opening up a new world
Do e-bikes suit us? For a long time, we have hesitated to invest. Then, in Spain, we discover how electric assistance allows us to go for rides in the hills. E-bikes expand our range and open up new roads. Even nine per cent inclines pose no problem at all.
Is an electric bicycle a bit lazy? That thought lingers a while. In cities like Madrid, Valencia and Rome, we happily take guided city tours on standard bikes even though e-bikes are available.
Madrid, contrary to our expectations, turns out to be surprisingly hilly. On top of that, it is baking hot during our visit. During the day, the thermometer rises to temperatures of over 35 degrees.
Enduring that three-hour route on a regular town bike is quite a challenge. To be completely honest, I end up slumped over my handlebars, panting for breath.
At that exact moment, I made a promise to myself that wherever we are in the world, we will only experience these kinds of adventures on an e-bike from now on. Not to avoid cycling, but to stay fresh and still have the energy to truly experience the city at the end of the tour.
Slopes can be steep
Around Pego, going for a bike ride isn’t particularly appealing either. Of course, the surroundings are beautiful, but the slopes can be rather steep. We make several attempts on our little folding bikes, but it isn’t a success. Should we look into e-bikes after all?
We hesitate. Will we use them often enough? Can an e-bike actually handle those steep hills? Do they fit on the car’s bicycle rack? These are questions we cannot answer straight away. And so, we keep putting the decision off.
In spring, the real turning point comes in Jávea. Our friends, avid cyclists who explore the area on e-mountain bikes, invite us along for a ride. Ankie has been enthusiastic about the idea for a while, and although I am still hesitant, I let myself be persuaded to give it a go.
When I conquer the first hill we encounter without any trouble, all my reservations disappear. The ease of the electric assistance leaves a huge impression on me.
I instantly experience how an e-bike allows you to enjoy cycling long distances, even in a hilly landscape. The feeling of freedom instantly triumphs over my objections on principle; it is not ‘cheating’ but a way to enormously expand your range.
From folding bike to Forza
After that, the decision is made quickly. Our trusted folding bikes, which have given us years of loyal service, make way for two Forza Bologna Platino e-bikes. We purchase them in the Netherlands, where we also bought our trailer tent. It is a conscious choice for quality and comfort, qualities that are essential to us.
During the journey to our home in Spain, we bring the bicycles along on a special bike rack on the trailer tent, making lovely stopovers in Esch-sur-Sûre and Langres, as you can read in our previous blog posts.
Once in Spain, we temporarily store the trailer tent whilst awaiting our next trip to the Netherlands. Until then, we make full use of our new e-bikes. Where the area around Pego was previously not an option for cycling due to the constant presence of steep hills, the e-bike now opens up a world that used to be closed to us.
Our fifteen-kilometre journey to La Font Salada, just outside our home, takes us over familiar roads we’d struggled to navigate on our old folding bikes. Cycling to the beach, a whopping thirty kilometres round trip, has transformed into a delightful experience.
Bicycles and the camper
We still really enjoy travelling by camper; in September, we are renting one to discover even more of this beautiful region, following on from our previous trips through Andalusia.
Right now, the combination of the car and the trailer tent offers us a different kind of freedom. It is a light combination for the car; the bicycles travel along easily, and once at the campsite, the trailer tent serves as our comfortable, permanent base.
Because we have the car with us, we are much more mobile when we stay somewhere. We can explore the surroundings by bicycle, but we remain flexible for trips by car. It is the ideal balance between a fixed place to stay and the freedom to truly get to know the region.
Journey to the Netherlands
During the scorching summer months in Spain, we find ourselves too hot to be active. Consequently, we’re now gearing up for our journey to the Netherlands. In just three weeks, we’ll head north in a nearly straight line.
Along the way, we’ll select three strategic campsites conveniently located near the Route du Soleil through France, with approximately 500 kilometres between each stop.
For us, this is a new way of planning; we view every campsite as a potential base for cycling trips. Whether this actually works out in practice is something we will have to experience.
We must honestly admit that we find it quite exciting. It is a voyage of discovery. Once in the Netherlands, the bicycles are ready to explore the most beautiful junction routes.
It’s fascinating to see how changing the way you travel can open new doors. Let’s dispel one persistent prejudice right away: the e-bike is absolutely not for the ‘lazy’ cyclist.
On the contrary, you still put in an active physical effort, especially when cycling through a hilly landscape like the one here near Pego.
With electric assistance, you simply expand your range; you go on longer rides, see more, and above all, ride in a relaxed way. It maintains your mobility and freedom, even when your physical fitness drops a gear.
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