6 Tips To Prepare Your E-Bike for Long-Distance Travel and Trekking
Are you planning on taking your e-bike out for an extended tour? You’ll want to ensure you prepare your e-bike before you go on your trip. Otherwise, you could run into several issues, including a drained battery, leaving you without pedal-assist functions.
Lucky for you, we put together these tips to help prepare your e-bike for long-distance travel and trekking. Keep reading to get your bike ready for your next trip, whether you own an electric commuter bike, a fat tire bike, or anything in between.
1. Check Your Bike’s Battery
You’ll want to get used to your e-bike before taking it out on a long trip. It’s best to take it out on several smaller treks before you go on an extended one. Doing so can let you know how the bike handles and how long the battery lasts on average.
You can set a timer on your phone right as you start your trip, then record the time when you end somewhere safe. Plus, you’ll want to write down how much battery power was used then.
Tracking these small details can give you a better idea of how long your battery will last on a long trip. You’ll also be able to check if the battery isn’t holding a charge for as long as it should be.
It’s worth noting that cold weather can drain your battery. You should store it at room temperature to prevent that from happening.
Lastly, remember that the less you pedal, the quicker the battery on your bike will drain. You want to find a happy medium where you can complete the trek without exhausting yourself or running out of power. Make sure your battery is fully charged before your trip.
2. Know Your Bike
Next, you’ll want to consider how your bike will do on that particular trail, especially if the path has many bumps and dips. If you're planning a bike tour San Francisco adventure, choosing an e-bike with thick tires and a shock-absorbing frame will ensure a smoother ride over the city's diverse terrain.
It’s also important to know what type of e-bike you have. There are three main types, and they’re all slightly different. They are:
Type-1: Offers pedal assist, may or may not have a full throttle.
Type-2: Uses throttle mode only, but you can still pedal.
Type-3: Offers pedal assist but is faster than a Type-1, going up to 28 MPH.
The e-bike you have will change how long your battery lasts and what speeds you can reach. You need to ensure you’re not using the throttle too much, or the battery will run out before you reach the end of your journey.
3. Prepare a Backup Battery
Having a backup battery for your electric bike is always a good idea, especially if you don’t think it can make it there and back on a full charge. Most charged batteries can take you between 30 and 60 miles, although it can vary depending on the brand, so you’ll need to check.
If you think you’re going more than 40 miles, it’s probably best to bring a fully charged spare battery with you, no matter what.
4. Lubricate the Bike Chain
You’ll want to lubricate the e-bike chain before you take it out on a long trek. Buying and using a chain lubricant made specifically for electric bikes is essential because the components can put a lot of heat and friction on the chain.
More friction on an unlubricated e-bike chain can reduce the range you get from the battery. So, you’ll want to take care of it.
Start by cleaning the chain with a dry cloth to remove dust and debris. Then, apply the lubricant to each link on the chain. You want it to reach between the chain too.
After applying the lubricant, turn the pedals backward slowly until you’ve completed a few rotations. Let the e-bike sit to dry; it only takes a few minutes.
Finally, hold a clean, dry cloth around the chain and pedal backward again to remove excess chain lubricant. And you’re finished! You need to do this before every long trip you plan on taking. Or, every 10 or so rides you take.
5. Check the Tire Pressure
The pressure in your tires must also be checked before you hit the trail. You wouldn’t want a flat tire out in the middle of nowhere.
Check the rims of the tires for the recommended PSI. A PSI range, such as 90 to 115 PSI, will likely be printed there. You’ll want to be within that range for your trek.
However, it’s essential to consider the terrain you’ll be on when filling the tires with air. For instance, if you’re traveling over pavement, you want to be on the higher end of that range. Conversely, you’ll need to put less air in the tires if you’re going on a mountain trail.
This is because tires with more air pressure can spin faster over smooth surfaces. Your battery will last longer in that case. When it comes to trips over uneven pavement, you want the tire to compress when it goes over a rock, so a lower PSI is essential.
Overall, you need to check the tire pressure before each long trip you plan on taking. You can also set the PSI in the tire to the terrain you’ll be going over.
6. Pack Lightly
Many e-bikes, especially ones with step through electric bike frames, have a back area for storage. You’ll want to take advantage of this and pack a bag to take with you. Although, you need to ensure you don’t overpack.
Too much weight on the back of the bike will surely burn through your battery power quicker. List what you’ll need before loading it on the bike. We recommend taking water, a map, and some snacks. You may also want to take a hat for sunny weather.
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Always Prepare Your E-Bike Before a Long Trek
To summarize, you should always prepare your e-bike before taking it on a long trek. You wouldn’t want anything wrong and must pedal it back to your starting point.
Checking the battery and taking a spare with you are essential. You should also lubricate the chain, check the tires’ air pressures, and pack lightly.
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