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Buyer's Guide

How to Pick the Best Electric Bike

Charles Luiting


Are you interested in taking your bike rides farther and faster than before? If so, you’ve probably gotten interested in electric bikes. The e-bike was invented over 100 years ago, and since then it’s become a popular option for riders who want some power behind their pedaling. With a plethora of options available now, it can be hard to know where to start when choosing the right e-bike for you.

E-bikes come in almost as many styles as conventional bikes, so finding the right e-bike for you starts with narrowing the search down to a specific style. Are you looking for off-road capability? Or something practical you can use for commuting and running small errands? Maybe it’s neither, and you want a laidback, casual ride backed with some electric power. Good news—no matter which of these sounds like your idea of a good time, we’ve got an e-bike for you.

We’ll dive into three of the most popular kinds of e-bikes: electric mountain bikes, electric hybrid bikes, and electric cruisers. Strap on your helmet and get ready to learn!

A woman strapping on her bicycle helmet as she prepares to rid her Schwinn Roanoke e-bike.

Electric Mountain Bikes

There’s nothing more exciting than outdoor adventures away from the traffic and noise of the city. Luckily, the trails favored by traditional mountain bikers are perfectly suited for electric mountain bikes as well. These e-bikes feature off-road capable features to make what would otherwise be a very bumpy ride through the woods a comfortable and exciting one instead. That means wide, knobby tires for rolling over dirt, rocks, and roots—as well as a suspension fork to soak up impacts and vibrations, improving your handling and making the ride more comfortable. When you add the extra power of an e-bike to these off-road features, you get a truly impressive machine capable of pushing up steep trails all the way to the summit.

A woman riding her electric mountain bicycle down a trail.

Electric Hybrid Bikes

If you’re looking for a more practical ride, you can do no better than an electric hybrid bike. Hybrid bikes combine features of other bicycle categories to make an all-around bike you can rely on for errands or recreational rides around town. Sometimes hybrids lean more toward comfort or more toward fitness, but the key is always their versatility and reliability.

Take a suspension fork from the mountain biking world, combine it with pavement-oriented tires and more relaxed geometry, and you’ve got a hybrid. Sometimes you’ll find additional features like step-thru frames, cargo racks, or suspension seatposts to enhance the comfort or functionality of these bikes. Throw in an electric motor and now you’re really rolling around town—whether it’s for business or pleasure.

A black Parkwood hybrid e-bike from Schwinn.

Electric Cruisers

Cruisers have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity as a relaxing and stylish ride at the beach or around the neighborhood. While they’re not built for speed, they feature laidback frame geometry, big comfy seats, and swept-back handlebars for an easy-going, upright riding position. In the case of the electric cruiser, more power actually means a more relaxing ride. With extra help from the throttle and pedal assist, you can zip around and crest hills with ease. The throttle will get you up to speed and over inclines, while pedal assist combined with the relaxed geometry of a cruiser will make those casual rides less work and more fun.

A mint Mendocino cruiser electric bicycle.

Ready to power up your ride?

Now you have the information you need to know what kind of e-bike is right for you! Whether it’s exciting trail rides or cruising around town, the perfect e-bike is just a few clicks away. With perks like free shipping, easy assembly, and a lifetime warranty, there’s no reason not to give your Schwinn e-bike of choice a try. Get ready to get out there and enjoy the freedom of riding.

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