The Hidden Side Effect of Riding an Ebike
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- Are you lazy if you ride an E-bike? 🤨
There's a common misconception that e-bikes offer minimal physical benefits compared to conventional bikes. Some argue that the electric assist is cheating and NOT giving you a proper work out... Well I'm here to challenge that theory!
Join me as I talk to experts, test my own fitness levels, and meet with someone actively trying to lose weight with an electric bike.
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0:00 What's to come
0:26 Join the revolution
0:32 What happens when you cycle
1:25 What about an e-bike?
1:40 Heart rate test
2:15 Talking to an expert
5:06 E-bike rehabilitation
6:18 Losing weight through e-biking
7:42 Heart rate results
9:34 To conclude...
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I used to be an avid cyclist over the years. Now I'm an old codger with COPD. Not being able to walk far, I basically lost my independence a few years ago. I bought an engwe L20 cargo bike at Christmas and started using it in January. Mostly with pedal assist, but still spinning the cranks, and no strain on lungs or legs. A couple of times a week, I'd cycle to the supermarket, doctors or chemist. Today, I cycled about 20 miles through the local woods and foreshore, stopping for a brew about halfway through. I've noticed I'm using more leg work, less pedal assist, and my lungs aren't screaming. Even though the bike is doing 90% of the work, I've lost 7 kilos in weight, and as an outdoorsy person all my life, I've got my independence back. I love my ebike.
I bought same bike back in october,its helping me lose weight and is great fun getting me to places i haven’t seen in a while up in the forestry
Well done
Im SUPER glad to hear.
thats truly epic.
Ive been bragging about them to my job since my job is a bit stationary. Its a means to get out and go.
I see where these motorbikes are useful. There are people who need motorbikes, and there are people who need mobility scooters, but you shouldn't get a mobility scooter if you have a perfectly good body.
Whatever bike you ride, it never takes us Cyclists long to find a decent tea or coffee shop!
I have 3 e-bikes and have 14500 miles spread across them. Best thing I ever bought - best invention ever. I have been a lifelong cyclist. Never use a car in the week. Always e-bike for fresh air and moderate exercise. Better than sitting around.
Same here
I have 2 E-bikes and have pretty much given up driving
Just wondering ... why 3? and why don't you use a regular bike?
.
I agree. I'm on my second ebike at over 65. Wrecked the first one, saved 3 months for a new one. During spring and summer, I rarely drive my truck, only my ebike. It's a very healthy addiction. I'm buying my second one next month. Life is good.
I am a 65-year-old man and am severely affected by osteoarthritis. I use my e-bike for rehabilitation, trips and to get out into nature. I live in Norway with many steep hills and mountains and e-bike has been a blessing for me for many years
My retiree father lost over 10 kilos after he got an ebike just cause he enjoys cycling for sooo much longer than before. He started doing food delivering just to monetize his bike-riding, he was cyclin THAT much
The only side effect it gave me, is, i'm hooked on it, can't stop ridding it.
you're addicted, lol
i suggest you find a group whom you can work (out) with. 😂
Brilliant.
Nice problem to have!!!
Lol , great addiction to have
If you're hooked, then get a real bike.
I had a minor stroke about 18 months ago and one of the first things I did was sell my motorcycle. I then started looking at ebikes and got a Super73 RX, as part of my rehab programme. I alternate using using the bike and walking, and haven't looked back. The ebike is invaluable. Thanks for the video.
Best of luck with your recovery! Sounds like a majorly positive change
Hey, I have more fun on my e-bike than I did on my 2 motorcycles. I think it’s made me a better motorcyclist, but I am quite content with what we can do right now. It’s like a damn horse. 70 yrs old and I still pretend. They make you young again!!!!!!
I'm super glad to hear.
I dont think I'll be as fit as Jack LaLane, but folks like you truly inspire me.
I got my ebike this year for my 34th Birthday present.
