Ebike Beginner?
If you are a complete ebike beginner, then take a moment to read this post. It will save you time and bruises in the long run.
You have your comfy clothes on (I would recommend padded shorts). Have you got some snacks? Do you have a drink? Trainers are on and tied up? Helmet? A map just in case and most importantly a phone or camera for the photos. You are now e-bike ready….? Or are you?
Or are you?
Do you know what you are doing? “Yes – I just get on and turn the pedals, don’t I?” Well, as a beginner, you can, and you might be OK, but have you considered the difference in speed from a ‘normal’ bike? Many people think of just getting on and going and do not think it is a different experience from a non-e-bike.
As a complete ebike beginner, I will presume you are renting your first ebike to give it a try. Therefore I would assume the rental people will provide you with a talk through the motor levels, how they work, how much more power or help you will get with each one, and how they work in conjunction with the gears.
Take your time
The team in the shop might be busy and eager to get you sorted, but an extra few minutes will make all the difference to your first ebiking experience. Just sit on the ebike and get the feel of it. Check you know which is the front and back brake and whether you feel you are reaching for the handles. Can you put your foot on the ground or tip toes? Think about how you will stop at a junction or traffic lights. Perhaps you can balance on two wheels for ages, but the less coordinated amongst us have to put a foot down when we stop.
Right – now you are ready to move.
Please give it a whirl around a flat-open area to get the feel of the different levels and speeds and how the brakes react. Don’t make the mistake of doing just a couple of minutes and thinking, ‘that’s it, I’ve got this, nae bother.’ Trust me from experience; you don’t. Ebiking in an open space that is flat with no obstacles is hugely different from going out into the big wide world of roads and cycle paths.
Top Tip
My top tip for an ebike beginner is – to take your time and only cycle at the speed that you can react to an obstacle in front of you or the rate you fancy hitting the ground at. The choice is yours.
Working the power levels…
Use the lowest setting (Eco on a Bosch system) for everything. Once you come to an incline, get into an easy gear, keep turning the pedals and work your way through the gears, so the pedals are easy to turn. Pushing through a high gear will hurt your thigh muscles, and you’ll be stiff the next day. If it feels like you are cycling through mud, try the next level (Tour on a Bosch system) and keep in the lowest gear. You still have two more levels (Sport/EMTB & Turbo on the Bosch system) and gears to help you climb that hill.
I would always recommend that if you can’t get up a steeper hill and end up stopping, then get off, turn around, go back down to the flatter bit, and try again. Trying to start again on a steeper hill when you are not used to the ebike can be a painful experience. Remember, pedals hurt really bad when they hit your shins, and also, your ebike will be at least 25 kilos, possibly more. I say this from experience, bruises, tears and a little scar!
How long should I go out for?
Keep your first trip on an ebike to an hour or two at the very most. This gives you time to get used to the set-up, speed, brakes and saddle, so your bum doesn’t get so sore you can’t sit on an ebike or a standard seat that night or the next day. Typically hired ebikes won’t have the most comfortable saddle if you are even of the slightly more cuddly variety.
A 4-hour tour sounds like a great idea on a beautiful sunny day, but only if you have been on a bike recently. If the last time you sat on a bike saddle was when you were 15 and you are now 45, then it’s not such a bright idea, and you may need a haemorrhoid ring to sit down for dinner with your friends and family that evening.
Don’t give up
The old adage of ‘if at first, you don’t succeed……’ is key. This is so important in any sport, especially if you are an ebike beginner at a slightly more mature age. Ebiking is such great fun, as well as getting some exercise. You get to see your surroundings in a completely different way. You can take some lovely photos that will keep you smiling long after you hand your ebike back. Take it slow and build up, be patient, and you will reap the rewards.
If you have any questions about starting to ride an ebike, please feel free to ask. Otherwise, ask your local ebike shop for advice.