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There’s much to love about bikepacking, a one-of-a-kind adventure that offers the perfect blend of cycling and camping fun. The downside? Having to cycle for so long can take a toll on the body, and in many people’s cases, that means that the fun of a bikepacking trip is often off limits.
There are ways around this issue, however. Using an e-bike for a bikepacking adventure removes this complication, allowing riders to go further and longer than ever before. These battery-assisted bikes make it much easier to go uphill and are simply less taxing on the legs, all the while still offering aerobic benefits.
Planning an e-bike bikepacking trip? We’ve put together a few handy tips that should ensure your trip is smooth riding from beginning to end.
Invest in a Good E-Bike
The e-bike you choose will have a big impact on the overall quality of your trip, influencing everything from the comfort, terrain, and length of your adventure. While there are plenty of different e-bikes available online to choose from, not all of them are equally suited for bikepacking trips. Most people find that a gravel or mountain e-bike works best for their trip, depending on the type of terrain they’ll be covering. E-bikes designed for urban use are generally not suitable for bikepacking trips.
Slowly Build Up Your Range
It can be exciting to begin thinking about the long and fun adventures you can go on when you have a bikepacking-ready e-bike. But just because you can go on those adventures, that doesn’t mean that you should. Well, not right away, anyway. Unless you’re traveling with experienced bikepackers, it’ll be generally best to slowly build up to a longer trip, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience on a saddle. You’ll lose nothing by first taking a day trip, then an overnight trip, then a weekend trip, before going on those week+ adventures. You’ll learn a little at every stage, and by the time you’re on your big adventure, you’ll have all the minor details down to a T. And trust us, those minor details can make all the difference when you’re out in the wild, far from home.
Map Out Your Route
Having a good e-bike opens up a ton of possibilities regarding where you’ll go. With that said, it’s best to have a strong sense of where you will go — and more importantly, sleep for the night — before you set off. It can take some of the spontaneity out of the trip, but that’s a worthy trade for having peace of mind that you’ll be able to charge your bike. Most people who take e-bike bikepacking trips plan their route around the campsites they’ll be staying at. You’ll want to ensure that the campsite has sufficient charging capabilities; it’s best to choose ones with RV camping, rather than campsites where you might have to make do with charging in the bathroom.
A note on charging: while you may be able to charge your bike at restaurants while you’re taking breaks, this method shouldn’t be relied upon. Some restaurants will allow charging, while others won’t. In any case, you’re unlikely to be at the restaurant long enough to fully charge your bike. As such, you’ll likely only use it as an opportunity to top up your bike’s battery rather than get it up to full charge.
Be Smart About Gear
If you’ve ever bikepacked with a normal bike, then you’ll absolutely love how much easier it is to carry your belongings when you have an e-bike. Still, even though there’ll be a noticeable improvement versus using a standard bike, you’ll want to refrain from going overboard with how many items you take with you. Carrying extra weight will require your bike to work harder, which will deplete the battery more quickly. Plus, while it can be nice to pack your saddlebags filled to the brim with items that you might need, in reality, you’ll likely become frustrated when it comes to unpacking/packing at campsites. A lean packing list makes everything more straightforward.
Use Your Battery Wisely
Your e-bike will make it easier than ever to zip around the mountains, hills, roads, everywhere. With that said, it’s worth keeping in mind the impact that pedal assist will have on your battery. To get the most distance from your e-bike, it’ll be best to take a smart approach to how you use the power part of your bike. You don’t need to have it working at full capacity for slight inclines. Turn it off during downhill and flat stretches, and your battery will go much further.
Travel With People Who Also Have E-bikes
We don’t want to exclude people who have normal bikes from going on e-bike adventures. We’re just saying that if you’re taking an e-bike bikepacking trip, then you should probably exclude them. While it depends on the route, if there are significant uphill sections, then it’ll just be better for group harmony if everyone is using an e-bike. You’ll only find yourself waiting around, or have to make some sacrifices that undo some of the main benefits of using an e-bike (such as having the ability to go further/longer).
Avoid Trying to Break Records
Part of the fun of bikepacking with an e-bike is that you cover distances much, much more quickly than if you were on a normal bike. With that said, that doesn’t mean that you should try to break records for the most distance covered in one day. It’s the journey, not the destination, that counts the most! It can be nice to spend a day not riding, especially if you’re on a longer trip. That’ll give you the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings in a slower way. Plus, even the most comfortable saddles can become challenging to ride on after a while. Give your body a break, spend time relaxing in the hammock, and you’ll find that it’s even more fun to set off on your adventure the following morning.