Who is a cycling trip by electric bike suitable for?
An electric bike is a good choice for anyone who enjoys cycling actively and wants to decide for themselves how much assistance feels right along the way. Both recreational cyclists and experienced mountain bikers choose one so they can ride comfortably for several days in a row and spread their energy well over the trip. You can set the assistance low when you want to push on, and increase it when the terrain calls for it.
An electric bike can also be the answer for partners, friends or family members with different levels of cycling experience. Everyone rides the same route together, without anyone constantly having to ride above or below their own level.
An electric bike does not do the steering, braking and balancing for you. So you do need to be comfortable on a bike and willing to ride on gravel, unpaved roads and sometimes rough tracks. Mountain biking experience is helpful, but not necessary for every trip. We are happy to advise you on which destination, route and bike suit your experience.
What is the difference from an ordinary bike?
An electric bike assists you as long as you pedal yourself. While riding, you decide how much assistance you use. You notice it most on longer climbs, in headwinds and on heavier surfaces. You keep cycling actively, but need less effort to hold the same pace.
Because of the motor and battery, an electric bike is heavier than an ordinary mountain bike or gravel bike. You feel that when steering, braking, lifting and manoeuvring. Thanks to its wider tyres and suspension, an e-mountain bike offers more comfort and control on rougher terrain.
Does an electric bike change how demanding a cycling trip is?
With an electric bike, climbs and long stages take less effort. You decide how much assistance you use and can adjust it to the terrain and to how you feel that day. That means a trip that would be tough for you on an ordinary bike can be a better match for your level.
The route itself does not change. You still ride the same distances, climbs and unpaved roads. You also do all the steering, braking and descending yourself. So an electric bike does not make a trip easy by itself, but it helps you spread your energy better and keep more of it for your surroundings and the experiences along the way.
Which destinations suit an e-gravel bike or e-mountain bike?
In South Africa, Vietnam, Laos and Tanzania you can ride an e-gravel bike or e-mountain bike, depending on the route. An e-gravel bike suits you if you like riding at a sporty pace and are used to a forward-leaning position. Thanks to its wider tyres and suspension, an e-mountain bike offers more comfort and control on rough and unpaved sections.
South Africa
The long, continuous gravel roads of the Klein Karoo are very well suited to an e-gravel bike. If you would rather have a little more stability on loose stones, corrugations and potholes, you can choose an e-mountain bike.
Vietnam and Laos
In Vietnam, Laos and on the combination trip through both countries, both bikes are possible. Electric assistance is welcome on the longer climbs in the mountainous north. Because of the changing road surface, an e-mountain bike is the most comfortable choice, while an experienced gravel rider can also ride well on an e-gravel bike.
Uganda and Rwanda
For Uganda and Rwanda we recommend an e-mountain bike. Here you ride mostly on unpaved roads, and some sections include rough tracks, large stones and short, steep climbs. In both countries we have our own high-quality Specialized e-mountain bikes.
Tanzania
On a trip around Kilimanjaro you can ride an e-gravel bike or e-mountain bike. The route consists of gravel roads, unpaved sections and tarmac. If you want to cycle to the summit of Kilimanjaro, only an ordinary mountain bike is suitable. A gravel bike, e-gravel bike or e-mountain bike cannot be used for this climb. You can bring your own mountain bike or hire a suitable bike through us.
Battery and charging along the way
After every cycling day the battery is charged at the accommodation. Our guides or drivers make sure the bike goes on the charger in the evening and is ready again the next morning. You do not have to arrange anything yourself.
How long a battery lasts depends on the distance, the amount of climbing, the surface and the assistance you use. On long stages with a lot of climbing in particular, the battery runs down faster. The guide knows the route and where the hardest climbs are. If you follow their advice on using the assistance levels, most cycling days are easily manageable on one battery.
Do you know you like to use a lot of assistance, or would you like extra peace of mind along the way? Then we advise hiring a second battery.
