Has anyone tried one of the e-bike touring holidays in europe that are now widely available from loads of bike touring companies (such as Inntravel, Headwater, saddle-skeddadle etc.)? Some of these look pretty good and fairly easy for an only moderately fit old bloke plus partner but I'm a bit worried about what sort of bikes/batteries are provided. I feel that I would rather do one on a decent conventional hybrid/trekking bike rather than a rubbish e-bike. If anyone has any experience of these holidays I would be glad to hear any opinions.

Has anyone tried one of the e-bike touring holidays in europe that are now widely available from loads of bike touring companies (such as Inntravel, Headwater, saddle-skeddadle etc.)? Some of these look pretty good and fairly easy for an only moderately fit old bloke plus partner but I'm a bit worried about what sort of bikes/batteries are provided. I feel that I would rather do one on a decent conventional hybrid/trekking bike rather than a rubbish e-bike. If anyone has any experience of these holidays I would be glad to hear any opinions.

Different companies use different bikes. I've seen all sorts used from crappy to reasonable. Either look at photos from the company you go with, otherwise ask. Note that some of the companies you book with are more like booking agents. They don't know anything much about the company actually doing the tour. You have to find out who that is and check them out.

I like to relax (...)

 

Reported

The original poster has been waiting 8 years to go on holiday.

I went on holiday in France with cycling for softies a year or so after I first posted. It was a good holiday with decent bosch e-bikes but fairly pricey. Since then I've mostly done Scottish holidays, staying in a cottage and riding local trails/roads which is a lot more cost effective and just as enjoyable. Despite being in Scotland the weather in Summer is mostly OK apart from the odd rainy day and the midges only get you when you stop. Now that I'm 70+ the lure of foreign parts has lessened but I'm still riding and enjoying both my commuter bike and hardtail e-bike doing some easy gravel.

http://www.drakestrail.co.uk/

I enjoyed my trip to the Netherlands which, whilst almost completely flat, does have some strong coastal winds which ebikes devour with ease. I think that it only cost £5 for the bike on DFDS (a few years ago). It goes without saying that the extensive network of well signposted cycle tracks makes touring a load of fun.

I try to do a couple of cycling tours every year in Europe, the past couple of years on the ebike. All independent (with my brov), train with bike down to Dover, then on DFDS to Dunkirk/Calais (foot passenger with bike £25 each way)

 

Ibis, Novotel, B&B Hotels group etc and rides between towns of about 60-70miles per day, mainly canal or river cycle ways (Belgium, Holland, France, Germany etc). Sometimes we'll stay in the same hotel for a couple of nights (Antwerp, Bruges, Ypres ect) and do circular day rides (or go one way on the train and cycle back)

 

All hotels we have found have good secure bike storage (underground secure garage with bike racks, or a secure luggage room, or a dedicated cycle lockup), we email ahead if it's a chain we haven't used before to check. Hotels come in at about £40-80 per night per room, and plenty of cheap eats during the day (baguette, pate, fruit, pastries) and beers and frites, ribs, kebabs, burgers etc for dinner

 

Cycling in Belgium, Holland, Germany is a real joy, the huge network of traffic free cycling routes along canals and rivers is amazing

 

 

 

 

 

 

I enjoyed my trip to the Netherlands which, whilst almost completely flat, does have some strong coastal winds which ebikes devour with ease. I think that it only cost £5 for the bike on DFDS (a few years ago). It goes without saying that the extensive network of well signposted cycle tracks makes touring a load of fun.

Netherlands is great for cycling. Flat, scenic, and decent weather

Netherlands is great for cycling. Flat, scenic, and decent weather

Unless you go to Valkenburg:

is that a prison...?

I seem to remember Valkenburg having an airforce base when I was there in my youth, F104's in the proper days of sleek interceptor jets. F104's had a history all around the worlds airforces of being a widow maker to those who flew them.