My experience with an e-bike. I’m a male in his mid 70s, I have had trouble with my knees for a long time. It eventually became necessary to have knee replacement. To make it easier for the surgeon to replace my knee I bought an e-bike my weight was about 104kg that would be in August the following June on the day of my opp I was I was 90kg. Most days I was riding 20 to 24 miles. I had a full knee replacement and I did all the exercises that the medics gave me. During the 10th week after the opp I managed to get back on the bike and ride 6 miles and now 7 months after the opp I’m back to doing 20 miles. Because of age and knee problems I bought a Raleigh low step bike so it is a lot easier getting on the bike. The surgeon told me that because I had done all the cycling my muscles, ligaments and tendons were more supple making it easier for him and my recovery.
Oh my God!
thats amazing! Im truly enjoying the comments on this video.
I'm 34 and my mom's in her late 50s and had a knee replacement surgery so she bikes every now and then. I gotta share this with her.
I bought myself the ebike, but I got the step through since I also wanted her to try my new "toy" 😂
Anyways, Im glad you are making a great recovery.
I’m 72 and bought an e-bike just before winter, I was not very good on it as my balance wasn’t too good. I’m determined to give it another go when the weather improves.
@@Sylvia-Storm Me too, so I'm getting an E-Trike, which can still be tippy around corners and certain terrain. I'm researching all I can about the least tippy and best center of gravity, etc.
I have zero interest useing an e bike to increase my fitness .What i do find is the main side effect is the amount my transport bill has fallen in the last 5 years .
This is the best comment here. Thanks for being honest.
This is the only reason to get an e-bike.
This is the only reason to get an e-bike. Everything else are just excuses.
@@zypang1447 So, did you, uh, skip over the entire page of comments of people in the elder years with various medical issues?
Yup, mee too, but the fitness is a huge bonus.
E biking has been a game changer for me. It has allowed me to remain somewhat fit into my 60’s. A person will get a workout on an ebike that they would not likely get elsewhere. And it’s great transportation and fun. It cuts decades off and the distance you are able to travel is fantastic.
Ebike makes biking more fun for the average person. I used to bike, but I ebike 20x more than just regular biking.
I am 60 years old, just going through prostate cancer and purchased my first e-bike...in fact my first bike for over 40 years - I live in rural Lincolnshire (so no hills), so I'm looking forward to getting out and increasing my BPM. Great video Eilis A++++
Fresh air and getting your heart rate up is a great place to start. Best of luck with the treatment!
I am almost 77 years old and have CLL (Cronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) and go out on my Haibike Trecking 6 but ride with no assist or level 4 of 4 as much as possible
I live in North East Lincolnshire so it's quite flat.
I only average 10mph, but that's enough to get me breathing slightly heavier.
Red blood cells are in short supply due to my condition, so lack oxygen to my inner working parts.
But it's good to ride.
I am getting my E trike next year in 2025 this year in 2024. I am getting all my gear together so when I get my trike, I don’t have to worry about getting anything. I will already have it. Enjoy your rides.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Best of luck with your recovery. If saddle comfort becomes an issue, an E recumbent might be the answer, fabulous bikes and growing in popularity.
Interesting and great news. I commute by ebike, and spend all day on my feet in a physically demanding job. I use as much power as I need. The biggest benefit for me is warming up before I start work, and cooling down achy muscles on the way home. I feel refreshed.
My experience since getting an e-bike is to ride about twice as long and to ride into hilly areas which I'd never consider on a regular bike. My overall exercise has not changed much from the regular bike, but I'm seeing so much more.
Yep. Exactly. I don't use the throttle on mine, I pedal hard and I just go much faster and twice as far.
I'm guessing you probably get more exercise on the ebike than on a regular bike. Ebiking is a lot more fun, so your duration is much longer. Some of the skinniest people I know, walk a lot. Walking seems like it's not really even exercise, but the results are enormous if you do it a lot.
