According to research by the ATTA and European Cyclists’ Federation EuroVelo & CycleSummit that will be released soon, cycling tourism is on the rise. 64% of tour operators surveyed report that at least 25% of their customers ride e-bikes. Only 7% offer no ebikes while 4% only provide ebikes. It can be beneficial to offer both types of biking, but it may also present additional challenges.
E-bikes are a great equalizer. They allow groups to stay together, and they increase accessibility for people who may not be able to keep up with a traditional bicycle. The option is appealing to a wide range of groups, including those with different fitness and experience. However, many experienced operators caution others from simply converting a more traditional cycling itinerary into an e-bike itinerary, saying there are different considerations when traveling with e-bikes, from logistical issues—such as where trailers can drive—to battery management, as well as managing group dynamics.
Chile Nativo Travel was founded by Gonzalo Fuenzalida who has been offering adventure tours for over 23 years. He has also offered biking trips in the last decade. His company offers an Estancias & E-Bikes itinerary focused on riding e-bikes on gravel roads to visit ranches near Torres del Paine National Park. He says that e-bikes make it easier for older family members to keep up with teenagers or for novice cyclists to keep up with more experienced loved ones. He says that the difference in time between first place and last position is only 5 minutes.
Wilderness Ireland’s managing director, Patricia Doe, has been offering cycling tours for over a decade. People can choose between a traditional bike or an e-bike on many of their trips.
“We find that it works well with couples where one half is a passionate cyclist, happy to ride 60 or 80 km a day and the other is a leisure cyclist who wants come along on a journey. It’s a great equalizer, from that perspective,” she says.
Doe says that e-biking appeals to people who might not consider a road bike trip but would like the opportunity to “explore Ireland by bicycle and get up close and personal to sights, sounds, and smells and also cover a little more distance than one can on foot.” Wilderness Ireland launched its first ebike-only tours in 2024. These tours require different considerations from road bike tours.
She says:
“The pace is different and the experience that people are seeking is slightly different.”
“People want more culture and more experience. They are not just there for the miles.”
Cristian Levy founded Amity Tours and is the CEO. Amity Tours has been offering cycling trips in Chile since 2003. He says different types cyclists have different wants. Levy says, “The mountain biker has a more independent nature and is focused on riding.” “They choose a tour according to what it has to offer in terms of riding.” They can swap accommodation. They would sleep in a tent or tipi if they had to.
Maria Elena Price, co-owner of ExperiencePlus! Her company has been offering bicycle tours since 1972. She says that when planning an itinerary for e-bikes, a number factors need to be taken into consideration. Operators may have to leave trailers in a safe location to retrieve them later if they are unable to navigate certain roads. She says that educating guests on how to control the power of an ebike can be vital. “Sixty to 80 mile days on some e-bikes are difficult to manage. Price says that “you need to be able manage the power.” “Having spare batteries, boosters or extenders on hand, is key.”
On a multiday trip, it is important to educate people on how to properly care for expensive ebikes. Fuenzalida highlights the importance of teaching clients how to take specific precautions – such as not leaning against a fence in Patagonia, where fierce winds can easily topple an e-bike and cause expensive damage. He also stresses that having the right number bikes is crucial for operators because of the price. “That is a lot capital in the garage, if you don’t sell enough trips,” he explains.
E-bikes tend to be larger and bulkier, and require more maintenance than traditional bikes. This includes software updates, as well as other things. They may also need specialized assembly. For example, installing software that requires a specific license. Specialized care is also required for the bikes themselves, especially if they are being used in remote areas.
Since 2005, Andrew Bassingthwaighte, of Namibia Individual Travel, offers cycling tours. The tours cover many of the sites in this vast country, including the Namib Desert, the massive sand-dunes at Sossusvlei and wildlife viewing places like Etosha National Park. He calls his trips “bike safaris” and while ebikes are becoming more popular, he says that most of his customers still prefer mountain bicycles. E-bikes are a great way to cover more distance each day. However, they do have some limitations, especially when traveling in the desert. He says that larger and heavier ebikes can be difficult to load. Charging them is also an issue, but generators are helpful. The harsh desert weather is also a consideration.
“They’re a little more fragile.” He says that we live in a dusty and sandy country, and that the charging ports are susceptible to grit.
“Obviously, A bike is a simpler machine with fewer technical challenges.”
Even though e-bikes have become very popular, many people still prefer the original model. Backroads even offers trips for “acoustic bike enthusiasts”. The new “Unplugged’ bike tours are geared towards those who prefer pedal-only trips. If someone less experienced joins an acoustic cyclist, they can use an electric bike to allow them to ride together.
Tom Hale, Backroads’ founder, president, and CEO, is a man of many talents. He’s been organizing bike tours ever since the company started in 1979. Although many of the clients use ebikes today, many still prefer the classic model.
“It turns our that there are many people on acoustic bicycles who would love to ride with other people on acoustic bicycles because the dynamics are so different,” he says.
Hale says that in the past many acoustic bike riders were the leaders, but the e-bike speed changed the dynamic. Acoustic pedalers, for example, came to lunch later. Hale says that the spirit of physical camaraderie with ebikes is not the same, and many acoustic bikes enthusiasts are looking for a way to bond with other acoustic riders. This is why his company offers the “new” tours.
“It’s a brand new segment that’s not really new—it’s back to the future,” Hale says.
