So far we’ve looked at commuting on any old bike.
Let’s look at what you need to think about if you want to use an e-bike. For some, an e-bike can be a game-changer. It will flatten the hills and you won’t arrive at work quite so hot and sweaty. Headwinds? easy, carrying lots of stuff? no problems.
However, they cost a lot more than your average steam powered bike. They are also more of a target for thieves so you need to think more about where you lock it up and what you lock it up with. Fortunately, having a motor means you can easily carry heavy locks around without feeling the extra weight on the hills.
The weight of an e-bike is considerably more so it can be a bit harder to get over kerbs and up stairs and the handling won’t be as nimble. If you haven’t ridden for a while and want to get an electric bike, lessons could be useful to make sure you get your skill levels up before leaping in at the deep end.
You’ll need somewhere to charge your bike too. Most bikes have removable batteries so you can charge them off the bike if there’s no power nearby. Removing your battery can also be a deterrent to theft.
The load carrying capacity of e-bikes means you can put a seat on it to carry kids around or put baskets or panniers on your bike and do your shopping on the way home. There’s a huge range of styles of e-bikes including fat tyre ones, chopper bikes or heavy duty cargo bikes.
Maintenance costs of e-bikes are higher and with old or odd models it can be hard to find people to service them let alone get spares. If you’re investing a bit of money in an e-bike, make sure you have a reputable brand with a support network and a service agent who can help keep you mobile for years to come.
Most people think of bikes as a traditional triangle frame and two large diameter wheels, but they really do come in all shapes and sizes. Folding bikes such as the Brompton are handy if your journey involves a train trip or you have storage issues at work. They are an amazing example of clever engineering and fold down small enough to sit beside your desk. Look at the options available, you might find that special bike that matches exactly your requirements or personality.
Check out the rest of the Commute by Bike series
- So you’re a bike commuter. What next?
- How to commute by bike: going electric or going alternative
- How to commute by bike: coping with road rage
- How to commute by bike: watch-outs for bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: maintaining your bike for commuting
- How to commute by bike: what clothes do you need for bike commuting?
- How to commute by bike: pimping your ride for a bike commute
- How to commute by bike: motivation when you start bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: safety tips for bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: route planning for bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: what stuff do you need?
- How to commute by bike: you and bike commuting
- How to commute by bike: choosing a bike
- How to commute by bike: a series to help start your bike commuting journey