Can I bring my own electric bike?
Because you fly to our cycling trips, you cannot bring your own electric bike as passenger luggage. The batteries of electric bikes usually have a capacity well above the permitted limit. Batteries of more than 160 Wh are not allowed in hand luggage or hold luggage. Always check your airline’s current baggage rules before you travel.
Would you like to ride with electric assistance? Then we arrange a bike for you at the destination. In Uganda and Rwanda our guests ride our own high-quality Specialized e-mountain bikes. At the other destinations we reserve the bike through our local partner.
Maintenance and mechanical problems along the way
Before and during the cycling trip, the local team checks the bikes and carries out minor maintenance where needed. The guides carry tools and spare parts to fix common problems along the way, such as a puncture or a small adjustment. You do not need any technical knowledge yourself.
If a problem cannot be fixed straight away by the roadside, the local team looks at which solution is possible at that moment. That may be a repair, a replacement bike if one is available, or covering part of the route in the support vehicle. The options depend on the fault, the location and what is available locally.
View all cycling holidays Discover the wilds of Uganda by electric bike
In Uganda you ride largely on unpaved roads. Red earth, hills and changes in height are part of the landscape and can make cycling here quite demanding at times. An electric mountain bike gives you support when you need it, without taking away the active character of the trip. You ride past banana plantations and crater lakes, through villages and, on some trips, through national parks too. Wildlife can appear beside or near the route at any moment. From the bike you experience these surroundings differently: you hear what is going on around you, smell the nature and have all the time you need to stop and look.
The e-mountain bike helps most when the road climbs or the terrain gets heavier. You decide how much assistance you use and can spread your energy better over the day. That makes the climbs and unpaved roads of Uganda achievable for more cyclists. That way you keep energy for what it is all about: cycling through a landscape where nature, villages and wildlife constantly alternate.
The land of a thousand hills: Rwanda by electric bike
There is a reason Rwanda is called the land of a thousand hills. On a cycling trip you soon notice where the name comes from. The route keeps going up and down, over a mix of paved and unpaved roads. An electric mountain bike gives you support on the longer and steeper climbs, while the cycling itself stays at the centre. Along the way you ride through the green, hilly landscape of Rwanda, past tea plantations and lakes and through villages where daily life takes place by the roadside.
The e-mountain bike helps you spread your energy over the day. You decide how much assistance you use, so you can keep riding at your own pace even on a longer climb. Rwanda remains an active cycling destination. The hills and unpaved roads still take effort, but with electric assistance the climbs become more manageable without losing the adventurous character of the trip.
Take on the roads of Vietnam by electric bike
Northern Vietnam is a mountainous cycling destination, with long climbs and sometimes steep gradients. You ride mainly on paved roads and small back roads that wind through the mountains and valleys. Now and then the route crosses an unpaved section or gravel. The quality of the roads can vary a great deal along the way. A road that starts well can suddenly have potholes further on or turn into gravel.
With an e-bike the many climbs become more manageable. On a steep or longer climb you switch on some extra assistance, while on flatter sections you decide for yourself how much help you use. It remains an active cycling trip through Vietnam, but you can spread your energy better over the day. And after a long climb there is always that moment when the road levels out and you have time to look around.
Experience the adventure of Laos by electric bike
Laos lends itself well to a trip by bike. You ride through a green, mountainous landscape, past waterfalls and age-old temples and on roads that are far from always flat or paved. It is on those routes that an electric bike offers extra support. On longer climbs and poor roads you can switch on some extra power, while at other times you ride with hardly any assistance.
At CvA travel we deliberately look for the quieter routes. You ride through remote areas, over hilly roads and through small villages where you can stop along the way and see daily life up close. That way cycling through Laos stays what it should be: a way to discover the country at a calm pace.
Choosing a cycling trip with electric assistance
Take a look at the group trips and individual cycling trips you can do with electric assistance. On the trip page you can read which electric bikes are available, what hire costs and whether the chosen bike suits the surface and level of the trip.
