An electric road bike keeps the position, the drop handlebar and the handling of a road bike, and adds discreet pedal assistance up to 25 km/h. Choose a classic road bike if lightness, pure feel and training are your priorities. Choose an electric road bike if you want to ride further, climb more often or keep pace with stronger riders, without changing the way a road bike feels.
This guide explains how the two differ, who each one suits, and how to decide, with the steep roads around Monaco as a real-world test case.
What is an electric road bike?
An electric road bike is a road bike with a compact motor and battery that assist your pedalling. It keeps a road geometry, drop handlebars and narrow road tyres, and is designed to feel as close as possible to a non-electric road bike.
It is not an urban e-bike with a sporty look. The assistance only works when you pedal, it is tuned to feel natural, and the bike is meant to be ridden fast on long road rides, not just on short city trips. The best systems are discreet enough that, on the flat, you almost forget they are there.
Electric road bike vs road bike: the key differences
The main differences between an electric road bike and a classic road bike are weight, climbing effort, range and maintenance. Position and handling stay very similar.
On flat roads at a good pace, an electric road bike often rides above 25 km/h, so the motor is idle. On climbs, where speed drops, the assistance makes the biggest difference. That is why the choice depends far more on your terrain than on your fitness.
Who an electric road bike is for
An electric road bike suits riders who want more of the rides they love, not easier rides for their own sake. It changes what is possible on a given day, especially in the mountains.
- Longer daysRiders who want to add a second col or a longer loop without finishing exhausted.
- Mixed groupsCouples, friends or clubs where levels differ, so everyone rides together.
- Hilly terrainRiders whose every ride starts with a climb, as it does on the Riviera.
- Returning ridersCyclists coming back after a break who want to rebuild without suffering on every ramp.
- Limited timeRiders who want a full mountain ride in the time they have before work.
When a classic road bike is the better choice
A classic road bike remains the better choice when lightness, training load or simplicity matter most. Nothing replaces the feeling of a light carbon road bike climbing purely on your own effort.
- Training and racingIf you measure progress, train with power or race, assistance gets in the way.
- Mostly flat routesIf you ride fast on flat roads, the motor rarely works and the weight remains.
- Travel by planeLithium batteries of this size are generally not accepted on passenger flights, which makes flying with an e-road bike complicated.
- Minimal upkeepA non-electric bike has fewer components to service and no battery to manage.
How far can an electric road bike go?
The range of an electric road bike depends mainly on elevation, assistance mode, rider weight and temperature, more than on distance alone. The same battery covers far more kilometres on a rolling route in eco mode than on a succession of steep cols in a high mode.
Two habits extend range in practice: use the lowest mode on the flat and on descents, and save the stronger modes for the climbs that really need them. Riding above 25 km/h also uses no battery at all.
For reference, the Stajvelo Mirabeau electric road bike uses a 500 Wh battery that supports rides well beyond 150 kilometres, depending on these conditions.
The Monaco test: climbs from the first kilometre
Monaco is a revealing place to compare both types of bike, because almost every road ride starts with a climb. The roads to La Turbie, the Col d'Èze and the Col de la Madone rise directly behind the Principality.
On a classic road bike, these climbs are the ride. On an electric road bike, they become the start of a longer day, perhaps towards the Col de Turini. Our guide to cycling in Monaco and on the French Riviera describes these routes in detail.
Two road bikes, two philosophies
Stajvelo is a premium bicycle brand based in Monaco. Its road range includes both approaches, designed with the same attention to detail and assembled in the Monaco atelier.
Electric road
Mirabeau
- Polini EP3+ Evo motor, 75 Nm
- 500 Wh battery
- UD 800 carbon monocoque frame
- Shimano Ultegra Di2, 12-speed
Road
Beau Rivage
- Handmade Italian carbon frame
- Five groupsets to choose from
- Standard sizes
- Made-to-measure option
The two bikes share the same road DNA. The Beau Rivage road bike is for riders who want nothing between them and the road; the Mirabeau is for those who want to ride longer and climb more. The full selection is in our electric bike collection.
How to decide
The right way to choose between an electric and a classic road bike is to start from your real rides, then test both on the same climb.
- Describe your typical rideDistance, elevation and how often you ride. Elevation matters more than distance.
- Think about who you ride withRiding with stronger or weaker partners is one of the most common reasons to choose assistance.
- Ride both on the same climbSame loop, same saddle height. Then ride a few minutes with assistance off. Our guide on how to test ride a bike before you buy explains what to check.
- Plan for serviceAsk where the motor and battery are serviced. The Stajvelo workshop in Monaco handles both road and electric bikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric road bike cheating?
No. An electric road bike only assists when you pedal, and only up to 25 km/h in the European Union. You still ride, climb and choose your effort. It simply lets you ride longer or with stronger partners. For training or racing, a classic road bike remains the reference.
How fast can an electric road bike go?
An electric road bike can go as fast as you can pedal it, but in the European Union the assistance stops at 25 km/h. Above that speed, you ride on your own effort, like on a classic road bike.
Can you ride an electric road bike without assistance?
Yes. You can switch the assistance off and ride it like a road bike. It will feel heavier on climbs than a non-electric road bike, which is why a test ride with assistance off is useful before buying.
Is an electric road bike worth it in Monaco?
For many riders, yes. Around Monaco, most road rides start with a long climb, such as La Turbie or the Col de la Madone. Assistance makes these climbs more accessible and makes longer days in the mountains realistic.
Can I try an electric road bike before buying in Monaco?
Yes. Stajvelo offers complimentary 30-minute test rides at its Monaco showroom. The Mirabeau electric road bike and the Beau Rivage road bike can be compared, subject to availability. Mention your height when you book.
Ride before you decide
Compare an electric and a classic road bike on the climbs behind Monaco, at our showroom.
Book a test ride