E-Bike Riding Tips from the Road
Get More Comfort, Better Safety & Longer Battery Life
Riding an e-bike is about more than just hitting the throttle and cruising. Whether you’re new to electric bikes or have thousands of miles under your belt, a few small habits can make every ride smoother, safer, and easier on your battery.
Don’t Forget to Shift Your Gears
The pedal assist on an e-bike is an amazing feature. It multiplies your effort and makes inclines feel effortless. But don’t forget: most e-bikes still have gears.
When the pedaling starts to feel heavy and you’re straining up a hill, resist the urge to only crank up pedal assist. Downshift instead. Using your gears keeps your cadence steady, makes steep climbs easier, and extends your e-bike battery life. Think of pedal assist and gears as tools that work best together.
Watch Your Wattage
Many e-bikes display how many watts the motor is drawing. The lower the wattage, the longer your battery will last.
On my class 2 e-bike with a 750w motor, I’ve noticed something interesting: sometimes on the same flat trail, same speed, same effort, the motor draws 50 watts… and other times it jumps to 80 watts. I’ve learned that e-bike motors don’t increase wattage continuously — they jump in steps.
My trick? If the display jumps higher than I think it needs to, I’ll briefly coast, then start pedaling again. If it settles at a lower wattage (say 50 instead of 80), I’ll bump my cadence just for a second. That “locks in” the lower watt draw. This little reset has saved me a ton of battery life on longer rides.
Adjust. Ride. Repeat.
Comfort keeps you riding longer, and seat adjustments matter. With our adjustable-width bike seat, you can dial in your comfort mid-ride — but don’t stop there.
Next time you take a break, consider making a small adjustment to your seat height too. Even a half-inch change can shift weight off your wrists, relax your shoulders, and change your riding position just enough to relieve soreness.
Just make sure your seat post stays securely inside the frame and at a height where you can safely mount and dismount your e-bike.
Throttle Off When You Don’t Need It
I love the throttle on my class 2 e-bike. It makes stop-and-go riding easier, helps with short hills, and sometimes I go full “moped mode” just for fun. But here’s my rule: if I’m not using it, I switch it off.
Why? My throttle is next to the right handgrip, which is shorter than the left. My index finger rests right on the control, and too many times I’ve activated it accidentally. That burns battery, and worse, it can cause your bike to lurch at the wrong time — like at a stoplight, walking it on the sidewalk, or parking at a bike rack.
Throttle safety is simple: keep it off until you’re ready to use it.
Keep Up the Pressure
Low tire pressure on an e-bike means:
- More rolling resistance (harder pedaling)
- Less battery range
- Premature tire wear
- Sloppy handling
Check your e-bike tire pressure every couple of weeks with a gauge, and keep them inflated to the recommended PSI. It’s the easiest way to protect your ride and your battery.
Be Nice, Be Safe
Trail etiquette makes e-biking better for everyone. A few quick reminders:
- Slow down and give pedestrians plenty of space when passing.
- Call out or ring a bell when overtaking other cyclists.
- Riding side-by-side? Move single file when others approach.
- Look behind you before changing position on the trail.
There’s a reason our BestBikeMan logo shows a friendly wave — it’s a reminder that courtesy and good trail etiquette are part of every safe, enjoyable ride. Sharing the path responsibly keeps e-biking fun — and keeps everyone safe.
Final Word
These tips come from years of riding and tinkering. Every e-bike is a little different, but the basics are the same: use your gears, watch your wattage, adjust for comfort, keep your tires pumped, and ride with respect. Do that, and you’ll not only save battery life — you’ll enjoy every mile a whole lot more.