Riding An Electric Bike In Winter – Bad Idea?
What happens when you brace the cold and you pick an electric bike for your winter commuting all over the world commuters are making their Journey day in day out how we move has changed drastically over the past 10 years thanks to advances in technology and it’s not slowing down so whether you’re
An ebike owner who only Cycles during the warmer months or an aspiring ebike commuter join me to see what it takes to cycle in the cold in this video I’m going to be taking you guys on my winter commutes I’m going to be showing you what it’s like what you can expect and
Essentially what you’re going to need first up where am I in the world well I’m based in the great old land of London toown where the average temperature during winter time can be around 9° C during the day and can drop to about 4° C during the night give or
Take a few cold snaps that can hit the Minuses good morning it is day one of commuting in Winter and it’s uh it’s fairly chilly outside it is December 13th got my Christmas tree over there look at that beauty can I just feel the Christmas chair and also as well we’ve got the Ado at 28 which I’ll be riding
Today all right let’s find out how cold it is outside Alexa what’s the weather today currently it’s 4° C with mostly cloudy skies I’m actually going to be leaving a bit later than I would usually leave to get to the studio I’m currently waiting on a package so the light is
Going to be a bit lighter and there’s going to be less people commuting out on the roads but whilst I’m out there it’s going to give me a good opportunity to talk to you a little bit more about battery management which I know is a big question for you winter Riders so I’ve got the ad28 in five levels of assist is my setting and I’m in level two you can switch it to three levels of assist if you like a bigger increment of change between levels but I like a smaller more gentler adjustment I want a pretty low assist right now level
Two it means I’m going to be working a bit harder pushing a bit more on this bike to keep it moving which means it keeps me a little bit toastier now when it comes to any reputable good ebike brand they’re going to provide you with a high quality water resistant casing
For your electric battery and you can of course ride your ebike in any reasonable temperature but the colder it gets the more it’s going to struggle with delivering the same amount of range as it would with a nice mid temperature so expect to have your range drop during
The winter it is recommended to keep your electric bike inside during the winter months CU obviously it’s colder it’s hot condition it’s windier it’s rier but look if you need to leave outside for work it’s not the end of the world to try and put it somewhere where
There is coverage that if it does rain snow then you should be grand and remember if you need to charge your ebike up and it’s cold out there just make sure you’re not charging it at a temperature any less than 0° C or 32° F now this section coming up is the
Worst part of my cycle because the cycle Lane disappears and there are only two lanes for cars and they like to come quite quick so I usually like to wear my hindsight glasses particularly at a time like this which helps me to see behind me so these glasses have mirrors in the
Size of the lenses and it is such a game changer I’m want them today cuz I wanted to make some nice eye contact with you bit Weird hi hi this building that we work in is actually full of other little businesses it’s a really nice collaborative space so there is a bike store and I’m going to go take the bike over now and show you what I would do if
I was not able to use this as my bike storage what lock I would use how I would leave the bike behind so let’s go have a Look say hello to the Squire chain lock 10 this is available at electr heads.com it’s Ultra tough Diamond approved it’s comfortable to wear around your waist and kind to your bike frame for the ad28 I like to put my chain through this Nifty integrated handle now I do
Recommend using a secondary lock through the the frame and the wheel that doesn’t have the motor as this is more easily removed but seeing as this bike store has 24-hour CCTV security I’m less concerned the more public and less monitored the more secure you want to go all right it’s another day of
Commuting in Winter and this time I’m going to be taking you on a commute home which means of course it’s going to be pretty dark outside so what does that mean so it means that we need some decent lights now obviously with a lot of ebikes light do come integrated so
You don’t really need to worry about that however I do like to be extra safe and be extra visible by adding some extra lights on so I do actually use these ones right here so this is from nog and they make super bright bike lights we have them available on our
Store at elect.com so if you want to check that out then you can so I’m going to be using these bad boys anytime cycling in Winter you just need to be as visible as possible so these aren’t just great for night night time but it’s also
Great for daytime as well now I like to take it a step further for extra visibility and I like to use a lumos helmet so I wear this every single day just press the button and it lights up really nicely and you can change the options as well so it flashes or it
Stays static as well so this is really good again we’ve got this on our store also if you want to check that out I’ll drop a link down in the description below but lights aren’t just the main thing although they are important it’s also really important to wear reflect
Ive light clothing now I’ve not got the best clothing on today I’ve literally got a black coat um and dark jeans but I do wear reflective bands which you can get really cheap I think I got these on Amazon they cost like less than a tenna
And you can wrap these around you on your wrists on your ankles which I wear every day just for a little bit of extra reflectiveness and I also have a bag cover as well so this is great at night so anybody that’s coming up behind me
Can see me really clearly so this some reflective bands some bright lights a lumos helmet I’m going to be staying soon all right let’s go Out it’s actually frightening how many people I see cycling out on these rows without any lights on and in dark clothing having a light really does make the difference between avoiding an accident and not being seen and unfortunately could be getting into one good morning today is a particularly
