As the temperature rises, we want to spend more time outdoors. This means more opportunities for walking, jogging, and cycling. However, with the increase in temperature, these activities can become more demanding. This is where the power of the electric bike prevails.
With an electric bike, you don’t have to struggle so much to climb a steep hill. With electric assistance, you don’t have to worry about arriving somewhere out of breath and drenched in sweat. Ebikes are designed to help with pedaling, so you can relax and enjoy the ride. But is it safe to ride an Ebike in the summer? And what are some safety precautions should you consider?
In this article, you’ll learn how to properly prepare your Ebike for summer adventures. You’ll learn how to perform battery care, prevent overheating, choose the right gear, and ride safely. Let’s jump right into it.
Prep Your Ebike for Summer Adventures
Preparation is key when riding an Ebike in summer. Electrical components such as batteries, motors, and controllers are sensitive to extreme heat. When combined with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, the risk of component failure increases.
Here is how to prepare for riding an Ebike in hot weather.
Take Care of Your Battery in the Heat
Excess heat can have a direct impact on battery performance and lifespan. An overheating battery may provide less power (especially when going uphill). The battery may also drain faster and have a shorter lifespan.
To keep your Ebike battery cool in summer, ride at a lower pedal assist level. Does your Ebike have a throttle? Use it less. Doing so will help the battery operate at a safe temperature. Other ways to protect your electric bike battery in the heat are to:
- Ensure your battery is fully charged before each ride
- Store and recharge the battery at around 68°F (room temperature)
- Avoid storing the battery in heat-prone spaces like garages, sheds, and car interiors
- Ride during the coolest parts of the day, in the early morning or late evening
Check and Adjust Tire Pressure for Summer Temperature
Ebike tire pressure can fluctuate wildly – especially when transitioning from winter to summer. When the weather warms up, check and adjust the tire pressure accordingly. Refer to your owner’s manual for the recommended PSI range.
When riding in summer, it’s best to slightly under-inflate the tires. This is because summer temperatures naturally cause tire pressure to increase. So, slightly under-inflating the tires helps offset this natural increase in tire pressure.
Keep Your Electronics and Motor from Overheating
Aside from the battery, other electrical components can overheat. These include the motor, display screen, and controller. Riding in extreme heat and direct sunlight can result in overheating.
An overheating hot motor may exhibit performance issues. It may stutter, accelerate more slowly, and reach a lower top speed, or it may cease to function entirely. An overheating display screen may display visual glitches, such as missing user interface (UI) elements. The touchscreen functionality may cease to work, or the screen may display no image at all.
To protect your Ebike’s electronic components from overheating, do the following:
- Park your Ebike undercover and away from sunlight
- Use the highest pedal assist mode sparingly in hot weather
- After use, let the battery cool down before recharging it
- Turn off the Ebike when it’s not in use (e.g. carrying it upstairs, walking beside it)
FURTHER READING: How to Choose the Perfect Ebikes in Summer
Ride Smart and Stay Safe
Be it for work or leisure, there are many reasons to ride an electric bike in summer.
Regardless, safety should always be top of mind. Riding in summer poses all kinds of risks. Heat exhaustion and rider fatigue are two big ones. Sudden equipment failure due to overheating is another one.
To ride your Ebike safely in summer, follow these tips:
- Conserve energy by alternating use of the pedal assist and throttle
- Stay hydrated with water and electrolyte-rich beverages
- Wear bright clothes to be visible at night
- Check and adjust the tire pressure, and keep the chain lubricated
- Plan your route, and include rest stops with shade and water
- Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen to exposed skin, and reapply every two hours or more depending on sweating
Gear Up for the Heat
When e-cycling in summer, it’s essential to wear the right clothing. Generally, wearing light, moisture whicking clothing is ideal.
Dedicated cycling shorts are designed to be lightweight, comfortable, and flexible. Some have adjustable waistbands to ensure a seamless fit. Many also have mesh panels to promote airflow and help reduce sweating.
Cycling sunglasses help reduce eye strain and provide UV protection. Some offer automatic tint adjustment: this is where the tint responds automatically to the lighting conditions. It ensures the utmost visual clarity and eye protection in all weather.
For the top, wear a light, breathable jersey or shirt. If you regularly ride at night, ensure the top is brightly colored for high visibility. For shoes, choose dedicated cycling shoes.
They have intricate rubber soles, providing maximum grip and stability, and helps to provide superior power transfer.
Ride into Summer with Heybike
Riding an Ebike in summer can be an enjoyable experience. But doing so in extreme heat and direct sunlight can be risky. By following the tips in this article, you can beat the heat and ride safely.
Ready to join the Ebike revolution for summer? Start your journey with Heybike. Discover massive savings during our summer Ebike mega sale. Choose from a wide range of models, including fat tire, folding, and off-road Ebikes. Happy cycling!
