
Follow this guide to get the best out of your new bike
Bike Basics

Secure your bike
Always leave your bike locked up. Use a heavy-duty chain lock, folding link style lock or good quality U-lock and lock to something secure (not a removable street sign pole!). Consider insurance, Velosure offer our customers insurance here, or you could add it to your home insurance. Record it free on BikeVault now to ease recovery later.
For more tips see Protecting your bike from theft.

Get comfortable
Your bike should feel great to you. We can assist you in adjusting your saddle and handlebars to ensure you get the best performance and comfort from your ride.
Your free 6-week safety check service is a great time to have us make any tweaks to your setup.

Be safe and seen
Always use lights at night. Most e-bikes come with inbuilt lights connected to the bike’s powerful battery, so its a good idea to use your lights in daylight too.
Helmets are mandatory in Australia, and some helmets come with inbuilt lights for extra visibility.
If it’s been a while since you rode a bike, or you’re new to riding e-bikes then take some time to plan a safe route avoiding busy roads. E-bikes can accelerate quickly (and power up hills surprisingly fast), drivers may not be aware of this so ride defensively and be aware of others around you. Consider a rearview mirror, especially if you’re carrying kids behind you or they are riding on their own bikes behind you.
Bike Maintenance
Like any bike, a little care goes a long way. Following these good habits will keep your bike healthy.
Listen in
Listen to your bike. A noisy chain suggests its time for a chain lube. There is a fine balance between quiet brakes and stopping power, especially on large front-loader box bikes. But if you notice a new noise when braking then your brake pads maybe worn out and due for replacement before more expensive damage to the brake rotors occurs.
Inspect regularly and notice new noises or wobbles. Broken spokes or loose parts like an axle can cause expensive damage if left unattended. If you park in public places, lookout for theft attempts of components like wheels or brake pads – a new rattle might suggest your bike has been tampered with. Check with a bike shop before riding.
Chain care
E-bikes (especially mid-drive cargo bikes) increase the force on the chain, gears and brakes so you can expect a shorter life on these parts than a typical non-powered bike. If your chain is slipping between gears it may be time for a new chain.
Pump up
We often have bikes brought in for service with nearly flat tyres. This wears tyres out fast and makes your bike feel oh-so-heavy. Pump up your tires firmly, their recommended range will be printed on them. In a pinch many cargo bike tires can be inflated at a petrol station with a car tyre pump (take care not to overfill them!), but a bike pump is a great investment.
Lubricate!
You can dramatically improve the life of your chain by caring for it. Its like brushing your teeth – you will be amazed how much better your bike feels with a lubricated chain! Clean your chain then apply a quality chain lube regularly. Let the lube dry, especially before riding in wet conditions. Use a drip lubricant rather than a spray to avoid contaminating your brake rotors when lubricating your chain.
Stay in service
Remember to service your bike. Depending on the size of the loads you carry and how you care for you bike you should plan to schedule a service every 1,000 to 2,000 km. We will advise you on your optimal service interval when you visit for your initial free safety check service.
E-Bike Tips

Switching on
Press the power button on the handlebar controls (most systems including Bosch) or the “+” button (Dyson bikes). For Shimano electrics the power button is on the battery and avoid touching the pedals while switching on as this can cause a temporary pedal sensor error (just power off and on again to fix it).
Power levels
Use the up/down or +/- buttons to change how much assistance your motor gives. Most e-bikes come with an “eco” mode or lower pedal assist setting (power level 1). Use this to save battery and get more distance before you need to recharge. You can turn off assistance altogether at “0” or “off” – useful to remember if you find you’ve lost power!
Mobile apps
E-bikes often have companion apps to check status, fine-tune motor output and manage battery usage. Get the app for your electric system: Bosch Ebike, Shimano, Pendix, CYC.

Gears are great
You probably have plenty of gears on your bike, so use them! With the luxurious power of an e-bike people sometimes forget to change gears, relying on the motor to accelerate. This concentrates wear on just a few gears and can wear out your cluster (and chain) in as little as 500km. Get in a low gear to get started and when going up hills, change to higher gears for speed, then return to a low gear as you approach a stop. The result will be a smoother ride, more power when you need it and less strain on your components. Just ask us if you’re not sure how to change gears on your bike.
Most motor systems prefer a cadence (pedal speed) between 70-90 rpm. Keeping your pedalling in this range will improver your battery range and reduce costly wear on your bike.
If you shift gears while pushing hard on the pedals you may hear a loud clunk as the chain moves from gear to gear, especially with a powerful mid-drive motor. If you can, try to ease up on the pedals while changing gears.
To learn how to change gears check out this video.

Around water
Most e-bikes are fine riding in the rain. But submerging a warm motor (eg. riding in a deep puddle or stream) can damage it!
When cleaning your bike avoid pressure spraying towards the motor and electronics. Salt, sand and grit can also damage electronics so keep these to a minimum and store your bike indoors if you live near the beach.
Bikes don’t mind getting wet but they don’t like staying wet. Always store your bike in a dry location.
Keep it legal
Beware of illegal bikes. In Australia e-bike assistance is limited to 25 km/h and throttles on e-bikes are not allowed except for some very low-power bikes. If your bike has a throttle (allowing travel without pedalling) and powers you faster than 25 km/h then it is probably illegal for you to ride it on Australian roads. Know your local rules, and take care.
Battery Care
Your battery is one of the most expensive components on your bike, so its worth caring for it well! Depending on how often it is used, a well cared-for battery should last around five years. Here are some guidelines to get the most out of your battery.

Book Your Free Service

At Cargocycles we offer a free safety check service on new bikes sold for local pickup from our Melbourne store. Optimally this is around the 6-week mark or 500km, whichever happens first.
This service is really important – don’t miss it! It allows our mechanics to make any necessary minor adjustments to your bike after it has been ridden several times – cables and bolts stretch or loosen with first use. We’ll go over your bike and adjust everything to suit your riding style, re-index the gears if needed and gauge your usage to suggest your optimal service interval.
If you are not a local Melbourne customer we recommend scheduling a basic new bike service with a reputable local bike shop after the 6 weeks / 500km mark.
Contact us to book your free service within 60 days of purchasing your bike.