I’m starting a new job in East London as I write this article and have been planning to get an ebike to commute to the office, as so many people in London do. It is peak winters right now though, and so the first question I asked a friend was: can you ride e-bikes during the winter?
As it turns out, riding an e-bike during the winter is relatively easy as long as one takes care of the battery, modifies the bike tyres appropriately as well as adjusts their riding technique a little.
Here are the top 7 tips to help you have a safer e-bike ride during the winter:
How To Ride An E-Bike During The Winter
#1 Take Care of the E-bike Battery
Most E-bikes have lithium-ion-based batteries. Exposure to extreme temperatures results in reduced performance. Below-freezing temperatures can permanently damage your battery, causing irreparable damage.
Although E-bike batteries can withstand extreme conditions for short durations before getting damaged, anything below -20°C is too cold to allow them to function correctly, and anything below 15 °C is too cold for storage.
The battery’s overall power gets reduced during the cold winter months, reducing the output of your e-bike. Therefore, properly caring for your e-bike’s battery during cold weather becomes crucial.
Here are a few ways to take care of your E-bike battery during the winter:
- Storage:
Store the E-bike and its battery separately if you plan to store them for longer durations. While you can store your bike outdoors if you want (though I’d recommend keeping it sheltered in a shed if possible, at a minimum), you definitely should store the e-bike battery indoors when not in use.
Store the battery at room temperature as much as possible- roughly at 15 °C (or 59 °F).
- Charging the battery
Ensure you charge the battery at room temperature for optimal charge and performance.
Make sure your battery is not fully depleted before plugging it in.
- Additional tips to extend battery life
Preheating: Consider preheating the battery briefly by bringing it inside whenever possible to enhance its performance.
Use low power mode: Consider using low power mode to ensure the battery life lasts during your commutes.
Periodic checkups: It is equally important to regularly check your e-bike’s battery and solve any issues noticed at the earliest.
Consider purchasing a neoprene e-bike battery cover to keep your battery safe from sudden temperature changes.
Since winters can reduce battery ranges significantly, Frequently check the range the battery can provide before planning your rides.
#2: Choose The Right Tyres For Winter Riding.
Regular tyres on your e-bike are great for riding all year, but not in the winter. Choosing the right tyre thus becomes very important since it can significantly improve grip and traction, leading to better bike control while riding.
Although some riders choose tyres for better conditions, they don’t help much in snowy areas, making your tyres useless during snowy seasons.
So, it would be best if you used studded bike tyres. Studded bike tyres are great for riding on hard-packed snow areas, ploughed roads, or in icy conditions.
Though these tyres are expensive, they are crucial for your winter purchase if you want to ride in areas with freezing or below-freezing temperatures.
However, do also factor in a bit of reduction in your ebike’s range since studded tyres require more power.
Pro tip: Regularly check tread wear and tyre pressure for proper traction and grip for better e-bike stability.
Recommendation: Himiway or Schwalbe on Amazon. These are marketed as MTB studded tyres but should fit ebikes as well. I'll suggest you just double check the tyre dimensions to ensure they are compatible with the wheel size of your ebike#3: Regularly Inspect Your Brakes.
Regularly inspecting and maintaining brakes becomes crucial, especially for anyone who wishes to ride on very slippery and cold surfaces, to provide better stopping power and stability on these tracts since freezing temperatures can reduce the efficiency of your brakes and increase the chances of accidents.
Here are a few key points to remember:
- Always check the brakes and the shifter before going for any ride, especially during the winter.
- Inspect your brake pads and cables for moisture accumulation or signs of freezing. If you notice any of it, Wipe it down with a warm cloth when needed.
- Replacing your brake pads at regular intervals with new, better ones is recommended.
- It is equally important to check your brake levers to see if they provide a proper grip. If your hands slip or tend to drop, use sandpaper tape to prevent any slip-ups and offer a good grip.
By the way, I wrote a more detailed post on how to prevent your bike brakes from freezing in the winter that you should also read!
#4: Wear Proper Winter Riding Clothes.
It is crucial to wear proper winter attire to remain warm and protected from the cold during your rides. Below, I’ve written a few main points to think about, but if you’d like my detailed recommendations on winter cycling gear- read this post.
- Waterproof clothing, insulated gloves, thermal socks, a windproof jacket, and layered clothes make up the perfect winter attire.
- It is important to have a decent pair of UV-protected sunglasses during the winter. Especially while riding in snow, as sunlight reflects very harshly in snow, making it hard to see.
- Consider wearing a face mask. It will help keep your face warm throughout the ride. Some people also prefer Balaclava masks, as they provide heat without making it hard to breathe.
- Helmets become more critical, especially during the winter, to prevent head injuries since ice and snow increase the chances of an accident as the surface becomes more slippery and difficult to ride on. Consider wearing full-face helmets to ensure safety as well as protection from the cold and UV rays.
- While riding, your hands are exposed to the cold. To ensure a smooth riding experience, make sure they are protected with a good pair of winter gloves.
- Go for windproof and waterproof clothing. So that you do not risk being exposed to wet conditions, especially during the colder months.
- Make sure to wear a base layer; it sticks to your skin and keeps you warm during the winter.
Pro tip: Put protective fenders on your e-bike. As the weather can quickly turn from snowy to muddy and slushy, having back and front fenders on your e-bike and the back of your cycling jersey can help protect it from moisture, dirt, and mud.
#5: Use Proper Winter Riding Techniques.
Dealing with snow, ice, and slippery surfaces is one of the significant challenges of winter riding. Riding in the cold months isn’t the same as riding in the summer.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Ride slower than you would in the summer. Take cognizance of your experience level before planning your first winter ride.
- Black ice is hard to spot. So give yourself more braking time.
- When you take turns, go slowly to avoid sliding.
- Make sure to check your seating. Your feet should touch the ground. It will make it easier to stop while trying to avoid a crash.
- Be vigilant while you ride. Carefully look at the surroundings during your ride and be as flexible as possible; winter riding might require you to make on-the-spot modifications to your plan.
- Check the weather forecast before planning your rides. Avoid riding in extreme weather conditions like impending snowstorms, blizzards, etc. to keep yourself safe.
#6: There Is Reduced Visibility, So Keep That In Mind.
The days get shorter and darker early in the winter. With shorter daylight hours, proper visibility for motorists and pedestrians becomes crucial.
- Use adequate and proper lighting on your e-bike. Ensure to turn on your headlight, rear light, and helmet light while riding your bike.
- Wear reflective clothing to improve visibility.
- You can also cover your e-bike models with reflective decals.
#7: Clean Your E-Bike Regularly And Adequately.
Ensure you thoroughly clean your E-bike during the winter since salt, mud, and snow commonly found on roads can cause your e-bike parts to corrode.
- Wash your e-bike only at room temperature.
- Make sure you clean up any dirt or salt particles that have clung to your E-bike. If left, they can damage the bike’s parts.
- Do not use a pressure washer on your bike. You can use a spray instead. A bucket with soapy water can also do the trick.
- Rusting is a common phenomenon during the winter. To prevent it, you can use a rust-preventive spray on your e-bike. These sprays come with a long-lasting coating, so they only need to be applied once, and you’re good to go!
- While at it, make sure your bike’s moving parts, such as the chain, gears, derailer, drivetrain, etc., are thoroughly lubricated.
- Avoid using WD-40 or other general-purpose lubricants. Use e-bike-specific lubricants instead like this one on Amazon.