Electric bikes for seniors are considered a blessing as it helps them to move, do their exercise also to do their daily activities in a normal manner without feeling pain .
The reason for this is that there is a choice between using the bike as a regular bike (with little effort depending on the PAS) or without any effort completely depending on the throttle.
But with the many models and designs of electric bikes, are there features that will be more suitable for Seniors?
In other words, how will you choose your ebike as a senior?
In this post, we will discuss the 9 most important features you should have on your electric bike as a senior.
How To Choose EBike For Seniors? (Top 9 Features)
1-Step through design.
The design of the electric bike is one of the most important points that may increase or decrease your enjoyment of the electric bike in general, but for seniors, the matter is somewhat technical, as the design of the ebike may facilitate or hinder riding the electric bike.
Relying on a design that is easy to mount and dismount the ebike, such as the Step through design, helps seniors to ride the electric bike easily without the need to raise their feet above the rear wheel and feel pain.
What distinguishes the step-through design is that you can easily mount the bike and keep your feet touching the ground, which increases confidence and helps your balance the ebike.
On the other hand, it gives you the ability to adjust all the ebike settings before sitting on your ebike saddle.
That is why it is always preferable to choose the step-through design when choosing an electric bike for Seniors.
2- Ergonomics Ebike Frame.
The ergonomics design is meant for you to have your knee high above the pedal, and the goal of this design is to have your back straight while riding, and also your knee is comfortable and also helps to hold the handlebar comfortably.
For Seniors, this is necessary because they do not want to feel joint or back pain when getting off the bike.
That’s why make sure that the design of your bike frame is ergonomic.
Note: There are many designs that have the step-through frame, as well as ergonomics so please take your time to search for the model that will have both features.
3-Throttle is a Must.
When you think about choosing an electric bike that suits you as a senior, the throttle is an absolute necessity because it is the main comfort and help for you while riding your electric bike.
You can turn on the throttle and let the bike do all the work Of course, the presence of the PAS will help you, but you will have to use the pedal, which means that you are still making even a little effort.
That’s why always make sure to have Throttle and PAS in your electric bike.
4- 250/500W motor is more than enough.
Choosing a motor for your electric bike must suit your needs, and this means that the motor capacity is not large, so it is unnecessarily expensive, or it is small, so it is a source of inconvenience.
In general, it is preferable for seniors to choose between the 250-watt motor or the 500-watt motor for two reasons.
First, the 250/500-watt motors are often in electric bikes at a reasonable price.
Secondly: The greater the power of the motor, the greater the speed, which may increase the risk of collision in the event of falling from the bike.
That is why if you are riding your bike inside the city and there are not many hills in your area of residence, then the 250-watt motor is more than enough for you (if you are not a heavyweight), but if you are a heavyweight, 500 watt is the best in this case.
But if you live in an area with many hills, the 500-watt motor is best suited for you (if you are not a heavyweight), but if you are a heavyweight, 750-watt is the best in this case.
You can see this post for more details on how to choose the right motor for you.
“How Big A Motor Do I Need For An EBike? (Explained)”
5-Hub motors are ok.
The second question you should ask yourself is, is what suits me a hub motor or a mid-drive?
The hub motor is in the front or rear wheel, and the torque is usually less than the mid-drive.
The mid-drive motor is located in the middle of the electric bike, and the torque is high
On the other hand, the price of the mid-drive is higher than the Hub Motor.
In fact, most senior cyclists do not need the high torque in the mid-drive, especially since the mid-drive will require that you use the pedal in most electric bikes.
That’s why Hub Motor is the best choice for you as a senior rider.
See also, “How Do You Care For An Electric Bike Motor“
6-Folding ebike is a great option.
Folding electric bikes are an excellent choice from a practical point of view, you can take them with you everywhere and exercise
And the beautiful thing about this type of bike is that it gives you an additional advantage, which is you don’t have to buy any car holder for it.
So if you have the ability to buy a foldable bike, that would be great.
7-Large pedal.
Having a large pedal in an electric bike will be very useful for you while riding an electric bike because the space you will put your feet on will be larger, which gives you more comfort while riding the bike and also increases your safety.
Always remember that the electric bike runs at a high speed compared to a regular bike, so your safety while riding a bike is very important.
You can check out this post that explains how to ride an electric bike safely for Seniors Riders
How To Ride An Ebike Safely For Seniors? (Practical Tips)
8-Choose The Right Saddle
Choosing the right saddle for you is one of the things that increase your comfort and safety while riding a bike as well.
For this, it is preferable to choose a saddle that is suitable for the sitting bone so that it is not too big or too small.
The reason we do not recommend a very large saddle is that the larger the space of the saddle, the less freedom you have to move your leg while using the pedal, which may be uncomfortable for you.
That is why it is preferable to choose a suitable ebike saddle, not large or small.
9-Fat tires are more comfortable.
To get more comfort while riding an electric bike, you can buy a bike with a fat tire because it will increase your comfort while riding the bike, but what may bother you is the large size of the tire and the increase in weight.
Can You Ride A Fat Tire Ebike On Pavement? (Solved)
Conclusion.
In order to choose a bike suitable for you as a senior, it is preferable to have a step-through and ergonomic design, as well as to contain a throttle.
For the recommended motor, it is 250/500W of the Hub type
There are also some features that will increase your pleasure and comfort while riding, which are that the bike is foldable or contain a suitable saddle and a large pedal, and finally has a fat tire.
