One of the best parts of camping is exploring a different environment to your home or backyard. The sights, sounds and smells are all new and exciting. This fresh perspective often rejuvenates the soul and body, which is what most people aim to gain from a camping trip.
Using an electric bike on your next camping trip will make exploring your campsite and neighbouring trails easy and rewarding. You can cover more ground, visit more sites and rest easy knowing you have the option to pedal or just let the quiet motor and throttle drive you.
However, you may be wondering which features are most useful and how to choose the best e-bike for camping. Look no further! Below we've detailed 5 important topics to consider when bicycle camping. Whether you want to sit around a campfire roasting marshmallows for an occasional ride or explore hiking trails as the sun rises away from your campsite, taking these features into consideration should help you choose an electric bike for camping.
Battery life
In general, battery life is one of the most important topics to consider when choosing an e-bike. It is even more important when choosing a camping bike. When camping you may not be able to use or only have access to a limited number of charging ports, so you need a battery that can be used for the entire journey.
Not all e-bike batteries are created equal. Some will only give you a 20 mile range and may allow you to cycle back to camp if you run out of battery. Thankfully, there are available bikes, such as our Troxus Vulcanus, that offer a range of 45-60 miles on a single charge. Battery life is affected by the rider's weight, the amount of cargo on the bike and the level of pedal assist chosen by the rider.
Another way to extend the life of your battery is to carry a fully charged spare battery pack for those campsites where you may not have an outlet to charge your bike. Troxus batteries can be removed without disconnecting any wires, switching from a low battery to a fully charged one for longer rides. If you don't want to carry extra batteries, simply call ahead before booking a campsite to ensure there are charging options available. Many parks that accommodate caravans will be equipped with electric connectors. They may cost money, but being able to add length to your adventure may well be worth it.
Motor
Perhaps you want to catch the sunrise or sunset, and time is of the essence. So you'll need enough power to get to your camping destination on time. Maybe you have some extra gear available for the campsite you're hauling. Whatever the case, it's good to have enough power to handle it. For this, your e-bike needs a minimum of a 750-watt motor. This helps to maintain speed, accelerate quickly and climb the steepest hills or trails.
Most electric mountain bikes have between 750 and 1500 watts of power. The most cost effective and energy efficient models tend to be 750 watts as they will give you the speed you need without draining the battery too quickly. Troxus bikes are known for their speed and the start they make when you hit the throttle. It's hard to describe the sheer joy you experience flying through the woods on an electric bike.
Another benefit of the Troxus bike is the ability to lower your top speed to ensure you comply with all state and park laws regarding speed limits. Simply turn on the settings and manually reduce your top speed to Class 3 e-bike and you will be able to legally access more areas.
Waterproof
Whichever bike you choose, you need to make sure it is waterproof. You never know what kind of weather you'll encounter when camping. The last thing you need is a downpour of rain ruining your new e-bike. Humidity can be bad for cheap e-bikes, especially if you're in the woods or near lakes and rivers.
These days, most high-quality e-bikes are waterproof to some degree. However, you need to make sure that your bike is well sealed and can run in light to moderate rain. Electric bikes should not cross deep puddles or rivers as the electronics can be damaged, but in a little rain you shouldn't have any problems. If you expect to encounter some rainfall on your camping trip, take extra precautions such as using rust-proof spray or covering the e-bike's LCD screen.
Tyres
One of the best features of an e-bike like the Vulcanus is the fat tyres that can easily handle all kinds of terrain. Wider tyres not only provide more comfort on rough muddy trails and roads, but also more traction. Mud, rain, snow or sand are easier to get through when using fat tyres.
Some of the most remote campsites will be difficult to walk on or use thinner conventional tyres. With fat tyres, these challenging trails become a breeze. One tip for improving traction and riding performance in sand or snow is to slightly reduce tyre pressure.
Noise
One of the greatest benefits of camping is the peace and quiet you can experience. Camping is one of the few holidays where you can get back in touch with nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the streets. Don't spoil the peace of the forest with the loud engines of ATVs or mopeds. The low-noise motors and battery systems of electric bikes are designed to be as quiet as possible. Your campsite neighbours may not even know you are riding an e-bike. The quieter your vehicle, the more likely you are to see rare animals such as deer or foxes.
As you can see, there are many features to consider when choosing the best e-bike for camping. Long battery life, power, a rainproof frame, wide tyres and a quiet motor combine to provide you with the best bicycle camping experience. Available in 5 different speed classes, the Troxus Vulcanus is a favourite with outdoor enthusiasts. Happy camping!
