“Have you heard of JOMO—the joy of missing out?” our guide, Lander Crissman, asked as we set off on an e-bike journey through southwestern Portugal with adventure outfitter Backroads. It was the perfect reminder that this trip wasn’t about pushing limits or chasing performance goals. Instead, the focus was on slowing down, letting go, and enjoying the ride.
Our small group—six travelers accompanied by two guides—spent six unhurried days moving through cork forests and olive groves, mixing gentle cycling with hiking, surfing, and kayaking the dramatic sea caves of the Algarve. Nights were spent at two secluded, ultra-luxurious properties, both featuring indulgent spas. Daily rides ranged from just three and a half miles to 27 miles, part of Backroads’ Dolce Tempo, or “sweet time,” approach. The real game-changer, though, was our custom pedal-assist e-bikes, which quietly erased the challenge of hills and long distances.
As someone who tends to overplan every detail of a trip, I appreciated having all the logistics handled for me. The experience also stirred memories of my younger years, when I committed to annual cycling trips for nearly a decade. Back then, the fear of falling behind pushed me to train harder before each departure.
These days, my fitness routine looks very different. Low-impact workouts like yoga, Pilates, or casual spinning while watching TV are more my speed. On past bike tours, that mismatch always caught up with me—especially when the terrain turned out to be hillier than expected. I’d lag behind, legs burning, waiting for the support van and questioning the idea that “the body wants to move.” Mine often disagreed.
There was also a social element that made traditional cycling trips difficult. I usually traveled solo, while most others came with companions. Trying to keep up physically and socially was exhausting, especially since I preferred a slower pace. One trip along Maryland’s Eastern Shore—supposedly flat—left me more drained by the repetitive routine than the distance itself. Eventually, I swapped cycling vacations for adventures like kayaking in British Columbia and rafting in Costa Rica.
Yet cycling has always given me something special: a calm, meditative feeling and a mental clarity I rarely find elsewhere. That pull led me to reconsider bike tours—this time with help. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that e-bikes are now widely available on cycling trips in Europe and the U.S., often included at no extra cost.
According to Andy Levine, founder of luxury tour operator DuVine, demand for e-bikes has surged, reshaping the cycling travel landscape. He describes them as a great equalizer, allowing riders of varying fitness levels to handle climbs, extend their range, and stay together as a group—especially on more demanding routes.
On this Portugal trip, the assistance worked almost too well. Each afternoon, I found myself wondering if the ride was already over. I was rarely sweaty, never sore enough to need to wash my clothes, and often finished activities early. One day wrapped up by mid-afternoon, leaving us with free time in wonderfully remote hotels—so remote there was nowhere else to go. I made good use of the steam room, though the only real discomfort I felt was from the bike seat.
In the end, I learned that while extreme relaxation may not be my ideal travel style, e-biking absolutely is. Next time, I’ll choose a more challenging route in a hillier destination—one impressive enough to casually mention that I “biked across it.” With an e-bike, even steep climbs felt almost unfairly easy. I’ll also opt for a solo travelers’ departure to make connecting with others simpler—and I might even bring my own, more comfortable saddle.
