Harvey Downard, from our specialist vacation company Cycling for Softies, has this advice:
E-bikes
“Be aware that e-bikes only go down to certain sizes. Currently, if you’re under 5 foot there are less options available – we will have a limited number of smaller e-bikes soon. It’s true that e-bikes are a little heavier than normal bikes. A Bosch battery and motor will normally add around 5kg to the weight of a bike, but the tech is constantly getting better, smaller and lighter.”
Battery power
“We never provide a spare battery, but guests do get a charger and are required to charge their batteries at the end of the day. On some longer days they may cycle with the charger and top up the battery at lunch, but that’s quite rare.”
E-bike only tours
“The distances on e-bike only are a little longer than we would usually build into an itinerary, but the main reason they’re e-bike only is the hilly landscape. There are a few longer climbs in the areas, which are tough without the extra assistance. With e-bikes we often hear stories of our guests blasting past the local Lycra-clad cyclists, which gives them a huge amount of enjoyment!”