E-bikes are carving a wide niche in the cycling world, facilitating cycling activities for all sorts of people. But what are e-bikes? And where should you begin when considering buying one?
What are e-bikes?
Better known as e-bikes, electric bikes are essentially motor-assisted bicycles. Rather than turning an everyday bicycle into a motorbike that takes over all pedalling and exertion responsibilities, e-bikes assist by adding to the power the rider puts through the pedals. Typically, e-bike designers pretty much just take a conventional bike and add a battery and motor – that means they tend to look pretty much like a normal hybrid or mountain bike, but with a bit of a chunkier profile.
Who are they for?
Contrary to popular belief, or perhaps derision, e-bikes are not the exclusive prerogative of the old and injured. If you travel with lots of heavily-laden baggage – to and from work, for instance – then you might find the power-assistance of an e-bike keeps you out in the fresh air rather than reaching for the car keys when you just can’t be bothered. You’ll get to work with all your kit neatly packaged on your shiny new e-bike, and you will have avoided turning into a disgruntled sweaty state.
If you are indeed recovering from illness or injury, you might find the help of a motor helps you get going that bit quicker. Or perhaps you have a host of faster friends who you want to ride with, but always find yourself pinging out the back on group rides. An e-bike will keep you up there with the fastest and you’ll still be able to hold a conversation while you ride.
Whatever your situation, you can bet there’s something in the e-bike world for you.
Our picks of the best at Bicycle Chain
Hybrid
Most e-bike motors are situated around the bottom bracket, which promotes a good weight distribution and a more accurate power reading – ultimately giving a much more natural feel to the ride. The Forme Buxton 1FE Hybrid e-bike and Cube Cross Hybrid Pro clearly show this and you can see the battery mounted externally on the frame or rack. Alternatively, there’s the Turbo Vado, a bike designed around the motor and battery combination. These are good options for commuting or for recreational riders on the hunt for canal paths and fresh air.
Performance
We all know that no battery lasts for ever, but that’s not to say that you can’t get some serious mileage out of your e-bike. Traditional performance attributes are starting to gain in importance with serious road and mountain bikes getting the motor-assist treatment. The Giant FastRoad E+ is part of the company’s road range, though you’ll see that it does make use of flat bars rather than the traditional drops of a roadie. However, pace and efficiency still remain top priorities in this fast-charging hybrid-style tarmac-muncher.
There are e-mtb races popping up worldwide and it comes as no surprise when you see what some companies are turning out. Specialized and Trek have both produced an extensive range of motor-assisted mountain bikes that do a great job of hiding the technology in the performance frame. The Specialized Turbo Levo FSR and Trek Powerfly FS 7 are designed to extend those big rides all over the mountain from a lung-busting morning to an all-day adventure, thanks in part to the obvious motor-assist, but also to the greater ease with which riders can climb tough sections vs. traditional full-suspension trail bikes.
So, the question remains, are you ready to turbo-charge your riding? There are plenty more bikes on our online store to suit many a rider so do have a good look at what each can offer. As always, don’t hesitate to ask our in-store team any questions you might have.
