Summer has finally hit South Africa, and the rain has come. Your new favourite set of wheels is an e-bike, and you’ve been riding it to work and for fun-fun-fun on the weekends, but uh-oh… but now what? The good news is, it is safe to ride almost all e-bikes in the rain.

“E-bikes operate at low voltage levels, or below 60 volts, and there is no danger to your life when you ride in the rain,” Marco Sonderegger, director of e-bike experience product management for Specialized Bicycles in CITY tells Bicycling. Specialized bikes, like most e-bikes, are “designed, validated, and tested for the outdoors and for real bike use,” he adds.

Here are more tips for making sure you get the:

E-Bikes in the Rain: The Deets

The International Electrotechnical Commission defines the Ingress Protection code (“IP rating”), regarding the degree of protection electronic devices have against water, dust, and accidental contact. According to Sonderegger, “E-bikes rated below IP55 should not be ridden in permanent rain.” Although a quick ride through a light sprinkle may be fine, if you plan to ride in permanent rain, he recommends bikes you use a bike that has an IP code of 66 or higher.

So, although most e-bikes have been tested for riding in the rain, you should check your manufacturer’s website to confirm that your e-bike is safe for wet weather. Also, consider that just because an e-bike is rated to ride in the rain, that doesn’t mean it’s rated to be fully submerged in water. Just like you wouldn’t want to drive a car through a river, you wouldn’t want to ride an e-bike through a deep stream or maybe even though a downpour.

Bike in the rain the way you (we hope) drive in the rain

Just like with non-electric bikes, you’ll want to allow yourself more time to stop because wet weather makes it slightly more difficult to slow down or come to a complete stop. In addition to allowing more time to brake in the rain, you’ll also want to cut your acceleration on turns. By slowing down, you can avoid leaning too much. This keeps more of the tire on the ground, which is especially important on wet roads.

Store your bike indoors

Though it may be safe—and fun!—to ride an e-bike in the rain, you’ll want to avoid storing it outside because bikes that are stored in wet or humid environments can degrade and corrode more quickly. While this is a bit less likely to occur with newer, more high-end bikes, which tend to have better seals on hubs, headsets, and other parts, it’s still possible, particularly if the bike is kept outdoors for extended periods.

Cover your bike during rainy rides

Lots of great cycling rain gear is available to protect your body from the rain and bicycle fenders (also known as mudguards) help to keep rain and mud off you and your bike. Because visibility is lowered in the rain (for both you and the drivers around you), good bike lights are also especially important when riding in the rain.

Should I clean my e-bike after riding in the rain?

If your bike didn’t get dirty, it might not be necessary to clean your bike after riding in the rain, but you may want to wipe away excess moisture. If your battery got wet, you’ll want to remove it from the bike and dry off both the battery and its cabin with a towel.

If your e-bike does get dirty during the ride, say you ran through a muddy section, Sonderegger suggests cleaning off “parts that move,” such as the chain and brakes. “The number one rule for wet weather bike care, however, is not cleaning your bike. Rather, it’s keeping your chain lubed. Whether you purchase a budget brand or a high-quality version, bike chain lube is essential to keeping your bike parts running smoothly so it should be applied after riding in the rain or after washing your bike,” he explains.

What if my e-bike is damaged by rain?

Though it’s very unlikely that a brand name e-bike will be damaged by the rain, it is possible when you’re dealing with budget bikes made by unestablished companies. A manufacturer has to take precautions to properly seal the entire system to prevent water from getting into the battery and connecting components. An uber-cheap e-bike is usually a good indicator of the quality you’re getting.

Furthermore, extremely cheap bikes often aren’t able to be repaired, and even if they are, the bulky bikes can cost th90usands in shipping to send back to the company. Anyone looking into buying an e-bike MUST ask the seller (be they online or in a brick-and-mortar store) for warranty information, particularly as it pertains to moisture damage and what’s involved in having it fixed.

When you venture out, you’ll join many devoted cyclists who love their rainy day rides, and become a more skilled and adventurous rider.