Newby

[Maureenb]

Hi everyone

My name is Maureen and I got my first electric bike last week and so far am loving it. I bought a velec R48M, nice bike ...but very heavy. I have found I really don’t need the throttle boost, the regular assist is enough at this time. I haven’t been too adventurous yet getting familiar...a little different from the BMW 650 I used to ride!
Look forward to tips and advise from all

I look forward to many great rides out here in Alberta!

 

[AlanDB]

Welcome to the forum and especially to the wonderful world of ebiking.

 

[ebikemom]

We're glad you are here! Welcome!

Alberta is pretty flat, so it makes sense that the throttle isn't much needed (I use mine to start when pointed uphill!), but if your chain falls off, having a throttle on a hub drive bike is great because you can keep riding the bike to a place where it is safe to pull over and put the chain back on!

 

[6zfshdb]

Welcome aboard Maureen! You've certainly found the right place for tips & advice! on ebike related matters.

When shopping for our first ebikes, my wife and I also didn't consider a throttle to be necessary. We bought throttled bikes anyway because they had all the features we wanted. Even though we don't use them much, we're now both glad we have them. The ebikes are considerably heavier than our conventional MTB's and it can be difficult to get started. This is especially true on hills as ebikemom mentioned above. Using the throttle as a boost when starting makes a big difference.

This may not be relevant for you but at our age, another consideration is health. Having a throttle eases concerns about a possible joint or other injury while riding. The throttle will always get us back home or to our vehicle if we were to loose the ability to pedal. This was a big worry for us considering some of the remote trails we ride.

Having a throttle does turn a class 1 ebike (pedal assist only) into a class 2. This can be a factor depending on regulations in the places you ride.

In any case, you're going to have a ball with your new bike! Keep us informed of your experiences and post a few pictures if you can.