Cycling the Trans Dinarica with an e-bike? Yes, it’s doable (using common sense)
Cycling the Trans Dinarica bike trail with an electric bike is a thrilling adventure through the diverse landscapes of the Balkans. Contrary to perceptions of a rugged wilderness, our scouting expeditions have revealed ample modern amenities, ensuring the feasibility of e-biking across this scenic trail. While the region may not have the polished reputation of Switzerland, our scouting expeditions have shown that every village is equipped with electricity, ensuring a smooth experience for e-bikers. This revelation was particularly reassuring as we easily charged our computers and cameras, essential tools for documenting our journey, despite not using e-bikes ourselves.
With modern e-bikes, you can easily cover two 50 km stages of the Trans Dinarica cycling route.
We often mention how wild – in the good sense of the word – the Balkans countries are. Which, when compared to, let’s say, Western Europe, is very true. But on the other hand, you must understand that the journey through the Balkans is not a journey into prehistoric times. So far, on our scouting expeditions of the Trans Dinarica bike trail, we have only slept once in a small hotel where the main source of electricity was a diesel generator.
220-volt sockets are always available. If not at the tent, maybe in a nearby bar
We had no experience with electric bikes (we use gravel bikes for scouting), but we charged four laptops and four smartphones, two GPS devices, a video camera, a photo camera, a drone, an action camera, a smartwatch and some extra portable batteries every single night. Therefore, we can say with a fairly high degree of certainty that an electric bicycle could also be charged on your bicycle adventure along the Balkans. Two-hole 230-volt sockets are used in the countries along the way, the same as in most of the rest of Europe.
Considering the capabilities of modern e-bikes, which can easily cover two 50 km stages, we can say: yes, you can also cycle the Trans Dinarica with an e-bike. Of course, each e-bike owner must keep in mind what his legs and battery pack can do. When navigation packages are available with information on length, elevation, and the road/gravel ratio, you will estimate how long an electric cable you will need on the way (or which e-bike mode you will use, ECO, TOURING or TURBO). Ah, you have a spare battery? Then there should be no problem at all.
At least two ‘e-cyclists’ have already completed one of the most demanding stages
Despite the challenging terrain, e-bikers have conquered some of the toughest parts of the Trans Dinarica.
And one more anecdote from the field: on the most remote part of the Trans Dinarica route so far, in the valley of the Lumi i Thethit river, Albania, we helped ourselves along the way with an off-road Toyota Hilux, as our van could not handle this part of the journey. On the way we met two young cyclists on e-bikes, seemingly rather poorly equipped; you could see from far that these were not world bike packers. Later, we met again and found out that they had rented e-bikes in Shkodra and had done four of ‘our’ stages in two days. On this stretch, they were moving on the Albanian cycling routes faster than we did in Toyota! Youth is madness. Thumb up!
Discover more cycling stories about the adventures and traveling the Western Balkans on the Trans Dinarica bike route, and get inspired for your trip.
Here, two proofs that electricity in the Balkans DOES exist 🙂
