E-BIKING IN ALL WEATHERS – THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF IN HEAT, COLD AND RAINY WEATHER
Let’s be honest: Cycling in extreme heat and cold is not always fun. And even in rainy weather, there are sometimes better things to do than slug through poor weather conditions. But extreme weather conditions can be exhausting not only for us humans, but also for the technology. What do summer temperatures, heavy rain showers and the onset of winter actually do with your e-bike? And what’s more how can you protect it? We’ll answer all these questions in this blog article.
THE PERFECT E-BIKE WEATHER – AT WHAT TEMPERATURE DOES YOUR E-BIKE FEEL AT ITS BEST?
According to various scientific studies, 27 degrees is the temperature at which people feel good. At this temperature, we don’t freeze, our body needs the least energy and works best overall. Technology is not as sensitive at these temperatures, but machines also have temperature ranges in which they work best. Generally speaking, the following applies to e-bikes: A temperature between approx. 10 and 20 degrees is ideal for the bike and its components.
THE IMPACT OF HEAT, COLD AND WET ON THE E-BIKE BATTERY
When it comes to the feel-good zone of your e-bike, the battery is particularly important. Batteries are usually particularly sensitive to external influences. While your e-bike battery works even in extreme temperatures – in both cold and heat – overall, everything outside the feel-good zone is suboptimal. Outside temperatures in the sub-zero range are also possible, but from -10°C the battery only delivers a fraction of the maximum power. From -15°C, the battery can no longer supply any power for assistance. The same is true of heat: Temperatures above 40 degrees can even damage the battery technology. For this reason, all manufacturers of e-bike batteries also recommend that you park your e-bike in the shade on hot summer days.
When it comes to the topic of e-bike batteries and the wet, modern batteries also offer excellent protection. Basically, e-bikes are water-resistant and can also be ridden in the rain. Here, they are no different from classic bicycles. To prevent any damage caused by water, the electronics are safely installed inside the battery and are therefore well protected. Even washing the bike down with a garden hose should not harm your e-bike battery – even if it is not recommended due to the sensitive gearshift components.
Our tip: Your e-bike battery is most exposed when you remove it from your bicycle and transport it. For this reason, we recommend suitable protective battery covers for this purpose. They are ideally tailored to the requirements of transporting an e-bike and can prevent water damage.
By the way: In the following article you will get more tips on how to store and use the e-bike battery in winter.
THE IMPACT OF HEAT, COLD AND WET ON THE E-BIKE DRIVE
The e-bike battery is part of the drive. Because the motor has a lot of electronics, it can also be vulnerable to the elements under extreme conditions. However, the temperature range here is much wider than for the e-bike battery. Nevertheless, the motor on your e-bike can also overheat – just like any other motor. It is therefore advisable to monitor the motor temperature and, if necessary, stop riding if the e-bike display warns of overheating. And it doesn’t have to be extreme summer temperatures that make the e-bike drive run hot: E-bike motors can be pushed to the limit even on a long climb with a full load. You should therefore pay attention to the recommendations of the respective manufacturer.
Wet weather is usually no problem for e-bike drives. The electronics are safely installed in the e-bike and are therefore well protected against rain, splashes and the like. What can become a problem, however, is real wetness. So you should avoid pushing your e-bike through rivers or washing it in a lake. Under certain circumstances, water can penetrate the drive and damage the sensitive electronics.
THE IMPACT OF HEAT, COLD AND WET ON THE E-BIKE DISPLAY
Sensitive electronics can also be found further forward on the e-bike, namely on the display. In fact, LCD technology makes displays very sensitive when it comes to ambient temperatures. The liquid crystals in the display react to both extreme heat and extreme cold, and can be damaged in those weather conditions. A classic temperature range in which liquid crystal displays work well is -10 to +40 degrees. If it gets colder or warmer, this can lead to damage. Caution is therefore advised, especially in summer: If the e-bike is in the blazing sun, the e-bike display can quickly become significantly hotter even at an air temperature of 35 degrees. Modern e-bike displays therefore have an automatic switch-off function if the heat gets too high. This works in the same way as the warning you receive on your smartphone if it gets too hot.
When it comes to wet conditions, it’s all down to the respective protection standard when it comes to e-bike displays. For example, IP54 is the common standard for many displays. These displays are then protected against «damaging dust» and «water spray from any direction». So rain is not a problem at first, but the screen should not be bathed in water. The FIT e-bike displays comply with the IPX7 standard and are therefore considered to be waterproof to a limited extent. This means that a shower is also possible, but the appliance should not be left in the water for too long. The remote, however, is classified according to the IPX6 standard. It certifies protection against strong jets of water.
And one more thing: for this reason, we also warn against excessive cleaning of the FIT displays. Basically, you should pay attention to the following rules:
- Never immerse the screen or control in water. Never clean with a high-pressure cleaner, water jet or compressed air.
- Never use cleaning agents.
- Always carefully clean the screen and control with a damp, soft cloth.
THE IMPACT OF HEAT, COLD AND WET ON THE OTHER E-BIKE COMPONENTS
You have now discovered the most important e-bike components and their sensitivity to extreme weather conditions. But there are also some parts on the bicycle that can suffer from extreme weather. For example, the material of the tires is very sensitive to heat and cold. In summer, the tire’s rubber can stretch to the point where it bursts due to the heat – this is a danger that should not be underestimated especially with heavy e-bikes or tires with high air pressure such as e-racing bikes. However, extreme temperatures can also cause the tire to become porous and wear faster. In winter, it is also advisable to pay attention to sensitive tires: The cold makes the material hard and brittle – cracks in the rubber are therefore extremely likely.
E-BIKES IN ALL WEATHERS – A SUMMARY
You can use e-bikes whatever the weather – but there are a few things you should take into account to protect the electronics on your e-bike. Particular care should be taken in extreme temperatures, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the e-bike. The e-bike display is also sensitive to heat and cold and should therefore be protected in extreme conditions. In general, it is advisable to pay attention to the weather and prepare your e-bike accordingly. That way, you can be sure that you’ll have a great ride on your e-bike even in hot, cold or wet conditions.
Interested in more tips? In the following article, you will find important information about caring for your e-bike motor:
15.11.2022