I seem to remember Valkenburg having an airforce base when I was there in my youth, F104's in the proper days of sleek interceptor jets. F104's had a history all around the worlds airforces of being a widow maker to those who flew them.

The only thing I remember about Valkenburg were the Croakey crisps that I had to eat in the hotel because the restaurant was shut. You'll never guess where they were made. I'll give you a clue. Frogs might have been involved.

I'm thinking about doing a cycling tour in Egypt. In previous years, I've done a few tours around Europe staying in hotels and riding my bike between towns each day. For the European trips, my brother and I would take the train from London to France, bringing our bikes. Then we'd stay at chain hotels like Ibis, Novotel or B&B Hotels. The rooms were usually around $50-100 each night which included secure indoor bike storage. Each day we'd ride 60-70 miles on dedicated cycle paths along canals and rivers between places like Antwerp, Bruges and Ypres in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Sometimes we'd stay in one spot for a couple nights and do day trips from there before getting back on the bikes. The cycling infrastructure in those countries was amazing with so many traffic-free routes. We'd bring snacks like baguettes and fruit during the day. Then have burgers, kebabs or ribs in the evening at cheap local spots. For the Egypt trip, I'm thinking of contacting a local guide to help arrange accommodation and transportation between places on the itinerary from here https://gowithguide.com/egypt I think having a guide take care of logistics seemed less stressful than coordinating everything independently like we did in Europe. That way I can just focus on enjoying the rides. Anyone have experience with cycling tours in Egypt they can share?

I'm thinking about doing a cycling tour in Egypt. In previous years, I've done a few tours around Europe staying in hotels and riding my bike between towns each day. For the European trips, my brother and I would take the train from London to France, bringing our bikes. Then we'd stay at chain hotels like Ibis, Novotel or B&B Hotels. The rooms were usually around $50-100 each night which included secure indoor bike storage. Each day we'd ride 60-70 miles on dedicated cycle paths along canals and rivers between places like Antwerp, Bruges and Ypres in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Sometimes we'd stay in one spot for a couple nights and do day trips from there before getting back on the bikes. The cycling infrastructure in those countries was amazing with so many traffic-free routes. We'd bring snacks like baguettes and fruit during the day. Then have burgers, kebabs or ribs in the evening at cheap local spots. For the Egypt trip, I'm thinking of contacting a local guide to help arrange accommodation and transportation between places on the itinerary from here https://gowithguide.com/egypt I think having a guide take care of logistics seemed less stressful than coordinating everything independently like we did in Europe. That way I can just focus on enjoying the rides. Anyone have experience with cycling tours in Egypt they can share?

Wow! identical Europe trips as my brother and I (see my post above), we've probably past each other on those Belgium canal paths !. Can't offer any Egypt advice, but nice to hear of your experiences in Europe, I was beginning to think it was just me on this forum who got the European touring bug! Good luck with the Egypt planning

I'm thinking about doing a cycling tour in Egypt. In previous years, I've done a few tours around Europe staying in hotels and riding my bike between towns each day. For the European trips, my brother and I would take the train from London to France, bringing our bikes. Then we'd stay at chain hotels like Ibis, Novotel or B&B Hotels. The rooms were usually around $50-100 each night which included secure indoor bike storage. Each day we'd ride 60-70 miles on dedicated cycle paths along canals and rivers between places like Antwerp, Bruges and Ypres in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Sometimes we'd stay in one spot for a couple nights and do day trips from there before getting back on the bikes. The cycling infrastructure in those countries was amazing with so many traffic-free routes. We'd bring snacks like baguettes and fruit during the day. Then have burgers, kebabs or ribs in the evening at cheap local spots. For the Egypt trip, I'm thinking of contacting a local guide to help arrange accommodation and transportation between places on the itinerary from here https://gowithguide.com/egypt I think having a guide take care of logistics seemed less stressful than coordinating everything independently like we did in Europe. That way I can just focus on enjoying the rides. Anyone have experience with cycling tours in Egypt they can share?

Beware pyramid selling schemes!

