuries, illness or ailments like arthritis. Also, this can be people who are currently overweight and/or unfit. This is where electric bikes can get people fitter than regular bikes. All due to the fact that they often help people to cycle who wouldn’t cycle otherwise. Remember that you still get exercise on electric bikes. Unless you’re using a throttle, you still have to pedal and therefore exert an effort. The electric boost just amplifies whatever effort you put in. 
• Electric bikes give you a boost up hills. This, for many riders, is the only reason why they get an electric bike. Steep hills can be off-putting for many otherwise cyclists. So, having an electric bike can help you to get up these hills easily. This again may be the difference between getting a bike at all and not getting one.
• Electric bikes are fun. The thrill of riding around with an electric boost really is a thrill. It is all the reason enough to get an electric bike for many people. Again, your personal reason for cycling may be for utility rather than for fitness. In which case, why not do it with the thrill of an electric boost?

Electric Folding Bikes Provide Easier Storage        

The great thing about folding bikes is they are far easier to store than regular bikes. This is especially useful if you live in a flat or apartment and don’t have a garage or garden to store your bike. Once folded, you can store the bike indoors in all sorts of various places that you can’t store a regular bike. These can include under the stairs, to the side of a wardrobe or chest of drawers, or tucked beside a shoe rack. So this helps make a folding bike very suitable for getting around in town centers. Particularly as people who live in town centers often live in flats/apartments with limited space.

Electric Folding Bike Folding Capability

Some folding bikes are easier to fold than others. As a general rule of thumb though, you can typically fold and unfold a folding bike within 30 seconds. Many people can fold and unfold folding bikes in as little as around 15 seconds. There’s even competitions on how quick folding bikes can be folded down. The world record is currently 5.19 seconds as shown in this video. The more practice you get through, the quicker you’ll get at folding and unfolding your bike. You’ll soon get a knack, especially if it’s your own bike that you’re using all the time. A great thing about folding bikes is they don’t need any tools to fold and unfold.

By the way, Brompton folding bikes are widely considered as the quickest and easiest folding bikes to fold and unfold.

Bifold Vs Trifold

You will tend to find 2 different folding mechanisms on folding bikes. These are Bifold and Trifold. The differences between these 2 types of mechanisms are as below.

Bifold folding bikes – The frame folds at one point, which folds the bike in half. The seat post can also be pushed down and also the handlebar stem can fall down. This allows for the size of the bike to be compacted down.

Trifold folding bikes – Both the wheels can be folded inwards. Again, the seat post can be pushed down and the handlebar stem can fall down. Trifold folding bikes fold down more compactly than bifold folding bikes.

With both bifold and trifold folding bikes, you can typically expect to also be able to fold in the pedals.

Due to the fact that trifold folding bikes fold up more compactly than bifold folding bikes, it means they are better for transporting. This especially compact folded size of trifold bikes means they are easier to take on other forms of transport. These include trains, tubes/subways and buses, for example. There may be instances where a bifold folding bike may be too big to take with you on a train. This can be if the train is particularly crowded. Trifold bikes can often fold small enough to fit in shopping carts for when you’re grocery shopping. This will reduce the chance of theft, due to that you can avoid locking your bike outside of the supermarket.

Bifold folding bikes are still great for storage though. Like for storing indoors or under/beside your work desk. Generally speaking, you should still expect a bifold folding bike to fit in any car trunk. Although, if you’re transporting other items in your car trunk as well as the bike, then a trifold can help with space saving here. Especially if it’s a small trunk.

Brompton are well known for their trifold mechanism on their folding bikes. This video shows how this trifold mechanism works on a Brompton. 3sixty also makes a good range of trifold folding bikes. 

You Might Not Always Need to Fully Fold the Bike

For certain situations, you might not need to fold your electric folding bike down completely. For example, to make your folding bike fit in a narrow space (that a regular bike can’t) you may only need to fold in the pedals and fold down the handlebar stem. You can do this on most folding bikes. Similarly, you can just only push down the seat post and fold down the handlebar stem to make the bike fit in a low down space. This could be underneath a flight of stairs for example. So there are various ways you can fold a folding bike to make it fit in different spaces.

How Secure is an Electric Folding Bike When Folded?

An important consideration when buying an electric folding bike is how well the bike remains folded when you’re transporting it. There’s some electric folding bikes on the market that don’t stay folded very well when moved around. For example, certain models may have magnets that are there to hold the 2 folded halves of the bike together. However, they may not always do a good job of holding the 2 folded halves together securely. Everything can get very loose and move apart when you pick up the bike whilst it’s folded.

So this is something to look out for when you’re looking to buy an electric folding bike. You can do research though, by checking forums and reviews to get an idea of how secure any prospective purchases are when folded. 

