Back-to-school season often means shopping for backpacks, notebooks, and maybe even a new ride. For a growing number of families, that ride is an electric bike.

And I’m all for it. Giving teenagers the freedom to get themselves to school, sports practice, or a friend’s house without needing a car is one of the best things e-bikes can offer. But just like we’d encourage a new driver to wear a seatbelt, young e-bike riders should be equipped with the right protective gear too.

If you’ve spotted one of Monarc’s new e-bikes, there’s a good chance one of your first thoughts was, “Wait… did they install the fork backwards?”