Some of the "it's cheating" definitely comes from the mamils who see cycling purely about how hard they worked or how fast they went. Which is fine if that is what they want to do - but some of us might just want to commute, nip to the shops, get to the train station or do a spot of touring/camping. There's no need for their machismo to be threatened by ebikes.
Exactly this 👌🏻
It comes from people who always want to put competition into everything.
This is too right. I see my e-bike as a utility workhorse for city living.
I get it from people who say "What is the point in riding a bike if it's just going to help you?" So they use that excuse to not ride an e-bike and see cycling as an exercise tool. These people types of people don't cycle and have never used an e-bike.
It's only cheating if you're using it for an unfair advantage in a competition. Those who think it's cheating typically drive a car to a bike path and only ride on the path.
One thing I never see mentioned when talking about this is that if you really want a workout you can also turn them OFF. Then you're just riding a really heavy analogue bike.
Exactly this!
Mine weighs 43# but it is still faster than my trek hybrid, when I set it to zero. No need to keep two bikes. Also, the ebike, turned on but set to zero, has brake lights, a headlight and a nice computer display.
true, I call it RESISTANCE TRAINING 😂😂😂
if you keep the assistance low, it's more on the biker
at higher levels it's a faster and fun experience
at ZER0 assistance, its resistance training.
but the bike isnt super heavy to me.
im used to heavier walmart bikes anyways. ive seen the ligh weight 12 pound and under bikes, but generally Im used to 25-30 pound bikes. I intentionally chose the 2.5 wide road bike instade of the 4 inch fat tire due to fat tire ebikes are generally 70 to 80 pounds or higher. road bikes are closer to 50-65 pounds.
smaller tire, less body frame, smaller battery.
essentially less dead weight if the battery died.
Or adjust it in accordance with incline. Allows you to maintain a constant speed, even up steep inclines (or against strong headwinds). This saves a lot of time if you don't have to crawl at 8 mph half the time.
Or you start cycling faster than the max speed of the motor assist.
My arthritic knee which was extremely painful NEVER hurt at all when biking and after 3 months of daily pedalling is now pain free. Next, when my hip started giving me even worse pain, as soon as I got on the bike, the pain disappeared like magic but soon returned when walking a fair distance - only to be relieved by more pedal action! So, I love my bike but after your assurances will now be getting an e-bike too. Many thanks, your presentations are always enjoyable and appreciated.
I've had chronic asthma since birth, and will forever. I went straight to an E-Bike because I knew the alternative was, well.. Not going to go well. I am very grateful I can get to work this way, without an E-Bike, I'd never make it.
heres a tip for when I bike around trafficked areas. I wear the masks like they had during the virus.
it helps me when people cut grass, or other air particles are high. I take it off when Im not near those areas.
I ride my bike to the grocery store, so car pollution is a concern on that road.
I'm retired and got a large fat-tire e-bike for recreation. I began loving the bike so much that I rode it everyday I could to work until my last day, then put 5,000 miles on it in 18 months. Unfortunately I had a terrible accident on it this past September and almost died as a result. We believe a car hit me just before I turned into my driveway at the end of a ride. The company sent me another e-bike as a result!! I've always loved riding bikes and still have my 40 year old 10-speed. The e-bike has really helped me to see the country around where I live and I feel great when riding. What a nice video on the benefits of e-biking! Thank you so much! Larry from Peoria, IL USA. I now have 500 miles on my new e-bike.
I bought an ebike 4 weeks ago. So far ridden about 150 miles. It's great, I love it, and as an aging salad dodger you definitely get a workout. If you can get away from the traffic and into the countryside, it's great for your mental health too.
Salad dodger; I love it!
We absolutely love this. We have the opportunity to have this conversation almost daily with people who passed through our store. We often hear the comment that they still want to get exercise, And we smile and ask them when the last time they rode, their bike was and more often than not. It’s been a while. so benefit number one is they’re going to ride their bike more often and much further than they ever ride their normal bike. Benefit number two is it’s easier to stay in the fat burning heart range without overexerting yourself as honestly often happens when you’re riding a road bike.
