Helpful Things to Know When Booking an E-Bike Tour

We recently had the chance to ride along a mountain road on an e-bicycle in Northern Italy, the wind in our face and a view of a beautiful Italian lake tucked into the mountain scenery laid out before us. This amazing 3-hour bike tour was one of the memorable activities during our recent vacation, and has me looking to find our next e-bike tour, this time closer to home. With the growing popularity of electric bikes (e-bikes) worldwide, more riders are considering bike tours as a fun way to experience a new place. It’s a chance for everyday cyclists to cover greater distances with less exertion. I, for one, love knowing that I can enjoy a longer bike ride or more challenging terrain without being exhausted and sweaty at the end. However, just because an e-bike makes cycling easier doesn’t necessarily mean it is for everyone. Consider these helpful tips if an e-bike tour is in your future.

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When I first read about the e-bike adventure in the Lake Como region, I was a bit nervous reading the description of the mountain terrain, even though I felt confident in my cycling skills. It helped that we had taken an e-bike tour in the Shenandoah Valley last fall, so I had some experience under my belt. As we rode the shuttle up the mountain to our starting point, I started to get concerned with the narrow, windy roads. In the end, I took my time and did fine, and the memories of the scenic lake views, fairy-tale villages, and our special cappuccino stop will remain with me for years to come. Having a supportive guide also contributed to an amazing experience. Hopefully these tips will help you incorporate a safe and enjoyable e-bike tour into your vacation plans. 

Start With an Easy Ride. If you have never used an e-bike before, you shouldn’t start with a week-long e-bike adventure! For the casual bike rider, a two or three-hour ride with relatively easy terrain is a great way to get comfortable on an e-bike with like-minded riders. We definitely found this to be true for our ride in the Shenandoah Valley, where most of the riders were more interested in wine tasting! I’m hoping to one day soon take a multi-day tour, but I'm still working on my skills and endurance.

​Getting comfortable with the throttle function and knowing when to accelerate is important as you navigate uneven streets or a narrow shoulder. Riders often aren’t prepared for the extra weight of an e-bike, and we have seen folks topple over when stopping or starting. 

Ask Whether the Bikes are Pedal-Assist and/or a Throttle-boost. Chances are your bike may only be pedal-assist. This means that the more you pedal, or apply force, the more power you will get from the bike. Most bikes that have this function offer several levels of assist. We have tried both, and definitely exerted more with pedal-assist WITHOUT boost. 

The beauty of the throttle is that if you are going up a hill, you just need to engage the throttle— push the button—to get through the ‘hard section’; understand that this will drain the battery more quickly, though it may not impact your tour. With pedal-assist, the harder you pedal, the faster you will go.

Read: 5 Scenic Bike Trails in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Being able to effectively change gears is also important, and will make your overall ride smoother and more enjoyable. As a reminder, as you approach a hill, shift to a lower/easier gear; depending on your strength it could be two or more gears; so the force you apply will translate into the right resistance! 

Understand Braking and How to Feather-the-Brakes. If you haven’t ridden a bike in a while, it’s a good reminder to apply both front and rear brakes together to maintain a “good” speed (different speed for each of us). In other words, gently brake for longer periods to maintain and slow your comfortable speed so that you don’t need to jam on the brakes right before an obstacle. Take care when braking while turning on gravel and other uneven surfaces to avoid skidding...or worse. Also, brake BEFORE the turn, allowing you to coast through at your comfortable speed. This helps avoid approaching a turn at a high rate of speed. Otherwise, you may end up losing control by taking a corner way too fast. 

And speaking of turns, one thing I have learned is that you don’t want to accelerate into a turn with any sort of turbo boost. Unless you are an avid bike rider or mountain biker, getting used to the acceleration on an e–bike takes some practice. Playing around with the speed controls and levels while on a flat, straight road is a good way to get comfortable on an e-bike. 

Know the Terrain Ahead of Time and Don’t Over Estimate Your Ability. Most people assume that if they can ride a bike they will be fine on an e-bike. But ask yourself, has it been 10 years since I have ridden a bike? Am I going to be able to comfortably navigate narrow paths, windy roads, or steep terrain (both up and down). What about gravel or cobblestones? Most tours will specify whether you will be riding on busy roads for any part of the tour, so make sure you are comfortable riding in light traffic if this is the case. Be sure to read the description of the ride before booking, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. 

Pay Attention When You Stop and Start. Stopping and starting are often where inexperienced e-bike riders have the most difficulty. The extra weight of the bike often surprises people when they stop, leading to a slow-motion tip over. Also, if you are using any type of boost to start, make sure your bike is pointed straight and in the right direction before you start pedaling. ​

As you plan an e-bike adventure, you might ask yourself Do I need any special bike riding gear or clothes for an e-bike tour? We noticed that most of the riders on our tours were wearing street clothes, with no open-toed shoes allowed. Personally, I find wearing bike shorts or leggings to be more comfortable if I am riding more than 10 miles, but wear whatever works for you that is appropriate for biking. Helmets are provided, and usually a pouch or bottle holder of some kind; ask if they provide water for the ride. Don’t forget sunglasses, sunscreen, and depending on the weather a windbreaker!
 
And listen to your tour guide when he says not to take photos or videos while biking, especially when going down a steep mountain road. While I wish we had stopped more often for photos when riding through the postcard village in Italy, I knew trying to take pictures with one hand while navigating an e-bike was a risk I was not willing to take. It’s probably an unpopular opinion, but sometimes it's worth it to live in the moment and not worry about taking photos.

No matter where you live, there is probably an e-bike tour in your area to consider. Here’s the two tours I mentioned earlier, the Shenandoah Valley Winery Tour with Burg E-Bike Tours and E-Bike Tour around Three Lakes and Idyllic Mountain Life on Lake Como. Cruising through the backroads in the Shenandoah Valley on a beautiful fall weekend was a fun way to try a few new wineries and enjoy a leisurely bike ride. Cruising through the mountains and villages of Italy with Bebike Como was a spectacular experience that I won’t soon forget. It has inspired me to start researching multi-day e-bike adventures closer to home.