7 tips that everyone should know before the first time

They say you don’t forget to ride a bike. But a bicycle is not just a bicycle, at least since there have been e-bikes. Anyone who sits on a bicycle with an electric motor for the first time quickly realizes that this is not the same as it used to be. We have put together a few tips for your first trip on an e-bike that will help you get to your destination safely.

Autumn is here, the weather is getting more uncomfortable. Cycling is often less fun than in spring and summer. In strong (head) winds, however, an e-bike can still be a real help before it maybe disappears into the basement for the winter. But beware: If you are trying out an electric two-wheeler for the first time or have not yet ridden your newly purchased e-bike, you should know what you are doing. Because you can hardly unlearn how to ride a bike, but an e-bike is more than a classic bike. We have 7 tips put together for you that you should pay attention to the first time.

Tip 1: Riding an e-bike carefully is the top priority

From pedestrians to truck drivers, everyone should be careful on the road and pay close attention to the surroundings. This is all the more true if you are riding an e-bike for the first time and are not used to the unfamiliar acceleration and high speeds. For example, only a few drivers can see at a glance whether someone is approaching on a normal bicycle or an e-bike – but the latter person may then approach unexpectedly quickly. As a cyclist you are always at risk in the event of an accident, and the number of accidents involving e-bikes is increasing. So think for the other road users and take care of yourselves. This also includes a helmet, even if it is not mandatory for e-bikes (up to 25 km/h).

Tip 2: The right attitude

As with a bicycle, it is important to adjust the saddle and handlebars to suit you so that you can sit comfortably and adopt a comfortable posture. In general, the saddle should be high enough that you only have one slight flexion in the knee joint have when the pedals are in the lowest position. Try this with both feet so that you can easily get to the pedals on the right and left.

There are many possible settings for the correct height and angle of the handlebars, which also depend on personal requirements and taste. It is not possible to say in general what is ideal. Unless you’re about to race, he should However, the handlebars tend to be slightly higher than the saddle be.

Tip 3: Use the gears of your e-bike cleverly

The great thing about an e-bike is that you can ride away from a lot of people almost effortlessly and be as fast as the wind. You can also easily start off in high gears and save yourself the hassle of switching gears. After all, the electric motor does the work. Nevertheless, you should be calm when it comes to e-bikes with gears also use the small aisles for starting. This means that the electric motor has to provide less support and you protect the drive, chain or belt and your battery. You should pay attention to this, especially on long journeys. If you ride an e-bike without gears or with an automatic transmission, this is of course unnecessary.

Tip 4: Take your time when starting

As mentioned above: It’s just fun to race away from all other cyclists from the start at the red traffic light. But you really have to be careful here. Depending on how quickly the motor of your e-bike reacts, you may start off faster than you would like. During my test of the Cowboy 4 ST, for example, I was waiting at an intersection just as a car shot through the red traffic light. If you start driving in such a situation, as soon as your bicycle light turns green, it can get really tight. Better you wait a moment before pedalling.

With the VanMoof V, the Dutch manufacturer has a new e-bike up its sleeve:

Tip 5: Feet off the pedals when standing

I know it from myself: When I’m on my bike and I’m standing at a traffic light, I usually have one foot on the pedal the whole time. Then it can continue as soon as it is green again. But be careful, the drive of the e-bike can also play tricks on you here. The technology recognizes when you pedal and then begins to support you. That’s what an e-bike is for. But if you can’t ride at the moment and only have a little weight on the pedals, there can be a mix-up. Then you might make a bigger leap forward than you would like. The following therefore applies at the traffic light with the e-bike: Take both feet off the pedals Or at least keep your hands on the brakes.

Tip 6: Don’t let your e-bike do all the work

Many e-bikes have different riding modes, depending on what you’re up to or how much pedal assistance you need at the moment. As with starting off, the simple truth applies here: the harder the electric motor works, the more power it needs for it. Or the other way around: The less you pedal yourself, the faster the battery is empty.

So you should be flexible, especially on longer tours. If your e-bike does not regulate the power of the motor automatically, you should not let the motor run when going downhill, for example, because it is not needed. You can usually easily control this via app control or an e-bike computer and can thus get more range. Even if you are going on a longer tour and are full of energy at the beginning: Save some of the battery charge for the way back if you are perhaps more exhausted and would like a little more help.

Tip 7: Driving training is no shame

These are just a few tips that we hope will help you on your first lap on the e-bike. Nevertheless, a lot has come together, because it makes a significant difference when you get on an e-bike for the first time. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also complete an e-bike driving course first. There you will learn everything you need for a successful start with the new e-bike.