Transporting the Electric Folding Bike Whilst Folded        

As well as allowing for easier storage, folding bikes are far easier to transport than regular bikes. If you wish to transport your bike in your car trunk then you should always be able to do this easily with a folding bike. This is even if you have very limited trunk space, like if you have a hatchback where it may not be easy to fit a regular bike. Many cyclists have to remove a wheel (or both wheels even) on their bike to make it fit in their car trunk. This is something you won’t have to do with a folding bike. Folding and unfolding a folding bike is generally less of a faff than removing and re-attaching a wheel.

Being easily able to transport a folding bike in your car trunk means you don’t need to spend money on a rack. By the way, rack types can be a roof rack, a tow ball rack or a rear rack. Not needing a roof rack to transport your bike by car is particularly handy if you have a folding electric bike. This is due to the fact that electric bikes are especially heavy because of the electric components. These electric components include the battery, motor and controller. In which case, lifting the electric bike onto and off the roof rack could be quite an effort for you. So just placing a folding electric bike in your car trunk will save you all this effort. 

Furthermore, if you’re thinking of opting for a rear rack to transport your electric bike by car, you need to make sure it is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of an electric bike. Again, if you’re transporting a folding electric bike in your car trunk then you won’t have this concern. Also, storing an electric folding bike in your car trunk protects it from rain and other elements. The more you can protect an electric bike from the rain the better. This is due to the fact that it will minimize any likelihood of possible damage to the electric components. My article “Can I Ride My Electric Bike in the Rain” talks about this further.

Folding bikes allow for multimodal transport. This means they lend themselves for journeys where you’re using more than one mode of transport. For example, if you’re using the train as well as cycling. You may be commuting by train, but live a distance from the train station. In which case, you can cycle to the train station using a folding bike. You can then fold the bike so you can take it with you on the train and then cycle from the arrival train station to your workplace. You won’t need to worry about possible theft if you’re not locking your bike at the train station. Additionally, you can even keep your folding bike underneath, or beside your desk so you can always keep an eye on it.

You can even usually take your electric folding bike on the bus and on the tube/subway, for getting around in the city. I say usually, due to that this is providing the bus, or tube/subway is not overcrowded. So this may not always be advisable during rush hour. As mentioned further above, it’s easier to take a folding bike with you on a bus or tube/subway if it’s a trifold. The folding capability can even come in handy for unforeseen circumstances. For example, if your chain was to snap mid ride, you could order a taxi and keep the bike folded in the taxi’s trunk.

Wheeling the Electric Folding Bike About Whilst Folded

A useful feature that some electric folding bikes have are easy wheels. These are mini wheels (not the main bike wheels themselves) located at the back of the bike. They allow you to easily pull the bike along when it’s folded. This can come in very handy for certain situations where you can’t ride the bike. For example, like if you’re passing through a train station. In this situation, you can pull the bike along whilst holding the saddle whilst the seat post is still pulled up. These easy wheels allow you to pull the folded electric bike along in a nice easy, smooth motion. 

You can still usually pull an electric folding bike along whilst it’s folded, by wheeling it along on the main bike wheels. So you don’t necessarily always need these easy wheels. However, the easy wheels allow you to wheel the bike backwards for if you ever need to. You can’t usually do this with a folding bike that doesn’t have these easy wheels. This is because if you’re wheeling the folded bike backwards on the bike wheel/wheels then the pedal will move backwards. This will then get stuck.

Brompton and 3sixty are brands that have easy wheels on some of their models. You can even add easy wheels as an accessory to a folding bike that doesn’t come with them already. This is as long as they are compatible with your particular model of folding bike.

Bike Safety Whilst Riding/When Bike is Unfolded

You may have concerns about how secure the foldable parts are whilst you’re cycling. This could be that you may be wondering if the bike collapses so easily when you’re folding it, could that happen whilst you’re riding it? The answer is that folding bikes have plenty of safety mechanisms to prevent this from happening. This means you can ride an electric folding bike with confidence in this respect.

Am I Too Tall to Ride an Electric Folding Bike?

When you first look at any folding bike you will notice that they’re small compared to regular bikes. As you may gather, this is due to the need for them to fold down to a compact size. So you may well be thinking they can’t accommodate taller riders. However, looks can be deceiving. Folding bikes typically have an adjustable seat post and an adjustable handlebar stem. So you can therefore adjust the height of these to accommodate your height. They usually have a quick release to allow you to do this easily.

Remember though, that you may often be adjusting the seat post back in position, when unfolding the bike. So some folding bike manufacturers, like Birdy, have an engraved scale on the seat post. This allows you to easily find the right position when unfolding. For seat posts that don’t have this, you could make a mark on the seat post yourself of the correct position. You may be able to do this with a marker pen of engraving yourself.

