SENIORS! Learn How to Ride an EBIKE - Step by Step Instruction on Riding an Electric Bike

Seniors, let's learn to ride an e-bike. Stick around to watch how.

Hey everyone, I'm Dustin, I've nearly 20 years of experience in the bike and e-bike industry, and today seniors, we're going to learn to ride an e-bike. But before we do, hit that subscribe button below, stay in touch with us here at Sixthreezero, and be the first to know about all the new content we're putting out, giveaways we're doing, and of course new product releases.

All right, so seniors, let's say you're in the market for an e-bike, or you just got an e-bike, and you want to learn how to ride your e-bike. Well, today we are going to discuss, talk about it, and show you how to learn to ride an e-bike. Now, e-bikes can be a lot of fun, but they can also be more dangerous than a regular bike, so it's very important to properly learn how to ride, take precautions, and learn all of the safety ins and outs.

Right here I have the Sixthreezero Simple Step-Thru e-bike. This is what I believe to be one of the safest e-bikes for seniors because of this very low step-thru height. You can find this linked in the description below and on our website, Sixthreezero.com if you'd like to check it out.

Okay, so let's run through a couple of things before you even get onto your e-bike. E-bikes have a couple of very important bolts and maintenance things you need to take care of over time. If you've done the assembly yourself you may know about these things. If you had someone else assemble it, don't just think that because you bought it at a bike shop it's done. I would recommend that you always check a few things on your e-bike every 50 to 100 miles or so. Number one is the tightness of your pedals. Number two is your handlebar bolts. Number three is your axle bolt up here. Number four, checking your brakes is pivotal, making sure your brake pads have ample pads on them. And number five is your tire pressure.

Now, to the actual riding portion of an e-bike. It's very similar to riding a regular bike, if not the same thing, you're just traveling at faster speeds. So my recommendation for mounting and dismounting e-bikes also is if you can do it, step through the frame here. This way you can slide onto the bike here. But if you can't do that you're going to have to bring your leg up like this, but I do not recommend for senior riders to mount that way.

Now, when mounting your e-bike, do not turn your motor on at all until you are on the e-bike. So step on. At this point, when you are in the proper riding position, ready and comfortable and you have your helmet on. Now, I don't have my helmet on right now, I'm just going to be riding in a very small contained space, at very low speeds. But anytime you get out to ride your e-bike, helmet on no matter what, no questions asked.

Okay, now once you are in the riding position you can go ahead and turn your motor on. Now depending on if you opted for an e-bike with a throttle, you want to make sure, until you're ready to go, keep it into pedal assistance level zero. For most e-bikes, if you have it at level zero, your throttle will not work, nothing will work on the e-bike, okay?

Now from there, once you are ready to get going, if you've never ridden an e-bike before, my first recommendation is to ride the bike. Sorry, let me adjust my pedals here, ride the bike without the motor on. If you have not been on a bike in a long time, then my first suggestion is let's turn the motor off completely, motor is now totally off, and from here just get comfortable. Because the other thing is, with an e-bike, you do have a battery, so it's going to be heavier than a standard bike. Now, I don't notice the difference anymore, I've become accustomed to it. But if you've never been on an e-bike you may feel the difference, or you may not, every rider is going to be different, but it's important that you give yourself a grace period to get adjusted to these things. So if you're a senior, take your time, move slowly, and get adjusted.

Okay, so I'm just going to get here, and the other thing is if you haven't been on an e-bike or a bicycle in a long time, you can check out these rides on our YouTube channel, We've done some rides with seniors, their first e-bike ride ever, or other rides that haven't rode regular bikes in years and years and years, and their balance is suddenly not what they remember it being, or more fear has crept in around falling, which is okay. That's why it's important to get comfortable and used to riding an e-bike before you jump in too fast.

Okay, so let's just get on the e-bike, no power, nothing, and let's just walk with the e-bike a little bit. This way you can get used to how it feels. And if you get comfortable, pick your feet up, and you can build up a little momentum, and just get used to balancing. Now I know I'm moving slowly, but I want to go step by step. If you feel like this step is not necessary for you, go ahead and skip it by all means. So one more time, let's just get a little more. Okay, feels good, easy to balance, no problem.

All right, now I'm just going to pick my feet up and start riding regularly. Now if you have gears on your bike, on the regular bike, go ahead and shift it down into the lower, like one, two, or three, because it'll be easier for you to pedal. Just get used to riding. And again, see if it feels like the weight is affecting you at all. If it is or it isn't, get used to the sitting position, the handlebars. And again, go out into as much open space as you like, I'm just going in a small circle right here. But do it until you're comfortable, take a few turns. I'll come up here, do one more turn. Okay.

