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E-Bike Riding – Am I Safe to goRide?

by Annette | Nov 25, 2021 | get Safe

Riding any kind of bike gives you the ability to connect with the outdoors and E-Bikes help you to ride further and see more. To be safe, comfortable & confident you need to understand any risks and manage them well.

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E-Bike Rider

E-Biking Stories & Support

Tip One – Wear a Good Bike Helmet & Have a Good Lock

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

The ideal helmet for E-Bike riding should provide you with performance level protection.

Tip Two – Be Visible at Faster Speeds

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

Wearing bright colours or bright patterns will help you to be noticed when you ride.

Tip Three – Carrying Weight is Easier

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.

E-Bikes are ideal for using to ride with young kids either attached or towing them.

Tip Four – Your Battery & Tools

Do E-Bikes need special tools? Generally no, but you do need to be aware of your battery and the power levels you have/distances you can ride. “Check & charge” should be your motto every time you get off your bike. Get into a routine or habit of charging and looking for charging points when you are out riding. If you commit to owning an E-Bike you should be very aware of it’s capacity or the distance it will take you before the battery is drained. Your battery won’t last for ever, the life of most batteries is 2-3 years so also be aware of this and take note of any decline in performance. For more information on E-Bike Tools read this story.

Carrying tools whenever you choose to go for a ride is a really important commitment to make to keep yourself safe. This becomes even more important as you choose to ride bigger distances and if you get further from help – more isolated trails/tour riding. We recommend carrying;

Tyre levers, spare tube, mini pump and/or puncture patches
Simple multi tool
Tape or security ties to fix, hold up battery cabling

There are multiple ways you can choose to take tools with you. Seat posts bags are a popular choice. Tool wraps that can be placed in a backpack and will open up to easily display all your tools are a great idea. You need to understand how to use what you carry so if you need some help with this please see the following resources we have created;

Five Simple Bike Tasks You Should Know, Tools & Kits to Carry,

Keeping your tyres well pumped up is also important. Check the pressure often and you will be less likely to get what is called a pinch flat. The faster speeds you are moving at means you hit small bumps and rises with greater energy which can squash or compress your tyre and split the tube.

Tip Five – Comfort & Warmth

Your comfort while riding is a huge part of enjoying your time on an E-Bike. It will also keep you protected & safe. There are three key points where you make contact with your bike. The seat, the handlebars and the pedals…

We have extensively covered bike seat comfort and the problems that can occur at this important contact point… View our COMFORT ON YOUR BIKE SEAT page.

Your bodies experience and temperature regulation will be quite different on an E-Bike. You may find it harder to get warm and stay warm. Any cold temperatures will be noticed immediately as you move through the air at a faster speed. So this means E-Bike riders need to think about what to wear a bit more carefully than those riding standard bikes. You will need more air flow protection and you may need to wear more clothing to stay warm. Please read our story Keeping Warm on an E-Bike to get a better understanding of this important part of your riding.

Your bike riding success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.

Ride an E-Bike

Riding an E-Bike is a different experience. Tips & advice for handling and balance on your E-Bike

E-Bike Riding - Am I Safe?

Safety is important for all riders. Understand what E-Bike riders need to think about to be safe.

Riding an E-Bike in the Rain

Will your battery or motor be affected by rain or water? Find out what to do to keep your E-Bike working.

Be Visible on the Bike

Being visible on the bike can help keep you safe. E-Bikes travel at speed so help drivers to see you!

Do you need special E-Bike tools?

You should always carry some bike tools when you ride… what do you need for an E-Bike?

Stories and Support Bike Tools to Carry

All our Bike Tools information – stories and support – on one easy to navigate page.

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Bike Path or Trail Riding – Am I Safe to goRide?

by Annette | Nov 24, 2021 | get Safe

Bike path & trail riding is becoming more and more popular as great trail networks and systems are being built all over NZ. Exploring our backyards in this way gives you the ability to connect with the outdoors and learn new skills. To be safe, comfortable & confident you need to understand any risks and manage them.

Supporting you and your family to SMILE when you ride.

SHOP Bike Path Rider

Bike Path & Trail Riding Safety

To follow are some simple tips for achieving a good level of safety and protection when you ride. To feel confident when out riding you should also be checking your bike before every ride. This involves a quick 30 second scanning process.

For more information on doing a Pre-ride Bike Check please see our story.

Tip One – Protection – Helmet & Gloves

Wear a helmet that has been designed for the type of riding you are about to do… Bike path, trail riding. A helmet must fit your head well to work for you in an accident. Choose basic to intermediate levels of protection depending on the risk level you ride at. The biggest factor here is speed. If you are riding on an E-Bike your speed will be greater so the protection you seek in a helmet should match to that.

Check out our story Bike Path Helmets – What are the options?

Gloves are another basic bike riding item that will give you protection and comfort. As you increase your ride times gloves will help with absorbing vibration through your handlebars. This is especially important if the trails are a bit rough.

For more info on gloves see Why are Bike Gloves Important?

