What have you learned from your e-bike experiences?

[Tom@WashDC]

What I learned:

• Purchase the highest quality bike you can afford from a storied, reputable manufacturer. You deserve the best.
• Stay away from integrated proprietary electronics and software systems.
• Purchase a bike that can be serviced locally, or DIY, with a robust decentralised parts inventory stream.
• You deserve a rear suspension (front too). Not a suspension seat post. There is no comparison.
• Wear elbow pads and knee pads along with your helmet. There's a reason that NHTSA keeps stats on bike fatalities.
• Use high intensity flashing lights on the front and rear.
• Go Tubeless.
• Don't drink more than two beers before you ride.

 

[MrClortho]

What I learned:

• Purchase the highest quality bike you can afford from a storied, reputable manufacturer. You deserve the best.
• Stay away from integrated proprietary electronics and software systems.
• Purchase a bike that can be serviced locally, or DIY, with a robust decentralised parts inventory stream.
• You deserve a rear suspension (front too). Not a suspension seat post. There is no comparison.
• Wear elbow pads and knee pads along with your helmet. There's a reason that NHTSA keeps stats on bike fatalities.
• Use high intensity flashing lights on the front and rear.
• Go Tubeless.
• Don't drink more than two beers before you ride.

This has got to be one of the most wise set of mtb lessons I have ever read.

 

[CanNik]

ALWAYS have front and rear cameras

 

[Slaphappygamer]

You can add CarPlay while you are at it.

 

[Gionnirocket]

In recent weeks with consistent +90°f temperatures and + 68° dew points along with poor air quality due to Canadian wild fires I've learned that increasing PAS to keep you moving at 18 - 20mph instead of the typical 13 - 16mph...especially on long hill climbs results in much more significant air cooling while still being able to get some exercise in safely.
Conclusion... I thank god that I'm not in the EU with an over_restricted children's toy of an ebike

 

[Gionnirocket]

What I learned:

• Purchase the highest quality bike you can afford from a storied, reputable manufacturer. You deserve the best.
• Stay away from integrated proprietary electronics and software systems.
• Purchase a bike that can be serviced locally, or DIY, with a robust decentralised parts inventory stream.
• You deserve a rear suspension (front too). Not a suspension seat post. There is no comparison.
• Wear elbow pads and knee pads along with your helmet. There's a reason that NHTSA keeps stats on bike fatalities.
• Use high intensity flashing lights on the front and rear.
• Go Tubeless.
• Don't drink more than two beers before you ride.

You forgot... and what ever you ride, get yourself a ROHLOFF!!!

 

[MrHyak]

What I learned:

• Purchase the highest quality bike you can afford from a storied, reputable manufacturer. You deserve the best.
• Stay away from integrated proprietary electronics and software systems.
• Purchase a bike that can be serviced locally, or DIY, with a robust decentralised parts inventory stream.
• You deserve a rear suspension (front too). Not a suspension seat post. There is no comparison.
• Wear elbow pads and knee pads along with your helmet. There's a reason that NHTSA keeps stats on bike fatalities.
• Use high intensity flashing lights on the front and rear.
• Go Tubeless.
• Don't drink more than two beers before you ride.

I would agree with this to a point...but, if someone is totally new to ebikes they really don't know what they will want until they start riding. You spend lots of $$$ on the unknown and find out a year later its not really what you wanted, its a costly lesson. This is why I like the idea of buying used or cheap first, ride for a year or so then purchase what you really want after being more educated and sell the first. This way you really do get what you want in the end and your not stuck with something expensive that is not what you really wanted.

 

[stompandgo]

My experience shows why the per-mile death rate for American men was so low before elitist JFK banned, in effect, the humble English 3-speed.

I can't stand the Kennedy's, but JFK created the Cape Cod National Seashore. If he didn't, it would look like Miami. I will always be grateful for that.

 

[Tom@WashDC]

You forgot... and what ever you ride, get yourself a ROHLOFF!!!

Ha Ha, honestly, I was gonna add that, but didn't want to discourage all the rear hub owners!

 

[Tom@WashDC]

I would agree with this to a point...but, if someone is totally new to ebikes they really don't know what they will want until they start riding. You spend lots of $$$ on the unknown and find out a year later its not really what you wanted, its a costly lesson. This is why I like the idea of buying used or cheap first, ride for a year or so then purchase what you really want after being more educated and sell the first. This way you really do get what you want in the end and your not stuck with something expensive that is not what you really wanted.

I agree. I was going to put in a caveat about, once you decide you are in this for the long haul.....
The advice that I gave is derived after going through two bikes, one a complete DIY.

 

[harryS]

MrClortho, as a mountain biker you know this, but one thing I learned about riding faraway rail trails in the early morning. The air is clear and cool. The pine smells amazing. The damn rest rooms in the trail stops are locked. What a man might do for a mere scrap of toilet paper.

 

[mschwett]

less (weight, complexity, suspension, wires, accessories) is more

get and use a varia

go tubeless

learn how things work, even if you’re not going to work on them yourself

live in a place where the rights and safety of cyclists are respected, if not prioritized

don’t buy things online if you can reasonably avoid it

get a bike fit and wear apppropriate clothing

that’s about it.