Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are very cool to own and ride. However, it’s also easy to face mishaps with these. From not maintaining the e-bikes properly to not taking proper road updates, there are quite a few reasons why you may face accidents with them.
To help you avoid facing these unwanted events, here are ten tips you can follow when using your favorite bicycle. And always remember to learn to ride them properly and get accustomed to them to ensure a smooth commute every time!
1. Know the Type of E-bike You Are Riding
Before you start learning to ride an e-bike, it’s important to know what you’re riding. Whether it’s for the roads, the mountains, or a lightweight bike, knowing the type can help you understand the mode of operations. You should also follow the manual before you start taking it for a spin.
Bike shops such as Specialized have a variety of e-bikes, each of which can be suitable for your purpose. For more details, check Specialized.com. You’ll find a range of bikes with their uses and other essential information.
2. Learn How to Ride It Properly
If you want to have a safe commute with your e-bike, you should properly learn to ride it. This includes practicing mounting and dismounting carefully, handling the gear and paddles, and learning how to control the bike.
It’s easy to cycle in a straight line. However, you may lose balance sometimes when changing lanes. Practice doing that properly so that you can switch sides effortlessly. Also, you should learn balancing when you brake and the intensity of braking.
Source: bicycling.com
3. Practice Getting on and Off Carefully
E-bikes are heavier than regular bikes due to the extra components they carry and the materials they’re made of. Even lightweight e-bikes can be heavy enough to injure you, which is why you need to practice carefully getting on and off your bike.
The most important thing that comes to play here is saddle height. Ensure that it fits perfectly to your inseam height so that you can ride the e-bike smoothly. A proper fit will also ensure that you don’t have too much distance from the foot to the ground, making it harder to get on and off.
Once you fix that, exercise your footing while mounting and dismounting. Firmly secure yourself with one foot while you have the other lifted either to get it or to get off.
4. Check Your E-bike Properly Before Setting Off
Have you seen how, before every flight, the engineers thoroughly check the airplane to ensure everything is a hundred percent perfect? You should apply this every time you’re taking your e-bike and any other vehicle out.
A thorough inspection of your bike once every day will bring out the issues that need immediate attention, such as deflated tires, loose screws, problems with brakes, etc. Also, lubricate all the parts of your bike that face friction all the time to avoid any skipping and decay of bike parts.
5. Wear Proper Gear Every Time
Since e-bikes are fast, it can be easy to slip and suffer an accident. To protect yourself from unwanted consequences, you should always gear up when you take your bike out.
Your head is what you should aim to protect first. Therefore, invest in good helmets that will give you adequate protection from any impact. And if you want to avoid scratches and displacement, wear knee and elbow pads.
Proper pair of shoes can also help you paddle your bike smoothly and avoid any strains on your muscles. Besides, a good pair of gloves will help you avoid any pain in your palms from constantly holding on to the grips.
Also, having fluorescent strips on your gears can make you visible to people at night, which is something you should seriously consider if you bike at night.
Source: popsci.com
6. Fix Necessary Equipment With Your Bike
Almost every e-bike has one crucial component missing: mirrors. It may look and sound old-school, but fixing mirrors on your handlebar will help you see what’s behind so that you can change lanes and take turns easily.
If you’re someone who likes exploring new places, then you’ll need the help of online maps. You can fix either a cell phone holder on your handlebar or set up a cycle computer. And if you want, you can also install a dash cam to your e-bike, either with the front wheel or at the back.
7. Be Informed of the Road Conditions
Whether you’re cycling by familiar roads or crossing new streets, you need to know what the road conditions are. Otherwise, you may face hazardous situations that you could’ve avoided otherwise.
For example, you can get updates on how the roads are to your destination after a blizzard. Or, if there was heavy rainfall, how slippery the roads are and if there’s accumulated water which may cause accidents.
8. Always Pay Attention to the Road
One of the biggest causes of accidents among bikers is blindly crossing roads. Yes, there are traffic lights to let bikers and pedestrians know when to stop and when to start. However, some drivers may still drive through those signals recklessly, crashing into anyone crossing by.
Whether you’re crossing an intersection or changing lanes, be very attentive to the vehicles around you. Slow down before you reach an intersection or a blind spot on the road, observe properly, and then cross the road. Also, avoid getting distracted by cell phones and other devices.
Source: yamahabicycles.com
9. Know When to Slow Down and Brake
There are moments on the road when you need to slow down or brake at the right moment. You need to practice riding your bike enough to know when pressing the brakes will give you enough time to stop safely.
A hard break may fly you off of your seat or create imbalance and excess friction in your bike, causing a lot of damage. Be alert to know when to press the brakes, even when you’re speeding. It’s a good idea to practice braking at high and low speeds so that you get accustomed to the angles of the bike in both of these cases.
10. Learn About the Local Laws for Riding an E-bike
This is something a lot of people ignore, thus facing legal consequences. With the increasing popularity of e-bikes, more and more kids are riding them. Laws in a lot of states mention the minimum age from which kids can start riding e-bikes.
These age restrictions are there for a reason: to avoid unwanted accidents and losses. Therefore, it’s better to learn about them and follow them.
Conclusion
As fun as they seem, e-bikes also come with risks if you don’t know how to handle them properly. You also need to inspect them daily and maintain them properly and be mindful while traveling to avoid crashing on blind spots.
With these ten safety tips, you can easily avoid accidents with your e-bikes. Take care of that ride of yours as if it’s your baby, and it’ll pay you off!