If you are a taller rider, the reach from the saddle to the handlebar may still be different from a regular bike. This can even be after appropriately adjusting the seat post and handlebar stem. So many folding bikes like Brompton and Dahon have an adjustable handlebar position. This allows you to adjust the handlebar position to a comfortable riding position whatever your height is. Other folding bike manufacturers like Birdy, offer a horizontal stem extension for riders who need a longer reach.

Ultimately, folding bikes are adjustable. So you can still ride one even if you are a tall rider that’s say over 6 foot. You may well find that some will accommodate you better/be more comfy than others though. So you may need to do a little research to find a good fit. This YouTube video provides some guidance on how to adjust a folding bike to suit your height. Generally, a rider would want the handlebar to be higher than the saddle for a more upright and comfy position. Alternatively, a rider may want the handlebar lower than the saddle for a more aerodynamic, higher speed based performance. However, you may not be concerned with having an aerodynamic riding position if you have an electric folding bike. This is due to the fact that the electric boost will help provide more speed. 

The bigger the wheel size on a folding bike, the more likely it will fit you better if you’re a tall rider. However, the bigger the wheel size, the less compact the bike will be when folded. Remember again though that you can adjust folding bikes. So you can usually expect to still be OK with a folding bike with a smaller wheel size, if you’re a tall rider. I talk more about folding bike wheel sizes further below. Generally, the smallest folding bike wheel size is 16 inches and the biggest is 24 inches.

Brompton Electric Folding Bikes for Taller Riders

Brompton folding bikes work a bit different than a lot of other folding bikes in terms of accommodating taller riders. You can still adjust the seat post height, but not the handlebar stem height. Instead, Brompton offers 4 different handlebar types. The idea is that when buying a Brompton folding bike, you select the handlebar type of your choice. So ideally the one that best accommodates your height. These 4 Brompton handlebar types are H bar, S bar, M bar and P bar.

The H bar has been designed with taller riders in mind. It rises 57cm above the bike’s frame. This allows for an upright and comfy riding position. This makes the H bar suitable for longer distance rides and casual riding around town. The upright position also allows for increased safety. This is because it gives the rider more visibility of the environment around them. There is a slight reach adjustment available on the H bar. However, it’s limited by cable length as it may compromise the folding capabilities if moved more than 1 cm.

The S handlebar type allows for a lower/more aerodynamic riding position, for faster cycling. Although, as mentioned before, having a faster riding position may not be as necessary if you have an electric folding bike. This is due to the electric boost allowing you to cycle faster. The M handlebar offers a more mid-upright riding position. It’s suitable for riders over 5 foot tall (average height riders) and allows for comfortable riding. So it’s suitable for casual touring cycling. You also have the P handle bar which is a hybrid of the M and S handlebar types. So it offers 2 riding positions. One being the upright position. The other being the low down, more aerodynamic position.

You can swap out the handlebar type after the initial bike purchase. Be aware though, that this is easier to do if you’re swapping out a higher handlebar type for a shorter type, rather than a shorter one for a higher one. This is due to the fact that the cables may not be able to stretch far enough, if you’re swapping out a shorter handlebar for a higher handlebar.

Brompton Seat Post Adjustment

There’s 3 different seat post length options provided by Brompton. This is even though you can adjust the seat post height on a Brompton folding bike. These 3 options are below.

Brompton Seat Post Options

Standard – Inside-leg measurement (inseam) up to 83cm/33inches.

Extended – Inside-leg measurement (inseam) up to 89cm/35 inches.

Telescopic – Inside-leg measurement (inseam) up to 99cm/39 inches

Ultimately, Brompton seat posts can accommodate a rider’s height anywhere between 140cm/4.7 inches to 203cm/6.8 inches in height.

You can also buy the optional Brompton saddle height insert. This allows you to easily adjust the seat post to the right height for you every time you unfold your bike.

If the fully extended seat post is still a little too short, you can rotate the pentaclip upside down. You then reattach the saddle to the higher saddle position. This will provide an extra 2.5cm. The seat will of course be higher by the same 2.5cm when the bike’s folded though. This video shows you how to adjust a Brompton pentaclip and saddle. 

Electric Folding Bikes Reduces the Chance of Theft

Because electric folding bikes fold so compactly, they can allow you to take them with you into your destination. This means you don’t need to lock your bike outside where there’s always a chance of theft. Below shows some destinations that you may be able to take your electric folding bike inside with you, so you can keep an eye on it.

Electric Folding Bike Utility

Folding electric bikes offer lots of utility. This further makes them ideal for city cycling. Many of them have features that you would expect on many other types of bikes. These include fenders/mudguards, fat tires, pannier racks for carrying cargo and bike lights for safety. With many folding electric bikes, the bike lights run off the electric bikes battery. So keeping an eye on the battery charge on the LCD display helps you to make sure the lights won’t cut out. This is of course if you have bike lights. 