You hit the ball right out of the park love. Spot on. At 70 I'm crossing the 25,000km line in the last 3 years. Have 2 e-bikes, one summer and one winter(studded knobby winter tires). Best value for money I have ever spent. All the best from Canada.
I gave up cycling for 5 years due to Addisons disease until I tried an ebike now I can do 20 miles a bit wobbly but couldn't go back to normal cycle the fatigue would overwhelm me
Much appreciate your advocacy for e-bikes. I’ve a friend who is a pathologist (MD) who bought an e-bike last summer and swears by its health benefits. And she says it’s fun!
I'm a non-e-bike rider but I absolutely don't get the disdain for e-bike riders. There are many different reasons for choosing an e-bike but laziness is not one of them. We should be sticking together against the true lazy gits in their cars!
I used to be able to ride 40 miles after work to loosen up my muscles after a long day of construction in my 20s, 30s and 40s. Now that I'm in my 60's and a lifetime of construction work has made me disabled and unable to peddle very well, my E-bike gets me off the couch and in the fresh air and is the most activity I can do in my circumstances 😀
I don't really give a fig about fitness, heart rate, a 'proper' work-out ...or any of that crap. I use an e-bike mainly to get from A to B with minimal effort. But it does actually come with some unexpected benefits. What I haven't said yet is that I became unable to walk for more than a few yards (literally no more than around 25 yards) about ten years ago without experiencing excruciating pain in both legs, since when I have been largely confined to a mobility scooter to get out and about. That gives you no exercise whatsoever of course and my legs simply got more and more painful as time went by, I also have type 2 diabetes, which was not exactly helped by a total lack of exercise either. I have now dumped the mobility scooter in favour of an e-bike, which not only gets me around faster and further but gives my fairly useless legs some moderate exercise into the bargain. it is also improving my heart condition (as I have also suffered from heart failure for the last 7 years)...again something which again a mobility scooter completely failed to do. At the age of 72 I am now feeling fitter than I have done for many years and it a darned sight more useful than sitting around at home. Still can't walk but e-biking is zero impact and has more or less totally restored my freedom - and then some.
I hear you! I'm in a similar situation and my ebike has been a godsend. I'm going to have to fork out a fair bit on smaller clothes soon. Damn 😂
So you do give a fig about fitness.
Good for you....congrats keep up the good work. I love my ebike.
You also tend to ride more often having an Ebike. You can ride further. You don't worry about wind or hills and you don't worry about getting too tired half way through the ride because you can let the bike pick up the slack if you do.
As a real cyclist at nearly 70 years of age I tried an eBike for a while and my fitness level dropped significantly. Back to riding real bikes and fitness level is returning.
I own 4 bikes, a mountain bike, a road bike, a track bike (only used on the track) and a e-cargo bike.
I play sports so cycling to and from them can be a bit of a disadvantage, especially when it's a 30km round trip and winds are 20kmph-30kmph but since getting the e-cargo bike it's so handy to take that instead of the car, I can cycle down a canal path, miss nearly all the traffic (mostly on the motorway) and get there warmed up but not tired.
There's another simple, but not well known explaination. Physics, specifically wind drag, it's like hitting an invisible wall, the electric assist will only do so much at higher speeds, the resistance you feel and pedal is the additional power needed to incrementally increase your speed slightly. So the electric assist feels great off the line accelerating, but most of the work is still done by your legs if you want to keep up a speed, especially at close to 32 kph (20mph) & higher. It takes exponentially more power (whether electric or muscle) to increase speed after that.
