Key parts of the electric bicycle (continued)
Gear Shifter
The gear shifter changes the ratio between the pedals and the rear wheel.
It is used to find a more comfortable pedaling cadence under different
riding conditions. The low gear is used for pedaling during starts, uphill or
loaded riding. The higher gears are use when pedaling downhill or during
faster riding.
Brakes
The brakes use friction to slow the bike down. The levers on the
handlebars control the braking. The brakes have an electrical switch which
cuts the power to the motor at the moment when the brakes are used. This
prevents accidental accelerations while braking.
Fuse
The battery has a fuse which is used to prevent excessive amounts of
power surging through the wires and damaging the electronics. When the
fuse is tripped, it will need to be replaced.
Tire and Inner tube
The tire is made of rubber and provides traction for your bicycle. The Inner-
tube, is a rubber tube inside the tire retains the tire’s air.
PSI (Pounds per Square Inch)
The PSI is a measure of air pressure inside the tire. It can be measured
with a tire gauge. Pumping more air into the tire increases the PSI and
makes the tire harder. Releasing air from the tire decreases the PSI and
makes the tire softer. Both over and under inflating the tire can have
negative effects.