SUB ·Sep 25, 2026

Camping by E-Bike: From Vienna to the Wachau with the VELLO SUB

Three people sit at sunset with a picnic and a fully loaded VELLO bike right on the banks of the Danube in the Wachau.

Some trips don't start with a big idea, but with a simple question in the group chat: "Are you free this weekend?"

Three friends, three fully loaded VELLO SUB Cargo e-bikes, and one destination: Dürnstein in the Wachau — a weekend between vineyards, the Danube riverbank, and a picnic just before sunset — a perfect example of how e-bike camping with a cargo bike can be pulled off without any hassle.

The Route: From Vienna Through the Wachau

The Danube Cycle Path from Vienna to Dürnstein runs about 80 kilometers — well-paved, car-free, and flat. The route passes Klosterneuburg Monastery, goes through Tulln and Krems, until the landscape of the Wachau unfolds its own distinctive scenery: steeper slopes, terraced vineyards, and finally the unmistakable blue-and-white tower of Dürnstein Abbey church rising between the houses.

The few climbs toward the Wachau were easy to handle thanks to the Bosch Cargo Line motor up to 120 Nm of torque and up to 600% support of your own pedaling power in Cargo mode), even with a full load.

Three people ride fully loaded VELLO bikes through the Wachau, one of them over a steep cobblestone path.

Distance wasn't an issue either: the VELLO SUB, with its dual-battery setup (2x 800 Wh batteries), offers up to 350 kilometers of range — plenty for spontaneous detours and side trips along the route. Music and navigation ran effortlessly via phone and the Bosch eBike Flow app, while the smartphone charged wirelessly the whole time in the integrated SP-Connect mount on the handlebars.

Three people ride loaded VELLO bikes through the Wachau, past vineyards and historic buildings.

Arrival at the Danube Riverbank

One of the most beautiful moments came just before sunset: we left the paved path and pushed our bikes down a stony trail to the water.

With a fully loaded longtail e-bike, you quickly feel just how much weight is actually on the bike on terrain like that. This is where the integrated walk-assist with automatic rollback protection came in handy: it helped push the bike over gravel and small inclines while also preventing it from rolling backward.

A person pushes an orange VELLO SUB with a front basket up a steep cobblestone path.

Once at the riverbank, the bikes stood stable on their redesigned center kickstands despite the panniers, cooler, and crate of drinks. Then it was simply: unload, spread out the picnic blanket, cut the watermelon.

Packing List for an E-Bike Camping Trip

For two days by the water, we wanted to have everything we needed without hauling along unnecessary gear.

Sleeping & Camp	Lightweight tent, sleeping pad or inflatable mattress, sleeping bag, headlamp or small lantern, picnic blanket
Food & Drink	Cooler, drinks & snacks, dishes, lighter, pocketknife
On the Road & Safety	Helmet, change of clothes, light rain jacket, sunscreen, first-aid kit, straps for securely fastening luggage

In short: everything we needed for two days by the water, without packing as if for a whole week.

Picnic with fruit, cheese, and snacks, plus a person with a copper-colored VELLO SUB on the Danube riverbank near Dürnstein.

Why Is the VELLO SUB Well Suited to Camping Trips?

A camping weekend adds up quickly: tent, sleeping bag, and clothing take up a lot of space, plus food, drinks, and a cooler — and suddenly what started as a small trip has turned into quite a lot of luggage.

This is exactly where the VELLO SUB Cargo e-bike offers plenty of room:

Permissible total weight: 210 kg
Rear rack load capacity: up to 100 kg
Front rack load capacity: up to 20 kg

The MIK-HD system on both the front and rear racks also proved practical: baskets and bags could be mounted or swapped out quickly, letting the bikes be adapted flexibly to whatever the situation called for. And since the SUBs stood overnight by the riverbank, the digital theft protection via the Bosch eBike Flow app (eBike Lock and Alarm) was a welcome bonus.

Three people take a coffee-and-pastry break next to an orange VELLO SUB on a paved street.

Packed Right: Our Gear on the VELLO SUB

When it came to packing, our focus was less on taking as little as possible and more on distributing the weight sensibly across the bike.

Luggage	Heavy items like the cooler belong on the rear rack — for stable, secure transport. Smaller items like a camera or sunscreen, on the other hand, can be stowed up front. The SUB MIK front rack, combined with a Basil transport crate or Basil Cento basket, allows quick access while riding.
Securing Gear	Rolled-up gear can be compactly strapped directly to the rear rack with VELLO HD tension straps and stays in place even on gravel.
Weather Protection	For clothing, sleeping bags, or electronics, the SUB Cargo Bags 360° Reflective are a great fit — they protect against rain and boost visibility in the dark.
Batteries	Anyone wanting to go significantly farther can extend the range with a second battery (400 Wh, 545 Wh, or 800 Wh).

Close-up shot of a VELLO e-bike with Bosch motor and battery, plus a cyclist with a fully loaded VELLO bike on the Danube.

Conclusion

In the end, it was exactly the kind of weekend trip that's meant to be simple: out of Vienna, along the Danube, with everything we needed for two days.

Above all, the VELLO SUB did one thing: it made the trip easy — plenty of room for camping gear, support on the climbs, and still a ride feel that never felt like hauling heavy cargo. That left more attention for the real highlights: the route through the Wachau, spontaneous stops, and the evening right on the Danube.

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