A-Spadz’s Top 10 E-Bike Safety Tips

Instead of bombarding you with frightening statistics, we’ve curated the top 10 e-bike safety tips to help you stay safe while riding on the road. So strap on your helmet, don your reflective clothing, and let’s roll!

 

1.Always Wear a Helmet

Safety first! It might seem obvious, but wearing a helmet is crucial. Head injuries are the most severe injuries a cyclist can sustain, so make sure your helmet fits well and meets safety standards. For optimal protection, we recommend replacing your helmet every 5-10 years, or sooner if you've had a crash. It’s a small investment for your safety and peace of mind.

2.Inspect Your A-Spadz E-Bike Before Taking Off

Just like a car, you should inspect vital components on your e-bike to spot worn or damaged parts and prevent avoidable accidents. Here’s what you should examine on your electric bike:

Tire Pressure: Measure your tire pressure and adjust as necessary. You'll find the recommended PSI range on the side of your tires, but you may want to experiment with a pressure that works best for you — just don’t exceed the maximum pressure rating!

Wheels: Check the front wheel for play, or side-to-side movement, by rocking the wheel back and forth with your e-bike resting on the ground. Next, raise the front end of your e-bike and spin the front wheel to ensure it spins smoothly without any grinding noises. Repeat this process for the rear wheel. Use this opportunity to inspect your tires for punctures, cuts, and tread wear.

Brakes: Firmly clasp the left-hand brake lever, and rock your e-bike back and forth to ensure the brakes hold steady without slipping or squealing.

Repeat this process with the right-hand brake lever. If your brakes squeal or slip, your brake pads may need to be replaced.

Battery: Make sure your e-bike battery is securely mounted by lightly pulling on it. Check your battery percentage on your e-bike's LCD screen. Stay within 80% and 20% voltage for peak performance and battery life.

Chain: Examine the chain for rust or grime. If you spot surface rust or dirt, try cleaning and re-lubricating the chain. If the chain is covered with rust, it's time to replace it. Next, spin the cranks backward to see if the chain moves smoothly and quietly over the cogs. If your chain squeals or skips, clean and re-lubricate it. Check your chain's condition with a chain wear indicator tool and replace it if needed.

Handlebars: Inspect your handlebars for loose bolts. E-bike handlebars must be tight enough to stay in place under all riding conditions. If not, a bolt could snap, or the handlebars could come loose and cause all sorts of calamity. If you find loose bolts, tighten them with a wrench until there’s no play in your handlebars.

3.Carefully Mount and Dismount Your E-Bike

A-Spadz bikes are built for adventure, but their extra weight compared to traditional bicycles can be a tipping hazard, especially for those new to e-bikes or those with limited mobility. Always mount and dismount slowly and carefully to avoid falls or injuries.

4.Increase Your Visibility

See and be seen is a simple rule of thumb for staying safe while riding your electric bicycle on the road. Illuminate the road and enhance your visibility to motorists and other cyclists by riding an e-bike with an ultra-bright headlight and integrated brake light. Consider purchasing a helmet with a magnetic taillight or adding reflective strips to your outfit to draw more attention to yourself during rides in dim or low visibility conditions. And wear reflective or bright-colored clothing while riding during the day or night.

5.Obey Local Laws and Rules of the Road

European traffic laws are strict, and e-bike riders must adhere to local regulations. Always ride in the same direction as traffic, obey traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. In many European countries, e-bikes are classified into different categories, so be sure to understand the laws that apply to your model (like the A-Spadz Cavet series).

6.Signal When Turning

Signaling your intent to turn is not only courteous to other riders and motorists but also vital to safe on-road riding. Higher-end e-bike model like the Cavet make signaling easy thanks to integrated turn signals. If your electric bike doesn’t have turn signals, use hand signals to alert motorists and other cyclists when you turn left, right, brake, or stop.

7.Watch Your Speed and Brake Earlier

Nothing beats the adrenaline rush you get when you blast through congested traffic on your high-performance e-bike! But with great speed comes great responsibility. Electric bikes can hit higher speeds  than traditional bicycles, so periodically check your speed and always obey local speed limits. In addition to being much faster, e-bikes also weigh more than conventional bikes, so make sure you brake earlier for traffic stops, crossings, turns, and obstacles.  

8.Stay Alert and Focused

The key to staying safe on European roads is to stay focused. Watch out for pedestrians, other cyclists, and motorists. Never ride distracted, whether it’s from texting, using your phone, or riding while tired. Remember, you're not just sharing the road with cars but with others who may not always see you.

9.Use Your Mirrors

With busy roads and tight spaces, mirrors can enhance your awareness of what's happening around you. Properly adjusted mirrors on your e-bike can help you see vehicles coming from behind or other cyclists, allowing you to ride confidently and safely.

10.Avoid Riding in Heavy Rain

Ebike batteries are water-resistant, not waterproof  -- meaning they can withstand low-pressure water jets from any direction, condensation, and water spray. European weather can be unpredictable, while riding your electric bicycle in light rain is perfectly safe, you should avoid riding in heavy rain because the constant, high-pressure spray from the water on the road will potentially force water into the e-bike battery. On that note, big puddles, flooded streets, and other standing water can also potentially damage your battery, so postpone your ride if the weather takes a turn for the worse.