E-Bikes On TDA Tours – Riding The Olive Route On An E-Bike

Benjamin Levin is the Content Creator on the 2025 Olive Route Cycling Tour.

If you told 10 people about the TDA trip you just went on—or the one you’re about to go on—doubtlessly, at least three of them would say, “Wow! I wish I could do something like that…” And understandably, your answer might be, “You can!” People, however, sometimes have a reason not to do something. Many of their excuses may be valid, but with the development of technology and the growing popularity of e-bikes around the world, a few of the more common excuses around long days and challenging climbs have been nullified.

Here on the inaugural Olive Route Cycling Tour, there are five riders currently using e-bikes to conquer the 5,100 kilometre, cross-continental trek, each with their own reasons for bringing one. Gina Morrell was drawn into the TDA universe by her husband, Britt, who is an alumnus of the Orient Express. Gina had a bit of experience as she began cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic but the Olive Route was set to be her longest and first international bike tour. To make sure she was ready for the new environment and able to handle the longer days, she chose to bring an e-bike. “I am really proud right now that I haven’t missed a single day of cycling!” Gina said in Bordeaux, two-thirds of the way through the trip.

Simon Lanyon, who did his first TDA trip 12 years ago on the Hippie Trail, recently converted to using e-bikes due to a health scare. “Over the last 10 years or so Janice and I have done a lot of cycle touring, and the Olive Route was due to commence only a few months later. The prospect of not being able to join the Olive Route tour was devastating. It was my doctor who suggested that I try an e-bike, and I will be forever grateful for that suggestion. I purchased a Specialized Creo, which has a 320w/hr built in, and can carry 2 160w/hr range extenders. The range extenders can be taken on aircraft as carry-on luggage, but the main battery must be removed. I arranged to purchase a new main battery in Athens at the start of the ride and will donate it at the finish. The bike can be ridden just on range extenders, but with the substantial distances and elevation gains required, the main battery is very much worth the cost. I have found that with the e-bike, the days can be made as hard or as easy as you wish. It is a great comfort to know that you have the capacity to complete all ride days in good time and still get a good workout. The e-bike has enabled me to keep doing the type of riding that I love, and it is wonderful that TDA have made provision for e-bikes on some of their tours.”

Tim Sole is a veteran of seven TDA tours. “By the end of this trip, I will have done 60 weeks on TDA tours over the last 10 years.” The first five TDA tours he did on what he cleverly calls an acoustic bike, and the two most recent with an electric bike. Tim has multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. “The nature of my Multiple Myeloma and the treatment that I have had does mean I get fatigued quicker,” Tim explained. This keeps him off the acoustic bike these days. However, with an e-bike, Tim can continue to ride, travel, and adventure much the same way he did before. “At the end of the day on an e-bike you end up quite fresh. It is nice to finish the day and not be exhausted…”

Randall and Sandy Shier are both riding e-bikes from Bordeaux to Lisbon, the last of the Olive Route’s three sections. Both are avid and strong cyclists, but also deeply interested in exploring the countries they are cycling through. “Doing the Viva Italia (a TDA tour they did before Olive Route), we found that on multiple days we would arrive at the end of the day in these beautiful hilltop towns, and we’d be too tired to explore it…” explained Randall. “Now we are in probably 45 minutes earlier than we would be, with 45 more minutes of energy to explore.” But the e-bike is not perfect. “We did months of debate on which bikes (push or e-bikes) to bring. I really like that we brought the e-bike this time, but it took a lot of work to get it ready. We had to strip out the internal battery and buy range extenders to bring. There is a bit of an added expense,” Sandy added when talking about the pros and cons of the bikes.

Throughout all the conversations with e-bike riders on the Olive Route, a few themes remain present in all their answers:

1) E-bikes allow riders to fully enjoy the experience of traveling by bike—sometimes even more than on a traditional bicycle. Because they’re less physically drained at the end of each ride, e-bike users often have more energy to explore towns, engage with locals, or just soak in the scenery. Rather than finishing the day too exhausted to leave the hotel, they’re ready to wander, enjoy a meal, or climb that extra hill for the sunset view.

2) E-bikes make long-distance cycling accessible to people who might otherwise feel excluded. Whether it’s due to age, illness, injury, or simply a different fitness level, some people may feel a tour like this is out of reach. E-bikes bridge that gap—empowering riders to be part of the adventure, experience the joy of group cycling, and tackle distances and terrain they might not manage on a traditional bike.

TDA offers a unique experience: cross-continental cycling tours that allow you to see countries authentically from the seat of your bicycle. There are a thousand reasons not to do something and I’m sure you’ve heard many of them as you’ve tried convincing your friends and loved ones to join you on these adventures. But maybe now there are only 999 left. Try a TDA tour on an e-bike.

Postscript on e-bike battery travel: When people think of taking an e-bike on a TDA tour, a frequent question arises: how do you get your battery to the destination? As many of you may know, it is illegal to fly with an e-bike battery, which presents a challenge for people who want to take their e-bike on TDA tours. Riders on this tour have worked around this in a few different ways. Simon brought his bike with him from Australia without the battery installed and had it installed in Athens ahead of the trip. Gina brought three range extenders with her, leaving the traditional battery behind. Randall and Sandy also brought two range extenders each. Finally, Tim simply bought his e-bike in Milan when he joined the tour and is set to sell it in Lisbon (he already has a buyer!). These have all proved successful ways to manage riding an e-bike on the Olive Route, and doubtlessly, as technology continues to advance, more options will become available. You can read about TDA’s e-bike policy here. Make sure you check with the airline for their particular rules around carrying batteries and range extenders.

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