If your electric folding bike has a pannier rack, then this can allow you to carry shopping, or work items if you’re commuting. Work items could be a laptop, a change of clothes, or a Thermos flask etc. Brompton folding bikes have their own exclusive luggage bags. These attach to the front of the bike. All this helps enhance folding bikes utility and their ability for errands around town.

Electric Folding Bike Wheel Size

It is important to consider the wheel size when buying an electric folding bike. Folding bikes have smaller wheels than regular bikes. The wheel size determines comfort and handling and also how compact the folding bike is once it’s folded. The smaller the wheel the more compact the folding bike will be when folded. However, the bigger the wheel, the more stable and comfortable the bike will be in general.

The wheel sizes on electric folding bikes tend to mostly come in the below 3 sizes.

16 inches – 20 inches – 24 inches

I talk further below about the differences between these 3 different wheel sizes. This is with regard to how they affect an electric folding bike.

16 Inch Wheels

This is the smallest adult wheel size you’ll find on an electric folding bike. Therefore, this size wheel allows for a very compact folded size. This makes having this size wheel ideal if you prioritize your folding bike to be as compact as possible. So having 16 inch wheels helps with multimodal transport. They allow you to easily take the folding bike with you on trains, tubes/subways and buses.

Due to the nature of the small wheel size, having 16 inch wheels can give a twitchy riding feel. However, the more you ride the bike, the more you’ll get used to it. The small wheel size allows for sensitive/nimble handling. This makes it easier to dodge and navigate your way around obstacles, including pedestrians. So this establishes electric folding bikes with this wheel size further, as being suitable for commuting and city center cycling.

The smaller wheel size also means a smaller bike frame. This makes the electric folding bike lighter. Again, making it even easier to carry the bike about, like when taking it with you indoors or on a train. The weight saving you get from the smaller wheels and smaller frame is likely to be especially welcome for an electric folding bike. This is due to the increased weight that you have with electric bikes. Again, due to the electric components that you have on electric bikes.

Be aware though, that it can be harder to find a replacement 16 inch tire, compared to a bigger sized tire. This is due to these being rarer. However, because of the internet, you should always be able to find a replacement 16 inch tire online. Additionally, the small wheel size will mean that you’ll likely feel the bumps (like potholes) more. Having some, or all of the below, will help negate this though. 

Bear in mind though, that having fat tires and especially, having full suspension will add more weight and cost to the bike. Again, this may be more of an issue for an electric folding bike than a regular folding bike, due to the extra weight that electric folding bikes carry already. This is as well as the extra cost of an electric bike in the first place.

20 Inch Wheels

These are obviously bigger than 16 inch wheels. This means that bikes with these size wheels will have a bigger frame. So an electric folding bike with 20 inch wheels will be heavier and have a less compact folding size than one with 16 inch wheels.

Folding bikes with 20 inch wheels typically have a sturdier, less twitchy and more comfy and stable riding feel than ones with 16 inch wheels. Also, when compared against folding bikes with 16 inch wheels, folding bikes with 20 inch wheels tend to accommodate taller riders better. This is even though you can adjust the seat post height and usually adjust the handlebar height on folding bikes.

20 inch wheels mean slower acceleration from a stop position than 16 inch wheels. This is due to the extra effort needed to get the bike started (because of the extra weight). However, 20 inch wheels are faster once you’re already cycling. This may well not be an issue though, if you have an electric folding bike, due to the electric boost you get anyway.

Ultimately, electric folding bikes with 20 inch wheels can be a suitable compromise between having a compact folding size and a stable bike with a sturdy, comfortable riding feel.

24 Inch Wheels

This is the biggest wheel size that you’ll find on electric folding bikes. You will find this wheel size to usually be the most comfy for taller riders. This wheel size will generally allow for a sturdier bike that will be more comfortable on longer rides and bumpier terrain. As you may gather, the fold size will be less compact than for folding bikes with smaller wheel sizes. In turn, folding bikes with 24 inch wheels will be heavier. So they’ll be trickier to carry around than folding bikes with smaller wheels. This is emphasized even more for an electric folding bike. Remembering that electric bikes are already heavier than regular bikes due to the battery and motor.

24 inch wheels are a good option if you find they make the bike comfier for you and if the less compact folding size is not so much of an issue. This may be because you’re not intending to transport the bike folded. You may instead be planning to have the bike folded when you’re storing it in your home. The less compact folding size may be less of an issue for storage use compared to transportation use. Bear in mind a folding bike with 24 inch wheels may possibly still be too big, to be allowed on some buses and trains.

Additionally, you may only be planning to transport your electric folding bike in your car trunk. In which case, an electric folding bike with 24 inch wheels should usually still fold small enough to fit in your car trunk. Also, you may appreciate the stability, sturdiness and comfort that 24 inch wheels provide if you regularly go on long distance cycles.

