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Five things to consider when choosing an e-bike

E-bikes can make your city commute easier as well as give you a little extra help on rough terrain.

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Anyone looking for an electric bike will be spoiled for choice this fall with a host of models on the market from various manufacturers. Here are a few things to look out for when shopping for an e-bike.

Model

It's important to pick a model that's designed for the kind of use you have in mind. For more comfort when riding around town, look for a city e-bike with an upright position, and high, close handlebars. This lets the rider see far ahead while keeping their arms relaxed.

In recent years, more versatile models have landed on the market, based on the design of hybrid bikes. Here, the rider's position is more inclined, combining pleasure with practicality for commuters. These two kinds of electronic bikes usually come with practical accessories such as a luggage rack or a built-in antitheft device, and they are ideal for day-to-day use.

Some brands also make models suitable for all kinds of use and leisure activities. These tend to be lighter, with the slim wheels of a mountain bike, and they don't come with any accessories. They're aimed at sporty users and thrill-seeking riders.

Battery

Another key point when choosing an electric bike is the battery. An e-bike battery can be recharged in a few hours from a regular mains socket, and weighs an average 3kg. Some batteries can be removed, making the bike easier to transport.

There are three main types of battery. Lead-based batteries are the cheapest option, but they're heavy and sensitive to changes in climatic conditions. Nickel-cadmium batteries are lighter but have battery memory issues, so performance can suffer if they aren't completely depleted prior to charging. Lithium batteries stand out as the best choice, but they're the most expensive.

All three kinds come in various models, offering varying levels of power and range. A 36 volts/400 amp-hour battery offers sufficient electric assistance for several hours' riding.

Motor

The location of the bike's driving force, its motor, is also worth considering. Before the 2010s, e-bike motors were usually located on the wheels, making them cheaper and easier to install. When riding, the feeling is a bit like having someone pushing your back. The difference in power between two pedal strokes isn't really that noticeable, and it doesn't really matter if the motor is on the front or back wheel, especially for city riding. However, riders have noticed a lack of grip on unstable, rougher terrain when the motor is on the front wheel.

An e-bike with a pedal-based hub motor feels more like riding a regular bicycle. Certain recent models take the concept further with a system of sensors measuring speed, pressure and rotation to help the motor adapt to the cyclist's needs.

Assistance

E-bikes fall into two categories. Some come with an electric motor that responds to just one factor: whether or not the rider is pedaling. The level of assistance is therefore constant and can be adjusted via a control module. These modules can be fixed or removable, with LEDs or digital displays, allowing the cyclist to change the level of help they get from the electric motor.

A more advanced system used in higher-end models offers "proportional" assistance, monitoring the rider's pedaling and adding a certain amount of assistance. This is determined by several sensors, which evaluate the pressure exerted on the pedals and the level of difficulty the user faces. This makes for improved responsiveness from the motor and lower power use.

Gears

Cyclists also expect speed and adaptability from a bike's gear transmission. For a sporty feel and no loss in output, some electric bikes use derailleur systems for changing gears.

Models designed for city riding tend to use a gear hub system. Linked to the pedal motor, this gear system requires the user to stop pedaling to change gear, which can take some getting used to. But this practical solution protects the chain and avoids problems with derailment or chain jumping.

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