Whizzing down a hill with the wind in your hair is what makes the climb worthwhile. But why tire your thighs when you can ascend with electrical assistance? The best electric bikes offer freewheeling fun with less sweaty pedalling.
And if you’re looking for a two-wheeled steed to get you from A to B with a boost, this is the list you need. From city whizzers to trail blazers, we’ve tested all of the top battery-powered bicycles – enduring the saddle sores and dodgy lycra so you don’t have to.
Whether you want an effortless everyday commute or a wilder ride through the woods, you’ll find your ideal e-bike below. But power doesn’t protect you from heckling, so zoom past a peloton at your own peril.
Looking for something a little more lightweight for zipping around town? Read Stuff’s guide to the best electric scooters.
Buy the Momentum Transend e+ here for £2899/$3250
A simple solution for boosted commuting, the Transend E+ deliberately sticks to the essentials. So there’s no LCD display, no suspension and no mudguards as standard. Instead, you get a straightforward ebike designed with minimal maintenance in mind.
With a 500Wh battery bolted into its chunky mid-frame, the Transend E+ can deliver assistance for more than 100 miles – depending on how much help you’re after. A hidden hub means there’s no rattle as you ride, while grippy, chunky tyres mask the little hum emitted from the motor, as well as absorbing bumps in the road.
Twist-shifting between gears doesn’t result in instantaneous changes, and there is a slight lurch when the electric power kicks in after a half rotation. You don’t get full beans until you pick up speed, but when you do, the top assist level demands very little effort if you don’t fancy a sweaty commute.
One of the few extra features is ANT+ support, which lets you connect to Momentum’s app for data beyond what the control unit’s basic LEDs can indicate.