Travel has never been as easy as with the eBike. Here's what Kathy and Sissi Kuypers experienced in the Alps.
Kathy, 31, a professional dirt jumper, completed the endurance test with her mother Sissi, 59. Two generations, two eBikes, one great love - the joy of being active in nature. And one big goal in mind: to cross the Swiss Alps on the Haute Route in the canton of Valais, from Vercorin to Zermatt - which means negotiating several thousand metres of altitude differences in three days. A challenge, even for an experienced biker like Kathy. "Before the trip I found myself asking: Can we really do this?"
Just like Kathy Kuypers and her mum, more and more people are setting out for new destinations. They are looking for new ways to enjoy the great outdoors away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The eBike promises a lot of support and allows riders to master even technical slopes and steep uphill climbs. eBiking brings cycling to another level. Over mountains, along riverbanks and lakes, on rough or smooth terrain - an electric drive allows many destinations to be discovered on two wheels.
Cycling is booming
According to estimates by cycling associations such as the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC), the number of short trips by bike rose by 40 percent last year. One third of all cyclists already use an eBike. This offers many advantages on the road.
- Greater comfort thanks to electric drive technology. The drive provides enough thrust to cope with headwinds and hills.
- Greater freedom through long ranges. Depending on the route and the battery, distances of well over 100 kilometres can be achieved.
- Covering longer distances without arriving at your destination in a sweat.
- Couples or groups with different performance levels can also take trips together more easily thanks to eBikes.
- Important additional effect: eBikers protect the environment and save money in the process. Electricity costs for 100 bike kilometres are approx. 15 cents, in comparison, the same trip by car would cost around 15 euros.
Always with the flow
Many travel destinations in Europe have long since adapted to the eBike boom. Hotels, communal huts and restaurants offer charging stations along the routes. This enables batteries to be conveniently charged, so the eBike is ready for the next stage. Particularly attractive is the region around the Kitzbühel Alps in Austria, which is considered one of the largest unbroken eBike areas in the world. Whether you follow the Loire in France or the Adige in Italy's Trentino, or take in Lake Garda or Flanders in Belgium, there are plenty of bike routes to choose from when eBiking.
What do I have to consider if I have decided to take a trip by eBike?
Careful planning and speedy connections
Good route planning is the key to finding the right trip and making the best possible preparations. eBike on-board computers are helpful when it comes to planning. Alternatively, eBikers can map out their trip from the comfort of home using apps like eBike Connect and the Connect portal, and change things on-the-fly during the trip. Out on the road, they have the option of using their own apps, such as komoot, in conjunction with Bosch solutions.
Before setting off, eBikers face an important question: Do I have enough battery power for the planned trip? Or do I need to schedule a stopover? It's best to check the range assistant and to keep the network of in mind.
Staying on track
Travelling is fun when you can enjoy the landscape and environment along the way. To keep you on course via navigation, connected eBike on-board computers offer access to free maps worldwide. Another advantage: the maps can be accessed even if there is no Internet connection while you are on the road. This keeps eBikers flexible and always on the right track. The map material contains various references to hotels, restaurants and public points of interest.
It is also worth checking out the on-board computer for another reason: During the journey the range indicators show whether the destination can be reached with the available battery charge.
Another concern is how safe is it to park your eBike while on the road. As soon as the eBiker removes the connected on-board computer, the motor support is deactivated via the 'Lock' premium function.
What's next?
Having arrived at their destination, many eBikers like to see what distance they have actually covered. The eBike Connect app provides fast access to trip and fitness data. In addition, the rider can share the results with the community and friends by means of the komoot and Strava apps. This acts as a motivator, as well as arousing anticipation for the next trip.