Furthermore, 24 inch wheels are faster than the other smaller sizes whilst cycling, but slower to get started from a stop position. However, again, this may not make that much difference if you have an electric folding bike. Again, due to the electric boost you get anyway.

Conclusion

Folding bikes are a great choice if you want a bike mainly for utility use. They’re not going to have the all action ruggedness of mountain bikes, for off-road use. Nor are they built for higher speed performance like many road bikes. However, as a useful way of getting around for general errands and commuting, they come into their own. This is for the below reasons.

• The small wheels make it easier to maneuver around obstacles, including pedestrians.
• Easy to take with you on other modes of transport, like trains, buses and subways/tubes, or even in the trunk of a taxi.
• Easy to store indoors if you have limited storage space and/or you don’t have a garage, or garden.
• You can take them with you inside your destination to minimize the chance of theft.

If you have an electric folding bike then this enhances the utility even further. This is due to the fact that they allow you to get to your destinations quicker and in less of a sweat. Not to mention that you’ll get extra help up those steep hills. Ultimately, an electric folding bike can be a perfect companion for a hectic urban lifestyle. That’s not to say though, that you won’t still benefit from an electric folding bike if you don’t live in an urban environment. Such is their general appeal and versati

The post Should I Buy an Electric Folding Bike? appeared first on Electric Bike Planet.

• Sales of electric bikes grew by 145% in the US between 2019 and 2020, according to the World Economic Forum. 
• Almost 4 in 10 people in the UK would cycle more if they had an electric bike, according to a survey by Tredz.
• There’s 300 million electric bikes on China’s roads as of 2021, according to Bloomberg.
• Electric bike sales rose to 23% (almost a quarter) of total bicycle sales in the UK in 2020, according to a report by Mintel.
• Approximately half of all bicycle sales in the Netherlands in 2020 were electric bikes, according to figures from industry bodies RAI Vereniging and Bovag. 

So what’s all the fuss about?

Electric bikes provide an alternative form of transport to cars and public transport, with the luxury of motorized assistance. This assistance means electric bikes help make cycling more accessible and helps get people cycling more and further. Their use instead of other forms of transport provides a positive environmental impact. This is as well as keeping you active, despite misconceptions that they’re for lazy people. All of these are reasons why you may want to buy an electric bike.

Here in this article I discuss electric bikes further. This is to help you decide whether buying an electric bike is right for you.

Electric Bikes Allow You to Cycle to Your Destination Without a Sweat

The fact that electric bikes allow you to cycle at a reduced effort means you can get to your destination without working up a sweat. A survey carried out by the Portland State Transportation Research and Education Center revealed that 67% of people surveyed needed a shower after a standard bike trip. However, electric bikes can remove, or at least reduce the need for a shower, due to this fact that they can help prevent you from sweating. So 74% of people from this same survey said they didn’t need a shower after riding an electric bike. This is one of the areas where electric bikes come into their own. As a result, many people are increasingly turning to electric bikes for their commute. This allows people to arrive at work presentable and not in a sweaty state, which is handy as many workplaces don’t have showers. 

This is one of several examples of how electric bikes remove barriers preventing people from cycling. Concerns about arriving at the workplace in a sweat, can put off many people from cycling to work. If more people are commuting by cycling, this will have a positive effect on the environment and help reduce congestion. It will also improve people’s wellbeing and their health and fitness. Even if you’re cycling to work with a reduced effort on an electric bike, you’re still being active. Reduced physical activity is still better than no physical activity, fitness wise. You can still commute home without the electric boost for more of a workout later. In which case you can then shower at home. 

The workplace may not be the only destination you want to cycle to without arriving in a sweat. You may be someone whose main purpose for cycling is for utility and fun, rather than exercise. So you may cycle for general errands and getting around town. This can be for shopping, meeting a friend at a coffee shop, or going to the barbers, etc. These can all be destinations that you don’t want to arrive at in a sweaty heap. Again, even if fitness is not your main cycling purpose, the extra fitness you do get from cycling for journeys you’d make anyway can be a welcome by-product. 

Electric Bikes Allow You to Cycle Up Hills Easier

One of the main and most obvious benefits of electric bikes is that they allow you to cycle up hills easier. This is another way electric bikes make cycling more accessible for many people. The dread of cycling up steep hills can put people off cycling completely in the first place. This can be especially so, if you’re someone who doesn’t even find cycling easy on the flat and/or lives in a particularly hilly area. If your route to work is hilly, then again, an electric bike could mean the difference between you cycling to work and not.   

