Riding an Ebike for the First Time: How Beginners Can Get Started Safely

According to the German bicycle industry association ZIV, at least two million new ebikes have been sold in Germany every year since 2020. At the same time, figures from the Federal Statistical Office for 2023 show that 42 per cent of cyclists killed on the roads were riding a pedelec. At the time, pedelecs accounted for just under 16 per cent of all bicycles in Germany. So, many people are switching to ebikes, but are disproportionately likely to have fatal accidents on them.

According to Heiner Sothmann, spokesperson for the Deutsche Verkehrswacht e. V. (DVW), the German road safety organisation, in addition to the general increase in traffic volume, the causes of many such accidents also include riding errors and problems in handling the ebike. This particularly applies to older people and those who get back on a bike after sometimes taking a break of several years. So, for anyone who is just starting out on an ebike and considers themselves a beginner, there are good reasons to prepare for the transition to riding with the support of an electric motor.

1. First get to know the ebike, then learn how to ride
2. Adjusting correct riding position on the ebike
3. Riding an ebike for the first time
4. Learning to ride an ebike
5. Taking a curve on an ebike
6. Braking on an ebike
7. Hill start on an ebike
8. Safety training for ebikes
9. Licence to ride an ebike?
10. Tips for getting started

1. First get to know the ebike, then learn how to ride

First of all, a little encouragement: At the end of the day, riding an ebike is still the same as riding a bike, whether it’s your first time or not. Yes, a few things are different. At the same time, many of the, let’s call them basic movements, remain exactly the same. This starts with pedalling and ends with pressing the gear lever or pulling the brake lever.

Getting to know your new ebike is a great way to prepare for your upcoming ebike adventures. Take a look at all the parts of the ebike. Switch on the electric drive and check whether you already know where and how you can switch between the assistance levels, for example. How many levels does the system even offer and how do they differ? Feel free to grab the manual for this. There is often a quick start guide to help you get started.

In addition to the battery, motor and display, hydraulic disc brakes may be new to some of you. You may have had rim brakes on your previous regular bike. Due to the additional motor power and the higher weight, hydraulic disc brakes are now considered standard on ebikes. They brake more powerfully, but can usually also be better controlled. To apply the brakes, you often need to move the brake lever less forcefully and less far than is the case with rim brakes.

2. Adjusting correct riding position on the ebike

You can easily find out how it feels in practice by sitting on the ebike. If you want, you can roll back and forth a few times and brake carefully while doing so for an initial test. As long as you can easily reach the ground with both toes, it’s perfectly safe.

Distance to the handlebars

While you’re at it, see how well you can reach the brake levers with your hands. To check this, make sure the brake levers are pointing down at about a 45-degree angle. This is generally considered the optimal alignment. If you are the right distance from the handlebars, your wrists will be in line with your arms and you should be able to comfortably squeeze the brake levers with your fingers. If the handlebars are too close, your wrists will be angled upwards and you will see skin folding at the top of the wrist joint. If the handlebars are too far away from you, the wrists hyperextend downwards. Whether too far away or too close, both positions are detrimental to blood circulation, promote numbness in the fingers and hands, and cause tension in the arms, shoulders and neck.

Saddle height

To adjust the correct seating position, you also need to adjust the saddle height. Here you can use a rule of thumb that will help you to get it right most of the time. Bring the pedal, left or right, to the lowest position it describes on the circular path during pedalling. Now place the foot of the corresponding leg with the heel on the pedal. Stretch the leg completely. When your heel is just lightly touching the pedal, you have reached the correct height for the saddle. Later, when you are riding, ideally the ball of your foot should be on the pedal above the pedal axle. This position results in a knee angle of around 145 degrees, which helps you to apply your power to the pedal.

Handlebar height

There is no fixed ideal for the height of the handlebars. The decisive factor is whether you prefer to sit more upright or a little more stretched, more aerodynamic, on the ebike. The lower the position of the handlebars in relation to the saddle height, the sportier the seating position. Approach the search for the right handlebar height with an open mind. Feel free to test different heights, for example, if the stem can be moved up and down in steps of five millimetres using spacers. It may not seem like much, but it will certainly make a difference. If in doubt, this handlebar height is the right one which allows you to ride longer distances in one go without discomfort.

Expert support

If you are looking for additional guidance, it is always advisable to go to a bike shop. Sometimes there are employees there who specialise in bike ergonomics and can help you. In recent years, the topic has become more and more prominent. After all, a suitable riding position ensures that you enjoy riding your ebike as well as riding it safely. Studies by service providers such as gebiomized have shown that motor assistance leads to significantly more saddle pressure than people experience on a regular bike. In view of the greater strain, a balanced seating position is even more important. If you are looking for special expertise in this area, you should check whether service providers in your area already offer bike fitting for ebikes.

3. Riding an ebike for the first time

‘Grab your helmet, get on your ebike and be surprised by the unfamiliar acceleration – this will go sideways, says Heiner Sothmann. There is something to be said for this assessment. It can’t hurt to approach the beginning with the ebike carefully. Some of you may not have had any further experience of riding an ebike besides a possible test ride as part of the purchase. So the first time should be in an environment where both you and the traffic around you are as calm and relaxed as possible. From this sense of security, you can tackle the first few metres with the necessary concentration, focus on the essentials, take breaks whenever you need to and simply go at your own pace.

