Have you heard about JOMO?” It’s called JOMO. Enjoy your joy Missing out is not an option! Lander Crissman reminded us to keep a relaxed attitude on our ebike adventure in southwest Portugal, organized by the outfitter. Backroads. There would be no time on this trip for type-A pursuit of personal bests or work anxiety.
Instead, we would spend six relaxing days with our group of six people, two guides and a bike, exploring the cork and olive trees, kayaking through the Algarve’s famous sea caves and doing some surfing. We’d be staying at two beyond-luxurious hotels—each with a deluxe spa—and covering between 3½ and 27 miles a day. Backroads’ multisport itinerary is called a Dolce Tempo or “sweet-time” departure. Custom-built pedal assist e-bikes would also give us a boost.
Kathy Roberson: Backroads
Travel is something I over-plan, so it was nice to leave the logistics and decisions to the professionals. The trip was also a throwback to my youth, when I used to take an annual bicycle trip for seven straight years. It was important to not get left behind. This motivated me to go to the gym regularly all year.
I prefer to exercise by riding an exercise bicycle while watching television or a low-impact class of yoga or Pilates. I would never be prepared for a workout like that (and I’d find the terrain to have more hills than expected). I would be left behind, with legs that were burning and a feeling of loneliness and discouragement. My favorite yoga teacher used to say, “The body is moving.” It didn’t. When would the support van arrive?
Social awkwardness was also often present during these trips. Most people were there with their partner, a family member or a close friend; I always went alone. I tried to be more outgoing but it was hard for me to integrate myself into the group, especially because I was often the only one who wanted to take it easy. One year, while cycling the Eastern Shore of Maryland—what must be some of the flattest terrain in the U.S.—I was not so much exhausted by the mileage as the monotony of the days. After cycling for hours, all I had time to do was shower, wash in the sink my sweaty clothing, and eat dinner. My next group trips took me out of the saddle. One was camping and paddling in British Columbia and another a week hiking and rafting around Costa Rica.
There’s still a deep sense of satisfaction and emptiness that I only feel when riding a bike. Then I looked at other cycling trips in search of a new, flat destination to pedal. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that ebikes are offered by many companies, especially in Europe and America, often at no additional cost.
Andy Levine is the founder of a tour operator DuVineLevine tells me that the demand for e-bikes has been steadily increasing, and that technology has revolutionized cycling holidays. Levine says that “e-bikes are equalizers.” “They make it easier to tackle climbs, ride longer distances, or simply keep pace with the group—especially if your heart is set on a tour with more advanced terrain.”
On my Portugal trip the bikes were too good. I found myself wondering, at the end of every day’s ride: “Is that all?” I never had to wash my clothes because they were too sweaty. We finished one day’s activities around 3:30 pm, and had dinner “at leisure.” The hotels we stayed at were equally nice. Praia do Canal Nature Retreat You can also find out more about the following: Quinta da ComportaThe villagers were blissfully isolated from civilisation. It was a shame because there were no places to go in the area. The steam room was supposed to help my muscles but it only hurt my backside.
It turns out that JOMO isn’t for me—though I’m still happy about this e-bike thing. Next year I will book an itinerary with more intensity in a hilly area that I can “bike across.” I found that my pedal assist bike made a hill seem so insignificant that it was almost unmoral. Although I am not alone, I will choose a “solo” departure to make it easier for me to blend in with the group. I’ll even take my own, more comfortable bike.
Four more electric ride options
ALTITUDE SEEKERS
The e-bikes were a great addition to this six-day excursion Butterfield & Robinson trip on which travelers ascend to 4,777 feet by way of Col du Pillon, in the Swiss Alps, and visit two cheese capitals: Gruyères and Emmental.
CYCLE SAFARI
Visitors to andBeyond In the Phinda Private Reserve in South Africa, you can ride an e-bike with a guide through the Sand Forest, and spot interesting birds such as the Lebombo Wattle.
THE MICHELIN STARS
In 2026, travelers can join Basque chef Mikel Olaizola on a DuVine tour of northern Spain’s culinary hot spots, including pintxo bars and restaurants such as Akelaŕe, which has three Michelin stars, in San Sebastián.
WHEELING THROUGH A WINE COUNTRY
The a Backroads trip in northern California, cyclists start near San Francisco, ride along the Russian River, and stop at tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma counties.—Parker Wright
This story was first published in Travel + Leisure July 2025 under the title “Charging Ahead.”
