E-BIKE VACATION
HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR FIT E-BIKE

In this blog post, we want to give you a brief rundown of what is important when traveling by e-bike.

FULLY IN TREND

It’s trendy to travel by bicycle. According to the latest ADFC Bicycle Travel Analysis for 2021, day trips by bike in particular are in great demand in times of coronavirus-related travel restrictions. The study found that the number of day trips by bike in 2020 increased by an im-pressive 40 % compared to the previous season – a clear message. Tours with an e-bike are becoming increasingly popular. Whether it’s a day trip back home, a ride along a riverside cy-cle path over several days, or an e-bike holiday abroad, holidays on an e-bike have a very special appeal.

E-BIKE VACATION
WHERE DO I WANT TO GO?

Every e-bike holiday starts with the question of your destination. Although you are usually lim-ited to your home country or neighboring countries during a pandemic, there are several desti-nations in Central Europe that specialize in e-bike holidays. From Burgenland in Austria to Al-sace in France, from South Tyrol in northern Italy to northern Germany – there’s plenty of choice. One important selection criterion – apart from personal preferences – is undoubtedly the topography of the respective region. If you’re more drawn to the mountains, you can let off steam in the Alps. If you prefer flatter routes, you should head north or into regions rich in riv-ers or lakes.

WHICH IS THE RIGHT E-BIKE FOR HOLIDAYS?

Deciding on your destination also directly affects the choice of the right e-bike. A mountain e-bike with suitable tires and suspension will let you overcome even the steepest Alpine trails. A classic touring e-bike, on the other hand, is better off for pedaling in the lowlands and if you have to transport panniers. The best way to find out which e-bike is right for you is to have a talk with a specialist dealer you trust. There are now numerous e-bike models equipped with the FIT e-bike system, so you also have a wide selection here.

YOUR OWN OR A RENTED E-BIKE?

One question that will certainly crop up is whether you want to take your own e-bike on holiday or hire one. There are now countless e-bike rental stations where you can hire your favorite e-bike. The advantages are obvious: you don’t have to transport your own e-bike with a bicycle rack on your car. You will also receive expert advice at the rental station and can be sure that the pedelecs on site are maintained on a regular basis. In regions that specialize in e-bike holi-daymakers in particular, you can now find numerous rental stations and hotels often work to-gether with other providers. However, due to the popularity of e-bike holidays, it is always ad-visable to book them in advance.

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR E-BIKE TRIP

No matter whether you choose your own or a rented e-bike, it is important to take the right equipment with you on your e-bike holiday adventure. Give some thought to the right equip-ment for different weather conditions and don’t forget to pack your rain gear along with your usual cycling clothes. A helmet must be worn at all times. If you’re planning to spend more time off road, your equipment may also include protectors. Standard equipment also includes a breakdown and puncture repair kit, a pump and spare tubes. We also recommend a first aid kit for emergencies.

PLANNING AN E-BIKE TOUR
FINDING THE RIGHT ROUTE

Once you have arrived at your destination, you should plan your tours carefully before setting out. This can be either in the traditional way using a map, or via tours that may already be signposted at the destination. Several e-bike destinations have already worked out routes of varying difficulty for their visitors so that you can get pedaling straight away. Guided tours are also often included in the offer, which of course makes route planning even easier. In any case, it is important not to overestimate your own performance and riding skills. After all, even the best view from the top of the mountain is quickly forgotten if you then have problems with the descent.

ROUTE PLANNING WITH FIT AND KOMOOT

Many e-bikers prefer to plan their own routes. If you are one of these, we recommend a mod-ern online portal such as the touring community Komoot. It specializes in planning routes for bike tours and also offers numerous features that make it much easier to tailor tours for e-bike adventures. The advantage with Komoot is that the software is easy to use, even without a great deal of prior knowledge. After all, its operation is very similar to other map services such as Google Maps. The big difference is that in Komoot, everything is tailored to your needs as an e-biker. On a practical note, once you have saved your tour in Komoot, you can then synchronize it with the FIT E-Bike App Not only can you enter settings more comfortably in the FIT app, manage multiple bikes and optionally use it as a drive screen, it can also be used as a navigation unit in combination with Komoot. This means you can easily follow your Komoot-generated tour with FIT.

Read more about this in the article FIT e-bike and Komoot: route planning made easy.

01.10.2021