The Best Bikes in the Business Are About to Get Better

Here at VBT | Country Walkers, we really love bicycles! We work with them, ride them, chortle gleefully over gear components—but few of us know them quite so well as mountain biking Epic Legend (and VBT Field Operations Manager) Jeff Bossler. “Having a great bike makes it so much more fun to ride,” says Jeff. “This year, I’m proud to say that VBT is rolling out a brand new bike fleet with high-end road bikes—and our lightest E-bikes yet!” With limited availability on select European tours, our new German-made Cube bikes are designed for comfort, quality, and efficiency. We have limited availability of Cube bikes on our European departures—available on a first-come, first-served basis. Best of all, we include bikes in all our cycling tour packages—so if you book a European tour with available Cube bikes, there’s no extra charge to ride one of these sleek new beauties!

Thirty Percent Less Weight Means Thirty Percent More Fun

The advent of E-bikes has truly revolutionized the cycling landscape. Now, pretty much anyone can hop on an E-bike and enjoy the ride—whether you’re an experienced cyclist with plenty of miles under your belt, or an enthusiastic newbie who is just getting started. But one thing about E-bikes has always taken some getting used to at first—and that’s the weight. The batteries and motor add some pounds to the bike, which can make it feel cumbersome at times—and that’s where our new fleet of Cube E-bikes really shines. “Our Cube Nulane E-bikes are unusually light—weighing roughly 30% less than a traditional E-bike,” explains Jeff. “Because the bike is lighter and has a carbon frame, it feels nimble, quick to accelerate, and much easier to maneuver—especially on climbs or winding roads.” At just 46 pounds, the Cube Nulane weighs about the same as a traditional hybrid bike—but it also includes a motor and battery to give you an extra boost when you need it. With four levels of pedal assistance, VBT’s new Cube E-bikes give you all the power you need to cruise comfortably uphill, while also maintaining the light and nimble handling of a performance bike. Altogether, this E-bike offers a ride that is fast, playful, and confidence-inspiring—perfect for riding variable terrain from pavement to light gravel with ease.

Step-Through to Comfort and Style

Every cyclist has a different riding style; some prefer to ride in a more aerodynamic position, and others prefer a more upright position. That’s why we’re offering our new Cube E-bikes in a step-through model with more upright geometry. “Many people find it more comfortable to ride in an upright position,” explains Jeff. “With the Cube Kathmandu step-through E-bikes, you’re perfectly positioned to enjoy a super comfortable ride.” The Cube Kathmandu is our lightest E-bike yet—weighing nearly 20 pounds less than a traditional step-through E-bike, it’s a difference every rider will feel. “Simply getting on and off the bike is much more comfortable than your average E-bike,” explains Jeff. “Its light weight makes it much easier to stop and start, and turns are easier to handle.” Best of all, the Cube Kathmandu offers an automatic pedal assistance mode which detects when you need a little extra boost and turns up the juice automatically. It’s the perfect way to balance battery power longevity with assistance— all you have to do is set it on auto-assist at the start of your ride and let your bike automatically select the right level of assistance to help you enjoy pedaling through the beautiful countryside.

Road Bikes with Electronic Shifting

Road bike riders will find something new and exciting for them as well in our new Cube Attain road bike. “Our new road bikes offer the comfort and endurance of a full carbon fork, flex stays, puncture-resistant tires, 35 millimeter alloy wheels, and a super-light profile,” says Jeff. “The Attain is built to sustain optimal comfort during long rides—but the big news is the introduction of Shimano Di2 electronic shifting—a VBT first!” No more struggling to push a stubborn lever to shift gears—with electronic shifting, just the push of a button smoothly engages the derailleur for a clean, precise shift.

With all these improvements to VBT’s European bike fleet, one thing remains tried and true—VBT’s incredible team of dedicated Trip Leaders, Local Hosts, and bike mechanics are always delighted to help our guests experience the cycling vacation of a lifetime. “My biggest goal is to see our new Cube bikes bring joy to our guests,” says Jeff. “To see people outside, riding these great bikes and being happy—well, it’s the reason we work hard to offer the best bike fleet in the business. The pleasure of riding an awesome bike is its own reward.” We hope you’ll join us this year to discover what makes VBT’s beloved bike fleet second to none.