Special day because it is the office Christmas party hence the uh fabulous kind of Xmas jumper winry jumper so I’m going to head in we’ve got a half a day of work and then we’re going to stop at about 2:00 and we are going to start by
Playing some games and then we’re going to head off to do some actx throwing which I’ve never done before so I’m really looking forward to it it is my last official day of working in 2023 so this is going to be a big one I’m so excited let’s head on
Out particularly when it is very cold obviously the gritters will come out that grit will go on the road which is of course a Gods end stops us all from slipping around but it’s particularly har on our ebikes componentry so I would recommend when you’re out and about and
It’s colder just try and give your bike a clean as much as you can because that grit it can corrode certain parts of the bike and we obviously want to be keeping our electric bikes going for as long as possible and in tiptop quality conditions and once you get to Spring if
You have an electric bike with a chain then you’re definitely going to want to change your chain up because it’s had some good wear and tear over the winter months oh I’ve got cyclist coming up behind me I’m going at 18.8 miles per hour Legend analog cyclists they can
They can push 20 25 easy and yet ebikes are only allowed to go at 15.5 mph funny that ah I’m really excited to get in and see everyone it’s going be such a fun Day final commute of 2023 complete guys are we up for getting some booze I do not give my permission to be Filmed Cheers Cheers the 20124 Woo hello everyone it’s a brand new year we are in 2024 it is January 2nd today and I’m going back to work and I’m really excited to see everybody but what I’m not excited about is the weather storm Hank is coming through and there
Are winds of about 25 26 mph going up to 50 mph today maybe even more we have an Amber warning for the wind so over the past couple of weeks actually over Christmas the new year we’ve had a fair few storms coming through and that is because the climate is warming and we
Won’t be talking anymore about that but things are changing and the weather is getting more unpredictable so when it is windy on days like today I choose not to cycle now a lot of you are great for just getting on your bike and getting out there and cycling anyway but I have
Had a few experiences a few too many experiences where wind tunnels unexpected will push me into the road which creates uh a big problem especially if there’s a much bigger vehicle next to me or coming up behind me at a faster pace so just because of past experiences and just the
Unpredictability of wind you can’t see it and when you feel it it can be quite strong particularly on days like today I am instead going to be taking the good oldfashioned tube but I want to hear from you guys what do you do when it’s windy particularly when it’s stormy how
Do you cope do you get on your bike do you not what about when there’s snow on the roads well from experience off-road tires can handle snow fairly well but it won’t help against ice ice can be a serious issue for ebikes while cars simply spin ebikes don’t have the
Advantage of four-wheel stability losing track traction on Ice usually means going down hard now you can get tires studded but generally if there’s a possibility of ice I wouldn’t go out but that’s cuz it rely snows where I am for snow fat ties with a lower tie pressure work
Best on days where I decide to take the tube I like to get off a few stops early not only does this save me money by traveling through less zones but it means I get to have a decent 30-minute walk in the morning I can’t actually function without some form of exercise
And unless I’ve got a suitcase with me I’m always choosing the stairs over a lift the step count matters people once I was in I kicked off the New Year filming a video on the latest electric scooter legislation in the UK so if you want to get clued up then click the link
Above now if you are somebody who likes to ride less or even not at all during the winter months then it is recommended to store your electric bike indoors for the longer months of winter it’s recommended to not keep your battery at full charge so don’t have it at 100% if
You’re keeping it stored it’s better to leave it between 40 and 80% because this helps with battery longevity and battery health batteries do discharge over time so if you are leaving your electric bike for a good few months I would just go and check on it every now and then check
On that percentage and give it a little top up if it needs to when it comes to waterproofs when you’re cycling you want to make sure you’re wearing something visible and you can see I’ve gone for bright and yellow cuz to be honest yeah it doesn’t look
That cool but when it’s raining this hard wherever you’re getting to you’re not going to be looking cool you’re going to be a bit of a soggy mess at the end of it oh my God I find particularly with my route as well that there is a
Lot of water logged cycle Lane moment so I would suggest if you have an electric bike if you have a bike make sure you have mud guards it not only protects you from all the rain flying up onto your butt and your back but it also protects
The people cycling behind you the amount of times I’ve ended up being behind people who are riding their bikes without mud guards on and I’m getting this London grimy water being flicked into my face and I’ll be a fair distance a fair breaking distance so I know my
Guys don’t make your bike look very cool either but it’s all about being sensible in this weather guys look at this water oh my days this is nuts oh my God this rain is insane and if you’re cycling to work always make sure you pack a change of clothes shoewise I’m actually wearing
Some walking boots from leimo they actually sent them to me to try them out for cycling with and they’re great they’re so waterproof but they’re breathable they’re very comfortable they keep drip on the pedals so shout out to lamo for these they’re wonderful okay on
A scale of not to 10 10 being drowned rat how how bad am I comment down below wa oh my God oh my God I made it through such a wet commute it is a new week and it is officially freezing it is 0 de out there
