Buying Second Hand Bikes

An electric bike is an ordinary bicycle with electric assistance: a battery, a motor and a display that controls the system. It is usually called an “e-bike”.

Under European law most of these bikes have a maximum motor output of 250 watts, the top assisted speed is 25 km/h, and this type normally has no throttle. The e-bike is no longer only for older riders or people who are not very fit, as many people still assume — these days it is for everyone.

Note: there are more powerful and faster electric bikes, but we do not work with these so-called “speed pedelecs”. They are much more expensive and more complicated, because they need registration, a roadworthiness check and compulsory insurance. We also believe that speeds of 50 km/h take away a great deal of the rider's safety on public roads.

E-bikes have been around for many years, and they are a big success in northern Europe in particular. They are also a well-known product in Canada and the United States. People in those parts of the world discovered that an e-bike could make getting from A to B — and later from A to Z — much easier and more enjoyable.

Countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium now sell more electric bikes than conventional ones. In those countries the e-bike is part of daily family life: a means of transport for getting to work, to school, to the shops, even on holiday.

The curious thing is that sales have taken off above all in countries with extensive cycle-lane networks and fairly flat terrain. Why would you need an e-bike where there are barely any hills or mountains? Recent studies show that these “cyclists” — and many of them are not cyclists in the sporting sense at all — are looking well beyond speed and ease of movement.

It is about sustainable mobility: a fast means of transport whose annual cost is far lower than a car's, especially over short distances. And, no less important, using it helps prevent conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

It suggested that young Dutch people are among the most optimistic in Europe precisely because they use a bike for everything — school, college, university, the sports club, visiting family. It gives them a sense of joy and freedom. In short, more and more people are discovering that on the way to work or school they are getting “free” exercise. And when they arrive, parking is guaranteed and it costs nothing.

It suggested that young Dutch people are among the most optimistic in Europe precisely because they use a bike for everything — school, college, university, the sports club, visiting family. It gives them a sense of joy and freedom. In short, more and more people are discovering that on the way to work or school they are getting “free” exercise.

The truth is that choosing is not easy with so many e-bikes on offer. Different frames, colours, motors, materials, components, finishes, accessories and prices — it is enough to drive you mad. It is hard to work out which model would be “perfect” for you, because in the end it is a very personal decision that depends on many factors: taste, and each person's needs.

Where and how often will I use it? What kind of terrain do I live in, hilly or flat? Do I need a lot of motor power? Am I doing short trips or long ones? How much do I want to spend? Example 1: an e-bike for the shopping or short daily journeys is not the same as one for weekend or holiday touring.

Example 2: nor is a powerful (and expensive) e-bike for genuine mountain terrain the same as a low-powered bike for completely flat cycle lanes. Example 3: an e-bike with an advanced colour display showing every reading digitally in a phone app is lovely, but in many cases not remotely necessary.

That is exactly why we have already done a lot of the research, and with it we think we can help you find the e-bike that suits you best. Here is how.

Over the past few years we have watched this world change, develop and improve: from genuinely ugly, heavy machines to far lighter, more modern and more advanced bikes. There is now something for everyone. We felt we should look for a mid-range city e-bike with a good balance of price, quality, usefulness and comfort — an “almost perfect” urban or city e-bike.

That turns out to be quite hard when you are wading through thousands of models online, because shops still stock relatively few bikes of this “city or leisure” type. Cheap e-bikes tend to be very basic, usually imported from Asia, and — especially when bought online — come with little warranty and little after-sales support.

In many cases you cannot exchange them or buy original spares and accessories. Expensive e-bikes, on the other hand, are usually good, properly guaranteed and better supported after the sale, above all when bought in a physical shop, where you can normally try the bike before you buy it.

Obviously it is impossible to offer every model, so we have selected only a few models and brands that tend to be genuinely useful, reliable and affordable, with up-to-date technology — and in some cases models with quirks that can be very handy in a cyclist's daily life. They are Dutch, German or American built, most of them fitted with mudguards, lights and a rack. As a rule these bikes carry a two-year warranty.

Obviously it is impossible to offer every model, so we have selected only a few models and brands that tend to be genuinely useful, reliable and affordable, with up-to-date technology — and in some cases models with quirks that can be very handy in a cyclist's daily life. They are Dutch, German or American built, most of them fitted with mudguards, lights and a rack.

We combine the advantages of seeing the product online, with all its specifications on this website, with the sale, warranty and after-sales service of a physical shop should you need it. On top of that we offer something unique: a test ride on the e-bike at your own address.

A free trial*. Before you commit to buying an e-bike you can try it out, so we can explain how it works and you can get your hands on it and ride it. We think that before buying an e-bike you should test it for size, for the feel of the electric assistance, and for any adjustments needed to sit comfortably.

That way we get your riding position right and you can be confident about the product. After all, this is not like buying a bread roll. *Note: the trial is free within a 30 km radius of our base in Ronda (Málaga). Outside that radius we charge a small deposit, which is refunded if you decide to buy the e-bike within a month.

Ask about our terms by email at rentabike@cycleronda.com and book your appointment.

E-bike owners know that a few cents of electricity charges the battery and gets them to work sooner. There is no insurance to pay, no roadworthiness test and no road tax of any kind.

You feel less tired and less stressed because you are doing something outdoors. And you need fewer hours in the gym.

It is well documented that people who own an e-bike reach for it far more often than for their conventional bike, simply because it is quick and easy to use.

Riding a bike is a pleasure and it relaxes us — all the more so when the pedalling comes easily and without too much effort.

Forget circling the block looking for an expensive space. Towns and cities keep adding racks and facilities where you can leave your bike safely.

You are in better shape for a healthy life, with less risk of aches and illness.

You help make your town or city cleaner and quieter. And because you pedal with less effort, you arrive cleaner yourself — that is, less sweaty. Ideal.

Riding an e-bike lets you use and enjoy all your senses, but at a quicker pace than a conventional bike.

There is a whole new world of electric bikes for people with health problems and disabilities too: made-to-measure e-bikes, tricycles, quadricycles and more.

There is no reason left not to get on an e-bike — mountains, hills, long distances, being out of shape, having to carry children or luggage. The e-bike is now within your reach.