E-Bike Riding – Am I Safe to goRide?

Wear a helmet that has been designed for the type of riding you are about to do.  E-Bikes give you the ability to travel at high speeds so we recommend a performance level helmet with great head coverage to protect yourself.  Choose the protection that will give you confidence and the knowledge that you have the correct gear to ride safely on the roads or trails you choose.

Check out our Adult Bike Helmet Buying Guide and our story The Best Helmet for an E-Bike

E-Bikes are targets for thieves.  You need a lock that will keep your bike safe when you are not around, including thinking about how it is protected at your home.  E-bikes can have larger frame sizes if this is where the battery is so you may not be able to use certain types of locks (small U-Locks will be a challenge).  We recommend a mid to high level security rating depending on the level of risk your environment has.  Please read more… The Best Locks for E-Bikes

Most people who own a bike find themselves riding along a road at some point.  Even if you prefer to ride off-road, to get to some trails or join trails, road riding will be necessary.  As you grow in confidence, hopefully, the idea of using your E-Bike for other trips will begin to appeal.  When on the road in traffic it is really important that you are easily seen.  At faster speeds it is important to ride in a predictable way and always ride defensively with the idea that the cars around you have not seen you.  Approach intersections with caution, try at all times where possible to make eye contact with a driver to ascertain whether they have seen you or not.

There are two things to think about to keep yourself safe as you ride at speed and approach cars & intersections faster than what may be expected: Lights & Clothing

Lights –  Quite often E-Bikes will come with lights integrated into the frame and connected to your battery.  If not or you want to add more you will need to do a bit of reading & research to understand what is best for the type of riding you do so read our Bike Light Buying Guide.  We recommend an easy to carry, easy to attach front & rear light set that suits the lighting environment you use your E-Bike in.  Using lights even during the day to attract attention is a good plan.

Clothing – Bright, colourful outer layers will help you to be seen on your E-Bike.  This includes your jacket, clothing, helmet, gloves…  For inspiration on visibility visit our Be Visible On a Bike Page. Being visible doesn’t need to mean wearing fluorescent yellow there are lots of stylish bright options on our Bike Clothing Page

Adding weight to yourself or your bike tends to go unnoticed on an E-Bike as you have the advantage of assistance.  E-Bikes have strong frames and often come with an integrated or attached rear carrier.  You can therefore easily ride an E-Bike for a wider variety of reasons.  Carrying shopping, library books, kids (E-Bikes & Transporting Kids) or overnight gear is not as challenging as it is on a standard bike.

We have written a series of stories to help with how you would choose to carry gear, depending on the type of riding you are doing. Carrying Gear – Stories & Support

What you need to be safe when you ride depends on a number of variables… distance, the weather, how close to help you are.  Always try to keep your loads even and balanced… try not to put too much weight on your back as this will become challenging over time for any rider.

A couple of important things to always take with you:

Water – How much water you need to carry depends on a number of things; how far you are going, the access to drinking water, how much you sweat, how hydrated you where before beginning your ride.  For more detail on staying well hydrated please read our Hydration Buying Guide and the story on Hydration – Carrying Water When You Ride. As a general guide more is better  See shop hydration to understand your options

Food – Generally your energy output will be lower on an E-Bike but you are still using your body and are exposed to the riding conditions (heat/wind).  Any rides over an hour or any ride that involves a sustained challenging climb we would then recommend a snack before your downhill.  We always recommend taking food when you ride with children regardless of the time frame.  If your ride is over 2-3 hours this snack should become multiple snacks or a lunch.  Keeping your energy levels high is really important for your enjoyment and your ability to concentrate during the next phase of your riding.