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It’s no secret that bicycle tours are becoming very popular throughout the world of travel and tourism. There are some of us out there who like to ride bikes, and use it as a means of exercise. There are others out there who prefer a more “leisurely pace”. Personally, I jump at every opportunity to burn a few calories on a vacation so “bike tours” are appealing to me. My friends, on the other hand, do not possess the same enthusiasm I have for “getting a sweat on”. Unfortunately, those friends have a tendency to pass on the bike tour because they’re always afraid it will simply be too difficult for them.
I had “heard” about e-bikes, and every time I would inquire about what an e-bike actually is, I was always told that e-bikes only “assist” the rider; they do not “propel” the rider. My friends hear that and they simply are not “sold” that the e-bike will help them make it through a difficult ride. Therefore, said friends will almost always err on the side of “non-embarrassment”; avoiding the possibility that they will not be able to complete the ride or that everyone will have to “wait on them”.
Bicycle tours allow us to see the places we travel to from an entirely different perspective. It always bums me out when my friends miss out on these fabulous tours. On a recent trip to Italy (with my favorite small-group tour company, G-Adventures!) I was given the option of participating in a bike tour along some small coastal towns in Tuscany. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to put an e-bike to the test.
I had “heard” about e-bikes, and every time I would inquire about what an e-bike actually is, I was always told that e-bikes only “assist” the rider; they do not “propel” the rider. My friends hear that and they simply are not “sold” that the e-bike will help them make it through a difficult ride. Therefore, said friends will almost always err on the side of “non-embarrassment”; avoiding the possibility that they will not be able to complete the ride or that everyone will have to “wait on them”.
Bicycle tours allow us to see the places we travel to from an entirely different perspective. It always bums me out when my friends miss out on these fabulous tours. On a recent trip to Italy (with my favorite small-group tour company, G-Adventures!) I was given the option of participating in a bike tour along some small coastal towns in Tuscany. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to put an e-bike to the test.
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I’m not going to give you every single little detail of my ride (other than it was fabulous), but I will say that I was extremely impressed with the e-bike! There are several levels of “assistance” to choose from and you can switch from one level to the next very easily and as often as you need to.
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One of the stops on our tour was a castle up at the top of a hill above the village of Argentario. It was a steep climb and with my e-bike in “turbo” mode, I did not even break a sweat and that is no joke! Yes, you have to keep your feet pedaling to keep the “assist” feature working on the bike, but there is very little resistance, if any at all!
One of the stops on our tour was a castle up at the top of a hill above the village of Argentario. It was a steep climb and with my e-bike in “turbo” mode, I did not even break a sweat and that is no joke! Yes, you have to keep your feet pedaling to keep the “assist” feature working on the bike, but there is very little resistance, if any at all!
I would highly recommend that anyone who has ever wanted to participate in a bike tour, but has been hesitant to do so, to definitely give the e-bike a try. Bike tours really do offer you an alternative perspective and a more intimate interaction with your surroundings. I won't guarantee that you aren't going to "sweat" a little, but I do guarantee that you're going to be pleasantly surprised!
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