E-bike Frequently Asked Questions
At Global Adventure Challenges we see e-bikes as a fantastic tool to get more people involved with cycling - however, whether you can use an e-bike on our cycling challenges isn't a straightforward question. There are a number of factors to be considered before we can say yes or no, so keep reading for our most frequently asked questions about bringing an e-bike on our European cycling adventures.
What is an E-bike?
An e-bike (also known as an EAPC) is an electrically assisted pedal cycle. If your bike meets the definitions of an EAPC, you can use it in the same way as you would a traditional pedal cycle on cycle paths and anywhere else pedal cycles are allowed.
You should check that your e-bike meets the necessary legal requirements and can be defined as an EAPC by reading the gov.uk guidance.
If your bike does not meet these criteria, it will not be allowed on our UK & European cycle challenges.
What is Global Adventure Challenges’ Policy on E-bikes?
At Global Adventure Challenges we are undoubtedly behind the increased use of e-bikes. We see them as a fantastic tool for allowing more people to be involved in cycling. In our view, any tool that can assist anyone who otherwise might not be able to enjoy the benefits of exercise and the many benefits of taking part in outdoor activities can only be seen as a positive. Whilst we always encourage increased participation in our challenges, unfortunately, however, there are some limitations to the use of e-bikes in the context of multi day cycling challenges.
Can I use an E-bike on a European Cycle Challenge?
Yes and no! The use of an e-bike on a multi-day cycle challenge must be approached with caution. There are number of factors to consider such as charging facilities available, battery range and what mechanical support will be available.
Our position is that you can use a road legal e-bike during your challenge, but the following points need to be considered:
- Charging
The situation around charging is not straightforward. Unfortunately, due to reports of various fires caused by batteries overheating, many hotels will not allow the charging of bikes in their storage rooms. On some rare occasions hotels may allow bikes to be taken to bedrooms to charge but often this is not permitted due to space available in rooms and fire safety. On some occasions bikes are stored in vehicles overnight and therefore no charging is available.
If your bike has a battery which can be removed, this is the best solution as it means you can remove this from your bike and charge this in your room overnight.
- Battery Range
The range of your battery needs to be able to cover the distances required for the days cycle or you will need to be able to change battery halfway through the day. If the battery on your e-bike isn’t removable this is, of course, problematic should it run out of power and could leave you with a very heavy bike to pedal towards the end of the day! You are able to leave a change of battery in our support vehicle if necessary (to access at a planned stop), but this is reliant on having a bike where the battery is removable.
- Mechanical support
Whilst our bike mechanics are very skilled there is limited options for fixing e-bikes if they go wrong at the side of the road. The spare parts we carry are limited basic road cycle spares and therefore should you have any mechanical issues that render your bike unusable you will be unable to complete the challenge or alternatively will need to use a spare bike provided by us which will be a traditional pedal cycle.
In Summary
We would be delighted to welcome you on a European cycle challenge with an e-bike. As we have explored, however, it isn’t as straightforward as just saying yes. If you intend to use an e-bike one of our cycle challenges, please ensure that you meet the following requirements:
- Your bike meets the necessary legal requirements to be defined as an EAPC
- Your battery must be removable so it can be charged in your room
If your bike does not meet the requirements above, then it is highly likely that you will be unable to use your e-bike on one of our cycling challenges, but please give our team a call to discuss your specific requirements and we will endeavour to support you as best we can.
If you're not yet registered on one of our Euopean cycling challenges, you can find more information below:
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