Cycle Touring on an E-Bike

Cyclists who were put off from cycling long distances, now have the opportunity to go cycle touring on an e-bike with a little help from an electric motor. This has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for cycle tourists.

As these bikes become more readily available to the public, the possibilities of cycle touring on an E-Bike continue to grow.

Now, cycle tourists can explore hilly terrain and headwinds with ease. They can travel further and for longer periods of time without unduly tiring themselves out.

Cycle touring on an e-bike is a great way to see the world, your country and get some exercise with all the health benefits associated . It’s also a lot of fun.

How To Choose The Best E-Bike For Cycle Touring

Choosing the best E-Bike for cycle touring depends on various factors.

Keep reading below for tips on what to look for, and how each factor may impact your E-Bike purchase.

Terrain

Where are you planning to go? 

Rough terrain will mean your E-Bike needs to be strong, fitted with 27.5 or 29.5 inch mountain-bike tires and front and back suspension. 

In this case, a mountain/hybrid E-Bike is recommended. 

For those whose preference is to stay on tarmac, a road-touring bike is the best way to go. The added weight and drag of a mountain/hybrid bike will only drain your battery unnecessarily. 

In any case, most modern E-Bikes and their battery and motor systems are built to withstand environmental extremes of up to 113°F (45°C) and as low as 5°F (-15°C).

Distance

Standard E-Bikes with 400 watt batteries are able to assist you if you bring up your average flat-surface speed (in conditions of low wind) from 18 to 25 kph for a distance of 100km.

However, you don’t have to have your battery assisting you the entire time. 

If you’re familiar with riding an E-Bike, you’ll probably be more practical with your energy use when touring. 

The use of your E-Bikes’ gears is a great way to optimize efficiency and battery life, by saving energy for going uphill or over rough terrain and using your own power in flat areas.

The distance you travel is restricted both by battery size and usage, which is why some E-Bike tourers carry two batteries. 

Naturally, there’s a trade-off between power and efficiency. 

If you want to go further with more battery life, you’ll have to use your own legs more.  On the other hand, you want to get somewhere quickly or with less effort, you’ll lose more battery life.

What Gear Will You Be Carrying?

What you carry will influence what E-Bike you buy, and what you carry is influenced by your choice of where to stay while on the road.

Are you camping? 

Your tent, sleeping bag and other necessities will take up space and contribute to the overall weight, so you’ll need a well built bike with eyelets to attach front and rear rack panniers , and lots of power. 

Those who enjoy cycle touring, if not camping , will likely stay in hostels or hotels, along their way. If this is where you choose to stay, your bike will not need too much storage or as large a battery as you’ll be able to charge it.

If you’re less interested in creature comforts on your cycling trip, you may want to consider portable solar panels or an extra battery. Portable, foldable solar panels may be the best option if you’re planning a big camping trip in the wilderness and will be off grid.  These, used with an appropriate charge controller can be used to charge your battery, though charge time may be a number of hours.

Don’t forget about hygiene if you are going camping and may not be staying at campsites you my want to consider whether you can carry and have enough room for a portable outdoor shower.

These are really important things to consider when purchasing your E-Bike, so make sure you take them into account.

Battery Size

As stated above, a 400Wh battery can assist you on the flat with low wind from 18 kph to 25 kph, for a distance of 100 kilometers. 

After that, it’ll need to be charged. Larger batteries can store and output more power than smaller batteries, but you should also consider your bike’s voltage.

For the standard E-Bike tour across primarily flat roads, one or maybe two 400Wh batteries are recommended. For more extreme tours, you’ll need to increase the wattage.

Get the Right Size E-Bike

It’s really important you get the right size E-Bike. If you get the wrong size, cycling will uncomfortable due to not being in the right position, will not be as enjoyable and may well create an injury that is easily avoided.

Online stores will have a size guide, which should help you to figure out the best fit for your body.

However, the best way to figure out the right size E-Bike for you is to go into a store and speak with an E-Bike salesman or technician, have a test ride. 

They’ll know everything you need to get the perfect E-Bike for your needs.