Now from here, I'm going to position myself back here. Now the first time you try pedal assist, I would recommend starting at zero and pedaling, and then once you're moving, shift it up to one and you will feel the assistance kick in. Sometimes when riders are riding an e-bike for the first time when they start in one, two, or three from a stop, they get a half pedal, the assistance kicks in, and it scares them, or jostles them. So this way if you build a little momentum without the assistance, then kick it in, it'll be a more gradual effect. Let me show you. Okay, so I'm moving, I have no assistance, now I'm putting it into level one, now the motor kicks in and I feel it, feels good. So it's important to have a good ample straightaway to allow you to just get used to the assistance, and after that, you can get comfortable.

Now, one other thing to remember when you're coming to a stop, put it back to zero, and put your feet down. It's going to be difficult to navigate in tight spaces when you have any sort of level of pedal assistance, so as you're coming in to stop or slow down, turn this to zero, that way you can pedal without the motor kicking in. Very, very important. I've had other senior riders bring this feedback to me, that they forgot the motor was on, they were coming to a stop but they pedaled, and all of a sudden it gave them a boost forward. So that can be scary or jostling. As you're coming in to stop and you want to navigate tight spaces, put it into zero.

Now you can see I have a great straightaway here, and again, I don't have my helmet on, I always ride with my helmet when I'm out on the street, you can see our other videos. But right here, I'm just going to go up to level two, maybe level three, and then I'm going to slow down, make a turn, and come back, and then I'll show you how I stop, okay? So I'm at zero right now, I'm up and moving. I'm going to put it into one now that I'm on my straight away. Okay, now I'm in two. I'm three. Coming back, I'm still in three. Okay, now I know I have to make a turn up here, so I'm just going to go ahead and put this into zero. Okay, so now I've turned off the assistance, I don't have to worry about getting any kind of jolt of power, and I can just coast right in nice and slow.

Okay, now let's talk about the throttle. So the throttle can be good for starting from a dead stop. And again, you have to be in one. The throttle can also be great on the open road if you want to rest your legs a little bit, you can just push the throttle. Now, depending on the e-bike you have, different settings of different companies. Some throttles, if you have it in level one, pedal assist one, the throttle will be giving you full power. So the only thing that will dictate is how much or how little you push the throttle, just like a gas pedal. So basically, if it's in level one, your throttle is now on and you'll dictate the power by how much you push the throttle.

In other e-bikes, the throttle output is limited by the number and the pedal assist. So level one only gives you level one power on the throttle, level two gives you level two power, and so on. So in this situation with the simple step-thru, the setting is if it's in level one the throttle is engaged and ready to give maximum output. So it's up to you to train your thumb and get used to how much or how little. Now again, it's best that you have a good wide open space, and you could go to a parking lot as you learn to use your throttle. If you decide you never want to use your throttle at all, then so be it. But I recommend your first time with your throttle to be a nice long straightaway in an open space where you can just play around with it a little bit.

So I'm going to go ahead and put this into level one, and I'm going to show you how I start from a dead stop with the throttle. So I can just give it a little bit, Now it starts to move. And just give it a little more, and now pick my feet up, and I'm off and running. And now from here you can just leave your feet, and I can just start to gauge my throttle, I can push it harder, go faster, I can [inaudible 00:12:01]. Now I'm turning, I'm not using the throttle until I come out of the turn like that. And we can do a combination, I can pedal, I can slow down. I can just use my throttle. Now, I don't recommend this until you get comfortable with the throttle, but the throttle is also good for tight spaces. If you're slowing down, you need to navigate like this, there you go, make your turn, and come to a complete stop.

A couple of things to point out, Number one, if you pull your brakes, your motor will disengage. So if you see here, I'm pushing the throttle, and I have the brakes pulled in. It's only until you release the brakes that your throttle will work. I see a lot of people when we do test drives, they're holding the brake here and they're pushing it and they're like, "Why doesn't this work?" It's because you have the brakes on, so you have to release the brakes to be off and running. Now that's an important safety feature, so if you're ever out and something happens and you get scared, pull your brakes, and try to either use both brakes at the same time or your rear brake only, which is your right brake.

So that pretty much sums it up. I'll just do another quick demonstration, but just take your time, get used to it, and don't get out into the open trails of the roads until you feel comfortable. The balancing element is just like riding a regular bike. Now if you've been off a bike for a while, and you jump on and your balance isn't what it used to be, there are also electric tricycles out there. I just recommend to all senior riders, to take your time, and be aware. There are other things too, if you're learning to ride or getting on an e-bike, reflective clothing, and mirrors. You can have cameras now to show what's behind you, have a bell at all times to alert other riders about you, and just stay within your limitations and be cautious so you enjoy the ride.

