We recommend regular riders bring their bike into their local shop for twice-yearly tune-ups. This allows professional mechanics to ensure that the more complex parts are all functioning properly. Regularly washing your bike and minor adjustments are an essential part of ongoing bike care.
Essential Road E-Bike Maintenance Tips
Written by: Rémy Rossi | November 18, 2024 | Time to read 5 min
Take proper care of your road e-Bike and it’ll take care of you. I’ll share essential maintenance tips to help extend the range and lifespan of your road-loving electric bike.
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
A well-maintained electric bike is more enjoyable to ride and it pays off to keep your road e-Bike in tip-top shape. Okay, so your e-Bike doesn’t have to be impeccable every time you go for a ride (who’s is anyway?), but there are several best practices to help extend the lifespan of the motor and battery.
Taking care of a road electric bike follows many of the same steps of maintaining any e-Bike, or standard bicycle for that matter, including regular tune-ups and cleanings. Riders can abide by the normal e-Bike maintenance tips, plus follow the specific advice mentioned below. By incorporating these simple habits (hint: they’re also free) into your routine, you’ll be able to make your road e-Bike go further!
How to Maintain a Road Electric Bike
1. Fine-tune performance with your e-Bike’s app
Riders have the power to make their road e-Bike more efficient, all in the palm of their hands. Brands like Trek, Cannondale, and Specialized each have comprehensive apps to control and customize the performance of their e-Bikes. Among many other features, there is the Motor Tune function that allows riders to adjust the power levels of pedal-assist modes. By setting the assist levels to match your riding style and turning down the power, you can extend the e-Bike’s range.
2. Efficient pedaling cadence
Road cycling by nature is all about efficiency, and maintaining an ideal pedaling cadence can help improve your e-Bike’s efficiency. Pedaling with a cadence of about 80 to 100 rpm (aka pedal strokes per minute) keeps both you and the motor in a sweet spot. Don’t worry about hitting these exact numbers, but try to avoid “grinding” up hills or using huge gears on the flats that significantly slow your pedaling rate. Smooth and swift pedaling allows the motor to remain in its ideal rpm window and reduces motor stress. And remember, as Tour de France legend Chris Froome demonstrated with his characteristically brisk cadence, spinning is winning!
Before you continue reading, here are some e-Bikes you might like:
3. Ride the right rubber
Choose the lightest and fastest tires for the terrain you’re going to be riding across. Whether it’s smooth roads or gravel, the best tires will have low rolling resistance and help transfer more of the motor’s power into speed. For even more gains, riders can use lightweight latex inner tubes but caring about a few grams here and there is not really what riding an e-Bike is really about. Make sure to maintain good tire pressure which is especially important for road bikes and fast-rolling wheels.
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4. Smooth riding style
Another way to boost your road e-Bike’s performance is by adopting a smooth, constant riding style. Now I’m not telling you how to ride your bike, but electric bike drive units respond well to smooth pedaling. To save energy, for example, you can avoid smashing it up climbs or sprinting out of corners which will drain the battery faster. But if you’re feeling like doing your best Tadej Pogačar impression on your road e-Bike, by all means, push as hard as you can.
🙌 Curious for more? Dive into these other articles!
5. A little TLC goes a long way
This tip needs little introduction— a well-maintained and correctly operating bike will last longer. Complete a quick pre-ride checklist before you go out and observe any issues as you ride. Catching small problems early gives you time to fix them before they turn into bigger costly repairs. Adjust any rubbing brakes, clean and lubricate your chain, and wash your road e-Bike when it needs it. Your bike thanks you in advance.
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Final Thoughts
Here at Upway, we spend every day inspecting and professionally refurbishing electric bikes, so we know how to ensure an e-Bike stays in top shape. Occasional checks and smart habits will help keep your fast electric bike operating at its very best. In combination with standard maintenance, this handful of tips for road e-Bikes complete the necessary ingredients for a healthy ride that’ll last for many years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does a road bike need maintenance?
How often should you lube your road bike?
Lubricate your chain after washing your bike and cleaning the chain with a bike-specific degreaser. Apply the lube to a dry chain and you’re ready to go. Avoid lubricating your chain too often as it can simply glob up and attract more dirt and grime.
Key Takeaways
- Optimize Performance: Use e-Bike apps to adjust power levels and maintain an efficient pedaling cadence to extend battery life.
- Prioritize Maintenance: Regularly clean and lubricate your bike, check for issues, and care for the battery by avoiding extreme temperatures and overcharging.
