FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Did you know that choosing an electric bike can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint?

Electric bikes, or ebikes, are becoming increasingly popular, with more and more people choosing them as an affordable, healthy, low-carbon alternative to cars.

GENERAL EBIKE QUERIES

An electric bike is like any other but has the addition of an electric motor and rechargeable battery that help make cycling more accessible.

Using an electric bike is very similar to using a standard bicycle. The same road rules apply; however, the legal age limit for using an electric bike in the UK is 14.

The motor in an electric bike kicks in when the pedals are in motion, up to the legal limit of 15.5mph – although you can cycle faster without support from the motor.

You can also set the bike to tell it how much support you want it to give you (i.e. how much help you need with cycling). A lower mode is suitable for cycling on flat roads, while higher modes use more electric assistance, require much less effort, and are great for hills and steeper climbs.

Don't panic! Every battery comes with at least two keys, so losing the first isn't the end of the world - have the spare copied at any high-street key cutter if you lose the first. If both keys are lost, we can replace the battery's lock barrel for a fee, but we highly recommend avoiding this scenario by storing your extra key somewhere safe. That way, you'll always be able to ride your bike.

Absolutely. While we wouldn't recommend setting off into a downpour, all Electric Bikes are water-resistant and shouldn't encounter any problems riding in the rain. Like all bikes, they benefit immensely from a good clean of the chain and gears and lubrication after a particularly muddy ride. Whilst all bikes are water resistant, never fully submerge any electrical component in a deep puddle or body of water.

Yes. Ebikes operate using a Pedal Assist System (PAS) - start to pedal, and the motor will activate; stop, and the engine stops - a smooth push that feels like being suddenly lighter and fitter. You can decide how much assistance you want from the motor by switching between the display's different levels. Switch to a Medium level to help with an upcoming hill or up to High if you're in a hurry, where a low setting will give you more of a workout and a more extended range.

Some of our e-bikes have a throttle on the handlebar to power the motor. By UK law, these are restricted to around four mph and can help set off from a standstill or remove the bike's weight if pushing through a no-riding zone. Some of these throttles can derestrict the speed limiter and ride with the total capacity of the motor for strict use on private land only.

You certainly can; we stock multiple options for most 26" or 28" wheel bikes. We have numerous options, from rear rack-mounted and bottle cage-mounted batteries with rear, front or centre-driven motors.

Conversion kits are often less sophisticated than a fully-fledged ebike and can lack the power our mid-range/top-of-the-range models can offer. Internal wiring is also limited when adapting an existing bike, and cables will often trail along the outside of the bike's frame. In contrast, a purpose-built ebike frame is designed with cable management in mind and offers a sleek integration of batteries, cables and electrical components.

However, conversion kits can be a fantastic option for somebody looking to dip their toe into the world of ebiking at a fraction of the cost of a fully built ebike. Moreover, we offer kits to fit almost any bike you own, from rear rack-mounted and bottle cage-mounted batteries to rear, front and centre-driven motors.

PURCHASING YOUR EBIKE

Unfortunately not. As a distributor, we cannot take in any second-hand bicycles. However, many independent stores (including some of our dealers) will offer this service, and it is worth checking in your local area for options.

Yes, the Cyclescheme is a fantastic option to save up to a third of the price of your new bike, and there is no longer an upper limit on your budget for an ebike. Head to our dedicated cycle scheme page for more detailed information.

Finding the perfect fit can sometimes be tricky as we are all unique shapes and sizes. As a rough starting point, we suggest the following frame sizes for their accompanying rider heights:

<17" frame - <5ft4
17" frame - 5ft4 - 5ft8
18" frame - 5ft6 - 5ft10
19" frame - 5ft8 -6ft
20" frame - 5ft10 - 6ft2
21" frame - 6ft - 6ft4
Folding Frame - 5ft2 - 6ft

For a more comprehensive fit, we have a handy size chart on each product page that gives you more frame measurements than you could ever need.

Above all, we suggest taking a test ride at one of our showrooms and letting one of our trained professionals help you find the perfect fit to ensure you will be riding for miles and miles in both comfort and safety. Plus, we know once you are on one of our bikes, you won't want to get off!!

BATTERY RELATED QUERIES

Many factors affect the range of our bikes: the rider's fitness, road surface, speed, weather, rider weight, tire pressure, and so on.

An average rider contributing just half the effort required (with the motor supplying the other half) should easily achieve the lower end of the suggested mileage. (we try to be conservative with our estimates to ensure you aren't caught short).

Riding the bike using mostly high assist settings will reduce the overall range, whereas using a low assist mode on flatter terrain will achieve further distances.

For our smaller wheeled bikes, our folders, for example, you should expect more "rolling resistance" and a reduced range compared to our full-sized bicycles. Smaller wheels have to revolve more often to go the same distance and tend to be slowed by small lumps and bumps, unlike larger wheels which ride over more efficiently and have to turn less to go the same length.

If you follow our battery care advice and look after it properly, we recommend replacing your battery after 4-5 years.
We use Lithium-Ion batteries which are well-regarded and very dependable. Typically after 600-800 charges, they should still have 80% of their original capacity, but you must follow some simple rules to keep them in good condition.

Strangely, we find that the batteries that perform best are the ones our riders use most often. Conversely, if you leave your battery discharged for extended periods, you can expect it to develop a fault much quicker.

Choosing your battery size is more than opting for the maximum capacity and calling it a day. We recommend considering the full range of options and choosing a battery that matches your lifestyle.

To preserve your battery and make it last as long as possible, we advise against completely discharging it on every trip. If you plan to commute regularly, aim to use only 70% of your battery's total capacity between charges and try to keep the battery from dropping below 20% too often.

On the other hand, we do not recommend buying the battery option with the maximum capacity. It can be just as harmful to the battery cells if you only charge and discharge the top 10-20%.

Think carefully about the kind of rides you are likely to complete, and you won't go far wrong.

Don't worry; we get carried away sometimes with the length of our ride or forget to charge fully the night before. Once your bike is out of juice, it will continue functioning as a standard bicycle. However, if you plan on going for a long ride with a lunch stop in the middle, it's always worth carrying your charger and seeing if you can get a top-up while eating.

Typically, a 460wh battery takes around 4.5 hours to charge from completely flat.

  •  After one hour's charge, the battery should have around 50%, half, of its capacity filled.
  •  After two and a half hours, the battery should be 75%, three-quarters charged.
  •  After three and a half hours, it will be around 85%-90% full, and it takes progressively more time to fill the very last of the capacity.

It's better for the battery to let it charge to just 90% rather than wait for the full 100% charge - it saves time too!

No - charging your battery simply requires plugging it into a standard mains socket with the provided charger. Most of our batteries feature a quick-release mechanism and are easily removable for convenience whilst charging. Whilst charging, you can expect the charger to get quite warm. This is perfectly normal and indicates the battery is charging correctly.

Yes. Typically, the battery charge indicator drops when under load. This phenomenon is called voltage sag and is shared with all lithium-based batteries. The charge indicator measures voltage from the battery at any time, and when under load, the voltage does drop a few volts. When the motor is under no or minimal load, such as riding on the flat, the indicator will represent a more accurate reading.

Voltage sag works similarly to your remaining mileage indicator on a car. If you were to floor it up a hill, you would see a drop in the expected range, but it will return once you reach level ground again.