E-bikes: Ride before you buy

Having been in business for 13 years, shop owner Bryan Metzgar of Greensburg Bike Shop in Youngwood said that he has never seen a trend in the bike market become so popular, so fast.

This type of attention for a product creates a new category of problems.

With ever-increasing demand, Metzgar said it is important for buyers to be safety conscious when buying a new e-bike.

“I’m sure it will level off eventually, but right now there are many manufacturers competing for business, and I would call them knock-off companies,” Metzgar said.

Metzgar said there are hundreds of brands from overseas manufacturers that are “trying to get a piece of the pie.” Most of the companies are completely online storefronts with no customer service and no easy way to get replacement parts for the bikes.

“There was such a mad rush to get these to market, that they weren’t thinking about making them repairable,” Metzgar said.

He said even companies with real people answering the phones are having trouble manufacturing the bikes with such high demand.

Metzgar said he expects that the market will trickle down to a few reliable brands.

Until then, he recommends that interested buyers shop from a brick-and-mortar bike shop. If a shop is selling the bike, then odds are good they have parts needed for repairs, or at least have a way to get them.

Shop owners and their teams will know the equipment that they are selling and will be able to give advice to buyers.

Battery safety

“(Shoppers) need to look for bikes with (Underwriters Laboratories)-­listed batteries because there have been some battery fires,” Metzgar said. “They also need to be able to have good shop support.”

A battery that is UL listed means it has been tested and met the safety standard established in the country.

Lithium-ion batteries are often found in smartphones, laptops, electric scooters, bikes and electric cars. Lithium-ion batteries hold more energy than the conventional batteries in smoke alarms or flashlights, and bigger batteries hold more energy.

When a lithium-ion battery catches fire, it releases energy as heat and can not be put out by a home fire extinguisher. Despite the intimidating possibility of a lithium battery fire, there are many ways to avoid the hazard and reap the benefits of a lithium-­ion battery.

Saur Energy International recommends that users avoid storing the batteries at high temperatures and use shade if possible, try to keep the battery dry, do not overcharge the battery and let it cool down after use.

Metzgar recommended that people buy in person to test drive the bike as well. The size, fit and power of an electric bike are all considerations when making a purchase.