Safety Rules For E Bikes Riding In The Rain
I would like to give you some essential tips on riding in the rain:
1. Make yourself visible on the road to other drivers/riders.
On rainy days, poor road visibility is common. Therefore, if you have to ride an e-bike in cloudy and wet weather, I recommend that you install a bright bike headlamp, as well as reflectors on your bike. so that other road users can see you even through the wall of rain.
2. For this purpose, it is also advisable to wear neon or luminescent clothing with reflectors in the back, arms, and legs.
Follow traffic rules, watch out for hazards. Bike riders should be much more careful on the road than car drivers, as they are more likely to be injured in road accidents. In addition, the risk of an accident is significantly increased in rainy weather.
3. High speeds should be avoided.
The range of visibility of the horizon in rainy weather can be significantly reduced. Therefore, e-bike riders should not exceed 15.5 m/h (25 km/h), as the approach time to low-visibility objects is significantly reduced with higher speeds, which may make it virtually impossible to avoid any collision hazard.
4. Another negative factor in rainy weather is the increased braking distance of an electric bicycle, as the brakes get less efficient. Rapid braking on slippery and wet roads should be avoided, as that may cause a spin-out.
As a rule, the most dangerous time is when it starts to rain, as water droplets are mixed with road dust, forming a thin layer of mud on the road surface, due to which the grip with the road is reduced.
5. Plan a safe route. Pay attention to things on the road such as gravel and rocks, wet leaves, large puddles, cracks, twigs, etc.
Of course, nothing can be more pleasant than riding an e-bike through splashing puddles but don’t forget that they can be 4″ deep, so I doubt that such a ride on the “mirror-like surface” will be useful for your e-bike. In this regard, my advice to you is, if possible, avoid large puddles to protect yourself and your e-bike from possible injuries.
6. When you ride an electric bike in the rain, don’t forget to pick the right clothes to protect you from cold droplets of rain.
Wrong clothes may, at least, cause a cold. As a rule, with the rain comes and cooling – the air temperature drops by 40-50F – such temperature changes are not good for your health, especially if you are wearing thin and easily moistened clothes.
Therefore, on rainy days, you should wear dense, waterproof clothing made of quick-drying fabric with reflective stripes on it. It would be great to have a special bicycle raincoat with you in case of extreme rainy weather.
Not only will it provide excellent rain protection, but also increase your visibility on the road for other road users, as it has a fairly bright color and special reflective bands on its surface.
7. Having waterproof gloves or glove covers, a waterproof helmet in case of rain is a good idea as well.
Special waterproof boots are produced for cycling in wet, cold weather. Bicycle goggles or, at least, regular sunglasses will protect your eyes from water droplets.
8. To protect against rain, you can even use a special canopy umbrella (if you e-bike allows that) or under-cover-like umbrellas boot which is attached to the handlebar.
For this purpose, you can, of course, try and use a regular umbrella but you understand that proper management of the bike, in this case, is almost impossible. Though, if you are not riding alone, you can ask someone to hold that umbrella for you
Worried about riding your electric bike in the rain? Don’t be. Electric bikes, just like push bikes, are water resistant and as long as you can see and ride safely in the rain, your electric bike is fine to ride. The electric system on an e-bike is designed to withstand bad weather. Three million + ebike riders in Europe, where it rains way more than here, can testify to that.
However, in order to avoid breakdowns, you need to be more careful and follow a number of simple guidelines:
1. Check Your E-Bike
Riding most ebikes in the rain is okay. You should check with your ebike’s manufacturer to make sure it is rated for riding in the rain (not all makes/models are).
Electric bikes are highly effective regardless of the weather they are used in. Not only are many water-resistant, they should also provide you with a complete sense of safety, security, and relative comfort during your ride from start to finish.
2. Use Bike Fenders
Use bike fenders for riding in rainFenders help keep your clothing dry. While electric bikes are largely water-resistant – the drivetrain or motor can endure heavy splashes and the battery will not fail by getting it wet – you may want to consider adding fenders to your e-bike.
Not only will this help protect you from debris on the road, but it will also keep your bike, battery, and other components protected as well.
3. Weatherproof Yourself
“At its most basic, you need to stay warm. Staying dry definitely contributes to that as well, but I find it less important.”
Dye recommends starting with a hat. “A cycling cap has just enough of a brim to keep the rain out of your eyes so you can still see, but also fits under your helmet. Get a wool one when it’s cold; bonus points for ear flaps.”
Next up, you’ll want gloves. “Gloves are so important that I will take a spare pair if I know I’m going to be out for a long time or if it’s raining really hard,” Dye said.
Look for good quality water-resistant gloves that will keep your hands warm and dry. Popular materials include Gore-tex or in extreme cases neoprene.
Your rain-resistant jacket or coat should strike a balance between keeping you warm and making you sweaty. You may even want to consider layering fleece, wool, polyester, or bamboo-based viscose fabrics so that you can vent or remove layers as conditions change.
4. Cover Your Battery And Display If Travelling
If you are travelling somewhere in the rain with your ebike mounted on an external carrier then take care with moisture getting into your battery or display. This is more of a concern for longer trips however something to be aware of as when on or behind a moving car the force of the rain is multiplied, a bit like a gurney.
Displays and batteries can be susceptible to getting moisture so for longer trips it is recommended to protect them.
There are bespoke covers available that you can purchase and you can also make your own if handy. For example a neoprene cover with velcro.
If you remove your battery and put it in the car then, for some styles of batteries, you can purchase battery plates or pin covers to help keep the weather out.
5. Use Headlights And Taillights
As with any ride that is taken during times of low visibility, using head and tail lights become even more critical in the rain. If you ride your electric bike, you’re likely to be sharing roads with several different types of vehicles, some of which will make it hard to see cyclists on the road.
Before heading out for your ride, be sure to consider using blinking head and tail lights either on your helmet or handlebars to make you as visible as possible to others on the road.
6. Be Cautious Of Corners
Electric bikes are arguably more fun to ride than traditional bikes, as the additional power they provide can radically enhance the riding experience. However, when riding an e-bike in the rain, you will want to be cautious of how much power you are using, especially when turning corners.
7. Clean Your Electric Bike After You Ride
Lastly, after each rainy ride, make sure you take a few additional minutes after the ride to wash off any debris and dry your electric bike.
While e-bikes are an incredibly economical and efficient type of transportation, it still requires maintenance. Taking the time to wash and dry your e-bike, including the battery, after a dirty ride can have considerable benefits to its well-being over the years.
When approaching a corner in the rain, slow down more than you would in normal conditions and try to prevent yourself from leaning around the corner too much. This will help keep as much tire on the ground as possible.
The last piece of advice is serious… When you get home, don’t forget to take a warm shower and make yourself a cup of hot tea/coffee – this will keep you warm and inspire you to do more on your favorite e-bike.
If you are looking for a new way of commuting or want a healthier lifestyle, we are here to help you. Visit our website to learn more about electric bikes and electric scooter or please leave information to us.
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