Along with many of you, I consider traditional bicycle touring the domain of folks with thighs that crush walnuts and lungs that inflate hot air balloons. We’ve all seen them powering up mountains, testing human endurance against nature's obstacles, embracing the burn, committing to Lycra, and earning every kilometre through pure grit and determination. I admire these people, knowing my lack of fitness or enthusiasm all but ensures I’ll never be able to join them. Unless I’m on an e-bike, which changes everything.
E-bike touring is like a Canadian genie living in your bike frame, politely eager to give you a boost if the going gets tough. It's the difference between climbing K2 and taking an escalator to the second floor: you still get the view but won’t question your life choices along the way. It’s not just about making hills disappear with the press of a button (though that part is pretty cool) - it’s about democratizing adventure. For families or casual travellers, trips that once seemed impossibly ambitious have become perfectly doable. Distances that would have left us gasping for breath have become pleasant afternoon rides. Personally, the e-bike revolution has allowed me to focus on what I do best: soaking up the stories, characters, and stunning scenery that make Canada such an incredible country to explore.
Like hills on Prince Edward Island, the learning curve of an e-bike is rather gentle. As with electric cars, I was initially worried about range anxiety - the dread that if I used the power-assisted pedals too much, I might run out of juice and be stuck hauling a heavy bike to the next B&B. This is simply not going to happen on a GCT itinerary. With modern e-bikes optimized for range, weight, and balance, even at Full Power mode you’ll have plenty of amps in your tank for the day’s ride. Just remember to charge your battery each night and turn it off when you break for lunch. Charging an e-bike battery along GCT’s accommodation network is as routine as plugging in your phone, and you won’t have to worry about finding an outlet at GCT’s carefully selected B&Bs, inns, and lodges. Recharging bike batteries is a reminder to recharge your personal battery too. Enjoy the breaks, rest your behind, and engage with the social nature of the adventure.
To use bike paths, e-bikes in Canada are limited in their speed, so the pace is similar to regular bicycle touring. You’re just putting in a lot less effort, which means more energy to look around, breathe in the wilderness, appreciate the views, and enjoy the experience of not having to mentally calculate how many clicks remain before you collapse in exhaustion. Adding to this are GCT’s rail trail itineraries, which follow grades that were designed for trains, not middle-aged travel writers with questionable cardiovascular systems. Throughout the ride, you can maintain a conversational pace and watch the landscape transform before your eyes. You’ll also have time and energy to explore detours or additional mileage along the way.
What surprised me most about e-bike touring wasn't the technology or the convenience - it was the pure, uncomplicated joy it brought to the adventure. We can all understand and appreciate the freedom of the open road, the meditation of rhythmic pedalling, and the satisfaction of human-powered travel. It is the reason why multi-day touring has long been popular with cyclists. The e-bike hasn’t made the adventure less authentic; it’s just made it more accessible. It doesn’t diminish the achievement; it just redefines what the achievement can look like for the rest of us.
E-bike touring in Canada isn’t about cheating, taking the easy way out, or copping out on a physical challenge. It’s about opening up incredible experiences to those who might never have them, allowing us to focus on the journey rather than just surviving it. At the end of the day, when the bike is plugged in, your feet are up, and the memories are fresh, we all arrive at the same destination - knowing that the best battery we charged was our own.
Tips for an E-Bike Tour
- Learn the controls. It’s not complicated, but knowing how to adjust assist levels with ease and on the fly will make your ride more enjoyable.
- Charge every night. Even if you think you have plenty of battery left, top it up - because detours happen and range anxiety is 100% avoidable.
- Pace yourself. Just because you can do 80 kilometres in a day doesn’t mean you have to. Budget some time to stop, stretch, and smell the butter tarts.
- Dress for the ride. Layers, rain gear, and good shoes will make you more comfortable. Click here for some more tips for your first (or seventh) multi-day bike ride.
- Don’t forget your own battery. Eat, drink, and rest - you’re still the one pedalling, after all.