3 Questions to Instantly Reveal the Perfect Electric Bike for You
Lockdown is ending in the UK and you are thinking how an electric bike may help you achieve the lifestyle you want going forward. But there are so many brands, so many technical terms, so much choice.
Even more difficult, you know that, even if you decide which electric bike is best for you, you then must find an electric bike shop that has that specific bike for sale.
Answer our 3 questions and we will:
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Suggest specific bikes for you based on our own reviews; and
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Direct you where you can buy them now.
We won’t just name a bike and assert it is the best. We explain the features we think matter (see examples below), and which are not as important for you. And then we explain why each specific bike should meet your requirements.
For example, one feature that is NOT important is your gender.
The first step is stop thinking about ladies electric bikes vs an electric bike for men. Our advice is for all adults. An electric motor will change how you think about cycling. It has already changed how electric bikes are designed and manufactured.
Something else worth noting, virtually every online shop will sell you an electric bike on finance, and if you will be commuting with your bike, there is a Cycle to Work scheme.
But I am jumping ahead. Let’s get to it.
Q.1 What activity is your ebike mainly for?
[A] Commuting to work or school
[B] You are retired and want to maintain mobility
[C] Short trips about town/ visiting friends
[D] Fitness and leisure
This question is about the main use of your electric bike. You can change your answer if our suggestions don’t quite fit.
Examples
Our goal is to identify the features that will make the most difference for you.
For example, depending on your commute, you may need a higher performance bicycle. On the other hand, if you are retired, you may find it more difficult to handle a heavier bike and you might find a front hub motor unnatural and cumbersome.
If you are making a lot of short trips for shopping, you may want to consider some cargo bikes. The addition of an electric motor makes these much easier to handle. However, if you go off-roading on weekends, you will be looking for something else entirely.
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Are electric bikes legal in the UK?Yes, electric bikes are legal in the UK. Your confusion may arise because electric scooters currently are not legal (except on private property). With that said, your ebike may need to be registered, taxed and insured. The law right now defines an "electrically assisted pedal cycle" (EAPC) as a bike with a motor that: * is no larger than 250 Watts; * stops providing assistance above 15.5 mph; and * only assists when you are pedalling. If you are 14 years or older, you can ride an EAPC everywhere you can ride a bicycle without a license and without needing to be registered, taxed and insured. However, if your ebike exceeds any of the above, then currently it is viewed as a motorcycle or moped. It will need to be registered, taxed and insured; and you cannot ride in cycle lanes. The Department of Transport is undertaking a Future of Transport Regulatory Review, which is looking at these definitions: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/future-of-transport-programme
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What is the fastest electric bike?No your ebike will not stop you going faster. If you can pedal 45 mph (and congratulations if you can), your ebike will happily let you. What it won't do is help you get to 45 mph. See, ebikes are designed to stop assisting you when you reach 15.5 mph. For most people this is not an issue. Cycling beginners typically cycle at 12 mph over short distances. More experienced cyclists may average 15-16 mph over a good few miles. In summary, ebikes are not meant to propel you faster than you might normally cycle. If you want to go faster than other cyclists, then you should look for a moped or motorcycle.