You may even come by hills that are not very steep, but are a long, continuous gradient. Here, electric bikes can help reduce any fatigue or leg burn that you may encounter during the climb. You may come by a hill or two late on into a ride when you’re already fatigued. So the boost from an electric bike in this instance can again help see you home. The electric boost can also help you if it’s a very hot day, where you may find it harder to get up the hills than usual. This all ties in with the fact that electric bikes help you to cycle further and longer. 

Generally, you will still expect to put in fair effort when riding up hills with an electric bike. After all, electric bikes aren’t magic. However, they certainly make the hills a lot easier and for many people, are the difference between being able to cycle up a hill and not at all. So electric bikes can make getting off your bike and walking your bike up a hill a thing of the past for you. They often even make hills enjoyable to ride up, as opposed to you puffing and panting your way up them. This contributes towards electric bikes helping to make cycling more fun in general. 

A point to consider, by the way, is that the power of the electric motor can vary from bike to bike. So the more powerful the motor, the more assistance you’ll get up hills. Bear in mind though, that there will be a legal limit to the maximum power motor you can have for the country you’re in. For example, in the UK and Europe the maximum permitted motor power is currently 250 watts. In America, it depends on what state you’re in. My article, “How Much Power Does My Electric Bike Need?” talks further about deciding on what power motor to have for your electric bike. 

Electric Bikes Make Cycling More Fun

Electric bikes make cycling more enjoyable for many people. For a large proportion of these people, this is all the reason they need to buy an electric bike. In itself, many riders enjoy the thrill of having the electric boost and the amount of speed they get, even when putting in a little effort. This can be the case if you either mainly cycle for utility (to get from A to B), or for exercise. So you may be mainly riding an electric bike to keep active, due to if you have a limited ability to ride a regular bike. Even so, you can still enjoy the sensation of the electric boost as a by-product. Electric bikes make you feel as though you have super powered bionic legs, which is a bit of a novelty. 

Furthermore, electric bikes help mitigate all the parts of cycling that people don’t enjoy. This includes, riding up tough hills, riding against the wind and fatigue and leg burn during long rides. Not to mention they can make cycling enjoyable again for people who may have previously stopped cycling. This could be those who have stopped cycling regular bikes, due to a lack of fitness or a knee problem, for example.

Electric Bikes Can Allow You to Cycle More and Further

Because electric bikes make cycling easier, they therefore allow you to cycle further. So this backs up that electric bikes aren’t for lazy people. People of all levels of fitness will have a limit to how far they can comfortably cycle on any single trip. This is due to the fact that if you cycle far enough, there will eventually come a point where fatigue and leg burn will start to set in. However, the assistance you get from electric bikes will mitigate this. So you can therefore go on longer cycle trips than what you would normally go on if you were riding a regular bike. This means that electric bikes can help you get more out of cycling.

Ultimately, electric bikes can mean you can still put in the same amount of effort as you would have on a regular bike, but gone further for it. So you can explore more and see more sights and scenery, whilst still being just as active. 

All the time electric bikes make cycling easier and more comfortable, it can get you cycling more. Remembering that electric bikes mitigate the unpleasant parts of cycling like struggling up hills, riding against heavy wind and fatigue. So this means that you’re less likely to be put off going on certain cycle rides if you have an electric bike. If an electric bike is getting you cycling more, then in turn, it’s helping you to be more active. 

Electric Bikes Make Cycling More Accessible/Lower the Barrier to Cycling 

The assistance you get from an electric bike can be the difference between you being able to go cycling and not being able to go cycling at all. For example, you may possibly have anything from the following:- a heart condition, arthritis, an injury, be of advancing years, an illness, or recovering from an illness. These are among many other reasons why certain people are unable to ride a regular bike. Or at least limited to how much they can ride a regular bike. If you are one of these people, then an electric bike can get you out there on the saddle cycling. Great news if you’re someone who used to cycle, but had to give up due to one of the above reasons.

Alternatively, you may be someone who’s never cycled and is cycling curious, but unable to ride a regular bike. Either way, electric bikes can give you a new lease of life and help keep you active.  

Electric Bikes are Great For Mountain Bike Trails

The assistance that electric bikes give also helps out with the trickier parts of mountain bike trails. This can give mountain bikers the confidence and ability to take on trails, or sections of trails that they may not normally be able to take on. At the very least, electric bikes can make the more grueling parts of trails more enjoyable. This ties in with where I have previously mentioned that electric bikes can get you cycling more. 

The electric assistance can also be especially helpful for people who are new to riding mountain bike trails. Furthermore, this electric assistance can give people the confidence to even consider mountain biking in the first place. This can be for both people of a high fitness level, or a limited fitness level. 