I have ridden bikes since I was a child in the 60,s but having a young athletic son means I have had trouble keeping up with him on rides so he has to slow down, particularly on hills so I can keep up. I knew he was getting a little annoyed to have to slow down for the old man and frankly I was keen on trying a full suspension bike for the rougher roads and tracks nearby so I bit the bullet and bought a full suspension e bike. We actually go on longer rides now because if I get tired I dial up the assistance and can keep up. I’m still tired because I generally don’t dial up more than 3 on a hill and 1 or 2 on the flat. (When he is not around I try 5 just for fun and zoom around.). So yes, definitely a worthwhile buy but shop around. I found that there are e bikes that cost $7k but are worth $4 and vice versa. In any event I suggest the primary thing to look for is good quality batteries like Panasonic or LG because cheap e bikes with cheap batteries and chargers are more likely to combust than the better quality ones.
Well done! Loved watching your ride in England; I visited there with my parents in 1966- great to see all the bike lanes, and thank you for sharing about your hip injury. I have a similar injury- right hip. Blessings to you and yours. Bob from Spokane Valley, WA USA
An e-bike has helped me no end as a 67 year old that has cycled and raced at a high level, being diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation my exercise tolerance and intensity had to be reduced riding a normal road and mtb my heart rate went into dangerous zones so effect was decreased exercise then being diagnosed with Stage 3 malignant melanoma cancer that blew away any exercise tolerance. Then I bought an e-road bike that meant I could ride and keep fit without endangering my heart but also improve mental wellbeing. Now 12 month’s on I can say I have maintained fitness and can ride 60 + miles at least 2 days a week along with 2 shorter rides that’s a win for me.
Your videos are always awesome, but without going into details, this was one of my favorite episodes so far. The timing was perfect. Thank you for doing this one Eilis. 👍🏾👊🏾
Good Morning. I fractured my spine and had 3 crush virtabre bones in my back in July 2021, I couldn't feel my legs and walking would hurt my back very much. Last March when I bought my e-bike I had major back pain and I was mainly using the throttle. I live in Victoria BC Canada so throttling is allowed, but then my doctor told me to use the pedal assist to ride and get exercise. So, I use pedal assist 3 and ride about 20 km/hr on average and I ride about a distance of about 25-30 km on daily rides (I rode well over 8,200 km since last March). Now I DON'T have any back pain and have full mobility of my back and continue to ride. My e-bike still feels New and I still love it so much. Thank You for this video and Ride Safe. 😎❤
What an inspirational story!! 😍 You should be so proud
@@Electroheads Thank You ❤️
Yup. My Ebike has a throttle in addition to pedal assist, and I initially imagined that I would be cheating by depending on the throttle most of the time, but the opposite is true. I mostly use it to get going at an intersection, in slow U-turns, and for the occasional break from pedalling. I end up making about the same amount of effort as a sustained brisk walk, which is fine for a 70-year-old guy like me.
Great topic Eilis. A friend a few years back had major heart surgery which left him unable to go mountain biking with me, which is a real passion of his. So he bought an EMTB and now I can't keep up with him. Its been amazing for his cardiac rehab both physically and most importantly mentally. Ebikes have many benefits and are definitely not for lazy people
One of the great things about E bikes , is that a for a lot of people riding a normal bike is difficult, and there is a whole bunch of reasons for that from being older , to being in poor health or having some physical challenges.
And for a lot of people if not for E bikes , they would find biking just too hard and stay being a couch potato , which is a sure road to an unhealthy life and probably a short life too.
Anything that gets people off their couches and out in the world getting some sunlight and exercise is a good thing.
Great video Eilis! Really answered alot of things i wondered about e-bikes. Also, a really inspiring personal story. Anything that gets people cycling is a great thing. Thank you and keep up the awesome content. 🚲😎
Great video! A lot of excellent points that I wasn’t aware of. Thank you!
I have an E-Mountain Bike . The side effect for me was when I started , I had a standing heart rate of 87 . After 2100 miles on my bike , my standing heart rate has dropped to about 58 . Best investment I’ve ever made .
Just because it has a motor … you don’t need to use it all the time . I peddle a lot with no power at all . Great exercise .
