If you’ve ever ridden a bike up a hill, you know how important it is to utilize the Electric Bicycle Gears. They not only make it easier for you to ride up steep hills but allow you to conserve energy in the process. But since electric bikes have a throttle and pedal assist to make the riding experience better, do they have gears? If your electric bike has gears, how do you use them effectively?To ensure you have the most efficient riding experience, here is a breakdown of how to use gears on an electric bike.

What are the electric bicycle gears?
Gears are the same as speeds – a bike with 24 gears is a 24 speed bike. Electric bikes generally have 1, 3, 18, 21, 24, 27, 32, or even 40 speeds. Lower numbers are the low gears, and higher numbers are the high gears. The first gear is low gear. Twenty-fourth gear is high gear. Pretty easy so far.
Shifting gears is going from one gear to another. You shift gears by sliding or clicking the shifter on the handlebars. This shifts the chain onto a different sized ring (or increases/decreases electric power output). Downshifting means going to a lower gear, and upshifting means going to a higher gear. You can also say shift down and shift up.
On an e-bike, the left shifter is responsible for shifting electric assistance levels and the right shifter takes care of shifting mechanical gears.
For mechanical gears, the right shifter is connected to a cable, which is hidden in protective housing. As you click through (or turn) the gears, this cable is tightening and loosening, applying more or less force to the mechanism that moves your e-bike’s chain up and down on the cassette or chainrings.

Are Gears Necessary On an Electric Bike?
It’s a common misconception that gears aren’t needed on an electric bike. Even though they offer a throttle and pedal-assist to help you get going (and keep going), there are times that you’ll want gears on your electric bike unless you plan on riding short distances on flat roads.
In many cases, pedal-assist will provide you with enough power to get where you need to go. But there are scenarios where switching your electric bike into a low pedal-assist system and utilizing the gears will be more effective.

Can I Use Pedal Assist Instead of Gears?
Although pedal-assist is a great feature offered by your electric bike, there are a few reasons why you would opt to use gears instead.
1.Motor size – If you’re attempting to climb a large hill, but your electric bike has a small motor, your pedal-assist system may not be strong enough. Using gears will require a bit more work on your end, making climbing the hill much more manageable. While pedal-assist may help you reach the top of the hill, it’ll be a much slower process.
2.Battery life – Because an electric bike is electric, it requires a battery to keep it powered up and operating at its best. Depending on the distance you plan to ride your bike, you may need a way to extend your battery life. By pedaling along with the bike’s motor, you’ll be able to reduce the battery power being used. Having gears in place to help you pedal more efficiently will make those battery savings even more significant.

How Do I Use Gears on an Electric Bike?
Using gears on an electric bike is very similar to using them on a regular cycle. The lower the gear number, the easier it is to pedal. The gear number directly correlates with how hard the motor will need to work. The lower the gear, the more your electric bike will rely on the motor which will use up the battery. When you have the gear set to a higher number, you’ll be required to pedal more, extending the life of your battery.
The handlebars on the electric bike allow you to control the gears and the pedal-assist system. On the right handlebar, in most instances, you’ll find the gear shifter where you can adjust the mechanical gear level — making it easier or more difficult for you to pedal the bike. On the left handlebar, you’ll be able to change the power level of the pedal assist system, determining how much of the bike’s battery power is being used.

How to Choose What Gears You Should be Using
Selecting the right gears can be a bit challenging at times and the right gears to use will vary depending on the situation.
Despite that, here are some pointers that you can use to decide on which gear you should be using.
If you are stationary then you will want to use one of the lower gears since they are more appropriate for the speed that you are moving at.
You will also want to be using a lower gear when cycling uphill since you are going to need to be putting in more effort in order to get up the hill. Then, when you get to the other side, you will want to select a higher gear since you’re probably going to be going at a higher speed.
If there is a wind pushing you in the back then you will want to use a higher gear since it’s going to be easier for you to cycle at higher speeds. While, if it’s pushing you from the front, then you’re going to need to be using a lower gear.
Another factor to consider is the terrain. If you’re cycling on a smooth road then you will be able to use a higher gear since there will be less friction preventing you from traveling at higher speeds. Conversely, if you’re cycling on a muddy surface then you will probably need to select a lower gear since you’re going to need to be putting in more effort.

How to Decide on How Much Assistance You Need
When cycling your e-bike you will probably want to keep your effort levels at a constant rate. This means that, ideally, you won’t need to be constantly changing the how hard you need to be pushing on the pedals.
This means that you should plan ahead and change the level of power assistance based on what is in front of you. If you see that you’re about to turn into a headwind then it would be a good idea to increase the level of power assistance so that you won’t need to suddenly be putting in a big effort to keep the bike moving. Likewise, if you see that things are about to get easier then you should lower the level of power assistance so that you can save some of the battery.

If you want to know more about electric bicycles, please click:www.hotebike.com/blog/

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