Have you found a cycling trip that suits you? Let us know in your request that you would like to ride an electric bike. We discuss your cycling experience, the assistance you expect to need and whether an extra battery is a good idea. Then we check the right size and availability and include the bike hire in your trip proposal.
Why choose a cycling holiday by electric bike with CvA travel?
At CvA travel you are not just choosing an electric bike, but a cycling holiday in which the bike suits the route and suits you. We look at your cycling experience, fitness and wishes and advise which bike and how much assistance suit you best. We also discuss whether one battery will be enough for the stages you have chosen.
In Uganda and Rwanda we have our own high-quality Specialized e-mountain bikes. At our other destinations we arrange the electric bike through a trusted local partner. Our guides know the routes, know where the longer climbs and trickier surfaces are and help you use the assistance levels along the way.
As with all our trips, it is about more than the kilometres. The electric bike takes you to places where you experience the country up close, meet people and really become part of your surroundings. You decide how much effort you put in and keep energy for everything that makes the cycling trip special.
Frequently asked questions about cycling holidays by electric bike
Do I still have to pedal on an electric bike?
Yes. The motor only assists while you turn the pedals, so it does not do the cycling for you. During the cycling day you decide how much assistance you use. One cyclist mainly chooses extra help on climbs, while another also likes more assistance on flat sections.
The more often you use a high assistance level, the faster the battery runs down. Do you expect to need a lot of assistance? Then hire an extra battery where possible. That gives you more peace of mind on long stages and days with a lot of climbing.
On which trips can I choose an electric bike?
You can ride an electric bike on virtually all our group trips and individual cycling trips. In Uganda and Rwanda we recommend an e-mountain bike because of the rough, largely unpaved surface. In South Africa, Vietnam and Laos you can choose an e-mountain bike or e-gravel bike. You can also ride electric on our cycling trips around Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
There are two exceptions: you cannot take part in the Tour of Karamoja on an electric bike, and for the climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro an ordinary mountain bike is needed.
How far can I go on one battery?
That cannot be expressed in a fixed number of kilometres. The range depends on factors such as the capacity of the battery, the amount of climbing, the surface, your weight and the assistance level you use. Long climbs, rough roads and a lot of assistance ask more of the battery than a flat stage on a low setting.
If you use the assistance in a well-balanced way, most cycling days are manageable on one battery. The guide knows the route and advises you along the way on using the different levels. Do you expect to need a lot of assistance, or does the trip include long stages with a lot of climbing? Then hire an extra battery where possible.
Where do I charge the battery along the way?
The battery is charged at the accommodation after the cycling day. The guide or driver makes sure the battery goes on the charger in the evening, so that it is ready the next morning for the next stage. So you do not have to arrange charging yourself on our trips.
Is an electric bike harder to handle?
Because of the motor and battery, an electric bike is heavier than an ordinary bike. While riding, that often makes it feel stable. Most cyclists quickly get used to the difference.
You notice the extra weight mainly when riding slowly, manoeuvring or lifting the bike. The bike also responds a little differently when braking. Before the first cycling stage the guide explains how the bike works, and you get plenty of time to get used to the steering, brakes and assistance.
Is an electric bike useful if my partner rides faster?
Yes, an electric bike can reduce the difference in pace or fitness between you. You use extra assistance when needed, for example on a climb or at the end of a long stage. That way you can ride the same route without one of you constantly having to wait or ride above your own level.
Does an electric bike cost extra?
Yes, hire of an e-mountain bike or e-gravel bike is not included in the trip price. The hire price varies by destination, trip length and type of bike. A supplement may also apply for an extra battery.
For each trip you will find under the Price info tab which bikes are available and what hire costs. Let us know in your request that you would like to ride with electric assistance. We will then check availability and clearly include the bike hire in your trip proposal.
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