I have been riding a e-bike conversion bike for around two months now due to struggling on hills, l fitted a pedal assist mid drive Tongsheng setup and found that I was still able to get a great workout. Hills became a bit easier to ride but the best part was that when I got to the top of the hill I was able to get back on the pace quicker and I didn’t fatigue quite as much, this allowed me to ride further in the time l had. It’s also great for a quick burst because you can maintain a stronger cadence for longer, that’s using the pedal assist to get up to the legal limit (15.5mph) and then use normal peddling to hold a higher speed and cadence thus getting a better workout. And all this within the law. PS l don’t have a throttle fitted to my bike just good old peddle power once I reach the limit. I have no problem burning a 1000 calories plus per ride and a bit more than that when I ride my analog bike. ( l do miss my e-bike when it comes to hills 😢)
Great video, I commuted 120km a week for many years. In 2018 I had a hip problem that has ultimately led to me needing a new hip in March this year. I built my own E-Bike using a Tongscheng motor and continued using it until last Nov when I finally had to stop. I absolutely love cycling to work during the whole year, rain or shine. The people who say e-bikes are for lazy people are the same people who rarely do any sport.
Thanks for the great vid. I love that you can also decide how much of a workout you want. I can even get a helluva big workout if I ride with no motor on my R&M multicharger, which I do about 15% of my rides - usually on flats, but sometimes up hills just for fun. Most of my riding is in eco & tour and a tiny bit in turbo. I finally got an ebike for the rare times that I'm tired as F, it's late at night, I have a long ride still, and I seem to be going slower and slower each minute and I just wanna get home. But it's been great as something versatile for if my knee hurts, if I have a ton of cargo (or passenger), for being off road capable without having to worry so much about weight and efficiency. And it's replaced my car. I still love riding a biobike and do that also. Im really glad ebikes are around and can offer more people more options to ride and enjoy biking.
I'm a keen analogue cyclist, but I bought an e-bike instead of a second car for our household. We still cycle as much as we did, but now we have replaced all our local car journeys with e-bike rides. It's win-win for the training.
I use my ebike mainly for my commute and occasionally to get out when the weather is good to see some sites/places, I also have a car so I use my ebike to save fuel and get though traffic where I would be sitting. I don't do it for exercise as I go to the gym for that and my work is manual work so im getting exercise there. It has saved me tons in fuel and will have paid for itself within the next year or two.
Thx for doing this. I live in a hilly area, love my eMTB, gives me so much joy. Ebike commuting is also a very good thing. The pedelec system with its 25 Km/h limit is great, these bikes fit into normal bike traffic very well.
You never hear someone walking say to someone on a conventional bike "that's cheating"
So true 😂
I am 74 and 4 years ago bought an eTrike from a well known British supplier. I love it. However after a couple of years the front wheel motor bearings collapsed. The supplier was little help, offered a replacement wheel for £350. Eventually got a part number from them for the bearings, and after 3 months found a local motorcycle garage willing to attempt a successful repair. Fast foreward to this year and the batteries have aged and good for about 10 miles. Again the original supplier was of no use, they had changed their battery spec of my model. After hours of online searching I found a battery from china that seemed to suit. In all respects it seems identical, but it is 1 inch shorter. I have not yet got around to modifying the nounting brsckets so it fits.
I live in Wiltshire, and have approached Halfords and local bike shops with no success.
Ebikes are great and the way forward, but the backup systems, servicing, etc are almost non-existent, particularly if you buy online. I bought mine online from an established UK supplier and they were little or no help at all.
By the way on average I cycle 2 miles a day.
Sorry to hear that. I have two used ebikes and one used ecargo bike. I standard components (Bafang Motor) that can easily be replaced with all standard parts. Avoid internal/integrated batteries. Avoid fancy/designer stuff. Try to find replacement parts before you buy the bike. This is a good indicator for repairability
@@1234fishnet this...
