STACK #214 August 2022

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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Our Top 10 reasons to buy an electric bike 1. First and foremost, riding an e-bike is so much fun! 2. Fitness isn’t a barrier. You can enjoy e-cycling regardless of your physical fitness levels. 3. You’re reducing your carbon footprint. 4. You can forget about rising fuel costs. 5. You don’t have to stress about city parking, including fees. 6. It’s good for your health, fitness, and mental wellbeing. 7. You can cycle for longer and further. 8. Worrying about hills is a thing of the past. 9. More and more Australian cities are making roads more accessible for cyclists. 10. E-bike owners don’t have to worry about insurance costs or the dreaded coffer-draining annual registration fees.

Image: Luca Campioni (Unsplash)

Dems Da Rules Before you stump up the readies and secure your new e-bike, it’s worth taking a squiz at the legals. Like any mode of transport in Australia, e-bikes are governed by a set of rules that do differ across states and territories. It’s essential to check your state’s compliance rules before the rubber hits the road, and here are the basics: The motor fitted to on-road e-bikes is capped at 250 watts or less. Anything above that is strictly reserved for off-road only. All on-road electric bikes with a throttle are only allowed up to 6kph. Any speed greater than 6kph requires pedal assistance. The pedal-assist (more on this later) feature on an e-bike may not exceed 25kph. You can pedal faster than this, but the motor must cut out at 25kph. Helmets are mandatory when riding an e-bike across Australia, so expect a tap on the shoulder if you’re not wearing one. E-bikes are required to have two working lights on them: a red on the rear and a white on the front. What is the 'e' in an e-bike? The core principle of an e-bike differs little from a traditional bike. Three main components make the magic happen: the battery, the motor, and the control unit. The lithium battery is the lifeblood: no power, no e-bike (although you can still use it as a traditional bike). Battery power Like your smartphone battery, e-bike batteries have come a long way. The lithium battery is lighter and holds more juice, allowing for

greater range. Range depends on several factors, including the rider's weight, riding conditions, and the type of surface being traversed. Manufacturers will include a general range figure with an e-bike, but this should only be used as an approximation. Batteries can either be surface mounted, semi-integrated, or internal. What does that mean? Well, you can remove the batteries of two for charging, whereas with an integrated battery, the bike will need to be wheeled to a power source. Charging times can vary quite considerably, so consult the manufacturer’s recommendations. The oomph The motor can be found

Safety Approved headgear protection is essential when using any form of rideable. It’s also vital to check your state legislation before taking to the road; laws differ considerably from state to state.

components together. You’ll find stats like distance travelled, speed, and battery life on an LED display. Choosing a mode There are three riding

in one of two places. The hub-drive motor is positioned in the rear wheel's centre, while the mid-drive motor is

positioned where the pedals join the bike. There are pros

options open to e-bike riders. The first is to go traditional and use pedal power alone. But you didn’t buy an electric bike to pant and sweat up

and cons to both, but generally, you’ll find hub motors are more suited to beginner riders not worried

about regular gear changing and looking for stress-free riding. They’re also at the more affordable end of the scale. More experienced riders will lean into the mid-drive motor, offering versatility and stability across mountain and road biking. The brains Control units are the heart of the bike, an onboard computer that brings all the electrical

a hill using just your legs. With pedal-assist, you get the best of both worlds. As the name suggests, using this mode engages the motor and provides a welcome boost to your pedalling action, so you’re still burning calories without depleting all your energy. Finally, throttle assist works in the same way as a motorbike. Twist the bike grip and away you go. This is the option for masters of lethargy, or when your body gives up and refuses to go one step further. Let’s torque This is an important feature of e-bikes. To simplify the explanation, think of torque as the available power to turn the e-bike’s rear wheel. The higher the torque, the greater the acceleration a rider has on hand to propel from a stopped position. It provides a faster take off, enables easier starts on a hill, and lends more

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.” – British author Arthur Conan Doyle

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