What Are The Best Ways To Transport Electric Bikes?
Electronic or E-Bikes have enjoyed a significant boom in popularity in recent years, and as technology continues to evolve and the cost of these bikes drop the number of people investing in such a bike is only likely to increase. There are numerous reasons why these bikes are proving so popular but they do introduce a few issues that the first-time buyer needs to be aware of - namely weight and attractiveness to thieves.
As well as doing your research on which bike to purchase, if you plan on taking your bike on holiday or to a specific place, then it is important that you choose the most appropriate method of transportation. Your standard cycle carrier is not necessarily suitable to carry an electric bike, so make sure you visit North West Towbars to discuss your needs and requirements.
Transporting Your E-Bike
Although no two bikes and vehicle options are the same, we typically recommend a tow bar mounted rack as the best option for the majority of people. The key thing to remember when discussing electric bikes, particularly if you have upgraded from a traditional style of bike, is that e-bikes weigh significantly more. You need to know the total weight of your specific bike as that will directly affect the type of towbar you need.
The majority of tow bar mounted racks will enable you to carry two electric bikes at the same time, and the average electric bike weighs roughly 19kg, which means that if you ever anticipate carrying two electronic bikes at the same time, you need a bike rack capable of carrying up to 38 kg.
Sticking to the weight issue, the bike racks we recommend are a little more advanced than standard bike racks. They have extra benefits to compensate for the additional weight of an ebike, such as ramps which make the mounting process much easier. Some of these bike racks also feature a tilting mechanism, which for most cars allow you to gain access to the boot without the hassle or stress of removing your ebikes, or the bike rack.
Roof Cycle Carriers
There are certain cycle carriers that are attached to a roof rack on your vehicle and for the right person these can be a good idea. However, bear in mind as mentioned before that electric bikes are heavy so make sure that you have the physical strength to lift your bike above head height to put it into the cycle rack. However, this type of rack particularly for e-bikes has two inherent risks.
Firstly due to the heavier weight, you will be putting stress and strain on your back lifting the bike on and off, and secondly, there is an increased risk that you could dink, dent or scratch your car or indeed your bike while putting your bike on or removing it from the cycle rack.
Consider Removing The Battery
Another tip we recommend is to remove the battery from the bike when transporting your ebike. First and foremost this helps to protect the battery from the elements, particularly if you are driving down the motorway at 60 to 70 miles an hour. However, the other benefit is that should you decide to stop at a service station for a break, the expensive battery is safe and secure inside your vehicle removing the chances of it being detached from the bike and stolen.
Electronic bikes are likely to become ever more popular moving forward, and although this article may have caused you some additional considerations, it is still relatively easy to transport your electric bike so do not let this be a reason to put you off. Provided you do your research and seek the advice of the experts at North West Towbars, you will have many years of fun and excitement using your new electric bike. Happy Cycling!!