5 reasons to choose an e-bike on your next guided cycle tour

E-bike sales have absolutely skyrocketed in the past few years. Even hardened road cyclists who have hopped on an e-bike for a test run have been amazed by the extra distances they can cover with a little bit of pedal assistance, whilst those who avoided imposing hills on a non-electric bike can now enjoy the views from the top. 

Here at French Cycling Holidays, more and more of our tours are mixed groups of e-bikes and standard bikes, which means our tours are more accessible to those who are worried about keeping up or about managing the more challenging days.

If you're considering opting for an e-bike on your next tour with us, here's our guide:

5 reasons to choose an e-bike on your next cycle tour

1. I'm worried my fitness means I will get left behind...

If your fitness is not what it used to be, or you have a niggling injury which means you can't ride as hard as you once did, then an e-bike will give you reassurance that you will easily be able to stay with the group. Sometimes our riders are worried about slowing their fellow cyclists down. With an e-bike, it's easy to keep up - in fact, you'll probably be leading the pack!

2. E-biking is not cheating!

E-bikes are not motorbikes: they are 'pedal-assisted' which means our slogan still applies: all you have to do is pedal!

E-bikes usually have three settings. The 'eco' mode is ideal for flat rides and even rolling hills; you'll still get a good workout and you will definitely still feel like you have earned your gourmet French lunch... The middle setting, sometimes called 'trail' gives you a bit of a boost when the terrain gets a little bumpier or the incline seems a bit too intimidating. Save the 'turbo' mode for when you really need it, or use it as a treat for a sprint finish! 

3. You don't need to worry about the battery running out

The battery life and range of e-bikes now means they can happily complete a day on our cycle tours (as long as you don't ride the whole day in turbo mode!) Most of our tour itineraries are in France's popular cycling regions (Provence, Canal du Midi, the Loire etc.) and the French are a nation of cyclists, which means that recharging points are more and more common, and restaurants frequently offer e-bike charging so you could top up your battery at lunchtime whilst we eat, should you require a little top-up. Our minibus is also equipped with an inverter which can recharge e-bikes. 

4. More energy = more stunning French scenery

With so many stunning landscapes just around the corner, if you're riding an e-bike, you won't be too fatigued to fully appreciate the French scenery. In fact, you'll probably want to skip lunch just to do a few more kilometres... (OK, maybe not!) 

We think that one of the most brilliant things about e-biking is that it has encouraged people who would not normally venture out on a bike ride to get pedalling and enjoy fresh air, amazing views and the mental and physical wellbeing that comes from cycling. And that's got to be a good thing, right?

5. E-bikes are fun!

We know a few hardcore cyclists, and we know how important cycling (the leg-powered way) is to their sense of pride, and their fearsome determination to face a challenge. But even the most sceptical enjoy a blast around on an e-bike! The truth of the matter is that riding an e-bike is a fun experience in itself. Think of it as a whole new sport, rather than an easier (cheating) way to ride a bike. 

E-bike FAQs

Can I take an e-bike on a French Cycling Holiday tour?

The short answer: yes!

Here's how it works... When you enquire about one of our guided cycle tours, let us know how many people in your group would like to ride an e-bike instead of the bikes we include. We will then organise for e-bike rental for these riders. E-bikes can be used on ALL of our guided tours. 

Turbo mode, the traditional French Cycling Holidays way!

How much is e-bike rental in France?

The cost to rent an e-bike for one of our French cycling vacations varies around the regions of France, but it is generally around €200-275 Euros for the week. Well worth it for anyone who is concerned about the difficulty of the riding or is more of a leisurely rider than their friends in the group. 

Check the individual tour pages for details on the terrain, inclines and difficulty levels of each bike tour.

Can I still use clip-in pedals with an e-bike?

Usually e-bikes are rented with standard pedals but if you prefer clip-ins then we can swap the pedals over for you, no problem. 

What if I run out of battery?

The advantage of riding with our guides is that there's always someone to help out with any technical problems. Our expert tour guides will keep an eye on your battery levels and help advise you on how to make the most of your battery life, depending on what kind of terrain is coming up etc. We also have charging facilities in the mini-bus. 

We hope that these points have answered your questions about whether or not to choose an e-bike on your cycle tour with us, but if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to get in touch, we're always very happy to chat.

•  fch@frenchcyclingholidays.com
•  +44(0) 1923 894305 or +44(0)20 8357 8934