E-Bike Accessories (Part 1)

From Desert Racing to Bicycle Bells

A long, long time ago, I used to race motorcycles in the desert. It was dangerous, sometimes downright crazy, but you always went into a race prepared for whatever might happen.

And believe me, things happened.

Crashes were part of the sport. Sometimes you walked away with a few bruises. Other times, your protective gear looked like it had been dragged behind a truck.

That’s why we wore some pretty serious equipment.

Heavy-duty protective leggings, hard plastic motocross boots, a full-face helmet, and a chest protector were all part of my racing outfit. By the time I had everything on, I looked like Darth Vader getting ready to invade a small planet.

But the equipment served a purpose. When you went down in the desert, there wasn’t much between you and the rocks, cactus, and hard-packed dirt.

Fast-forward a few decades.

Now I ride an electric bicycle.

And what do I wear?

Shorts and a T-shirt.

Quite a change from the Darth Vader outfit.

Of course, I haven’t completely abandoned the idea of protecting myself. In fact, the first accessory I bought after getting my e-bike was a helmet.

Not a motorcycle helmet. A bicycle helmet.

Mine has a built-in visor and a light on the back. Why a light? I don’t know. I thought it was cool. And I suppose being visible to someone coming up behind me isn’t such a bad idea.

A Rearview Mirror

My next purchase was a rearview mirror that attaches to the handlebars.

Now, that’s something I never worried about when racing motorcycles in the desert.

If someone was behind me, that was their problem. I was much more interested in what was ahead, particularly the next turn, a patch of loose sand, or a rock that seemed determined to rearrange my front wheel.

But riding an e-bike is different.

Sometimes you’re sharing the road with cars, and knowing what’s coming up behind you is a pretty good idea. Unlike desert racing, the biggest danger may not be something in front of you.

It may be the car approaching from behind.

So, a rearview mirror seemed like a sensible investment.

A Bell? Seriously?

Then I bought a bell.

Yes, a bell.

Imagine showing up at a desert motorcycle race with a little bell mounted on your handlebars.

You’d probably never hear the end of it.

Besides, with all those motorcycle engines roaring, nobody would have heard the bell anyway.

But on an e-bike, it’s actually useful.

Electric bikes are relatively quiet, and when you’re approaching people walking along a trail, a little ding-ding lets them know you’re coming.

It’s certainly more polite than yelling, “GET OUT OF THE WAY!”

And considerably less intimidating than a motorcycle roaring up behind them.

Here’s the Strange Part

Now comes something I never expected.

I actually felt safer racing motorcycles in the desert than I sometimes do riding my e-bike.

I know that sounds ridiculous.

On a motorcycle, I was traveling at speeds that could do some serious damage if I made a mistake. On my e-bike, I’m moving at a fraction of those speeds.

But there’s a difference.

A motorcycle has substantial weight, power, and a certain stability that comes from its speed and spinning wheels. Once you’re moving, leaning into a turn feels natural. The bike responds almost instinctively to what you want it to do.

An e-bike is a different animal.

At low speeds, it can feel less stable, particularly when making a sharp turn. You can’t always lean into a corner the way you would on a motorcycle, and the combination of weight, balance, and steering takes some getting used to.

Then there’s the matter of sharing roads and trails with cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists.

In the desert, I mostly worried about what I might hit.

On an e-bike, I sometimes worry about what might hit me.

Of course, some of this is simply a matter of experience. I spent years riding motorcycles, and I’m still relatively new to e-bikes.

I’m learning.

And I’m discovering that the skills I developed racing motorcycles don’t necessarily translate directly to riding an electric bicycle.

Still Learning

So far, my collection of e-bike accessories consists of a helmet, a rearview mirror, and a bell.

Not exactly the equipment I once wore to race across the desert.

But each serves a purpose, and I’m sure I’ll discover other accessories that make riding more comfortable, convenient, or safe.

That’s why this is Part 1.

As I spend more time on my e-bike, I’ll share some of the other accessories I’ve tried, what works, what doesn’t, and which ones are actually worth buying.

In the meantime, I’m still getting used to my bike.

And I have to admit, there’s something a little humbling about going from racing motorcycles across the desert dressed like Darth Vader to riding an electric bicycle in shorts and a T-shirt.

With a bell.

Ding-ding.