A lot of experienced and highly fit mountain bikers love riding on downhill mountain trails. However, many of them hate riding up the mountain to get to the top of the trail. This is often to the point where they may be put off going up the mountain again for one last go before they’re done for the day. In these instances, having an electric bike has eliminated this issue. Riding up the mountains has become far less strenuous and so more enjoyable for these riders with the use of an electric bike. So this often causes mountain bikers to be keener to give the trail another go. Yet another example of electric bikes getting people cycling more. They can even encourage mountain bikers to cycle to the top of particularly steep and challenging climbs that they may not normally bother with.   

Electric Bikes are Great for Health and Fitness

This follows on from what I’ve already talked about further above. Because electric bikes help make cycling more fun and lower the entry to cycling, they help get more people cycling. This in turn gets more people active. So if riding a regular bike is too strenuous for you (say if you’ve a heart condition or have arthritis, or you’re of advancing years), then an electric bike can be a great alternative to get you cycling. 

Again, as also mentioned further above, electric bikes help you to cycle more, longer and further. So if you’re someone who already cycles, an electric bike can cause you to be even more active than if you have a regular bike. 

Electric bikes cause many people to cycle for journeys that they would normally drive or use public transport for. This can be for commutes, shopping trips (particularly if you have an electric cargo bike) and general day to day errands. These can all be trips that you may not want to overexert yourself and get sweaty for. So the extra assistance on electric bikes helps here, due to the reduced effort they allow. Nevertheless, you’re still being more active than if you were driving or using public transport. This is even if you’re exerting yourself less than riding a regular bike. If you’re making these trips by electric bike often, then this all mounts up in terms of maintaining your fitness. 

Ultimately, replacing certain journeys normally done by public transport and driving for an electric bike, is a great opportunity for you to get fit making journeys that you’d make anyway. This is especially helpful if you do not have a lot of time in your schedule for exercise. After all, lack of time is the number one reason why people avoid exercise. Additionally, it’s a great way to get you exercising if you don’t normally have the discipline to do a lot of exercise. 

Riding an electric bike with the assistance still allows you to burn a decent amount of calories as shown below. Also, riding electric bikes helps with your mental wellbeing, the same as regular bikes. 

Electric Bikes aren’t for Lazy People

Many people believe that electric bikes are for lazy people. Yet if you really were lazy, would you even be cycling at all? If you’re riding an electric bike, you’re still pedaling (as long as you’re not using a throttle). This means you’re still exerting an effort. It’s just that the electric assistance is amplifying your pedal effort. At the end of the day, electric bikes get you out there cycling and keeping active. However, you have the luxury of having the electric assistance available to you for if you need it. Even if you don’t always need it, there may be times when you could at least do with it.

A particular point to consider is that even with a regular bike, you’re still likely to be getting some sort of assistance. This can be in the form of having gears, certain tire choices, an aerodynamic riding position on a road bike, or a very light frame etc. 

Electric Bikes Help With Specific Fitness Targets 

If used a certain way, electric bikes are a very useful tool to help you reach specific fitness targets. They can even be more effective than regular bikes at helping you to reach these targets. 

The reason for this is that there are various fitness zones you can be in when cycling. Each of these zones requires your heart rate to be within a certain percentage of your maximum heart rate, to be within them. When riding an electric bike, you can adjust the level of pedal assist to help keep your heart rate within any of these fitness zones. This in turn allows you to reach any fitness target you may have. These fitness zones include the aerobic/fat burning zone, recovery zone and endurance zone, among a few others.

The aerobic/fat burning zone is pretty much self explanatory, in that it helps you burn fat. To keep yourself within this zone whilst cycling, you need to keep your heart rate between 60% to 65% of its maximum. Effective use of an electric bike can help you do this. This is because you can adjust the level of pedal assist so that the terrain and gradients you’re riding on don’t dictate your effort, which in turn dictates your heart rate.

So if you go from riding on the flat to riding up a hill, you can then increase the pedal assist level. This is to allow your effort whilst riding up the hill to be the same as what it was whilst riding on the flat. So this will help you to keep your heart rate within this aerobic/fat burning zone throughout a cycle ride. In turn, this will help towards any fat loss goals, if you have any. This is not as easy to do on a regular bike. The reason being that you have far less control over the terrain and incline dictating your effort. 

As already mentioned, there’s also the recovery zone. This is exercising at an intensity where your heart rate is within 60% of its maximum. Cycling within this fitness zone promotes muscle regeneration and improves recovery. So this is a suitable zone to cycle in if you’ve recently been riding intensively for a few weeks. This is why Tour De France cyclists often ride in this fitness zone between races. As a result, many Tour De France cyclists use electric bikes, due to the fact that they help them to cycle in this zone. This is for the same reason as why electric bikes help you to cycle in the aerobic/fat burning zone. Again, by the pedal assist allowing you to prevent the terrain and incline from dictating your effort and therefore heart rate. Also, this further backs up that electric bikes aren’t for lazy people. 

