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CYCLING IN BAD WEATHER: PREPARE YOURSELF AND YOUR BIKE FOR THE WET AND COLD MONTHS
One of the most popular sayings from grandma's time is probably the following: There is no bad weather, there are only bad clothes. A wise saying, which then as now corresponds to reality. Nevertheless, on cold or rainy days fewer cyclists are to be seen on the road than in bright sunshine. However, there are some ways how you can arm yourself and your eBike against unpleasant weather. There are also some important points to consider when storing your bike and battery over the winter.
THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
A morning check in the weather report can save you nasty surprises throughout the day. The tried and tested "onion principle", whereby you wear several layers of clothing on top of each other, is helpful on cold days, as the air trapped between the layers acts like insulation. In addition, a layer can be removed depending on how the weather improves. It is important to always pay attention to breathable clothing - even if the focus is on water-repellent and windblocking functionality. Overcoats for helmets, rucksacks and shoes are helpful accessories that can be quickly stowed away in your pocket. For the Pendix eDrive there are also neoprene protective sleeves that protect against the weather. A Battery Cover protects the battery from cold and dirt. It also has a positive influence on the range. The Motor Cover protects against moisture and damage during transport and travel. When parking the bicycle and when removing the battery, the contacts can also be protected with a Cover from Pendix. Thus you avoid annoying dry wiping and contact-related starting difficulties.
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SPLASH WATER AND DUST PROTECTION
In addition to the water-repellent clothing for the rider, it makes sense, especially with eBikes, to find out about their protection against water and dirt. The so-called IP protection classes are a helpful indicator to identify the form in which electrical components are protected against environmental influences. You will receive this information from the drive manufacturer. The Pendix eDrive is classified in protection class IP65 and therefore has complete protection against contact with dirt and water jets. So you have nothing to fear when driving through the rain.
AVOID LOSS OF RANGE IN COLD WEATHER
Whether it's a mobile phone or an eBike battery, the cold can have an effect on the service life. This is due to the basic structure of a lithium-ion battery: the reason for the loss of energy in the cold is the electrolyte. At cold temperatures, the viscous substance becomes increasingly viscous and restricts the freedom of movement of the ions. The ideal operating temperature for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries is approx. 22°C. In order to avoid the inertia of the ions in winter, is the Pendix Battery Cover among others, very helpful. When the battery is stored at room temperature and then used in the cold, the cover keeps the battery in the ideal temperature range for longer. This allows you to achieve longer ranges than without a protective cover.
FACTORS INFLUENCING BATTERY CHARGING
The ePower should always be charged at room temperature in order to reduce power consumption during charging and to protect the battery so that it continues to provide the desired range performance. For this purpose, the Pendix ePower can simply be removed from the holder with a twisting motion and charged comfortably in the living room or dry cellar. It is not important whether the battery was discharged before charging. The service life of most eBike batteries is 500 charging cycles. But even after 500 charging cycles, the battery can still be used. However, this can then only charge about 80% of its original battery capacity and thus offers a smaller range. One charge cycle corresponds to the complete recharging of the entire battery capacity. If a battery is charged four times from 75 % to 100 %, it is charged four times 25 %. Only after the fourth time would it be a full charge cycle. With the Pendix battery you can easily check this with our free Pendix.bike PRO app. With the Bluetooth connection between the battery and the app on your smartphone, you can find information about the ePower, its condition and how many complete charge cycles have already been performed on your battery.
LONG-TERM STORAGE OF THE BATTERY
Before storing the eBike in the basement for the winter, the battery should be removed and always stored at room temperature. It is also important that the battery does not discharge deeply over the months if it is not fully charged. This can cause irreversible damage to the cells. Therefore, the battery should ideally be stored with a charge level between 40 % and 70 % during winter storage. This can easily be read from the battery. The LED ring glows yellow when the battery is in this state of charge. Thus it ages more slowly than when it is fully charged. You should check the state of charge at least every 12 weeks and recharge it for overwintering if the LED ring is orange or red.
TIPS FOR MOTIVATION IN THE RAIN
Not to lose your motivation if you decide to commute with your eBike in wind and weather:
- Expand your music playlist and add classics like "Singing in the rain" for the energy boost you need
- Treat yourself to good rainwear and pay attention to breathable and water repellent materials, as well as the ability to block wind
- Use the free cycle paths while all car drivers are standing next to you in traffic jams and allow you to have a mischievous smile
- Practise rejoicing over the little things in life, like the hot shower at home and the cuddly wool socks - anticipation is known to be the most beautiful joy
- Pay attention to safety-relevant accessories and attach importance to good tires, eye-catching clothes and light on the bicycle