How To Prepare Your Electric Bike for Winter Riding
When our portion of the Earth tilts further away from the sun, we grow a little bummed by the tireless cold, frost on the grass, leafless trees branches, and possible snowfalls. Nevertheless, outdoor activities can still be a warm bundle of joy for adventurers and cycling enthusiasts in chillier climates. All you need is the right cold-weather gear and a bike that’s ready-made to see some cool action.
Not sure if you’re ready to put your e-bike to the test in a cold-season landscape? Never fear—we’ve compiled a general guide on how to prepare your electric bike for winter riding. Here’s what to keep in mind to enjoy your ride for countless trips to come.
Keep a Careful Eye on the Battery
Electric bikes contain lithium-ion batteries. High-quality battery care is of the utmost importance year-round, but especially during the coldest season. Frigid weather and low temperatures may induce a noticeable drop in both power and range during winter riding. Ergo, bringing the battery inside—when not in use—is a wise idea. This not only enhances performance when out and about, but also maintains its life expectancy.
When charging for wintertime rides, always ensure that your battery is above freezing to avoid rendering damage to the cells. If you’re storing the battery for longer than two weeks, check on it regularly and keep the battery charged to around 75%. Keeping the battery level up—but not fully charged—is key to avoiding range loss.
Weather Conditions: Suitable Cleaning and Maintenance
Bicycling during the winter season can become quite hazardous for riders. Bikes are prone to slip or skid as the road, gravel, grass, and ground freeze. This is why keeping your e-bike’s frame, tires, and other components in good condition is essential. A solid tune-up before the worst of the season arrives at your door is high-priority. Make sure brakes, shifting gears, lights, and fenders are in tip-top shape.
How else can you prepare your electric bike for winter riding? Two words: winterized maintenance. As the season goes on, keep up with consistent cleansing and upkeep. If not cleaned efficiently or timely, you can end up damaging main components, and even run into trouble on a ride. Wipe the bike down with a damp cloth and bicycle-specialty lubricant and use preventive products such as a rust-proofer for any exposed metal.
A Winter Vehicle: Use the Right Type of Bike or Tire
Melted ice, muddy snow, and rough gravel can easily splatter and get stuck in a bike’s tire patterns. Chances are, you might not have the best tires for the task. Most traditional e-bikes utilize standard rubber. Investing in studded or fat tires is likely the best assurance method that an e-bike can handle the seasonal outdoor environment. Otherwise, you can turn to polished products already proven to provide precise handling, security, and protection.
Voltaire Cycles is a specialty bike shop for power-assisted cycling solutions. We’re a proud supplier of some of the leading brands and models on the market, such as a Yamaha electric mountain bike, Magnum e-bike, or QuietKat all-terrain electric bike. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts throughout all seasons, reliability and performance is at your fingertips with one of these performance bicycles. Feel free to reach out with any questions you have today.