Before your First Ride

goRide recommends that you test the feel of the E-Bike in a quiet place.  Only after you feel safe should you practice in more demanding environments. Your new E-Bike will possibly steer or brake differently to what you are used to with a standard bike.  It is more complicated to ride.  It will have power buttons and settings that you need to understand in order to operate the bike safely.

As the rider you will control the experience so you need to be aware of the risks and any potential danger.  Take some time now to practice handling & working with the E-Bike until you feel confident in using it. 

First Ride 

Practice slowly at first and focus on each of the points below.

Weight: Your new bike will be heavy and a little awkward.  Now is the time to experiment with the best way to safely get on and off your bike seat.  This will be easier if your bike has a step through frame.  To get the bike moving will require more power or push than a standard bike needs as you are trying to set a heavier object in motion.  It helps if your gears are set to an easy to pedal level and you have some power on (remember this every time you come to a stop as you will probably need to change your gears & power assist in preparation for the next take off).  Be aware that there is a balance with your power assist.  If you have too much power on the bike will take off faster than you may be comfortable with.  Again now is the time to sort these things out and experiment with what feels like the right level for you.  As you get fitter and stronger this level will probably change.

Balance/Cornering: Holding the weight of an E-Bike upright is easier as you have more momentum or speed.  You do need to feel like you are in control of this speed and be comfortable with how fast you are going.  Any slight movements or changes in your body position/leaning for corners can feel quite different on an E-bike.  As they are heavier the tipping point will be sooner.  Practice big wide corners and turning in your safe space (school playgrounds or netball/tennis courts are great for this).  Go slow to begin with and increase your speed to a level where you still feel comfortable and in control.  Try to be doing only one thing at a time, so be well prepared for corners, don’t be changing gears/powering up or down as well as steering.

Speed/Braking:  The faster you go the longer it will take for you to stop.  Even a fairly normal biking speed will take more braking as you are heavier.  If you add in downhill riding again controlling your speed will be different.  Get used to your brakes now, gently apply them and test how long it takes to completely stop.  Pull them on in a more aggressive way to see how the bike reacts.  Because of the increased weight and speeds your brakes will be dealing with, they will need to be checked and changed more regularly.  For more on safe ways to brake read our story on Braking.

Everyday Riding

Safety: Inspect your E-Bike before every ride.  Riding a bike causes vibration which may loosen things over time.  We recommend carrying a small tool kit that will assist you with keeping your E-Bike safe whenever you ride.

Check tyres for air, brake pads/discs for wear, gear systems changing smoothly…

Your battery is a very important element when you ride regularly.  Therefore you need to have a routine of charging and checking.  Before any ride you should check your charge level and understand how far you can ride using the assistance you may need for that ride.

If your battery failed suddenly or went flat would you still be able to ride?  The weight of an E-Bike makes them difficult to ride without assistance if your legs are not strong (new to riding) or you are older.  When going for a big ride in an isolate area or going for multi-day rides we recommend someone in the group carries an E-Bike Tow Rope, to assist anyone who gets into difficulty.

Adding Weight: One of the great things about owning an E-bike is that you will be able to use your bike for more things.  Shopping, taking kids, commuting to work with gear.  Adding weight is neutralised by the power assist you have.  All the things we went through above – Weight, Balance/Cornering, Speed/Braking will be effected as you add more weight.

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