Ride that e-bike safely!
We have learned a lot about e-bikes since we first introduced them to our rental bike fleet back in 2018.
First, riders love e-bikes, and more and more of our guests either rent one from us or bring their own. Second, e-bikes make bike touring accessible, especially for women who either haven’t biked in a long time, are recovering from an injury or surgery, or for other reasons don’t have have the same level of strength, speed and stamina as they once did. Even fit riders with no physical limitations often choose e-bikes because they lessen hill anxiety and ensure that they’ll have energy for post-ride activities, such as exploring the historic part of town or taking a swim in the hotel pool.
But we also know that e-bikes ride differently than regular hybrid and road bikes, in large part because they are heavier and faster. This blog offers tips and insights for making your next e-bike tour as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Understanding how an e-bike works
Like regular bikes, our rental e-bikes come with gears that will increase or decrease resistance when you pedal. The shifters for these gears are on the handlebars. In addition, Class 1 e-bikes (the type that we offer for rentals) have battery-powered motors that offer three to five levels of assistance that work up to 20 miles per hour. (Our rental fleet have four levels.) Class 1 e-bikes do not have a throttle that would power the bike without pedaling. The pedal-assist is controlled on a small computer that sits on your handlebars as well. You can use both the gears and the pedal-assist to help you ride.
Before you start riding
If it’s your first time on an e-bike (and for many of our guests on tour, it is), take a minute and just walk the bike around with the motor off. Practice turning as you walk, putting the kickstand up and down when you stop, and getting used to the feel of the bike’s heft, balance and maneuverability.
Mounting an e-bike safely
It sounds silly, but getting on and off an e-bike can be tricky the first few times, in large part because of the extra weight. WomanTours’ rental e-bikes are step-through, so you should be able to pass your leg between the saddle and handlebars instead of swinging it behind you over the saddle. If the clearance still feels like a struggle, lean the bike toward you a little bit to lower the clearance.
Take your first e-bike spin—without the pedal assist
An empty parking lot is the ideal place to test ride an e-bike. We recommend riding the bike without the motor to get a more realistic feel for the heft. Practice shifting gears, breaking, and turning in both directions. Go slow, and keep your eyes looking ahead, not on your front tire. E-bikes feel less steady at slower speeds, so this is a good opportunity to build low-speed balance.
Now test that pedal-assist
When you are ready, start riding, and while on a straightaway, turn on the lowest level of pedal-assist to see how it feels. When it’s comfortable and safe, add the next level of assist, and then the next. Practice powering down as you approach turns or need to stop.
Build good e-bike habits
· Because e-bikes have extra speed and heft, start slowing down sooner than you would on a regular bike.
· Avoid sudden jolts by starting to ride in no- or low-assist mode.
· As you approach turns, stop pedaling so that the power assist stops as well. Take wider turns as e-bikes’ maneuverability is different than regular bikes. Assume pedaling gently in low assist to avoid jolting.
· If you have to pass through a narrow space or make a tight turn, it’s always safer to get off the bike and walk rather than risk a fall or collision.
Yes, e-bikers should still train before a tour
While e-bikes take the pressure off when it comes to long mileage and hill anxiety, that doesn’t mean you should ignore training. Devoting to time on a bike before the tour will only help you enjoy it with more confidence and ease as you build saddle endurance, strength, stamina and cardio fitness. Strength training a couple times a week, with focus on your legs and core, will also help. And if you can’t get out on the bike before the tour, you can build cardio endurance on a stationary bike or with brisk walking, jogging, swimming, dancing or any other activity that raises your heart rate.
When it comes to training, something is always better than nothing, so if you feel overwhelmed by training schedules (and here is one we recommend), start slowly and build according to your own fitness level and comfort to avoid injuries and burnout.
A final suggestion for first-time e-bikers
At our rental bike fittings that typically happen on the first day of our bike tours, our guides will teach you how to use the pedal assist and computer, how to charge the battery overnight and how to handle the bike safely. They will get you ready to ride, and they will be there throughout the tour to handle any issues you might encounter.
However, it never hurts to practice beforehand. If your upcoming WomanTours trip has you on an e-bike for the very first time, consider borrowing an e-bike from a friend or renting one for a couple hours from a local bike shop. Anything you do to familiarize yourself with e-biking will help you enjoy your cycling vacation even more.
Safety protocols that apply to all cyclists
An e-bike is no different when it comes to general safety protocols.
Always wear a helmet. Follow all traffic rules, coming to full stops at stop signs and red lights. Signal when stopping or turning. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Alert pedestrians or other cyclists before passing. Avoid sidewalks unless instructed otherwise. Ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic. Wear brightly colored clothes and use front and rear lights when visibility is poor. Be on the lookout for potholes, turning vehicles, parked car doors opening into your lane. Cross railroad tracks at right angles—and walk your bike across if you are concerned about falling.
If you are looking for an e-bike only vacation…
Based on requests we have had from our guests, WomanTours has recently transitioned some of our hillier international tours to e-bike only tours. If you would like to experience beautiful scenery with a little help up those climbs, consider one of these tours:
Spain: Camino de Santiago E-Bike Tour Sept. 13-20, 2026
Greece: Cycling the East Coast of the Peloponnese E-Bike Tour Oct. 29-Nov. 6, 2026
Japan: Beyond the Shimanami Kaido E-Bike Tour May 7-15, 2027
Balkan Quartet: Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro E-Bike Tour May 22-June 5, 2027
The Azores: São Miguel Island E-Bike Tour July 10-17, 2027
England: Coast to Coast E-Bike Tour Aug. 22-28, 2027
Croatia: E-Bike and Boat Tour Sept. 4-11, 2027
Spain: Camino de Santiago E-Bike Tour Sept. 12-19, 2027
Japan: Across the Seto Inland Sea Oct. 10-20, 2027