Everything you absolutely need to know about electric road bikes 

Electric road bikes are now very popular. but what exactly is what we call an electric road bike? how does a road bike that has an engine installed work? Which type of cyclist is it aimed at? what are the aspects that must be considered when buying a road e-bike? read on, we will answer all these questions for you to fully enjoy your next electric road bike! 

What is an electric road bike?

It may seem strange to you, but the idea of installing an electric motor on a road bike is not very recent. Already in 2011, a German manufacturer launched a racing e-bike in the road sector that was equipped with a 350 watt bosch central motor with assistance up to 45 kilometers per hour. In recent years many other manufacturers have followed in his footsteps, the electric road bike on Kakuka is a clear demonstration of this. year after year, new manufacturers and models of electric road bikes join the already crowded cycling scene.

How does a road bike work with an engine?

A few words are enough to explain the main feature of an electric road bike: like classic e-bikes, electric racing bikes, or more generally the assisted road bike segment, are equipped with a small motor. we are talking about an electric motor installed in the bottom bracket area or one integrated into the rear wheel hub. the electric transmission can be activated by a switch on the handlebar, the display of the trip computer supplied, or a button on the frame. a simple gesture is enough to put an electric road bike in assisted mode. each manufacturer sets different levels of assistance and it will be you, at any time and according to your needs, to decide how much help to receive. depending on the level of assistance selected, the motor will transfer power to your road e-bike constantly, up to 250 watts.

Thanks to this extra boost, even those who are just starting out, or don't have all the time they would like to train, can easily keep an average of between 25 and 30 kilometers per hour, and with much less effort than on a traditional bike. keep in mind that, in accordance with the rules of the road, the engine of your road e-bike will deactivate the pedal assistance once it reaches 25 kilometers per hour. of course, you can always go faster, you just have to rely completely on your legs. but this is exactly what those who ride an electric road bike are looking for: engine assistance only when needed. and when it's not needed, or you just want to save battery, you can turn off the electric drive at any time. a feature that will come in very handy: the light electric road bike models with the engine off behave like a normal road bike, without annoying friction.

Electric road bike: the advantages

Extreme flexibility: this is enough to demonstrate the superiority of an electric road bike over a traditional road bike. with the engine, overcoming steep slopes or pedaling with a strong headwind becomes much easier, especially for those who are entering the world of cycling. but even those who have no problems pedaling with the traditional muscle bike will find advantages to pedaling with a road e-bike. the reasons are obvious: from the first outing he realizes that less intensity is needed, and much less strength. This means that with an electric road bike you can do longer rides without getting tired. with an electric road bike, you can climb long climbs in less time, you can enjoy a nice ride with a lot of altitudes even when you have little time, such as during the week.

Another advantage of the electric road bike is that it levels the various states of form as a group. If you are unable to train consistently, or age advances, you can keep the pax of your friends simply by entering the assisted mode. the average speed of the group will rise and no one will be impatient with waiting at the top of the climb. one aspect to take into account is whether the higher average speed uphill and less fatigue compensate for the lower maneuverability and top speed compared to traditional models. and as with any e-bike, the dependence on the autonomy of the battery is a factor to be taken into consideration. the fully charged electric road bikes have a range between 35 and 70 kilometers, such a large fork depends on the individual models, the shape of the rider, the elevation gain, and use. so before buying a pedal-assisted road bike, make sure you have well evaluated the data relating to autonomy. If in doubt, opt for those models that offer a larger battery, so you can travel longer distances without the need to recharge. some manufacturers also offer the option of a “range extender”, an extra battery that increases the range of your outings.

The engines of the electric road bike

We can divide assisted road bikes into two categories based on where the engine is placed. as mentioned above, there are two options for electric road bikes: the rear hub mid-motor. as you can guess from the terms itself, the hub motor is inserted in the rear wheel hub, while the central one is installed in the bottom bracket area. the advantages of the hub motor are obvious: compact, dis, create a design, and virtually zero noise. it also allows for greater flexibility when designing the frame, unlike the mid-engine which forces you to design the frame completely as a function of the engine. another advantage: the power does not reach the rear wheel through the chain, as is the case with the mid-mounted engine. this generally leads to less wear on the transmission, resulting in a longer life for the components involved.

Buying a road e-bike: which electric road bike is right for you

With an overview of the electric road bike, their features and transmission types, the next question is: which is the best electric road bike model for you? to answer this question, it is essential to have a clear idea of ​​what is expected of the new pedal-assisted road bike. do you think you are pedaling almost exclusively on asphalt or sometimes you think about venturing on the dirt road along the fiume to vary a little? are you planning to go on long rides, or is a couple of hours more than enough for you? your cycling skills are also a factor guiding the decision

Once you have answered this question, you need to define your preferences in setting up the bike. this means thinking about the desired autonomy, which we have already talked about earlier. but there are other key features to take into account when choosing an electric road bike; for example, the electric road bike must have an aluminum frame that allows you to keep costs down or a lighter and probably more comfortable high-end carbon frame. Is it enough for you in a traditional mechanical group or do you want the latest technology, perhaps a wireless electronic group? then there are a thousand options regarding the wheels, from the most aerodynamic, with very high profile rims, very fast on the flat but heavier, to those with a very low profile rim, light and more performing uphill, or a compromise between the two. , it is a choice that you must make before purchasing. of course, we at Kakuka can help you dispel all these doubts and find the electric road bike that best suits you.

Buying an electric road bike: the checklist

What kind of use do you want to make of your road e-bike?

How many kilometers do you think you will do on your average ride?

How much difference in height?

On which terrain will you cycle most frequently? only asphalt or even dirt roads?

What kind of cyclist would you define yourself? beginner or longtime ride?

Are you looking for a high-end e-road in carbon or an aluminum model that is excellent to start?

Will you ride in tight Lycra or with more casual clothing?

With which accessories, such as luggage racks or bags, would you like to set up your electric road bike?

Electric road bike: maintenance and repair

Although electric road bike is technologically more complicated, maintenance and repairs do not take any longer than for a normal bike. this means regular maintenance like on any road bike. during the periodic washing of the bike, you will need to check the efficiency of the brakes and drivetrains, as well as carry out an inspection of the structural components. if the electric road bike is left unused for a long time, we recommend that you keep the battery charged. you know everything you need to know about electric road bikes. If you were thinking of giving yourself a new road bike and a little help pedaling is what it would take, an assisted road bike is for you. we are sure of one thing: the electric road bike sector will grow more and more in the years to come.

Electric road bikes: everything you absolutely need to know about road bikes with an electric motor