A sensible preliminary step: riding an ebike with the motor switched off
Speaking of pace, what distinguishes riding an ebike from riding a regular bike is the motor assistance and the resulting, much more dynamic acceleration. At first, it can be quite a challenge to get to grips with this additional power. If you want to take this aspect out of the equation for now, simply switch off the system for the first few laps on your new ebike. You can get a first feel for the basic handling of the ebike by riding with the motor switched off. The following details, for example, will become clearer:

• How does it steer?
• How much deceleration do the brakes provide?
• How exactly do the gears work?
• What is the turning circle like, given that the bike may be heavier or have a different size than your previous bike?
• What is the best way to get on and off the ebike?

After a short time, your first impressions will have solidified and probably given you a little more familiarity with your new vehicle. At the same time, our tip is: Don’t wait too long to take the next step and activate the electric drive as soon as you feel safe riding the ebike. After all, you don’t own a model like this just to take the motor for a ride.

4. Learning to ride an ebike

Ultimately, learning to ride an ebike means learning to control the motor. Is it difficult? No, at most it’s different and takes some getting used to at first. Riding is extended by an additional component. From our point of view, riding an ebike is no more difficult than riding a regular bike. After all, the motor makes it much easier for you to move forward. And modern drives use so much data from a wide range of sensors that you can control the experience in a precise way. You ride the ebike and are not ridden by the ebike.

Starting off safely with the ebike

At the same time, it requires you to make a few adjustments in certain riding situations. One example of this is starting off. If you’ve always started off quite energetically, you might want to be a little more cautious in the future. Many motors measure the force with which you press the pedal and the resulting cadence. If you start with a sprint, the e-drive will want to support you just as energetically. This could end up being too fast for you. So start off more slowly and feel how the motor kicks in in a controlled manner. Choose a low level of assistance in the beginning. Later, you can gradually move on to more powerful riding modes.

Stopping safely with an ebike

Stopping safely is just as important as starting safely. On average, you will ride an ebike a little faster in your daily life than a regular bike without electric assistance. In addition, it usually weighs a few kilograms more. Both factors increase the braking distance. Keep this in mind and, to be on the safe side, allow for a few extra metres when braking.

Practising slow riding

Along with starting and stopping, it’s also worth practising riding at slow speeds. Often, it’s actually easier to ride faster. Centrifugal force, rotational force and other physical phenomena noticeably stabilise the ride at a certain speed. If you move below this limit, you’ll notice how it’s harder to maintain your balance or steer the ebike straight ahead. However, we often find ourselves in situations in traffic that require us to ride more slowly. This is where it becomes clear who is good at handling their bike. After all, you can gradually increase your speed from a lower starting point – in line with your progress and what the respective riding situation permits. You can also test how quickly – or slowly – the ebike slows you down when you stop pedalling and the motor assistance pauses. This can be a useful way to reduce speed without completely losing momentum.

Shifting gears on an ebike

The question of how to ride an ebike also includes the topic of operating the gears. To be honest, it has to be said that nowadays, ebike motors even compensate for human errors. For example, it used to be true for both derailleur gears and hub gears that you should avoid shifting under load. If the chain only grated loudly on another sprocket or chainring when you shifted gears, this was a sure sign that you were not doing anything good to the shifting components. Meanwhile, a number of ebike drives recognise such situations. They briefly reduce their driving force, thus taking the pressure off the shifting process and ensuring a smooth gear change. Hub gears such as a 3X3, Rohloff E-14 and models from Enviolo even allow for smooth shifting when stationary.

5. Taking a curve on an ebike

It’s worth taking a closer look at some special riding situations. This is mainly because they require a few actions and movements from you that truly deserve to be called riding technique.

Depending on the width of the lane, the radius and the nature of the ground, corners pose special challenges. If you are travelling on familiar routes with your ebike for the first time, you may find that you reach certain points at a higher speed than you did before with a regular bike. In a corner, this can quickly lead to unpleasant surprises. With the right riding technique, you can successfully avoid such situations:

• Stop pedalling in good time and thus stop the motor assistance.
• If necessary, further reduce speed by braking before the curve.
• Move your head and shoulders in the direction of travel.
• Depending on the angle, bring the pedal on the inside of the curve to the top position and thus avoid contact with the road.

6. Braking on an ebike

In principle, braking an ebike is exactly the same as braking any other bike. The more expensive the ebike, the higher the quality of the brake fitted to it. And probably also the more sensitive. As a beginner, the best way to practise is to adjust the braking force as needed. This works better with two fingers or just one than with four fingers. Please note the following basic instructions:

• The front brake is more effective than the rear brake.
• Ideally, always apply both brake levers for controlled braking.
• Keep your body weight centred on the bike.
• Apply emergency braking in the same way as you would when braking suddenly from a car.
• Generate braking force primarily via the front brake.
• Shift your weight backwards to ensure that the rear wheel stays on the ground and to avoid falling over the handlebars.
• When braking on snow and ice, apply the rear brake a little harder than the front brake.

