Last Updated on September 29, 2023 by Igor Karni
Riding an electric bike by the sea is a unique experience, allowing you to enjoy the salt air and ocean breeze. But have you considered using your electric bike on the beach instead of riding on the boardwalk?
Not all electric bikes (or their wheels) are created equal and can turn your experience on the sandy shores into a great success or an absolute defeat.
Here is everything you need to know to make sure you’re ready for a ride on the sand with your electric bike.
How to ride an electric bike in the sand
You’ll need the right wheels to ride your electric bike in the sand. Standard electric bike wheels must be wider to work effectively in the sand. So how wide do you need your tires to be able to use your electric bike on the beach? You should install fat tire wheels on your bike for a smoother ride.
Fat tire refers to all e-bike tires that are wider than 6 cm (2.36″), allowing them to perform optimally on sand, snow, or other rough terrain. In addition, as the tires have a greater air volume than standard tires, they offer a smoother ride, increased stability, and more traction, all of which make riding your e-bike on sand much more enjoyable.
Read also: Why fat tires are good news for electric bikes? And, How to select the best hybrid e-bike?
If you plan to use your e-bike on the sand, invest in an e-bike with good reviews and whose tires can be replaced with 6cm (2.36″) or wider tires.
The best type of sand for an e-bike
Although large tires allow you to ride your e-bike on all types of sand, the ride quality will vary depending on whether you are riding on hard or soft sand. Because soft, dry sand is very loose, it can be difficult for your tires to get enough traction to move smoothly on the beach, even with wide tires.
If you plan to ride in dry sand, you may need to turn on the electric bike’s motor and pedal with it to adjust to the undulations of the terrain. You will also need to watch out for loose sand that can get into the chain or motor of the e-bike.
For the best riding experience, take your electric bike, equipped with oversized tires, to the less challenging, wet sand just before you reach the water’s edge. This area offers the ideal conditions for a comfortable ride, allowing you to enjoy the view and the salt breeze.
It is also an area with the least sand to get into the chain or engine, which can cause problems if not removed. However, when you are near water, remember to avoid accidentally wetting the engine if the tide rises, which could mean pedaling back.
How do you properly clean your e-bike after a ride on the beach?
Although it is exciting to use your electric bike, an easy ride can only damage it if you take the necessary precautions during and after it. As you know from walking on the beach in flip-flops, sand tends to fly around.
If you plan to take your electric bike to the beach, you can assume that the wheels will throw sand into the bike’s motor or chain. Even if this doesn’t cause immediate damage while you’re riding, you should thoroughly clean the engine, chain, wheels, frame, and all other bike parts.
Read also: Can e-bikes get wet? And, How to clean an electric bike?
If you ignore the sand, your electric bike could become damaged over time. If this happens, you must remove everything, clean, re-grease, and reassemble it. Therefore, avoiding this hassle and cleaning your electric bike after every ride in the sand is the best.
As well as simply brushing the sand grains off the dirty areas, you can use an air compressor with a nozzle to target more precisely where you want to remove the sand from the bike. That will allow you to get close to the chain, engine, nooks, and crannies of the frame for effective cleaning.
If you don’t have access to an air compressor, you can also use a reverse vacuum or a can of condensed air to dislodge the remaining sand. Removing the sand will ensure that your bike stays in top condition, ride after ride.
Read also: Check out world’s best travel destinations by electric bike.
Igor is a sustainable mobility and green energy advocate. His mission for Easy E-biking is to help make electric cycling simple, practical, and fun. Follow him on Facebook and LinkedIn.