How Do You Charge Your E-Bike Battery Whilst Touring?

Your battery should be fully charged before you start. Of course, this charge only lasts for so long, so how do you charge your battery whilst touring?

Take any opportunity to charge your E-Bike when you’re touring through urban areas – restaurants, pubs, gas stations, hotels might let you charge your bike if you stop in for their services and ask politely.

Even just a half-charge when you’re stopped somewhere will help with range anxiety. You can also get a full charge if you stay somewhere overnight which has power, such as a hotel or hostel.

To avoid worrying about running out of charge, make sure you know both your bike and battery inside out and prepare for emergencies.

Using your battery responsibly will lengthen its life, so use your gears efficiently and try and coast in neutral down hills. Try to only use your bike’s battery power when you really need to, like when you’re going uphill or into a strong headwind when you are struggling to keep a reasonable speed.

**Do not forget your charger.

Solar Powered Charging

If you’re planning on going deep into the wilderness on your E-Bike, you should take extra batteries and portable solar panels with you.

It may be a little bulky and heavy, but it’ll save you having to pedal all on your own.

Can You Take Your E-Bike on a Plane?

Cycle touring on an E-Bike can last a long time, and cover huge distances. 

You may even be picturing yourself taking on a global cycle tour, travelling by plane to different countries.

Unfortunately, you cannot take your E-Bike on a plane with a Lithium battery. Lithium batteries over 100 Watts (such as those used by e-bikes) are prohibited on passenger aircraft.

Lithium batteries are incredibly dangerous on aircraft, so while it’s unfortunate you can’t take your E-Bike around the world via plane, it’s the safest option.

One option is to remove the lithium battery from the bike and travel without it, which defeats the reason why you purchased an e-bike in the first place, you could arrange to purchase one at your destination, which is more cost and can be problematic, or you could ship it separately.

Ship the Lithium Battery Separately. Is It Worth It?

So, you can’t take your E-Bike’s battery on a plane. But can you ship the battery separately?

Yes, it’s one way of continuing your cycle tour from one country to the next, but it’s not a very fast or practical method. 

Your cycle tour will be subject to international shipping times and restrictions, and may involve several days or weeks of waiting. While possible, it may not be the best choice.

Can You Take Your E-Bike on a Train?

Yes, you can.

The only thing that may restrict this travel is your E-Bike’s size in relation to the train’s capacity and railway-specific policy. 

However, as long as you’re practical and don’t take up too much space, taking your E-Bike on a train should be simple.

If you know when you are travelling, then you can book a reservation as there maybe restrictions on time and space when travelling by train.

Can You Ride Your E-Bike In The Rain?

You sure can. All motor and electrical components of all E-Bikes are sealed, so they can be ridden through stormy weather. 

This doesn’t mean they’re waterproof in the same way a submarine is. 

Do not attempt to ride your E-Bike through flood water, or any level of water that will completely immerse the electric and motorized parts. Otherwise, your E-Bike may severely malfunction.

E-Bike Powered By Solar Panels

For those wanting to be adventurous and build their own solar powered bikes, the opportunity awaits. 

Solar powered E-Bikes aren’t very common in the markets currently, so there’s huge potential to whoever gets it right. 

However, the costs involved, weight and drag disadvantage probably do not make this very viable, so best just sticking to charging your battery in a friendly cafe, hotel etc.

If you are interest in what others have experimented with, just follow this link.

Conclusion

E-bikes are revolutionizing the way people travel.

Cycle touring on an E-Bike is a fantastic way to get to your area and beyond, taking in beautiful sights, exercising and all at no cost to the surrounding environment. 

Choosing the correct E-Bike for your needs is essential, as there is so much potential for E-Bike tours. You’re really only limited by yourself, and how far you’re willing to go. 

Take into account the things mentioned earlier when deciding to go on a cycle tour with your E-Bike: Distance, accommodation, weather, and terrain. 

These factors are the principle in helping you pick the perfect E-Bike for your cycle tour. Keep them in mind, buy an E-Bike, and start pedaling today.