However, after riding for several years, you might feel that the pedals become heavier or the speed decreases.

In such cases, I'll explain what to check and how to deal with it.

If the assist stops working altogether, it's a bit different.

If the assist isn't working, it could be due to a dead battery or the switch being off.

If the battery is dead, it's also possible that it hasn't been charged properly, so you should check the indicator and also confirm if there's any problem with the charger.

Sometimes, simply wiping dirty terminals can resolve the issue.

If the switch wasn't intentionally turned off, some bikes automatically switch off after a certain period of inactivity, so simply turning the power back on might resolve it.

If it's not charging at all or the indicator on the unit is completely unlit, the fuse inside the battery might be blown.

Buying a replacement of the same capacity from a home center and swapping it out will fix the problem.

If there's no assist at all, identifying the cause is relatively easy.

Therefore, the solution is also relatively simple.

This time, I'd like to focus more on the causes and solutions for subtle issues like "the assist feels weaker" or "the speed feels slower," which are a bit more complex.

Causes and Solutions for Weak Assist

Unlike when the assist stops working completely, pinpointing the cause of a weakening assist can be difficult.

Especially if you feel a drop in speed, you wouldn't know without a speedometer.

There are two main reasons why an electric bicycle's assist might weaken:

・Decreased battery capacity

・Malfunctions with the bicycle itself

I will explain each in detail.

When Battery Capacity Decreases

Problems can arise when the battery's capacity decreases, leading to a shorter lifespan or reduced maximum output.

In this case, the best way to determine the battery's capacity is to measure its voltage with a tester, which is the clearest and most reliable method.

However, a tester is not considered a common tool, so not every household may have one.

Therefore, another way to check is to ride the bicycle until the battery runs out, starting from a full charge.

At that time, since conditions will change depending on uphill and downhill roads, it is recommended to ride on the same path as usual.

The season when you notice the problem is also relevant.

During hot summer months, batteries tend to get hot.

Especially by leaving the bicycle under direct sunlight outside, the battery can overheat and its capacity may decrease.

In this case, moving it to a shaded area or allowing the battery to reach an appropriate temperature will improve the symptoms.

In terms of riding, symptoms can be reduced by methods such as shifting down one gear.

Conversely, battery performance also decreases when temperatures are low, such as in winter.

If the outside temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, the battery's reaction speed slows down, which shortens the riding range by 20-40%.

Even when riding an electric bicycle, the assist power becomes weaker.

In this case as well, once the battery reaches the appropriate temperature, its performance will return.

In case of bicycle malfunctions

Malfunctions with the bicycle itself can cause the pedals to become heavy or reduce the riding range.

For example, when the tire pressure is low.

If you perform daily maintenance, you'll probably add air when the tire pressure gets low, but if you happen to neglect it, the tire pressure will decrease, and even without electric assist, the pedals will become heavy on the bicycle alone.

In this case, inflating the tires will resolve the issue.

If, by any chance, you have a flat tire, the same thing will happen, and in that case, you will need to repair the puncture.

Next, rim distortion can be a cause.

While this might not be an issue with a brand new bicycle, if you frequently ride on rough roads or ride roughly, the rim can become distorted over time.

In this case, if you inspect the wheel by rotating it, you might find broken spokes or uneven tension in different areas.

Regular maintenance can help prevent this.

The condition of the brake pads also affects how heavy the pedals feel.

After riding for a long time, the brake pads (rubber components), which are consumables, will wear down.

Even if there's some resistance initially, as you ride, the friction material will wear away, and the sliding resistance might decrease.

Conversely, if the nut securing the brake pad loosens and causes its angle to change, the brake pad and rim could be in constant contact, essentially keeping the brakes applied all the time.

In that case, the pedals will become heavy and the riding range will decrease, which is only natural since it's like riding with the brakes on.

Summary

Here are the inspection points and countermeasures for when you feel the electric assist bicycle is not assisting or its range has shortened.

In the case of electrical problems like battery issues, there can be a decrease in performance due to temperature, so avoid conditions that are too hot or too cold.

Next, problems with the bicycle itself can happen not only with electric bicycles but also with regular bicycles, so knowing about them might be useful.

Checking tire pressure is also important.

Low air pressure makes pedaling harder.

Also, pay attention to rim deformation and brake pad misalignment.

If these checks don't resolve the issue, it's possible that the battery itself has degraded, so we recommend considering a replacement.