How to ride your e-bike

Words: Mike Blewitt
Photos: Gerard Lagana, Nick Waygood, Marcus Enno

How to ride your e-bike? Many mountain bikers have discovered how an eMTB can make their riding more enjoyable. What's not to love about putting multiple routes in a limited time window? The variety of eMTBs has really expanded over the last four years with a wider mix of ride types, system outputs, and bike weights. There can be no dispute that Europe is the epicenter of e-bikes from city bikes to big Enduro bikes. And traveling around Europe on cycling holidays with your e-bike is about as easy as booking your train ticket and parking your bike in a bike trailer – and your bike booking of course.

Here in Australia, we have long distance, classic long distance train options, and reliance on air travel. You can't take full-size bike batteries on airplanes – however, that doesn't mean you can't take your EMTB with you. Here are a few tips if you're planning to visit one of Australia's many popular cycling destinations with your EMTB.

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If you need to fly to get to your mountain bike trip, you have two important considerations. First, your battery. Second – weight.

Send your battery to you

While you may not be able to fly with your battery, if you have a removable battery you may choose to ship it in advance. This will need to be done using a road courier service. Check what is required for safe transportation – and make sure you have a place to send it. This will need to be a business address and someone to sign for it. A local bike shop or accommodation provider is a good fit. Unusually, some people have had luck sending their MTB batteries via AusPost. However, AusPost lists a 100Wh limit for Lithium-Ion batteries on their website.

Rent a battery

Another option is to reserve a battery in the area. There are a few things to consider, though, such as the type of system you have and the specific model of battery your bike uses. Look up the battery model by searching for your bike's make, model, and year online. Even better – remove your battery to read it from the unit. Rental batteries are a growing service but somewhere like Derby, Tasmania will have more riders covered. Evolution Bikes has Bosch 625Wh and 700Wh batteries for rent starting at $59 per day and has three different sizes of Shimano batteries for rent too for the same price. They hope to have TQ batteries available in the near future. Just up the road, Vertigo has Specialized Levo Gen 2 and 3 batteries starting at $95 per day with long-term rental bulk pricing. It can pay to call in advance where you would like to visit – after contacting a few bike hire shops in other areas, I was assured it was something they would happily look into.

Take the Range Extender

You'll need to fall under the limits of a Lithium-Ion battery, so that means a maximum of 160Wh. TQ's TQ range extender for their Fuel Exe is optional, as is the SL range extender from Specialized for SL model bikes. Obviously, you will have a reduced range but you will have something.

Pack smart

You still need to consider the total weight of your bike's load. Without draining the battery, most eMTBs are heavy. Batteries usually weigh between 2-4kg depending on your EMTB system and battery size. So if you take a 4kg battery to a 25kg MTB, you still have a heavy bike to carry. A strong cardboard box may be your most convenient option for packing and you can keep the rear wheel on your bike. But you may need a van, SUV, or station wagon to get to and from the airport. Alternatively, use the right bike bag and just book accordingly for your trip. Virgin has baggage limits of 23kg but on Jetstar, you just pay for your weight and a bike surcharge. Qantas Silver Frequent Flyers and above have a baggage limit of 32kg per item which can really help.

Driving on roads

Simple, right? Load the car and go. Whether it's a half-day trip or a couple of days and a cruise, you'd be wise to think about your vehicle's overall weight and battery life when you're on the road.

If you are going to buy a bike rack, double check that it is rated for the size of the bikes. You will want to check both the weight of each bike and the price. Most roof rack systems will not support the weight of an EMTB or multiple eMTBs. Sturdy tray-style racks will accommodate the weight, but some we tested have a capacity of 16kg per bike. For many, an upright bike rack is the answer. When we tested nine vertical bike racks, we found the weights of each bike ranged from 16-35kg. That's a big difference.

If you're traveling with several EMTB colleagues, don't neglect to check the total load limit with your vehicle. It is usually 10% of the towing capacity, but check your manual or online. A number of 5 or 6 bike racks will be too much if each bike is 25kg for MTB. There is a simple solution here that makes sense for long trips. If your bike allows it, remove your battery from your bike. This will not only reduce the weight of your bike by 2-4kg per bike, but you also have the opportunity to take better care of it in a place where it is likely to be stable inside your car – as long as you are in it. Otherwise, your battery is like a pet left inside a hot parked car. It will die – not immediately but prolonged exposure to high temperatures is not good for your EMTB battery. By thinking about how you transport and store your battery, you will extend its life to make sure it serves you in the future. So double check the limits of your bike rack and tow bar – and think ahead about your battery life so you can have it for a long time.

E-bikes in EV

We love how sustainable a two-wheeled EV is compared to a four-wheeled EV – especially if you're using solar power and an inverter at home! With great new EV models coming out and great rebates from state governments, it's a great time to be part of the change. However, many of today's electric vehicles have some limitations in terms of rack mounting or capacity.

For example, a small SUV EV might have a towing limit of 750kg which would give a loading limit of 75kg. This will depend on the tow bar fitted so it pays to check the details when looking at an EV. In most of the new models coming out, they will be able to take a tray type rack that is strong enough to carry two eMTBs. But until powerful electric vehicles arrive in Australia, it won't be possible to load an upright bike rack with EMTBs onto the roads.

Don't forget what's important

This may seem obvious – but don't forget to pack your charger. While a phone charger is easy to pick up almost anywhere, that's not the case with an e-bike charger. Keep it handy when packing otherwise your ride may be cut short!

Rent a bike

It may seem like a simple solution – and it is. Ten years ago, finding a good quality rental bike was difficult. With the development of bicycle routes being built across the country, visiting destinations are supported by full-time bicycle shops with large rental fleets. We have often said that the hardest thing about cycling is cycling. So you can pop into Evolution Bikes in Blue Derby to rent a Trek Rail, rent a Mondraker Crafty at Hidden Vale Adventure Park, or rent a Focus eMTB from Bright Electric Bikes or a Trek from Cyclepath Bright to visit Mystic Bike Park.

There are many options when it comes to commuting with your EMTB – with a little planning you can take your new adventure on a mountain bike. But with the way eMTBs are being used by bike shops across the country, it may be easier to grab one when you get there.