5 Tips For Planning a Long Recreational E-Bike Ride

Long day trips out are the perfect way to get the most out of your e-bike. You get to push the limits of the battery and really discover what your e-bike can do. Of course, recreational riding is also about exercise and exploration, those are the things that make e-biking so much fun. But there are some things to consider and plan for before you set out, so here are the 5 things we here at EB-UK always make sure are present and accounted for with every ride we do…

Prepare

Charging the battery on your e-bike is just one thing you have to do before sitting out on a long ride. You should also consider a few other facts like time you set off, the route and the terrain you might encounter. By preparing for all those things you can be sure to have a safe ride and get home safely as well. You will also want to have a bag with you with all the things you might need, like a puncture repair kit, a small first aid kit, water, some energy snacks and of course the most important thing of all making sure you charge your phone as you never know what can happen out on a ride. It was American memoirist Maya Angelou who said “Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst” and that is a good mantra to follow.

Plan

Something a lot of people don’t take into account before setting out on a long e-bike adventure is time. Assume some spare rest time – for water stops, snacks, photos, bathroom breaks, or regrouping with other riders, so plan to be out way longer than you initially think. Amazing views and other points of interest will also add some time onto the clock as you and your other riders will want to stop and look at them (if there are any).

Route

Why not take a little bit of extra time to consider what will make the ride fun for you? Attractions, such as seas, lakes, forests, gardens and other POI’s (points of interest) can make the ride a lot more fun. Even hills with nice views at the top can be fun when you have an e-bike. But it’s not just about the destination, it is also about the terrain you might encounter and choosing the right type of terrain can make all the difference. Bike paths are a great option but remember these can be crowded with bike riders of different speeds, walkers, runners and other people, so they can be tough to navigate especially at the weekends. If riding on roads try to use the ones with the least traffic and always avoid busier roads like dual cartridges. For group rides, roads with bike lanes or a usable shoulder are best.

Communicate

Communication is a massive part of being safe while out on a long ride. It’s not only about communication with the other riders (if there are any) it is also about telling people where you are going, having a way to get to a road if you need it and getting someone to help you, even drive to you. Going out alone on an e-bike ride is all well and good, but it certainly doesn’t help to let others know your plans. But if you are with a group of others keep those lines of communication open, talk to them, make sure everyone is OK and do this at several points along the way, especially if you have a few slow riders in your pack.

Be Present and Grounded

This tip is the most important thing of all. If you have a smartphone, don’t take calls, don’t listen to music on it, and don’t spend too much time and thought on filming and capturing your ride. enjoy the views, the sounds of your e-bike motor kicking in, enjoy looking at the scenery even stopping to take it all in and if possible talk to the other riders in your group, just enjoy the ride and stay present from start to finish, you will enjoy it more and remember much more of it.

Do you have any other tips for planning a big e-bike ride out? If you do why not tell us about them in the comments below.