Question: Are you new to ebiking? To save you time, tears and bruises in the long run, take a moment to read this post.
Can you ride a bike?
Answer: Yes, I learned when I was a child. The last time I rode one was 15 years ago, but it’s just like riding a bike… Isn’t it? For your safety and those of others, please consider not getting on an ebike and cycling off like a pro. Take some time to remember how to ride a bike and your reactions, riding on a path, on the road and in traffic.
You are now e-bike ready????
Or are you?
Q. “Do you know what you are doing?”
A. “Yes – you get on and turn the pedals, don’t you?”
Being new to ebiking, you might be okay, but have you considered the speed difference from a non-e-bike? Many people think they get on and go and don’t consider an ebike a different experience from a non-e-bike.
I will presume you are entirely new to ebiking and are renting or trying out an ebike from your local shop. Therefore, I would assume the staff will explain how the ebike works. They should go through the power levels, brakes, and gears and set up your position on the bike.
Take your time
The team in the shop might be busy and eager to get you sorted, but an extra few minutes to make sure you understand how it all works and feel comfortable will make all the difference to your first ebiking experience.
- Sit on the bike and get the feel of it, hold the handlebars, and look forward.
- Check you know which is the front and back brake. For instance – in Europe, they are opposite from the UK.
- Are you reaching for the handlebars? Does it feel comfortable? The bike may be too big or small for you. Your shoulders and back will thank you for this later.
- Can you put your foot on the ground or at least on your tiptoes? Think about how you will stop at a level crossing or traffic lights. Perhaps you can balance on two wheels for ages, but the less coordinated amongst us must put a foot down when we stop.
Now, you are ready to move.
Ride the bike around a safe 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, “Ok, I’ve got this.” Trust me, from experience, this could end badly. Ebiking in an open, flat space with no obstacles is hugely different from going out into the wide world of roads, cycle paths, traffic and road ‘furniture’.
What else?
- Do you have some comfy clothes? (I would recommend padded shorts as a minimum).
- Did you get some snacks? Nuts or jelly babies are the best and tuck in a pocket.
- Have you remembered a drink? Water will be fine.
- Trainers are on, and laces are tied securely. You don’t want those to catch in your chain.
- Helmet – check ☑. Don’t even go for a test ride without a helmet. It’s the slow, unexpected falls that cause the most damage.
- A map, just in case – I use the Komoot app and have a paper one as a backup.
- Phone or camera for the photos.
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 speed you fancy hitting the ground. The choice is yours!
How long should I go out?
When you are new to ebiking, 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 setup, the speed, and the brakes. Think about a route which is mainly flat with suitable road surfaces. Keep uphill and downhill sections to a minimum. It takes some time to get used to the gears and the different power levels when going up. An ebike makes going uphill much easier, but you must come down again. Downhill is not as easy as you think if it is steep or the road surface is not the best. Therefore, you need to get used to descending on the ebike on terrain that is not so steep. Your local bike shop will have suggestions on where to go when you are new to ebiking.
Also, think about the essential part of the ebike – the saddle. This is a sensitive topic, but your bum will thank you. You don’t want to get so sore you can’t sit on an ebike or a regular seat that night or the next day. Generally, ebikes for hire won’t have the most comfortable saddle. If you are of the slightly more cuddly variety, it could feel a bit like a razor blade after a few kilometres.
You can buy seat covers with padding in them, and they go over the saddle on the hire ebike. They will give you extra padding and might avoid the bum pain. https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-parts/saddles-seats-posts/halfords-leisure-saddle-cover-355382.html
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 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.
Working the power levels
Use the lowest setting (Eco on a Bosch system) for everything to start. Once you come to an incline, get into an easier 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 & Turbo on a 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 when they hit your shins, and also, your ebike will be at least 20 kilos, possibly more. I say this from personal experience, bruises and tears.
To learn how to ascend and descend, please read these articles. https://ebike-europe.com/downhill-ebiking-with-confidence/ and https://ebike-europe.com/hill-climbs-ebike-europe/
Don’t give up
The adage ‘if at first, you don’t succeed……’ is key. This is so important in any sport, but especially if you are an ebike beginner of a more mature age. Ebiking is tremendous fun and getting some exercise; you get to see your surroundings in a completely different way. You can take lovely photos that will keep you smiling for ages after you hand your ebike back. Take it slow and build up gradually, be patient, and you will reap the rewards.
Questions?
If you have any questions for me about starting to ride an ebike, please feel free to ask. office@ebike-europe.com. Otherwise, ask your local ebike shop for advice.