A helmet that is adjustable and the right size should be worn every time you ride

Tip Two – Tools & First Aid

Carrying tools whenever you choose to go for a ride is a really important commitment to make to keep you safe. This becomes even more important as you get further from help – more isolated trails/tour riding. You should be able to manage the basics by being able to fix a punctured tyre, adjust a seat or brake lever. We recommend carrying;

Tyre levers, spare tube, mini pump and/or puncture patches
Simple multi tool

There are multiple ways you can choose to take tools with you. Seat posts bags are a popular choice. Tool wraps that can be placed in a backpack and will open up to easily display all your tools are a great idea. You need to understand how to use what you carry so if you need some help with this please see the following resources we have created;

Five Simple Bike Tasks You Should Know, Tools & Kits to Carry, What’s in a Basic Tool Kit?

Riding easy off road trails requires a certain skill level and confidence. Although not common you can have accidents & falls. If you are riding further than 30 minutes from help, a new slightly technical trail that will challenge you or with children, we recommend carrying a Compact First Aid Kit designed for bike riders. When you choose to do any kind of isolated day riding or isolated multi-day/tour riding a first aid kit is an essential piece of gear to carry. See First Aid for Biking Buying Guide.

Basic First Aid for Bike Injuries

Tip Three – Carrying Gear

What you need to be safe when you ride on off road trails and cycleways depends on how far you are going and how isolated you will be. It is also about the weather and how this weather will affect your body temperature. Extra things to carry include food, water, clothing (and tools/first aid which we have talked about in the above section).

Food – For most rides under an hour you won’t need food. Anything over this time 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.

Water – What 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 and this is why so many off road riders choose a hydration pack with a bladder – it allows you to carry more water than a drink bottle.

Clothing – Regulating your body temperature and keeping yourself dry is key to keeping safe and enjoying your ride. Again this becomes more important as you choose to ride further away from populated areas. Layering is a great tactic. As you warm up you can take off outer layers. Or in reverse, as the weather deteriorates you can add protective layers. Fabrics that have the ability to wick & breath are important so that you and your clothing remains dry. Often you will be sweaty & hot at the top of a climb. After resting, to prevent a chilled feeling from airflow on the way down, adding a lightweight/wind protecting jacket or vest is ideal. The worst combination is being cold & wet this is why we recommend quick dry fabric or merino base/mid layers with breathable but waterproof outer layers. For more on hypothermia and its dangers please read this story. First Aid & Emergencies When Bike Touring

Tip Four – will you get caught in the dark?

Most off road trail riding is best done during the day. A lot of the enjoyment from doing this riding is about taking in the scenery and enjoying your surroundings. These trails and tracks are not set up with street lighting so you will be completely in the dark if caught out. There are two things to think about to keep yourself safe if you think you may ride at night; warmth & lights.

Lights – 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 is powerful enough for you to see by – a Night Riding Set.

Warmth – See the section on clothing above for advice on layering and fabrics. Take special care to keep your extremities warm; fingers, toes & ears. So think thermal & merino for gloves, socks & headbands or beanies. Winter Warmth for Riding Combo

Tip Five – Comfort & Contact Points

Your comfort while riding is a huge part of enjoying your time on the bike. It will also keep you protected & safe. There are three key points where you make contact with your bike. The seat, the handlebars and the pedals…

We have extensively covered bike seat comfort and the problems that can occur at this important contact point… View our COMFORT ON YOUR BIKE SEAT page

Your bike riding success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.

Ride More Places

Read stories about NZ trails, tracks & parks. Find out what other families & riders are doing. Be inspired! Is this ride an option for you or your family?

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A collection of stories that will help you learn about bike gear. goRide supporting you to get the right bike gear solution for the type of riding you do or want to do.

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Read our stories that support you to learn about all things biking related. Be confident that you know how to safely ride & care for your bike.

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Stories in Types of Riding support you to learn about riding a bike in different environments. So you can successfully choose to ride more place, more often.

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Bike Helmets – What is MIPS?

by Jo | Nov 19, 2021 | get Better

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. Not all bike helmets have MIPS. Lets have a look at what it is, what it does and whether you feel it is important for you to have a helmet with MIPS.

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SHOP Bike Helmets

Bike Helmet Buying Guides

What is it and why is it important?

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. MIPS is the latest advances in bike helmet design to reduce head injuries during an impact to the head. MIPS has been developed by collaboration between leading brain surgeons and scientists and helmet manufacturers.

The design is based on mimicing our own protection system.

Our system – our brain is suspended within our skull by a fluid called Cerebral Spinal Fluid. Our brain is floating within the skull. This allows the brain to move in any direction during an impact and helps absorb the forces from the impact ( especially the time to peak force – so its slows the acceleration of the force) . ,,,so clever!

MIPS mimics this by using a slip-plane system that moves inside the helmet. This layer is designed to rotate inside the helmet to reduce the amount of energy transferred to the head and slowing the acceleration of the force.

Testing has shown that if we reduce this acceleration of the force, we might help both reduce the risk of brain injury and its severity.

