Planning your first e-bike tour?
What to think about before you pedal off
🧭 Choosing Your Route
Planning your first e-bike tour or holiday? Be honest about what you want from your trip and your fitness level. A multi-day tour with panniers is a different beast from a gentle day out with just your phone, wallet, and a snack.
🚴♀️ Start Small: Weekend Away
A two-day trip is a great first taste. Add in a few hills to test your legs and your battery. Stick to well-known routes—these are usually well signposted and have plenty of accommodation options. Choose a cosy B&B or pitch a tent if you’re hardier than me!
🏡 Stay & Tour
Pick one base and explore from there. We did this in Croatia, staying in an apartment and doing day rides. It meant we could eat in, put our feet up, and avoid having to go out again after a long, hot ride.
https://ebike-europe.com/tour-destinations/bale-to-rovinj-istria/
🗺️ Multi-Day Touring
If you like the idea of covering more ground, think about terrain. Flat is fine! Our first tour was Salzburg to Passau (2 nights, 3 days) along the Salzach and Inn rivers—a gentle intro. We later rode from Passau to Vienna on the Danube, which gave us more experience and confidence.
💬 What We Learned
By day three, the aches set in. Sore bum, tired legs, a bit of chafing… and sometimes a short temper! Top tip: Pack Sudocrem—it works wonders on just about everything from sunburn to saddle sores. If you’re grumpy, take a break: swim, visit a sight, or just relax. It helps reset your mood and reminds you how far you’ve come.
🏞️ Feeling Adventurous?
Fancy a few hills? Stick to known trails like the Enns or Mur Bike Path in Austria or the Bodensee Loop, which passes through Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Some climbs, but nothing too scary.
https://ebike-europe.com/routes/mur-bike-path-austria-european-bike-paths/
🗺️ Maps & Route Planning
I use both technology, with bike apps and books. It may be overkill, but I like to flick through a book or spread out a map when we stop for coffee.
I swear by Bikeline books https://www.esterbauer.com/bikeline-produkte/ — they’re detailed, waterproof, and full of helpful info like surfaces, gradients, and sights. Mayr Maps are also great for local touring. Both are available online or in bookshops. The great thing about both of these companies’ maps is that they are waterproof, a must for a bike map.
🧳 DIY or Organised Tour?
If you enjoy planning (like me), book your accommodation, choose your routes, and go at your own pace. But if you’d rather hand over the logistics, many companies offer guided or self-guided tours with luggage transfers.
I recommend checking out Eurobike (Austrian-based)—we’ve met many happy travellers on their tours!
📸 Capture the Memories
Whatever route you choose, take loads of photos. When life gets hectic or rainy (or both), looking back reminds you of what you’re capable of—and why you ride in the first place.
✅ Final Thoughts:
Beginner Tips at a Glance
- Start with a short, flat tour
- Choose a well-marked route.
- Stay comfy: padded shorts, Sudocrem, and snack breaks.
- Don’t rush—soak up the scenery.
Enjoy the ride, not just the destination.
