Practical and a huge amount of fun to ride – e-bikes are more popular than ever before, and it’s easy to see why. They can help you ride without limits and there are now e-bikes available in every shape and size – so there’s sure to be the perfect option for your needs.
Like what you hear? Here’s everything you need to know before buying your first e-bike.
With an electric bike, you get all the amazing features of a regular bike with the added bonus of a motor to help power you along.
This motor is paired with a battery and provides assistance as you ride, helping take the strain out of steep hills or making rides easier. You’ll only receive this assistance as you pedal, so you’ll still be working, but with a range of assistance levels to choose from, you are in full control of how hard you ride, whether it’s an easy commute or a leg-burning workout.
From road bikes to folding bikes, e-bikes now come in every shape and size so there’s sure to be the perfect option for your needs!
With so many amazing benefits, it’s no surprise that more and more people are joining the e-bike revolution. Need a little more convincing? Here are a few reasons why you should consider an e-bike:
Clearly, e-bikes have lots of amazing benefits, but how do you pick the best one for your needs? Here are the various types available and some other things you’ll need to consider.
Electric folding bikes can be folded and unfolded in seconds, making them easy to stash away in train compartments, next to tables and even under your desk at work.
Like all folding bikes, folding e-bikes have small wheels, which makes them speedy and manoeuvrable – perfect for city streets and quick commutes.
Perfect for: Commuting and urban riding. They’re also a convenient option for those with little storage space or those who take their bike on public transport
Hybrid bikes combine the best bits of a road bike and a mountain bike, making them a versatile option suitable for rugged rides, challenging commutes and light touring alike. Expect flat handlebars, knobbly tyres, mudguards and racks.
Electric hybrid bikes are the same except, of course, there’s a battery and motor that kick in when you’ve had enough of pedalling!
Perfect for: The most versatile bike available, electric hybrid bikes are equally at home on commutes as they are exploring off-road paths. So, if you value versatility and plan to do a range of riding, an electric hybrid bike may be for you
Electric Mountain Bikes are revolutionising what’s possible in off-road adventuring. Fitted with a rechargeable battery and a powerful motor, they enable riders to tackle higher climbs and more challenging obstacles than ever before.
Here at Halfords, you’ll find electric mountain bikes from trusted brands such as Carrera, VooDoo and Boardman that are built for the toughest trails and tallest mountains.
Perfect for: All off-road adventures. Whether it’s shredding your local trails or heading for adventures on smoother off-road tracks, electric mountain bikes are at home on the rough stuff
Once you’ve decided which type of bike is best for your needs, you need to consider a bike’s range. This can vary anywhere between 20 to over 100 miles, so choose a bike that you know is practical for the amount of riding you’ll be doing. It’s also a good idea to get a bike with more than enough range as you’ll soon be addicted to riding your new e-bike, and you’ll probably find you start riding more and further than ever before!
Front hub motors fit onto the front wheel. A front hub motor will efficiently pull you along and can feel a little like a front-wheel-drive car.
Front hub motors are often fitted to entry-level e-bikes.
Rear hub motors are fitted to the rear wheel. They provide more traction than front hub motors and can feel more stable on the road. Rear hub motors are more technologically advanced as they need to interact with the gears and chain.
They can be found on mid-range and high-end e-bikes.
Central-drive motors sit right on the bottom bracket, where the pedals attach to the frame. All power is directed through the entire chainset, so powered cycling feels more natural. Plus, the motor’s weight is in line with the rider’s centre of gravity which again, can make the power delivery feel more natural.
Central-drive motors are fitted to mid-range and high-end bikes, including some electric mountain bikes.
No matter what e-bike you choose, you need to get the right size. Doing so will help you ride both safely and comfortably.
Here at Halfords, we provide a size guide alongside all our bikes. Make sure you have an accurate measurement of your height, and our guides will direct you to the perfect sized bike.
Here at Halfords, we understand that buying a new e-bike is a huge decision, and that’s why we want to help you every step of the way. From finding the perfect bike to post-purchase care, here’s everything you can expect when you buy a bike through us:
Electric bikes are legally referred to as “electrically assisted pedal cycles” or “EAPCs” under EU law EN15194.
Your e-bike only falls in this category if:
If your e-bike meets these requirements, then you can legally ride it on the roads. All e-bikes we sell at Halfords are legally safe to ride on the roads.
If the e-bike you’re looking at exceeds these regulations – for example, it has a motor over 250 watts or provides assistance above 15.5mph - then you’ll need to register it as a motor vehicle, tax it and insure it. You’ll also need a driving license to ride it, and you’ll need to wear a motorcycle helmet!