Where in the Helmet is it and how do I know my Helmet has it?

A MIPS-equipped helmet looks almost identical to a non-MIPS-equipped helmet except for when you look inside, you will see a thin liner beneath the pads. From the outside, the only indicator that the helmet is any different to one without MIPS is that some brands have a small MIPS logo on there. Have a look inside your Helmet can you see a thin layer.

You won’t even feel a difference when wearing a MIPS-equipped helmet compared to a helmet that does not have MIPS.

MIPS logo that may be located on the outside of the helmet.

Clear MIPS system wtth logo over it.

Yellow MIPS system

Do I need a helmet with MIPS?

MIPS Helmets cost more than a helmet without MIPS.. So do you need it?

Anything that helps support your safety is worth investing in. The best way to determine if you want to invest in MIPs is understanding your risks on a bike.

What are your risks of being involved in an impact. Do you bike in traffic, do you bike at speed ( E-Bikes/ riding downhill) do you ride on challenging terrain ( off-road), do you bike regularly then your risk profile is higher and a helmet with the best protection is advised.

Investing in your safety is worth it.

An overview of MIPS by Giro (Bike Helmet Manufacturer)

Your bike riding success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.

Full Selection

View the full selection of goRides Bike Helmet Stories. Supporting you to get the right bike helmet and SMILE when you ride,

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Buying Guide- What is the best bike helmet for you? Get the level of protection you need – depending on the type of riding you do.

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Bike Helmets for Women… Understand your options get the right bike helmet..

Mountain Bike Helmets

Buying Guide- What is the best MTB helmet for you? Get the level of protection you need – depending on the type of riding you do.

What Are your Options

Mountain Bike Helmets for women and men – Understand your options get the right bike helmet.

The Best for E-Biking

The Best Bike Helmet for E-Biking. Learn what is the best helmet for riding your E-Bike.

Support and inspire other riders and families to ride

Share your riding outings, adventures and experiences on our quick and easy question and answer forms. Join us in helping others ride bikes. All entries receive a free shipping coupon and go into our seasonal prize draw.

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When to replace your Bike Helmet

by Jo | Nov 12, 2021 | get Better

Helmets do need to be replaced. Know when to replace your helmet so you have the confidence that your Bike Helmet is going to keep you safe if you have a fall / an impact when riding.

Supporting you and your family to SMILE when you ride.

SHOP Bike Helmets

Bike Helmet Buying Guides

When it does not Fit.

You cannot compromise on fit of a Bike Helmet. The Helmet needs to fit – right now and you must have the confidence that it will stay on and over your head in an impact.

Needing a new helmet due to fit is most relevant to kids who ride as their head size is changing. Don’t be too alarmed though our heads do not grow like our feet, you do not go through helmet sizes like shoe sizes. We are born with quite big heads and it is probably the part of our body that grows the least. From a sizing point of view your child will only likely need 3 at most 4 different helmet sizes in their time of biking from a toddler through to an adult.

See out Size and Fit Guides for understanding the correct fit of a bike helmet and how to adjust the helmet to your head. If your helmet is unable to be adjusted so that it is LOW,( less than 2 fingers above your eyebrows) LEVEL ( sits level all the way around your head) , SNUG and STABLE ( do the wriggle test – make sure the helmet will remain over your head in an impact) tehn you need to replace your bike helmet.

Kids Helmet Fit Guide

Adult Helmet Fit Guide

After a crash or Impact

After any type of crash or impact the foam liner can become damaged. The challenge with impacts to your helmet is that it is very hard to determine whether the integrity of the foam has been damaged and so the rule is

After any type of crash or impact = Replace your Helmet. See below for more information on how to check your foam liner.

Deterioration of the components of a Bike Helmet

Shell – Look for cracks or abrasions. Are there any cracked edges. Check for fading, UV exposure can make the shell brittle. Any compromise to the integrity of the shell will mean it may not hold together in an impact.

Liner – The foam. Press carefully over the shell of the helmet to see if there is any movement. Some helmets there will be no movement others a little movement, you are looking for any area that there is a variation in movement compared to the rest of the helmet. An area of greater movement indicates damage to the foam under the shell. Turn over the helmet and check the liner for cracks or compressed foam. If you suspect any area of compression check and measure the thickness of the foam at the same spot on the other side of the helmet.

Straps/buckles/clips and fasteners – check for wear and tear. Any loose stitching or fraying. Check buckles/clips and fasteners do they work and hold – buckle or fasten and then give them good forceful tugs and twists to check they don’t come apart. Think about the force they would be under during an impact or multiple impacts eg car and road. You want to mimic that force, you need to know that they will work to keep that helmet securely on your head in an impact.

After a certain time

If the above 3 reasons have not resulted in you replacing your helmet for a while ..then it might be just time. There is no golden rule here…because how regularly we use our helmets and what we expose them to is different for everyone. Just be aware that the components will deteriorate with time and sometimes you may not be able to see the damage…so if you feel like you haven’t replaced your helmet in quite a while then it might be time. As a guideline we say every 3-4 years for regular riders.