Am I Fit Enough to Join an E-Bike Tour?
One of the most common questions we get is whether someone will be fit enough to join one of our e-bike tours, and whether they should do any training beforehand. It’s a genuine concern — many people worry they won’t be able to keep up with the group or that they’ll hold others back if they’re not as experienced or fast on a bike.
We completely understand this concern, and we’re here to put your mind at ease.
First of all, there’s no fitness test, skills assessment, or any kind of “test” required to join one of our tours. We’ve designed our E-bike Trail Tour of the South Island to be enjoyable, relaxed, and accessible, with a variety of trail sections that suit a wide range of riders.
That said, to get the most enjoyment out of the tour, you should be a confident and capable rider — ideally with some experience riding on trails, not just on roads (more on that in a moment).
Over the years, we’ve included a few Grade 3 (Intermediate-level) sections of the trails because we’ve found these are often the most scenic and awe-inspiring, particularly on longer rides like the Alps2Ocean. We want the landscapes to take your breath away, not the hills! And with the help of your e-bike, the hills are well within reach.
We always encourage our guests to ride at their own pace, stop for photos, take breaks for water or snacks, and walk any section that feels outside your comfort zone. There’s no rush. We’re not racing to the finish — we’re here to enjoy the journey.
Each section of trail on our tour has been carefully selected as a “best of” sampler from six iconic New Zealand trails. These range from Grade 1 to Grade 3 (Easy to Intermediate), and the sections we ride are well-maintained, generally wide, and have manageable gradients. This is trail riding — not downhill mountain biking. While you might ride alongside hills or experience some elevation, the trails themselves are designed for a wide range of abilities. Some sections feature switchbacks (especially on uphill or downhill sections), and many guests choose to walk those — and that’s perfectly okay.
Trail vs. Road Riding
We strongly encourage you to do some riding on gravel before the tour. Most trails in New Zealand are gravel-packed, and while our e-bikes are fitted with trail-appropriate tyres, trail riding feels different from road riding. Our tours are 95% on trails, so it’s important to be familiar with that surface.
If you haven’t ridden much recently — or spent a decent chunk of time in the saddle — it’s worth doing so before the tour. Your body (and especially your butt!) will thank you. We can provide gel seat covers to help with saddle soreness if requested, and you’re welcome to bring your own wide seat, which we’ll do our best to fit to the bike.
So… Am I Fit Enough?
This question doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. Fit enough to keep up? Fit enough to complete each ride? Fit enough to smash a personal best? (Just kidding — we’re not chasing PBs here!)
The best answer is that if you’re active and enjoy the outdoors, you’ll likely have no problem from a fitness perspective. Remember, our e-bikes have pedal assist — they flatten out the hills and make headwinds far more manageable.
Don’t worry if you’re not the fastest rider. Who cares? What matters is that you enjoy yourself, ride within your abilities, and feel safe and happy. We encourage everyone to stop often, soak up the scenery, and take their time over long, satisfying lunches. On our tours, the magic is in the journey, not the destination.
You’ll find more answers like this (though we promise, most are shorter!) on our FAQ page:
👉 www.bike-nz.com/page/faq/
And if you still have questions, we’re always here for a chat. We’d love to hear from you!