Furthermore, electric bikes especially help with interval training. This is again due to the pedal assist allowing the terrain and incline to not dictate your effort. I talk further about how electric bikes help with various fitness goals in my article “Can You Get Fit on an Electric Bike?”.    

Electric Bikes Can be a Suitable Car Replacement 

A survey by the Portland State Transportation Research and Education Center found that a main reason for 65% of people surveyed who bought an electric bike was to use it as a car replacement. 

Environmental Impact of Electric Bikes Vs Cars

Not only is riding an electric bike instead of driving a car better for your health, it’s also better for the environment. The more you replace journeys normally made by car with cycling instead, the more it will help with the current climate change emergency. Understandably, cycling can’t replace all car journeys though. For example, very long distance journeys and journeys carrying large loads in the trunk. However, the journeys you can replace with cycling will still lower your carbon footprint. According to license check firm License Bureau, 56% of all car journeys in the UK are less than 5 miles anyway. So there is a massive opportunity to replace a lot of car journeys with cycling.  

As already talked about further above, electric bikes allow you to cycle to destinations without arriving in a sweat. So again, for general errands and day to day trips you’d normally drive for, electric bikes help you to cycle these trips instead. This is without the concern of getting yourself all hot and bothered. Also, this will help reduce congestion, as well as reducing CO2 emissions. Below are a couple of statistics that emphasize the positive environmental impact of riding electric bikes instead of cars. 

• Using an electric bike instead of a car saves up to 4 tons of CO2 over a 100 day period.
• If electric bikes covered as little as 10% of all kilometers driven in London each year, then that could save up to 130,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year in this city alone. 

Electric bikes do still have some negative impact on the environment by the way. This is due to the mining of the lithium used in electric bike batteries. However, this does have a far lower impact compared to the CO2 emissions from cars and vans though.  

Charging Electric Bikes With Electricity that comes from Renewable Resources 

When charging your electric bike’s battery, you can go the extra mile. You can use an electricity supplier that uses renewable resources to generate their electricity. This will mean that you’ll be emitting no CO2 at all whatsoever when riding an electric bike. That is apart from the CO2 you breathe out anyway. 

Even if fossil fuels are used to generate the electricity you’re charging your electric bike with, your carbon footprint will still be far lower compared to driving your journeys. You would only be generating 2.6 to 5 grams of CO2 per mile, as found in a study by the European Cyclists Federation. This is far less than the 1.04kg of CO2 per mile on average for cars.

Electric Bikes are Cheaper to Run than Cars

Electric bikes are generally cheaper to buy than cars. I say generally, due to that there can sometimes be an overlap, where some electric bikes can cost more than some cars. Like if you’re comparing an extremely top of the range electric bike against a cheap second hand car. However, electric bikes are always far cheaper to run than cars. 

The cost of charging an electric bike is far lower than fueling a car. Also, you’re not required to buy insurance for an electric bike. Although, you can still have insurance for an electric bike to protect against theft and damage. Even so, electric bike insurance is optional and should still be cheaper than car insurance. Furthermore, there’s no MOT’s/required inspections to pay for and no tax to pay for electric bikes. Also, generally speaking, maintenance and repair costs are far lower for electric bikes than cars. Not to mention you’ll not have to pay any parking costs if you have an electric bike.

Electric Bikes Help With Carrying Loads

You may be intending to carry loads while cycling, particularly if you have a cargo bike. In which case an electric bike/electric cargo bike can again come into its own here. The electric boost will inevitably ease the strain of cycling with large loads. This is especially if the routes you’re cycling are lengthy or up hills, or even if you have limited fitness. This ties in with where I have previously mentioned that electric bikes allow you to make shopping trips without working up a sweat. Failing that, in less of a sweat compared to a regular bike at least. My article “Can an Electric Cargo Bike Replace a Car or Van?” talks further about this.   

Conclusion

Electric bikes are beneficial for so many people, which can include yourself. They’re not a regular bike replacement and so aren’t here to compete against regular bikes. They are simply another form of bike like any other and provide another option for those who will enjoy and benefit from them. A recap of some of the main benefits that electric bikes provide is as below.

• Eases the parts of cycling that people don’t enjoy. These include riding up hills, riding against the wind and fatigue/leg burn during lengthy rides.   
• Get people cycling who would struggle to ride a regular bike. 
• Allows you to cycle more, further and longer.
• Can be a viable car replacement for many journeys. Acting as a healthier/more active, environmentally friendlier and more fun alternative. 
• Allows you to not arrive at destinations in a sweat. Useful if you’re cycling for utility purposes, like commuting. 
• Can help you get to destinations quicker than a regular bike.

With this in mind, electric bikes aren’t going away and certainly have their place. At the end of the day, electric bikes are a fun way to keep active and get around. This is the case whether you have a restricted ability for cycling or not. An electric bike may just be what you’re looking for. 

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