Ever wondered what an e-bike is all about?
martin wilkins • October 30, 2020
Come along and take a free test ride on an electric bike
Demo rides are the best way to try before you buy and ask all the questions to have a better understanding of which e-bike is right for you.
Awareness
There are a few things to bear in mind when you are looking to buy a new e-bike:
- An e-bike is a type of bicycle that can be used without any licence, mandatory insurance or helmet, and taken on bike paths. To avoid being classified as a moped, it must fit very specific criteria. The electric motor, limited to 250w, that is pedal-assisted only when the rider pedals. (After 2016, pre-e-bikes were fitted with a throttle) The maximum powered speed is 15.5mph. And riders must be 14 or over.
- An e-bike means riding more often, or the rider is much happier to tackle a commute that was only previously done in a car.
- The costs: Good e-bikes tend to start from £1,200 – £1,900, with the mid motors being the more expensive over a hub motor.
- e-bikes also require regular servicing and care of the battery, with storage and charging levels.
- e-bikes do weigh more than a bicycle and can make it difficult if you need to move your e-bike up steps. The better e-bikes do have a walk-assist, making it easy to manoeuvre.
- Every e-bike we assemble for a customer, we include a hand over, by showing you the gears and how everything works.
You May Like To Read: Before you buy a electric bike
We have teemed up with Boost bikes to convert your ride.
See our Boost e-Bike conversion kit page for a list of demo bikes available and locations. *We have put Boost bikes on hold, as it's a unknow risk for insurance companies. This is being reviewed, by the insurance and is a work in progress. And hope to update soon 12/2024
Riding a e-Bike is guaranteed to make you smile :)
Our national network of Cycle Technicians is the perfect combo to team up with bike brands, who sell online and want consumers to try before they buy.
- Catering for all types of riders, woman and families. We work closely with many good brands so we can get the right bike for you to try.
- Cycle Tech UK work with brands that use quality electric motors and components. Our Technicians have the training, tech support and product knowledge of knowing the range of demo bikes.
- Cycle Tech UK only sell bikes with e-motor system that have the back-up and support available, to give each rider the very best exspireance available.
See the brands we sell and support: Cycle Tech DIRECT and the Aftercare Service for Electric Bikes
Contact your nearest Cycle Technician and arrange a test ride.
Over time I’ve seen more walkers, which is ok - good for your health requiring only a pair of walking boots and that's about it. But where are the cyclists? Or should I say the increase in cycling numbers, especially with e-bikes?
The key to successful business; to deliver above and beyond customers expectations. We know this as aftercare. Our network established itself by offering a premium personal service. The delivery of this means CTUK is known for excellent values and customer service, including the industry standard and ‘M-Check’ - Going the extra mile.
Under the sponsorship deal Cycle Tech UK provides both the very latest racing MTB equipment and all the necessary servicing and parts to keep Gab at the front
Cycle Tech requires multiple Cycle Technicians due to national expansion and demand for our exceptional passionate working ethos, which really puts the customer first. There is flexibility in the role to fit around your needs, this is a supportive community and not a restrictive franchise.
Tom rides for Vredestein Basso and covers around 30,000km a year, so he burns his way through components at quite a rate - we've just replaced his big chainring, chain, cassette and brake pads.
Cycle Tech UK is advising cyclists to have a home visit when their new bike arrives to have it set up and explain how everything works. Cycle Tech UK also can arrange the fist service to make sure everything is running smooth, items like cables, crank bolts and steering require adjustments at 30 days.
It is very important to have your new bicycle built/set-up correctly, for safety reasons, for brakes and gears to work correctly/smoothly and to give you years of enjoyment.
Many bicycles are now brought on the Internet and are delivered in a box.
When looking for a bargain, it is likely these days that you will turn to eBay for a second-hand bike. While there are bargains to be had, when buying a second-hand bike, you need to be careful, because you may have a large repair bill to go with the bargain price. Even if the person is not intending to be dishonest, their idea of the perfect condition may mean clean but worn out. In recent weeks two of our repairers have given out bills of well over £100 to make a bike usable, even though they were described as "good as new".
How to look after your chain, check the wear and know how often you should replace before it wears out other components or snaps while riding. The major cause of chain stretch is wearing away of the metal where the rivet rotates inside the bushing and not the side plates of a chain.
Bike out of the box. More than just turning the handle bars and fitting the peddles. Professional assembly of your bicycle purchased online It may be your first or a repeat online purchase, but it is vital your new bicycle is professionally assembled before using it. This is known as a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) that requires proper assembly of your new bike from a box. Parts require checking using a torque wrench and checks must be made to ensure critical components are set up correctly. This will ensure the bike is safe, giving it long-life and for you to have continued enjoyment. The internet is where most people go to for the best deal When you buy your new bike online it will be shipped in a box. A supplier will advise to; "Just turn the handle bars, fit the peddles and you are ready to go" Are you? It is essential that a professional checks your bike first. Checks before dispatch by the supplier, do not guarantee your safety after handling in transit. Consider this very carefully as bicycle accidents can hurt! Tip: When buying your new bicycle factor in the service and maintenance costs. Pose a real danger to yourself and others Doing it yourself means you need the correct tools. A torque wrench or know the feel for how tight the bar stem/bars, the steering, peddles and seat post bolts should be. Know how to set up the ride potion, to know if a component is functioning correctly, requires adjustment or has been damaged when being delivered. Cyclists call us when it goes wrong Quit often a customer brings a new bike in for repair they just brought online, saying the gears are not working correctly. On a closer inspection, the bicycle shows up more issues; misalignment of critical components, brakes rubbing, rounded of hex key bolt heads, loose steering and even the wrong size bike. Our Technicians are always on-hand to get you back on the road, as soon as possible in a safe manor. The way we can get involved with a bike that has not been PDI'd by a professional, means carrying out a full PDI to make sure the bike is safe to be used on public roads after being seen by one of our Cycle Technicians. Part of the PDI processes is the hand over, making sure the rider knows how to use the gears, when to check the tyre pressure and to what pressure, how often the chain needs oiling/cleaning and when the bike requires servicing. For ebikes; advice is given on charging and storing the battery for reliability and long-life. Or this can mean an expensive non-warren replacement, if not maintained as manufactures recommendations. 'Good Practice' The bike trade also recommends a first service at 30 days from date of purchase, to make sure everything is running smoothly and make miner adjustments of brakes and gears, plus check the steering, wheels, crank for fitment and correct operation. Its even more essential that ebikes are inspected more often. Particular the brakes and chain for wear. ebikes are much heavier on the brakes and drive-chain and require replacing parts more often, before wearing other associated components or complete failure, resulting in a expensive overhaul to bring the bike back to good working order. This Is What Cyclists Are Saying When They Contact us: "The pedal come out! Its only 6 weeks old." "Had gear issues for ages, had a new derailleur fitted few weeks ago, still felt dodgy, bikes only 3 months old, just bought new shifter and cable and need them fitting and gears sorting, new headset, and rear wheel bearings looking at" "Bike has got stuck in highest gear. Thought the suspension lever was the gear lever. Never heard of that before"