The right electric bike can take the sweat out of riding and make cycling fun again – and we’re here to help you choose the one for you.
Do you enjoy the freedom of cycling, but sometimes wish your panniers seemed lighter, the headwind less stiff, and the hills not quite so steep? Fancy arriving at your destination fresh and presentable rather than sweaty and rumpled? Then you’re already lusting after an e-bike.
For commuting, grocery-getting, or leisure riding, electric bikes deliver on the promise of carefree cycling that geography and fitness sometimes conspire to derail. Combining transport and exercise, a little electric assistance can keep the balance right, ensuring your new electric bike is an ever more viable alternative to public transport or hopping in the car.
Electric bikes are more expensive than traditional bikes, largely due to the cost of high capacity batteries. However, we’re expecting prices to drop substantially over the coming days as retailers launch their Black Friday deals. It pays to be careful though; we recommend always sticking to established bike builders that have quality controls in place. You might be able to find a super-cheap bike advertised online, but e-bikes are powerful machines and you don’t want to be stuck with cheap components that might fail at high speeds.
The Cowboy 4 is our number one e-bike of 2021, and if you’re looking for an electric bike for city riding, it’s impossible to ignore. Last year’s Cowboy 3 was an impressive machine, but the new model pushes things even further with an even more refined experience and a choice of step-over and step-through frames.
One of the Cowboy 4’s standout features is its simplicity. Even if you’ve never ridden an e-bike before, the absence of gears, switches and other controls means you’ll be riding effortlessly immediately. The motor kicks in automatically when you turn the pedal, adjusting the assistance depending on how much pressure you’re applying.
Maintenance is simple too, thanks to the internal cabling and carbon belt drive system, which doesn’t require oiling or tensioning like a chain. Lights and fenders are built in, and there’s even a charging port to juice up your smartphone (which provides easy navigation with smart route suggestions via the Cowboy app).
Although it was initially only sold in Europe, the Cowboy 4 is now available to pre-order in the US as well, with an early bird price of $1,190, and just $100 payable up front. This special price lasts until October 31, and the first batch of bikes are due to start shipping in January 2022.
