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eBike Types (Geometry and Use Case)
eBike Types (Geometry and Use Case)
eBikes come in several styles, commonly referred to as the bike's "geometry" because the shape of the bike frame determines its best use. These different bike styles will have components on them matched to their primary use. For example, the size and shape of the tires, the riding position, and how the bike's gears and motor and computer are tuned will all come together to make a bike that is best suited for a specific type of activity. I describe the types below, but keep in mind these are generalities, and many bikes you find on the market combine features across multiple categories.
Commuter/Urban: Probably one of the most common styles of eBikes, commuter bikes are often a hybrid of mountain and road bikes and are best suited for casual riding in town, commuting, and paved bike trails.
You usually sit in a more upright position, which may feel more natural and also making it easier to see what is around you.
Tires are typically around 1.75 - 2" wide and 27/28" in diameter. They usually include common accessories like fenders, racks and lights.
Commonly built with a mid-step or step-thru frame (see below).
Mountain: Designed for off-road, mountain biking. Usually you will sit upright, but lower and a bit more bent over than on a commuter bike.
Like their "acoustic" counterparts, mountain bikes will typically have knobby tires and lots of suspension. The tires will be a little wider than commuter tires, usually somewhere between 2 - 2.75" wide, and maybe a little smaller in diameter, 26 - 27".
Typically the frame has an angular top bar with a higher seat post and straight handlebars. Mountain bikes usually do not include fenders and lights (but they can be added).
Road: Road bikes are designed for long distance, paved-road biking, and typically have a lower, bent-over riding position. These bikes do not perform well on unpaved surfaces.
They will have low, swooping handlebars and tall, skinny, high-pressure tires with smooth treads.
The frames will usually be a traditional triangular shape with a straight top bar.
Road bikes are typically sold without fenders, lights and racks, but they can easily be added.
Cruiser/Fat: These low-to-the ground bikes have an emphasis on style and often have fat tires. Like the name of the bike, they are designed for casual cruising. Popular on sandy beaches and gravely areas (but not so much for wooded mountain biking).
Fat bikes have wide tires (3" and larger) and usually run on low tire pressure. Because of the low pressure wide tires, they are very comfortable to ride (the tires act like large shock absorbers), but they are often times slower than their commuter counterparts and take less abuse than a mountain bike (for example, the tires may be more prone to ruptures).
Cargo/Utility: Cargo Utility bikes typically are low to the ground and have smaller, wider tires. They are designed for carrying and hauling. They will have beefier frames and weigh more. Generally speaking, they will not have a lot of speed, but will have lots of power.
Folding: Some eBikes come in a very small frame that folds in half for compact storage and transportation.
Step-Over vs Mid-Step vs Step-Thru: These terms refer to the position of the top bar of the bike. A step-over frame is a traditional bike frame that has a top bar that goes straight across the bike, horizontal to the ground (top bike at left). It is the most difficult bike frame style to mount, and requires the most height to stand over when at a stop. A mid-step frame has a relatively low, angled top bar and is a little easier easy to mount than a step-over (see middle bike at left). Mid-step bikes are easy and comfortable to stand over when the bike is at a complete stop. A step-thru frame has a very low (or even no) top bar and is very easy to mount, because you can simply "step through" the bike to get on (see the bottom bike at the left). There are a few factors to consider with regards to the frame height:
the strength of the bike: the top bar is providing structure and rigidity to the frame
how easy it is to get on and off the bike
the bike's standover height, which becomes a safety issue - you want to make sure you can easily and comfortably standover your bike when you come to a stop
accessory mounting: while lower top tubes make it easier to get on your bike and stand over them when stopped, you may have fewer options to mount accessories such as water bottles and batteries (or second batteries) with lower top tubes.
Recommendation: It is hard to recommend any one style here, because the recommendation would be based on your needs. The most general use-case recommendation would be the Commuter/Urban style. This style bike allows for both slow and fast speeds, provides a comfortable upright riding position, and has tires that are suitable for paved surfaces and can handle light duty "off roading" on groomed trails. It can work as a bike for commuting as well as casual trail riding and light duty errand running. The other styles of bikes would be built primarily for a single type of usage.
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