I wasn’t riding my standard mtb at all with all those nasty climbs and now I’m riding my emtb every chance I get in the woods. it’s making me fitter by making exercise bloody good fun !! 🎉😂
64 years old, I switch up between my MTB for a short intense strength training ride, helps a lot to maintain reaction time and balance and a cyclocross modified to hybrid for my pavement rides for acoustic riding. I have added an e bike that I either just jump on for a quick jaunt around the neighborhood or a longer ride with easier pace for heart conditioning. I am getting more time cycling now than before. I was diagnosed with AFIB last year, cardioverted back to sinus and maintaining. Cycling is also one of my best stress relievers as well, just clears my mind when riding. "We don't quit playing because we get older; we get older because we quit playing."
Great video thank you from Auckland New Zealand. May I point out it depends not only on the type of bici, but on the rider as well and the geography, climate and road conditions along with style of driving of local car drivers. Auckland doesn't score well in the areas of road safety, road infrastructure for cyclists, humidity, wind, rain and extremely high levels of ultra violet from the sun. Most are too scared to ride, plain and simple. But those who ride yet are not particularly 'cyclists' in the modern western sense of 'racing bikes' choose e-bikes. They are the commuters. They do it for exercise, to save money (big reason), for climate and social reasons, and because e bikes are far far quicker than push bikes on hills, and Auckland is very hilly. Health benefits, yes definite benefits, but there is pretty heavy pollution in Auckland and traffic emissions are not good for cardio vascular of that there is little doubt. Also backed by research globally in any heavily trafficked city of the world. But I'm not saying don't ride, riding is good. It's traffic emissions that are a scourge globally along with poor driving habits.
Me without E-Bike: 0 kilometers per week. Me with E-Bike: over 100 kilometers per week cycling. After a few months I started to cycle around 28 kilometers per hour which means no motor assist. Plus: E-Bike is much safer in the city. At the intersection you're as fast as a car which avoid dangerous overtaking manoeuvres
I recently purchased an e-bike to allow me to get more exercise! I live in an area of lots of wind which kept me inside because of the extra exertion to ride against the wind! Now, with my e-bike, I ride 20 miles every morning, wind or no wind with pedal assist! I push hard the whole distance which gives me a great workout, I come home having worked up a good sweat, my heart gets a good workout, my diabetes numbers drop, I have lost several pounds, and it is all attributed to riding the E-bike. I am 71 years, and it is allowing me to be outside more and is improving my health! I do not use the throttle, only a level of pedal assist! It is the best investment I could have made!
SAVED MY LIFE!! E-bike pedal assist only. 10 years ago was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. Great difficulty walking ….got on a new bike haven’t stopped since ! I’m 74 now and peddle Every chance I get . Saved my life!
I have a few classic racing bikes that I ride regularly especially in better weather. I don't have an ebike but I think they are brilliant, giving the opportunity to cycle to so many people which can only be a good thing. Really enjoy this channel 👍
I use my e bike for my commute every day (8 miles each way with some hills ). It is great for me as on the eco setting ( Bosch System) is perfect level of exercise. Last week I had to do it on my mtb as the e bike was getting serviced - it was a real slog. I wouldn’t be able to do that every day. I just love it
I turned 75 last year and had given up mountain biking 3-4 years prior. I have struggled with my weight all my adult life and now the lack of exercise exacerbated my weight problem. My new ebike has helped immeasurably. My stamina has returned, the exercise has helped with weight control, and most notable, my creeping issue with balance has been arrested.
Very nice video. You clarified the most important e-bike exercise level difference -- First and most important is one does not get much exercise on the throttle e-bikes that don't require pedal assist mode. But Very Importantly the Pedal Assist e-bikes can be controlled for levels of assist so it is entirely up to the individual how much exercise one wants. One can use a cardio monitor device to let one know how hard your heart is working but for casual e-biking one can just use the feeling of exertion that is required and ride until your heart is content! A pedal assist e-bike is a smart move for most all riders. I ride 30 to 40 miles a day on gravel and mountain bikes without any electric assist and my muscles get sore so I take a break some days and only go 10 miles on flat paths as a kind of stretching exercise allowing my hard day workouts to recover. I bought a kit inexpensive e-mountain bike with dual suspension and fat tires at my vacation home in Buffalo NY so I could ride through the wooded park trails and in these same trails in the winter on snow. It was so much fun. Prior to that I had to resort to walking in snow boots to get some cardio exercise outside. Thanks for Video!
it also helps older people to stay active, when a normal bike becomes to hard for them.
