Designed as a city e-bike, the Whyte Rheo 3 is packed with features to make travelling by bike as simple and as easy as possible. From integrated lights to the rear rack that’s ready to load, this electric bike should make getting about town a breeze.

But what if you don’t live in a town? Can all these functions still be put to use in the rural hills? I hopped on to find out if the Whyte Rheo 3 is one of the best electric bikes for any rider regardless of where they live.

At the heart of the Whyte Rheo 3 are an aluminium frame, hub-based motor and 250Wh internal battery, teamed with a straight-bladed alloy fork. This deviates from the current trend of adding front suspension and higher-range batteries to e-bikes, as seen on bikes such as the Specialized Turbo Vado, in favour of keeping the overall weight down as much as possible to a claimed 16.9kg/ 37lbs (size medium).

Battery location has also been a key design aspect of the Rheo 3, with Alexander drawing on the brand’s off-road bike experience, explaining that it’s vital to get right. “You can’t upgrade the frame geometry,” Alexander explains, adding that the location of the battery as low as possible in the down tube creates a low centre of gravity that will ensure sure-footed handling and confident ride feel.

The frameset and electric set-up are tied together with the respected Shimano Cues 9-speed groupset, and intriguingly a Whyte dropper seatpost, which provides 100mm drop. While not perhaps an obvious addition to a hybrid e-bike, the team behind the design say it’s a very practical addition that allows you to raise and lower the saddle as you need for easy on- and offs, as opposed to assisting in tackling steep off-road terrain and gap jumps.

Up front, the Whyte one-piece bar and stem has a 720mm width, 20mm rise, seven-degree backsweep and four-degree upsweep. Stack is 599mm and reach is 435mm for a size medium, which, in combination with the cockpit, provides an upright riding position. Alexander explains that the design borrows from contemporary mountain bike geometry to help riders feel confident with the Rheo 3’s handling while ensuring a nimble front end.

Other than incapacity for human carrying, the Whyte was a close second to cargo bikes as a car replacement option. I loved the integrated setup, never having to remember to charge or attach lights, and the mudguards and rack were a great addition. My only gripe was that the cable lines cut across the front light beam. It’s a quick fix for the brand, but one that I wasn’t able to do without rewiring.

I found myself just hopping on the bike when I needed the headspace for a bike ride but didn’t have the energy for a full outfit change or a physical workout. With the Rheo 3 I was able to pop on a pair of trainers, a warm jacket, gloves, helmet and be out of the door in just a few minutes. After a bracing ride into the hills, I could return still fresh enough to sit at the laptop without having broken a sweat.