Safety is critical for e-bike owners. Since these vehicles travel at much higher speeds than regular bikes, owners and pedestrians are at higher risk.
An electric bicycle comes with responsibilities, both for your safety and the safety of others. It’s no different than owning a car or a motorcycle—when you have a vehicle that can travel up to 30 miles per hour, you must take proper care of it to ensure that it doesn’t malfunction on the road. Read on to learn what you should check before taking your e-bike out.
Wheels
It may sound tedious, but you should check the tire pressure of your wheels every time you take your e-bike for a ride. This is one of the key elements to retaining control on the roads, so don’t skip this step. Next, ensure both your front and back wheels are firmly attached by attempting to move them from side to side. If they wiggle at all, something needs to be tightened.
Lights
Whether you’re riding in the dark or the rain, bright lights are a must. A bright front light lets you see what’s coming, while bright rear lights alert other drivers of your presence. If either LED is malfunctioning or unpowered, don’t ride until you address the issue. Pair your lights with reflective clothing and defensive biking, and you’ll be as safe as possible!
Brakes
Last but certainly not least, give your brakes a test to make sure they’re working properly. These are your best defense against bad drivers, so it’s crucial to ensure that they’re functioning before you take your bike for a spin. They’re even more critical on an e-bike than a regular one, since e-bikes have a lot more weight to slow down.
That extra weight means your brakes must constantly do more work than a normal bike does, which makes them more susceptible to breaking down. Understanding how your electric bicycle’s brakes work is essential so you know what to do when they start to fail.
Now that you know what you should check before taking your e-bike out, give everything a once-over and enjoy your ride!
