{"id":14274,"date":"2021-03-24T20:55:48","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T20:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2design.co\/ebikeeurope\/ebikes-what-you-need-to-know\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T11:29:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T10:29:50","slug":"ebikes-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2design.co\/ebikeeurope\/ebikes-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Ebikes – what you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ebikes – what you need to know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What is all the fuss about Ebikes – read on for what you need to know. The phenomenon of ebikes has exploded over the past five years. 2020 was off the scale with people wishing to keep their distance but still getting exercise. Ebike sales have increased exponentially, and most shops ran out of stock completely. Which pushed up 2nd<\/sup> hand ebike prices as people rushed to get their hands on a new means of transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have ridden an ebike for a decade, and people ask me if I am cheating. My reply is always the same, ebikes make cycling more accessible. I still have to pedal the bike; it doesn’t move on its own! I control the effort. If I am feeling strong, I opt for a lower power level and use my heart rate monitor to ensure I am getting a workout. I use a higher power level when I feel tired or my arthritis bothers me. I get exercise and fresh air both ways, which always makes me feel better. With the advent of ebikes, people use ebikes more than before because it makes cycling more accessible and more enjoyable. Join the phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Descents
My new bike in 2020 – join this phenomenon <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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What you need to know – What is an ebike?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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They are a bicycle that has an electric motor fitted to the crank (the bit where the pedals are). A battery powers the motor, located on the down tube or carrier at the back of the bike. The battery power will vary, but they are generally between 400w \u2013 750w. They are fitted with a limiter, so the motor will not provide any more assistance once your reach 25 km in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On my 1st<\/sup> ebike, notice the size of the battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"KTM\"
This KTM had a Bionix battery system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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2nd<\/sup> ebike, the technology moved on dramatically from my 1st<\/sup> to my 2nd<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Haibike\"
My trusty Haibike for five years<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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And this is my current ebike. The battery is integrated into the downtube. It is a 625w battery, so I can go much further on one charge.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Scott Axis eRide 20 Lady<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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What you need to know – How do they work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The motor boosts the power that you put through by turning the pedals. You control the various power levels from a computer on your handlebars. I have a Bosch motor on my ebike, and my specific model has four levels. Eco is the lowest and gives me 55% more power, so my 100% turns into 155%. If I need help on a steep section, the top level, Turbo, gives me 340% more power. A common assumption is that you do not have to pedal, but this is not the case. You choose how much “assistance” you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ebikes are fitted with a speed minimiser, so once I reach 25 km, the motor will no longer assist me. If I’m going downhill, I will go faster, but for cycling on the flat, 25 km is plenty. I am not in a race, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ebikes use different types of batteries depending on the manufacturer and type of ebike. Therefore the distance you will get from one charge will vary a lot. It will depend on several variables:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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