Fans of the traditional bike or not, more and more consumers are setting their sights on the electric bike. To take the eco-mobility bandwagon and be able to take advantage of the many cycle paths that are springing up everywhere, this means of transport seems to be ideal. How to choose the right electric bike? What criteria should be taken into account when buying? Discover our special file.
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[EN VIDÉO] How to choose an electric bike? Electric-assisted bicycles (VAE) offer an alternative and ecological means of transport for short and medium distances. Price, autonomy, comfort of use, type of battery… Here are the criteria to take into account before a purchase.
The first question to ask is what do you want to do with your bike. So, an electric bike for what purpose? There are a multitude of models of electric bikes on the market. Depending on the use you will make of it, some are to be preferred more than others. Here are our tips.
To ride in town
You wish invest in a high-performance electric bike to make short trips in town such as your home-to-work journey? It therefore seems wise to opt for an electric bike that combines practicality and performance. The best ? A foldable model! Light, easy to transport (even on the train) and easy to store at home and at work, the electric bike folding seems to be the best option for riding around town.
To walk the country lanes
Do you drive around town during the week but love to explore the countryside at the weekend? So the all-road electric bike (VTC) is made for you ! Excellent compromise between a traditional bike and a mountain bike, this type of model allows you to ride both on the asphalt of city centers and on muddy paths.
For off-road
Are you a fan of sportier driving? Opt for the mountain bike (all-terrain bike) electric. These models are equipped with tires more imposing in order to be able to adapt to difficult places such as forest paths, for example.
Electric bike: watch out for the battery
The battery is a key element of the electric bicycle. It is therefore a significant criterion to take into account in your search for a model. In order not to be mistaken, find out about the type of technology that the battery uses for its autonomy.
- The lithium ion batteries : it’s about the technology the most reliable and the most recent. Lighter, these batteries are not sensitive to the memory effect; no need to wait for them to go flat before you can charge them.
- Lithium-polymer batteries: this technology is not suitable for a bicycle. These batteries have the advantage of being light but are unstable at heat and have a duration reduced life.
- Lithium-lead batteries: this type of battery should be avoided if possible. Same as the batteries cadmium, they are considered technologically obsolete. They are heavier and have a shorter lifespan.
To anticipate the change of battery in your electric bike, you can find out from the seller or the brand of the bike about the availability of the battery for sale individually in the coming years. To choose it well, bet on recognized manufacturers as a guarantee of quality: Samsung, Sony, LG or Bosch have experience solid in the manufacture of batteries for electrically assisted bicycles.
Choose your well electric bike is not that complicated. If the use you will make of it is an important criterion, the type of battery of the bike is even more so. Do not hesitate to get information from specialized sellers.
1817: the draisienne or velocipede Here is the balance bike, the ancestor of all our bikes. Its name comes from its inventor, Baron Karl von Drais, who presented it in 1817. In France, the vehicle was called a velocipede, and a hobby horse in Great Britain. Pedal point again. The user must push it with his feet. The vehicle is steered by means of a steerer. The handlebars allowed the driver to rest his hands. Its inventor will manage to cover some 14 km in one hour. After a few years of success, the balance bike will be abandoned. © Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1839: the invention of the pedalboard The British Kirkpatrick MacMillan, blacksmith, was the first to design a pedal system to animate a balance bike or velocipede. Pedals positioned on the wheel and which, by a back and forth movement, will turn the rear wheel.© Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1861: a revolutionary pedalboard In 1861, Pierre and Ernest Michaux, locksmiths and balance bike repairers in Paris, developed the first rotary crankset. Equipped with this accessory on their enlarged front wheel, the velocipedes become michaudines. An invention that will greatly appeal to the wealthy.© Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1871: birth of the famous Grand Bi In 1871, the Grand Bi arrived from… Great Britain. The vehicle is characterized by a front wheel with a large diameter (120 to 130 cm) and a much smaller rear wheel (about 40 cm). This specificity allows him to travel greater distances. Difficult to handle, the Grand Bi is quite dangerous and will appeal to the most adventurous. It will be a great success as a recreational sport. Many races are contested in England.© Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1879: Lawson’s bicycle The bike continues to evolve. In 1879, Henry John Lawson developed a crankset with a chain drive on the rear wheel. Lawson’s bicycle approximates our bicycles today. © Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1884: the safety bicycle In 1884, John Kemp Starley further perfected the bicycle by reducing the size of the front wheel, which gave it more stability. The crankset and chain system on the rear wheel will equip his bicycles. It will be the “safety bicycle”.© Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1891: Michelin invents the removable tire The bicycle is becoming increasingly popular. A little, everywhere races are organized and cycle tourism spreads all over France. In 1888, Dunlop developed the first tyre. A few years later, Michelin created a real racing bike and invented the removable tire with an inner tube. © Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1933: the recumbent bike Charles Mochet invents the recumbent bicycle, heir to his 4-wheel, 2-seater velocar. Convinced that his new bike is faster than the others, he wins all the challenges thrown at the other cyclists. The recumbent bike will be excluded from competitions in 1934. The first commercial horizontal bike will be released in 1978. © Flickr, CC by-nc 2.0
1950: the bicycle is in crisis Automobiles invaded cities and countryside, which had repercussions on bicycle sales, which were then at their lowest (continuous drop in sales from 1945 to 1956). To get out of the crisis, the bicycle is reinventing itself little by little. Appear improvements for more comfort and safety. Different types of bicycles will also see the light of day.© Clker-Free-Vector-Images, CCO
1968: birth of BMX in California BMX is the acronym for bicycle motocross. This new Californian sport arrived in France at the end of the 1960s, on the strength of its success in the United States. Its inventors were inspired by motocross races to develop competitions that take up the codes but with two wheels cut out for it. © Flickr CC by-nc 2.0
1970-1980: mountain bikes conquer the world After the crisis of the 1950s, bicycle sales picked up again, especially with the arrival of more sporty models straight from the United States. The BMX and also, from the 1970s, the all-terrain or mountain bike.© zeimusu, CCO
1976: the first mountain bikes leave the factories Mountain biking is evolving. Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey and Charlie Kelly improve a Schwinn brand model and equip it with two derailleurs. The MountainBikes was born.© Flickr CC by-nc 2.0
1974: the rise of the unicycle Probably invented in the middle of the 19th century, in the wake of the Grand Bi, the unicycle is widely used in circuses. It is again a lot of emulators in our time. The unicycle developed into off-road models and also with electric assistance. © Openclipart, CC0 1.0
2005: a tandem tricycle There have been variations of bicycles since the appearance of the balance bike: tandems, unicycles, velocars, recumbent bicycles, all-terrain or all-road bicycles, scooters, etc. Here is an original model for outings as a couple or with friends, the Fun2Go by VanRaam, a solid two-seater tricycle, released in the mid-2000s. © Erik Wannee, CC by-sa 4.0
Anatomy of a bicycle All the components of a mountain bike. © Al2, CC by-sa 3.0
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