The other recommendation I'm going to make is get something with an easy on and off, with an easy step-thru, because getting on and off, you want that to be very easy, and you don't want to be stressed out about tipping over, falling over, or you don't want to have to be bending your knees or your hips or things that maybe can't move in certain directions anymore, you just want it all to be easy on your body so you can focus on the steering and the riding.

Okay, so let me show you again, just come here, ease into my throttle, it's moving, get up and go. From there I can coast a little bit, hit my brakes, and pedal. And again, I'm going to turn my motor off right now, come to a stop. Now if you're using the throttle you can leave the motor on, but if you're going to pedal, definitely turn it off. And from here now turn your motor off to get off the bike, that's very important.

Now another thing, if at any point you're going to walk with your e-bike, a lot of e-bikes have a walking feature, but sometimes the walking feature can be a little jumpy and a little too powerful, so if you're walking your bike, I recommend just leaving the electric off. If you're pushing it to put into a bike rack, again, I already suggested turning it off completely before you get off, but just make sure, if you are pushing your bike or putting it into a space, turn this off so you don't accidentally hit the throttle if your e-bike should have a throttle.

Top 3 Electric Bikes For Seniors

Find the best electric bikes for seniors to help them get around with ease. These top choices are easy to use, comfortable, and reliable. So, you will be able to enjoy each ride in a safe and confident way.

EVRYjourney 500W

This ebike for senior citizen has a 500 Watts motor and can go 20 miles per hour in both pedal assist and full electric mode. Moreover, its 500-watt battery lets you travel up to 20 miles in full electric mode and 40 miles in pedal assist mode. It also has 26-inch wheels and disc brakes for stopping safely. Moreover, it fits riders 5 to 6.4 feet tall and can hold up to 300 lbs.

Simple Step Thru FAT Tire 3 Wheel Electric Bike

This e-bike for seniors has a powerful 750 watts motor and can run at a speed of up to 16 miles per hour. It also features an 11” step-over height for easy mounting and an upright riding position for comfort. Moreover, it has strong Tektro disc brakes, a large rear cargo barket, and optional seats and bags.

EVRYjourney NEW 500W

This e-bike for senior has a 500 watts motor that works in both pedal-assist and full electric mode. Hence, this electric bike can reach the top speed of maximum 20 miles per hour. Moreover, it has a 500 watts battery that can last up to 20 miles on full electric and 40 miles on pedal assist mode. It also has 26-inch wheels and disc brakes, and it is great for riders with height between 5 to 6 feet 4 inches.

These electric bikes are great for senior citizens because they offer support as well as ease of use. Moreover, they will also be able to enjoy the freedom, making each ride fun and accessible.

5 Electric Bikes Safety Tips for Adults Over 60

Many electric bikes for adults over 60 will help them to travel and exercise on a saily basis. These simple safety tips will further help you ride.

1. Adjust Your Bike: You need to ensure your e-bikes for seniors are set up to be ridden comfortably. Moreover, the seat should be at a height where you can put your feet flat on the ground.
2. Wear Safety Gear: You should also wear a helmet whenever you are riding to protect your head if you fall. Furthermore, you might want to use knee and elbow pads for extra safety. Not only this, wearing bright or reflective clothing will further help others see you better.
3. Start Slowly and Practice: If you are new to riding electric bikes, consider starting with short and slow rides in a familiar area. Apart from this, you should practice basic things as well which includes stopping, starting, and turning.
4. Keep Your Bike in Good Shape: You also need to check the electric bikes for seniors at regular intervals to ensure it is working. Moreover, you must look at the tires, brakes, and battery.

By following these tips, adults over 60 can ride electric bikes with confidence and stay safe. Keep these things in mind, and enjoy your new way of staying active.

So, for all my senior riders out there, I hope this helped give you some ideas and instructions on how to ride an e-bike. If you have any other questions or comments, please put them below, or you can reach out to us, at theteam@sixthreezero.com, or call us at (310) 982-2877. You can find the Simple Step-Thru on our website, or if you don't know what you're looking for, take our proprietary body fit quiz. Answer a few questions about your body and your life and we'll recommend the perfect e-bike for you. We also have a 30-day test ride on your e-bike policy. If you don't love it in 30 days, send it back, no questions asked, no money out of your pocket. In addition to that, we'll warranty the e-bike for a year. If anything goes wrong in the first year we'll take care of it, no questions asked, and get you the parts to make sure you keep riding.

Lastly, we have a Facebook pedalers group with thousands of riders, talking to them. There are lots of senior riders in there, ask them questions before you make your purchase. Then once you have your e-bike, you can make friends, and post in the group, it's tons of fun. You can also track your rides on our app, which is so much fun and so cool. So thanks for sticking around and don't forget, it's your journey, your experience, enjoy the ride.