Can I tour self-supported with my Trek Domane AL5 ebike?
Question: Due to lung cancer and removal of half my left lung, I switched to a Trek Domane AL5 ebike, which I like. The range of the battery from all the research I did says 50+. I get maybe 30 to 35 max, so I bought an additional external battery, and with both of them, I’m getting max 70 miles out of them. Next year, I’m planning on riding the Pacific Coast Trail from the Canadian to Mexican border on that bike. I know there are more touring type bikes available, but I really don’t wanna spend another $4000-$5000. Do you think it’s worth setting this bike up with fenders, racks, panniers, etc.? I am staying in hotels along the way, not camping, so I won’t be carrying a lot of weight. —Kevin O.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: I know you said you won’t be carrying a lot of weight, since you are not planning to camp, but you still have to consider total weight. According to Trek, the maximum weight limit for your bike is 275 pounds, which Trek says includes the combined weight of bicycle, rider and cargo. In the scenario you’ve described, that limit would also count the weight of your extra battery, plus the fenders, rack and panniers. Your Domane AL5 itself weighs roughly 31 pounds (for a 56cm frame), leaving about 244 pounds for yourself and cargo. You won’t have the weight of a tent, sleeping bag and cooking gear, but riding self-supported, you will still need tools, spare tubes, pump, clothing changes, personal care items, water bottles, battery charger, etc. I don’t know your body weight, but if you are light enough to keep the total load under the 275-pound max, your Trek will likely suffice.
As an aside: Trek deserves credit for posting in its online specs the weight limits for its bikes. Many bike manufacturers never mention this information, or bury it deep in the user’s manual.
Your bike does include rack and fender mounts, so adding those items should not be difficult, but if you are close to the weight limit, you may want to look for a lighter way to carry your stuff, such as an under-the-seat bag made for bikepacking.
Your bike has an aluminum frame. Many touring bikes are made of steel, but some are built from heavy duty aluminum. Presumably, the frame is adequate if you stay under the weight limit.
The other consideration related to weight is how the load affects your battery range. A 50-pound increase in weight, whether it’s on the body of the rider or as cargo in the panniers, can decrease battery range by 20-30%, according to the math here. An engineer I talked with, who tours on an ebike, said you should expect a 20% distance penalty on a flat ride and a 40% penalty on a hilly ride. Some additional penalty can come from wind drag on the panniers.
Your Trek has a 250-watt hub motor, and that wattage should be enough for all but the steepest climbs. But hub motors are generally slightly less efficient than mid-drive motors of the same wattage, so if you want to make the trip with this bike, it would be useful to take a few test rides fully loaded with what you plan to carry, and see how the bike performs, not only on flat ground but also on hills.
I consulted with Jim Langley, Road Bike Rider’s resident professional bike mechanic. He says that if your load exceeds Trek’s stated total weight limit, it would be a mistake to choose your Domane for the trip. Jim has concerns that if you are over the weight limit, the aluminum frame might develop issues, and the stock wheels might not handle the load.
I understand your reluctance to spend big bucks for another bike, but should you decide that the Domane is not the bike for your trip, you can likely find something suitable through your local bike shop that costs less than the $4000-$5000 you mentioned. I know a rider who is nearly 300 pounds himself who rides an ebike from the “recreational” category, which his bike shop found for him.
One word of warning for your search, however: There are electrified two-wheelers weighing 80 pounds or more, often sporting 4-inch tires, for less than $2000 whose makers tout them as ebikes, but in reality, they are electric mopeds, capable of speeds exceeding those of the ebike class system. They can carry significant weight, but I doubt most true road cyclists would be happy with the experience of riding these. And currently, there are regulatory changes occurring at the state law level to stop the practice of masking these high-powered vehicles as “bicycles.”
My own ebike — a Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp E5 — is similar to yours in most respects, except that mine has a 240-watt mid-drive motor. I’ll be interested to know what you decide and how well your bike performs under the circumstances you’ve described.
Readers, from your experience, what advice can you offer Kevin?
Got a cycling question?
Ask the Coach runs on reader questions, and we answer them in the newsletter and here on the site. Anything cycling related is fair game. We publish questions using your first name and last initial only.
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