But the Met Office is saying it feels like -3 but the temperature doesn’t stop me because it is all about layers which I’ll talk to you guys a little bit more about shortly but first let’s head on outside Christ it is cold 5 minutes into
My ride I can already feel the tips of my fingers going a little bit numb about try and shake the blood back into my extremities I’m in that lower level of assist but give it about 10 minutes and I’m going to be boiling in fact I’ve definitely overlayered today despite it feeling
Like- 3°. all right guys let’s play a game of who’s driving up behind me feet hindsight glasses for roads like this where for a big part of it there isn’t a segregated cycle Lane these glasses have been my savior red van y SUV big London bus blue car mg Black Car Smart Car
Motorbike another SUV police and a Tesla hindsight glasses you the best let’s talk about layers it is so important to dress appropriately when the weather is cold out there your hands and your feet will be the ones that get cold first as the blood is drawn into your body’s core
And Frostbite is a real thing which is avoidable with waterproof gloves and thick socks frostbite occurs when skin and tissue are exposed to freezing temperatures typically frostbite can affect any part of your body but extremities such as the hands feet ears nose and lips are most likely to be
Affected in the UK there’s about 30 to 60 cases every single winter now if you live in a country where thumb throttles are legal then you could find yourself becoming extra cold because you’re not having to use your legs to create heat and using your energy so bids are
Actually a really great solution they mount onto the handlebars and they’re just like having sleeping bags for your fingers now for us pedac folks having two pairs of gloves is the best way to go one heavier and one lighter for those temperature shifts the lighter gloves are really great for dexterity should
You need to at some point have to change your tire on the side of the road and also for the less cold temperatures and those heavier gloves are for when it really does get freezing out there aits or a balaclava are also great choices to keep your ears and your neck warm you
Can also get helmets with thicker Linings that actually cover your ears so this is something to consider for your winter riding but when it comes to cycling in Winter it is all about the base layer now I swear by my Marino thermal vest it helps to keep my core
War which tells my body that it doesn’t need to be taking all the blood out of my fingers and my toes you’ll also want to keep a couple of jackets depending on the weather you’ll want a nice thick jacket for warmth but you’ll also want that outer shell for the wind and the
Rain during the winter months we do get a huge decline in cyclists on our roads but in all honesty this time of year is actually one of my favorite times cycle because I love that crispy fresh air on your face it really wakes you up it gets
You started for your day it’s kind of like having a free coffee it gets me energized it gets me alert something that you wouldn’t get when you’re on the Underground when you’re stuffed into a bus onto a train cycling in the winter if you can do it it really does hit
Different I think that’s a Richard you are so covered yeah it’s freezing I don’t know how you’re doing it my ears get so cold I’m actually filming my winter commute Rich so do you want to talk through to everybody what you’re wearing right now I’m actually not wearing my normal winter clothes usually
I wear like thermals but I’ve decided just to wear my normal work clothes with a coat usually I wear a hiest cycling jacket but I wanted something a bit warmer today feel like this is quite visible though it’s very visible two pairs of gloves BAC clava to cover my
Ears and then a kind of snood thing just for a little bit of extra warmth I hate the cold I’m like I’m very warm blooded so I put the assist down so that I get warmer although it is actually on five right now but for a lot of it I’ve had
The assist down on like one or two that’s actually me too yeah yeah winter can be ropey enough with the unpredictable weather conditions the lower lighting means poor visibility and generally everybody is just rushing home to put on their jammies and get their feet up so let’s just make sure we’re
All looking out for each other but generally cycling in the winter I find is so refreshing and it can be so enjoyable those colder crisper days can really wake you up and get your day started right and it’s a much better choice I would say than jumping on the
Tube where it’s very hot and clammy and uh there’s just a bunch of people coughing and sniffing and spreading all those viruses riding in the winter is all about being being prepared knowledge is power the key thing is to make sure that you are comfortable in the
Situation that you are in now for myself I don’t mind a bit of rain I don’t mind the cold but when it gets windier and icier that’s when I start to rethink my commute well I hope my tips have been helpful and if you have any more make
Sure to drop them down in the comments below because this is a community of cyclists and we need to share the knowledge and make sure to share this with your friends and family keep them safe out on the roads and make sure that everyone’s looking out for each other
And I’ll see you for the next one I’ll let your heads
Freezing temperatures, torrential rain, and even a storm… winter is HERE! ❄️
Join Eilis on a thrilling week-long journey as she takes on the challenges of commuting to work on her electric bike during the harsh winter conditions! Eilis shares her firsthand experiences and valuable insights to help you commute safely in these chilling months!
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Lumos Helmet:
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Squire Bike Lock:
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Le Chameau Shoes:
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0:00 Intro
0:45 Day One
1:36 Ebikes in the cold
3:22 Storing my bike
4:11 Day Two
4:24 Extra visibility
6:03 Night commute
6:23 Day Three
6:59 E-bike frame care
7:55 Electroheads Christmas party 🎉
8:21 Day Four
8:32 STORM HENK IS HERE!
9:43 Cycling in snow
10:11 Taking alternate transport…
10:40 Battery care
11:11 Day Five
11:13 Rainy commute
12:44 Day Six
13:26 360° vision glasses
14:00 What to wear
15:43 Why I love cycling in the winter
16:12 Meeting Rich 🤓
16:55 My verdict…
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