Ebike Owners’ Manual Supplement
A little help up the hills…
Riding and maintaining an Ebike is different than an acoustic bike. Here are a few things that might not have occurred to you:
Maintenance
Because Ebikes are heavier and faster than normal bikes you will wear out brake pads, chains, cassettes and tires more quickly. Keep an eye on these parts, and replace worn-out items.
Torque sensors reward the Ebike rider struggling with a slow pedaling cadence with the most assistance. High-torque low-cadence pedaling is hard on your chain. Make sure that you shift your gears so that you maintain a chain-friendly (and knee-friendly) cadence of 70 to 90 RPM.
Batteries don’t like neglect. Leaving an Ebike battery uncharged for months will have the same effect as leaving a cell phone uncharged for months: It may not take a charge anymore and could stop working all together.
Safety
Ride defensively:
You will now likely ride (particularly uphill) faster than other people expect. Motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists will misjudge distances to you. Slow down and be vigilant of other people crossing your path.
Passing:
Your new Ebike is virtually silent. Give pedestrians and other cyclists plenty of room when passing, and announce your presence.
Traction:
Traction may be a problem in unexpected situations. The electric motor may accelerate your bike to the point of spinning your tires on damp pavement and off-road trails. Be prepared.
Stopping:
Stopping distances will be longer than with a standard bike. Again, you and your bike are faster and heavier than normal, give your brakes and tires added distance to do their jobs.
Handling:
The weight distribution may be a little awkward with your new Ebike (particularly on hub-motor versions and low-step frames with the battery mounted over the rear wheel). Start slowly and get to know how your Ebike behaves in different situations.
Charging:
Do not leave your battery charger unattended and plugged in for days. The fire hazard from malfunctioning chargers and/or lithium batteries is real.