As a leading stockist of e-bikes in NZ, and with a range that suits all budgets, we field a lot of enquiries about these awesome machines. One of the most common questions is from people who are tempted to buy one but are a little worried their fitness levels may fall. Will an electric bike turn them into a lazy rider?

Watch any of the Grand Tours like the Tour de France or the Giro d’Italia and you’ll see how serious they are about keeping up their fluid intake. We don’t expect you to reach the cycling heights those riders do but everyone, no matter how serious, needs to stay hydrated to get the most out of their ride. It might be cross country cycling or a long ride on a city bike trail; whatever you’re doing, better hydration means a better ride.

Tough rides need great bike parts. After all, your bicycle can be seen as a collection of bike parts working together to give you a fantastic riding experience. Some of that riding will be challenging and full-on, testing you to extremes, and giving your bike a maximum workout as well. The Tour de France gives us an example of how hard it is for riders and their bikes - the parts that make up those machines have to be able to handle some incredible pressures.