What are some items to check on your electric bike before riding after a prolonged break? If you are at a loss, we have you covered in our blog below.

Here are our top suggestions to ensure you can ride without worrying about the safety or functionality of your bike due to prolonged inactivity during the winter

1. Adjust your seat:

Tighten and adjust your seat to ensure you maintain a comfortable ride. A loose seat can be uncomfortable and cause the rider to lose balance while sitting, if they are not careful

2. Check tire pressure:

Bike tires lose pressure when they sit idle for a long duration. Imagine the amount of air lost on a bike that has been sitting for 3 months due to winter. It’s always best to fill to the manufacturers recommended pressure level, which can be found on the tire side wall.

3. Check spokes:

Check for loose/broken spokes by running your fingers over the spokes. Imagine a harp player who plays the instrument by gliding their fingers over the strings. Similarly, you do not need to grab the spokes but glide your fingers over the spokes and you will know if they are loose. If they are loose, bring them to us so that we can inspect and fix the spokes in question.

4. Brake Levers:

Pull brake levers to ensure they work with both sides of brake pads. The brakes should completely stop the bike, while the wheels are in motion. If you notice a loose brake cable it should be replaced immediately.

5. Brake Pads:

Brake pads are essential for safety and they must be checked every few months Brake pads should maintain their grip and not become loose. If they appear worn out, replace your brake pads.

6. Bike Chain:

If you notice the bike chain skipping when shifting or pedaling or chain not going through gears smoothly, bring the bike to our shop so that we can inspect and perform a tune up.

7. Apply Dry Lubricant

Apply dry lubricant to gears, the chain, and all moving parts of the bicycle to ensure everything is lubricated.

8. Thorough check

Make sure all other components of the bike such as; stem handle bar, headsets, front wheel skewer, read motor axels, pedals, should be inspected to ensure they are tight.

This checklist should be part of every bike rider’s seasonal ritual to ensure they have a safe ride with their electric bike.

Conclusion:

Electric Motorbikes are rising in popularity due to their inexpensive upkeep, ability to travel short distances at reasonable speeds and avoid contributing pollution into the environment. However, E-Bikes are relatively new which means there are a lot of questions surrounding their usage, maintenance, and upkeep.

This is why we have created these blogs to address questioned presented to us.

We at Epic Cycles hope to provide you the ability to purchase a motorized bike as we sell everything from Electric Scooters, Magnum E-Bikes, and Stromer Bikes which can be purchased and shipped anywhere in Canada.

Please don’t hesitate to sign up for our news so that you can remain updated on the latest news, and giveaways. Also, make sure to check us out on social media as we are always up to something! 

Let’s face it. We are a commuter nation. We drive to work. We drive to see friends. We drive to hang out. A significant portion of our lives and expenses are dedicated towards our cars. We pay at the pump, our insurance is based on our area of residence, car loans, maintenance fees, car washes, and car upgrades all cost money. Cars become one of our most expensive monthly costs asides from our mortgages/rent payments.

The expenditures on a vehicle have been compounded by the massive expansion of cities and towns, that have grown further apart. Family and friends have relocated to the suburbs to reduce expenses, which has them scattered across the map, which increases the distances and costs.

It’s impossible to eliminate a vehicle as they are necessary but fortunately there is a new form of transportation that can help ease transportation costs. That transportation is known as electric bikes. They are sleek, beautifully designed, and economical in comparison to costs related to vehicles.

We also cannot overlook the component of physical benefits of increased exercise, reduced diseases and overall better lifestyle which reduces costs related to health and lifestyle.

In this blog post today, we wanted to compare electric bikes vss. Other modes of transportation, to highlight how an electric bike will help to reduce costs and trim your transportation budget for the upcoming summer months.

Electric Bikes vs Bus:

One could assume that if they wanted to reduce their transportation expenses, they could take the bus. However, this notion is incorrect when you factor in the rising cost of fares and bus passes. A Toronto Transit bus pass can cost about $156 monthly. If you use the GO station as a form of transportation, they can cost up to $10 each way, $20 per day which equals to about $100 per week and almost $400 per month. That is quite the cost! In comparison, electric bikes only have one major cost which is the upfront cost of the bike. However, the longer you ride the bike, the more savings you will have each week.

Electric bikes vs Cars:  

As discussed in the introduction, owing a car is not cheap. To provide an accurate breakdown, let’s look at an example of average monthly expenses for owning a vehicle:

Car Payments – $200 – $400

Car Insurance – $200 – $400 (It’s more expense for new drivers, those with infractions and in cities with a higher accident rate)

Gas – $200 – $400

Maintenance – $100

407 Cost – $100 – $200

Parking Costs – $50 – $100

That’s quite a bit of money. Electric bikes that ride under 38km per hour do not require insurance, as they are not legally deemed a vehicle. Gas consumption is zero as you can charge your electric bike through any electrical outlet. There are almost zero costs involved with maintenance and parking costs. Therefore, the savings could be in the hundreds from just owning an electric bike.  

Electric Bikes vs Uber/Taxi:

New applications and companies like Uber and Lyft have changed our perception on car ownership. In previous decades there were limited numbers of taxis that would be found in major locations within the city. Uber has allowed anyone to become a driver and ride share drivers are available throughout the suburbs and the city. Students who cannot afford a car, who need a vehicle for limited uses, have enjoyed the convenience with Uber.

However, do not let the convenience factor take away from the fact that uber costs are significant. An uber trip for a 15-minute ride could cost anywhere from $15 – $20 one way. That is almost $40 per trip. If you use Uber 3x a week, that is almost $120 per week and close to $480 per month.

Moreover, ride sharing costs vary based on the time of day and traffic. Uber is more expensive during peak rush hours. An electric bike will never have this issue as once you purchase the bike, you can ride it whenever you please and are not at the mercy of charges for riding at peak hours.

Plus, you will avoid traffic jams as there are designated bike lanes within the city that make it convenient to ride a bike.

Conclusion: 

Electric Motorbikes are rising in popularity due to their inexpensive upkeep, ability to travel short distances at reasonable speeds and avoid contributing pollution into the environment. However, E-Bikes are relatively new which means there are a lot of questions surrounding their usage, maintenance and upkeep. This is why we published this blog that addressed the top 7 questions that were presented to us.

We at Epic Cycles hope to provide you the ability to purchase a motorized bike as we sell everything from Electric Scooters, Magnum E-Bikes, and Stromer Bikes which can be purchased and shipped anywhere in Canada.

Please don’t hesitate to sign up for our news so that you can remain updated on the latest news, and giveaways. Also, make sure to check us out on social media as we are always up to something!