Electric Bikes: A Guide To How They Work & What’s Best For You

We’ve put this little guide together to help people understand how electric bikes work (in a simple way), and what benefits they can bring over ‘standard’ bikes. They really can be life changing for some people, whether enhancing your leisure time, or saving £1000’s by replacing a car for regular commutes. Even mountain biking can take on a whole new dimension when you have extra power on demand! These bikes also make awesome commuter bikes as they allow you to control the amount of energy you decided to put in to the cycle to work.

Electric Bikes and leisure

They’re a great way to explore our world! Let’s start off battling the most popular misconception, ‘electric bikes are for lazy people’! Keep an open mind, and start by thinking of them as a very practical modern transport solution. These bikes offer all the benefits of cycling, but YOU choose the effort levels, in just the same way you would if exercising in the gym (we’re not all built to be Olympic athletes are we)! If you just want your bike to take you from A to B with as little effort as possible, you can. If you like a workout on your ride, you’ll get one.

Assisted cycling, don’t break a sweat!

How nice to ride to work without breaking a sweat (no need to take a shower), then ride the bike like you hate it on the way home – legs burning and sweat pouring off you – you can flick up & down through the assistance levels in seconds, at any time. Choice and freedom are great, and that’s what electric bikes give you. You don’t need a driving licence, insurance, or road tax, and no expensive repair bills!

All the usual benefits of cycling apply, so plenty of freedom to go exactly where you want, when you want, and plenty of fresh air. More often than not, they’re quicker than cars, buses and trains for inner city transport, not to mention cheaper and more convenient. Travel door to door, and when you want, not when the timetable says.

Control speed & how much effort you put in

You ride electric bikes, and control the speed in just the same way as you would a ‘normal’ bike (pedal speed and pressure). The difference is you can choose the power assistance level provided by the motor, giving the effect of ‘bionic legs’ if you want them!

The reward in speed, for the effort applied, (especially up hill, and against headwinds) is one of the most rewarding things about riding these bikes. This makes cycling a pleasure, all the time, and it’s not something you get bored of experiencing.

All this adds up to a bike you’ll use 80% more often than a ‘standard’ bike. We’ve all been there – the ‘shall I take the car or bike’ question? If the question is ‘shall I take the car or electric bike, the eBike wins nearly every time (we’ll assume you’re contemplating a good quality electric bike, that’ll be a pleasure to ride, every time).

Assisted battery range

Power assisted battery range varies dramatically depending on the bike, but assume a minimum of 20 miles (average speed of 15mph), with over 90 miles possible with lower assistance levels and larger batteries. The motor and battery come with warrantee’s equivalent to two years or 20,000 miles (1000 full charge / discharge cycles). The battery’s can be charged in as little as 2.5 hours, although this does vary depending on the system. You can remove the batteries for charging from a standard household supply. It cost’s about the same as boiling a kettle.

If you want a fast, comfortable commute or leisure bike, check out the 29” wheeled hardtail mountain bikes, KTM, Haibike and Scott all have bikes in this category. They really are great all rounder’s, add a gel saddle and some lightweight mudguards, and you have a bike to take you anywhere in style and comfort, easily cruising long distances at 16mph.

The best advice we can give, is that you try a bike. We guarantee you’ll come back with a smile on your face, and a new perspective on their merits. We always have demo bikes available, and you’re welcome to wheel one away from the busy High Street to try somewhere quiet.