January 3, 2024
Destination: United Kingdom
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Why You Should Choose an Electric Bike for Your Next Biking Tour
“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” Hemingway had a way with words, didn’t he?
Seeing new places by bike is wonderful. Out in the open air, rolling along at a leisurely pace, taking in the sights, sounds and smells. Plus, enjoying the satisfaction and fulfilment of linking places by pedal power.
Unlike in Hemingway’s day, alongside regular bikes, there’s another option for would-be cyclists – electric bikes. But what are they, and why should you consider one for a multi-day cycling tour?
What are electric bikes?
Electric bikes, commonly referred to as e-bikes, are pedal bikes with extra assistance provided by an onboard motor. E-bike motors tend to have multiple settings, enabling riders to add more, or less power accordingly. The motor takes its power from a battery hidden cunningly somewhere on the bike’s frame.
The motor onboard an e-bike is activated when a rider pedals, hence why in some places, you’ll see this referred to as ‘pedal assist’. In some countries like the US, electric bikes can, by law, also have a throttle mode to allow the rider to move forward without pedalling.
E-bikes have taken the cycling world by storm in recent years. Whether it’s mountain bikers looking to enjoy the uphills as much as the downhills or commuters looking for a healthy way of getting to and from the office, electric bikes have enjoyed mass appeal
By providing riders with additional assistance, e-bikes iron out the hills, help you pedal for longer, and ultimately make cycling more enjoyable.
In our world of UK electric bike tours, we’ve seen a discernable rise in their interest. For multi-day cycling trips, they’re ideal. On longer or hillier days they take the sting out of things, or if you’ve had a later night than planned (it’s your holiday after all!), an e-bike can help you keep up with your group the next day.
What are the benefits of riding an e-bike?
If you’re considering an electric bike holiday in the UK, there are many benefits an e-bike has over a regular bike. Here are a few reasons for you to digest.
Enjoy every day
We know how important your vacation is. It could be the holiday of a lifetime or just one precious week in a year when you escape and forget everything else. An electric bike helps you wake up every morning feeling fresh and ready to take on that day’s riding. Push as hard or go as easy as you like and never worry about being left behind.
Relish the hills
The rolling hills of the Cotswolds or the shorter yet steeper ascents of Devon and Cornwall can be a challenge, but with an e-bike, they present an achievable goal – even if they come after a lavish, local lunch!
Make carrying luggage easier
If you want to capture the Regency architecture of Bath or bring a trusty hardback along for the ride, an e-bike takes away the penalty of cycling with extra weight. Enjoy the freedom that cycling brings, but never have to worry about how much stuff you’re bringing along for the ride.
Enjoy the fitness benefits
Ignore the naysayers, electric bikes are still a workout. Many studies have shown that e-bike riders expend the same, if not more, energy as riders on regular bikes. With the various riding modes on our electric bikes, riders can choose how hard or how easy to take it.
Fuss-free operation
Our electric bikes are easy to use, leaving you to make the most of your England biking tour. If you’re a regular cyclist but have never ridden an e-bike, you’ll have no trouble adapting. That first pedal stroke will leave you thinking why you didn’t try it sooner!
We’ll provide a thorough demonstration of our electric bikes before you turn and a pedal and throughout all of our England cycling tours we’ll always be on hand to assist. Never worry about running out of battery either, we’ll keep your e-bike battery topped up throughout your tour with us.
Our fleet of electric bikes
Thanks to their growing popularity and various benefits for cycle touring, we offer electric bike hire for all our biking tours in England. Here’s a closer look at our fleet of electric bikes.
Giant Entour E+ Electric Bike
The Giant Entour E+ electric bike is the perfect companion for an Active England cycling tour. The bike’s onboard motor has five assistance modes from ‘Eco’ through to ‘Power’. When used in combination with the bike’s nine gears, no hill or lengthy ride is insurmountable.
Coming to a stop is easy and reassuring on the Giant Entour e-bike. The hydraulic disc brakes are operated with a gentle pull on the brake levers. Plus, with the assistance from the motor, getting going again isn’t a drag.
To aid comfort this e-bike has a front suspension fork and wide tires, smoothing out the occasional bump on our English country lanes.
Available in various frame sizes and with excellent scope for adjustment, this e-bike can be quickly dialled in for a comfortable ride.
How much does it cost to hire an electric bike in England?
Book an England cycling tour with Active England, and electric bikes are available for a supplementary fee of £150.
Day rates for e-bike hire can cost upwards of £50, making our e-bike excellent value for a 7-day trip. We own and maintain our entire fleet of electric bikes, giving you peace of mind.