Arabs tend to be rip off merchants, be careful buying anything or trusting them.

I try to do a couple of cycling tours every year in Europe, the past couple of years on the ebike. All independent (with my brov), train with bike down to Dover, then on DFDS to Dunkirk/Calais (foot passenger with bike £25 each way)

 

Ibis, Novotel, B&B Hotels group etc and rides between towns of about 60-70miles per day, mainly canal or river cycle ways (Belgium, Holland, France, Germany etc). Sometimes we'll stay in the same hotel for a couple of nights (Antwerp, Bruges, Ypres ect) and do circular day rides (or go one way on the train and cycle back)

 

All hotels we have found have good secure bike storage (underground secure garage with bike racks, or a secure luggage room, or a dedicated cycle lockup), we email ahead if it's a chain we haven't used before to check. Hotels come in at about £40-80 per night per room, and plenty of cheap eats during the day (baguette, pate, fruit, pastries) and beers and frites, ribs, kebabs, burgers etc for dinner

 

Cycling in Belgium, Holland, Germany is a real joy, the huge network of traffic free cycling routes along canals and rivers is amazing

 

 

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG-20220627-WA0011.jpg]53036[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG-20220625-WA0001.jpg]53037[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG_20220622_095821845_HDR.jpg]53038[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG_20230330_190846078.jpg]53039[/ATTACH]

Many companies now offer good options, and the bikes they use are usually not “cheap junk”, but normal modern models from Bosch or Yamaha, with batteries that can easily withstand 80-100 km per day. It is best to choose routes along rivers or canals, like in Belgium or the Netherlands, where the conditions are excellent, there are a minimum of cars and many places to stop for coffee or a snack. If you don’t want to risk your equipment, you can take your own e-bike, but rental ones are also quite reliable. And after a whole day on the road, it’s so nice to just relax, for example, I sometimes read about bonuses on https://casinosanalyzer.com/casino-games/live-blackjack to clear my head a little after the trip. Have you already decided which country you want to try first for your tour, France or maybe the Netherlands?

In most cases, hotels are already used to cyclists and have safe places to store them. I once cycled alone along the Rhine and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences, a new town every day, good food and a light wind at my back.

I try to do a couple of cycling tours every year in Europe, the past couple of years on the ebike. All independent (with my brov), train with bike down to Dover, then on DFDS to Dunkirk/Calais (foot passenger with bike £25 each way)

 

Ibis, Novotel, B&B Hotels group etc and rides between towns of about 60-70miles per day, mainly canal or river cycle ways (Belgium, Holland, France, Germany etc). Sometimes we'll stay in the same hotel for a couple of nights (Antwerp, Bruges, Ypres ect) and do circular day rides (or go one way on the train and cycle back)

 

All hotels we have found have good secure bike storage (underground secure garage with bike racks, or a secure luggage room, or a dedicated cycle lockup), we email ahead if it's a chain we haven't used before to check. Hotels come in at about £40-80 per night per room, and plenty of cheap eats during the day (baguette, pate, fruit, pastries) and beers and frites, ribs, kebabs, burgers etc for dinner

 

Cycling in Belgium, Holland, Germany is a real joy, the huge network of traffic free cycling routes along canals and rivers is amazing

 

 

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG-20220627-WA0011.jpg]53036[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG-20220625-WA0001.jpg]53037[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG_20220622_095821845_HDR.jpg]53038[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="IMG_20230330_190846078.jpg]53039[/ATTACH]

And when we’re back home planning the next adventure and winding down after a long ride, I sometimes browse a few online entertainment sites like https://7bitcasino.com/irondogstudio — just another way to relax and switch off while mapping out the next route.

I’m totally with you on this. I’ve been living in Belgium lately, and even though it’s winter right now (I’m mostly riding on my Tacx), I’m already looking forward to warmer weather so I can get back out with the guys along the canals and cycle paths. Flanders and the Netherlands are perfect for that-so many calm, almost car-free routes by the water.