If you’re someone who suffers from exercise-induced asthma, joint or knee pain, electric bikes can breathe new life to your sport of cycling. These bikes are specially designed for their cost efficiency, climbing efficiency, wind resistance, better range, and health benefits. Read along to find out more about electric bikes for better purchase decision. 

What Technology Is Used In E-Bikes?

Wondering how do they look like? Ebikes Denver looks exactly like a regular bicycle. However, as the name suggests electric bikes have some electric components that are purposely fitted in the design to augment human power and not to replace it. If you’re someone who is habitual of cycling, you’d know how difficult it gets on a bicycle if the road or place has bumps and hills. E-bikes make such obstacles manageable and allow you to travel further and quicker without getting as tired as before. 

Electric bikes rely majorly on three components that work together: motor, battery, and drive train. The motor is the most important feature of an e-bike. In different models, various motors can be found ranging from the front hub, mid-drive, or rear hub. The drive train provides the power and rotating force to manually turn the wheels of the bicycle. The motor sends the power directly to the drive train which makes the chain reeling easier. Electric motors come in a wide variety of power ratings. They can range from 200W to 1000W or maybe more. The higher the rating, the more the bike will be able to pull weight with greater ease but of course at the expense of using battery capacity faster, while doing so. 

What about the battery? How can you charge an e-bike? It is as simple as plugging it into any wall socket. The high-quality battery takes about 2-4 hours to charge fully and is said to have a lifespan of 700-1000 charges compared to low-quality batteries that take 6-8 hours to charge and last for up to 300-700 charges. 

Another interesting thing to note here is that e-bikes do not need special license, registration, or insurance to operate. You can enjoy the same freedom as that of a regular bike. However, different states have special laws regarding the use of electric bikes. It is better to look into it before you get one for yourself. 

How Is It Operated?

E-bikes are becoming known for the way it can be easily operated. If you’re cycling on an e-bike, you will have 3 options to choose from as and when required. 

1. Only Pedal: If you just want to take a stroll along the street or just want to exercise, you can pedal on an electric bicycle just as you would with a standard bicycle. You turn off the pedal assisting mode and since no additional resistance will be created by the motor, you will feel as if you’re riding a normal bicycle. Isn’t it great? 
2. Electric Assist: This mode gives you the advantage of combining electric power with human power. This mode can be turned on through the controlled display located at the handlebars. Once it is turned on the motor will gently give electric power as you pedal. It gives an amazing feeling because it makes your cycling effortless, enabling you to enjoy the scenery as you hum along. The pedal assist option provides you 3 levels of power: low, medium, high so you can easily switch to the level you want. 
3. Only Electric: This mode allows you to sit back completely and enjoy your travel as the motor does all the hard work. To use this mode, you just have to twist the throttle that is located at the left handlebar and you will feel that the motor has started and will propel you forward. However, due to regulations designed by the state, the electric-only mode can speed up to only 20 miles per hour and not more than that. 

Features You Need To Consider Before Buying One

1. Battery: Does e-bike have a replaceable battery? It’s incredibly important to have a replaceable battery because as you may know lithium-ion batteries tend to degrade over time, especially after a couple of years of heavy use. It doesn’t last long as it used to. So before your purchase, make sure to check. Also, check the cost of a replaceable battery, some might be as expensive as purchasing a new bike! So take extra care of the battery to make it last longer. 
2. Assistance Level: Different models have different levels of assistance that they provide but the majority of them are designed to give the equivalent of low, medium, and high modes. It is up to you which one you want to use. If you’re climbing up a hilly area, you might want to double your paddling power for easy access. Assistance level gives a boost to your paddling so that less stress is exerted on your thighs and legs in general. 
3. Display Unit: Control display is usually fitted on the handlebars which allows you to adjust the assistance level as you go along. However, these displays in some bikes are complicated to use compared to others that are clearer and easier. It is important that before buying an e-bike you must go for a test drive so that you can see how conveniently you can change the assistance level. 
4. Brakes: To ensure smooth traveling, the quality of the breaks must be excellent. The brakes of e-bikes are no different than a standard bike. However, as said before, different models of e-bikes contain various brake systems. It will probably have one of the following; Caliper brakes, common for roads, mostly used for race bikes. V-brakes, common for touring and off-road bikes. Cantilevers, similar to V-brakes but they have a cable between them which prevents mud clogging and Disc brakes, they are increasingly popular for professional cycling. They have the best stopping power, especially when cycling in wet areas.