Bikes do vary, so be sure to read the latest manual from your bike manufacturer before you ride. We’re here to help so don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re unsure about anything!
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 bike and cycling insurance, Velosure offer our customers insurance here, or you could add it to your home insurance.
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.
Bike Maintenance
Like any bike, a little care goes a long way. Following these good habits will keep your bike healthy.
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.
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.
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.
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.