7. Hill start on an ebike

Both with the e-mountain bike in the forest and with an e-road bike on the road, you can reach climbs that are so steep that you feel the load on the front wheel decreasing more and more, threatening to lift off. Firstly, you don’t want to have to get off unintentionally, and secondly, you don’t want to have to stop at all. This is how you can do it:

• Select a higher level of assistance at the beginning of the ascent.
• Select the appropriate gear on the gearshift.
• Pedal evenly.
• On the steepest sections, shift your weight forward towards the front wheel.
• Actively pull the handlebars back and down to prevent the front wheel from lifting off the ground.

8. Safety training for ebikes

You can basically learn all of the above details yourself. Alternatively, organisers such as the German Cyclists’ Federation (ADFC), the German Road Safety Council (DVR), the German Road Safety Council (DVR), the German Traffic Club (VCD) or the German Automobile Club (ADAC) (ADAC) offer targeted road safety training for cyclists. Some are specially designed for beginners learning to ride an ebike.

These courses usually start at a special practice area to establish the basics. For example, the aim is to avoid obstacles and take corners on a course. When the time is right, the training moves on to real traffic conditions. As part of the training, both physical prerequisites such as mobility and balance are tested. This is to ensure that you can safely master elements such as indicating a change of direction and lane by hand signal or a shoulder check. On the other hand, mental aspects of riding a bike are also addressed, such as the fear of making a mistake or having an accident.

Often just a single day with a few riding lessons is enough to lay a solid foundation for accident-free ebike riding. You can also repeat the exercises privately at any time later on, consolidate what you have learned and gradually develop a sense of enjoyment for ebiking. The Deutsche Verkehrswacht, for example, offers such riding schools free of charge.

9. Licence to ride an ebike?

In this article, we usually write about an ebike, but by that we mean a pedelec. For this bike, whose pedal assistance is strictly linked to pedalling, while the motor only assists up to a speed of 25 kilometres per hour at a continuous nominal power of a maximum of 250 watts, the same legal provisions apply in Germany as for a regular bike. This can be read in § 1 Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG). Accordingly, when riding a pedelec, you do not need a bicycle helmet, a driving licence, official road approval, motor vehicle liability insurance or an insurance plate.

The special case of speed pedelecs

The situation is different for speed pedelecs, whose motor assistance is available up to a maximum speed of 45 kilometres per hour. According to § 1, sections 1 and 2 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG), it is legally classified as a moped. A registered speed pedelec requires:

• valid road approval,
• a valid operating licence,
• third-party motor insurance and
• an insurance registration number.

Anyone who wants to ride one must:

• have a driving licence in category AM or higher,
• wear a bicycle helmet,
• avoid cycle paths that are not explicitly open to mopeds by means of an additional sign, and
• be at least 16 years old (15 in some federal states).

10. Tips for getting started

There are countless tips that could be given on this topic. We have limited ourselves to four.

Tip 1: Start comfortably

The first tip won’t make learning to ride an ebike any easier or make you a safer rider. Nevertheless, we consider it essential. Why? Because it will make you noticeably more comfortable and give you more pleasure from something you obviously really enjoy. What we’re talking about here is buying cycling gloves and padded cycling shorts. Research shows that ebike riders don’t necessarily spend more time in the saddle than people with a non-electric bike. Instead, they tend to ride longer distances. And that’s a lot more fun when you’re comfortably seated and feeling good. Sure, you can get the specialised clothing later. But once you’ve found the right stuff, you’ll wish someone had taken you sooner, trust us.

Tip 2: Safe all-round view

A rear-view mirror can prove invaluable from the very first moment. Thanks to it, you can always keep an eye on what’s happening behind you without having to actually turn around to look. This allows you to pay more attention to what’s happening and how things are going while riding, especially while you’re getting used to the ebike.

Tip 3: Alternative turning manoeuvre

If you need a little more practice, you can replace the left-hand turn, which is often perceived as difficult, with an alternative turning manoeuvre to the left. An alternative turning manoeuvre to the left is when you first cross an intersection straight ahead, even though you actually want to turn left there. However, as an intermediate step, you ride across the intersection on the cycle path or the road and get off on the right-hand side of the road immediately afterwards. There you turn 90 degrees to the left and then cross the intersection – either at a traffic light or as soon as the road is clear. Whether you do this on foot or while riding probably depends on the situation. You may also be able to use a designated lane or a cycle path. Of course, if a junction has a lane for cyclists turning left, you can avoid turning in an alternative way.

Tip 4: Mutual consideration

Last but not least, a piece of advice that also applies to every other situation in life but still can’t be mentioned often enough. Show as much consideration for other road users as you expect from them. This will help you to avoid a lot of stress.

Pictures: Ampler Bikes OÜ; Deutsche Verkehrswacht e. V.; Moustache Bikes SAS Cycle Me; Pressedienst Fahrrad / Luka Gorjup; SnM gebioMized GmbH