When out on the trails and roads you can see more e-bikes being used and enjoyed. Here are some of the main questions we get asked.
1. Is riding an e-bike cheating? Short answer is no. Longer answer is riding an e-bike still requires that you pedal. The motor is just assisting you along when you need it. As an e-bike owner myself I can say that I have gotten as good or better workouts when I am on my electric bike.
2. Does a bigger battery mean I can go further between charges? No, there are many factors that go into the range of your e-bike. The biggest factor is going to be what assist level you are using, the terrain you are riding, the type of motor and the ambient temperature. I have gotten close to 50 miles on a 350w battery on flat land and have gotten 22 miles on a 500w battery on mountain bike trails.
3. What is the max speed that I can go on my e-bike? This depends, there are 3 classes of e-bikes. Class 1 bikes have a max speed of 20MPH and can have a throttle but requires that you keep pedaling lightly. Class 2 e-bikes have a max speed of 20 MPH and have no throttle. Class 3 e-bikes have a max speed of 30MPH and can have a throttle without the requirement to pedal. There have been a couple of times where I have been going down a hill where I could roll faster than the 20mph on the bike and the motor was braking keeping the bike below the max speed. This is a good thing when riding on trails and in municipalities with bike speed limits.
4. Are there places I cannot take my e-bike? Yes, some private land owners do not want e-bikes on their trails. Be sure to check with your local laws and the laws of where you would like to use the bike. More riders have experienced getting a ticket from law enforcement for not following the laws.
5. Do I have to charge my bike after every ride? It depends, in most cases no. The batteries are like a cell phone or computer battery and can hold a charge for a while. If the battery is drained or down to about 25% you may want to consider charging back up to 100%. Also if you have a long ride planned, more than 20 miles it is recommended to start with a full charge.
6. Is there a minimum age for riding an e-bike? This varies state by state, here in New York the state law is 16 years of age or older. Many of the e-bike makers do not make frames small enough for a child.
7. Can I wear a normal helmet on a e-bike? Maybe, depends on the helmet. Some of the helmets made for road racing have crash speed ratings high enough. Otherwise we recommend looking for a helmet that specifically says that it is e-bike rated. A great resource for this
8. Do I have to register my e-bike? Depends on where you live. There are some areas that require bikes to be registered just like cars but check with your local area.
Having a new e-bike can open up new trails to explore. Most of us at the shop have at least one e-bike and enjoy using them. Stop in for any other questions and if you would like to take one for a test ride.