Absolutely!
I appreciate your perspective and thank you for putting this out there. I wonder, though, about maybe saying that e-biking isn't ONLY for the lazy. First, I personally don't have any problem with "lazy" people getting out. Most e-bikers I see are observably overweight and older, and I am enthusiastic about seeing them join us on the trails. There's plenty of room and it's fun to share the experience with more folks. It's also pretty cool to think that the exercise benefits are considerable, given the "cheat" factor. And as someone who puts in many miles a year on my conventional road bike or MTB (thus, "not lazy") you've certainly opened my eyes to considering such a purchase. Lastly, I was moved by your experience in using cycling for rehab. For me it was having to quit running due to a back injury, but cycling has been my passport to staying active and healthy, too. Good on you!
As a 57yr old guy with health issues my ebike is a godsend, pedal and power assist option is the the best combo ever.
What I get is a smile on my face. I don't use the throttle, I pedal just as hard, basically... I just go a lot faster... hence aforementioned smile.
On my Diamondback union 2 with the bosch speed line motor, ive gone from 110 watts per 30 mile ride to 190 watt average in the last 4 months. Gone from 300 to 260 pounds in that same time. The Ebike let me get back into riding shape without hurting myself to much. Now I ride 30 miles with 40 percent no motor usage at all. Getting stronger every week, and I just love to ride the ebike. You really get exactly what you want from an ebike. If you want to get into shape you will do it, and the ebike lets you end every hard ride with a smile. I don't own a car, never have, and the ebike is perfect for commuting.
I'm in my 40s and haven't really cycled since I was 15. The e bike has made cycling fun and I can see the weight loss . It really helps to give me confidence to move quicker when on busier roads . I absolutely love the freedom it gives me .
Thank you that was very interesting! I've been biking my Trek DS3 for a good four+ years now and along with healthy diet choices I've dropped at least 30lbs/13kg through trail riding, typically 28 miles/45km on the weekends. As e-bikes have become popular I've seen a definate increase in them on the bike paths and I have to admit that I also assumed that the workout was minimal at best so I appreciate the information you've provided. My attitude now is that whatever it takes to get people off their sofas is a good thing.
That’s awesome to hear. Any movement is good movement!
I’m excited for my very first e-bike delivery next week! Can’t wait, definitely feel like I’m gonna spend a ton of time with it.
Ebikes are magical. I retired at age 68 and got an ebike because the hills where I live seemed like too much for me. Two things happened. First, I fell in love with cycling again, and second, my physical fitness improved enough that I went out at bought a conventional road bike. Now at 72 I am riding 8000 km a year, 80% pedal only, and 20% ebike, but the ebike was the gateway to a more active and healthy life. Oh, my resting heart rate has dropped from 70 to 58.
When i was a college student I used to bike around 10km to school on hilly roads during the week and around 80km on weekends on flat bicycle roads. Now, working as a professor at my alma mater, I recently reunited with my love of biking at 40 years of age but found it difficult to hike hills like I used to. E-biking has helped me get up and pedal on those hills on my commute again (not to mention the additional benefit of not being a sweaty mess in the morning) and after a year of assisted training (if you will), I have started to adjust the amount of boost I need from the motors to zero on my good days to a lower level on average and a higher level only when I'm in a hurry. The fact that i can turn it off when I feel like actually doing a workout is wonderful and completely negates the issue of laziness from the argument.
My e-bike is a great; especially if I have a time crunch or want to train at cadence or to decrease HR and do zone 2 rides.
If you need to do a lot of climbing regular bike with lower gears will allow you to go everywhere even up steep hills if you need to and it won’t wipe you out.
My only issue with the eBike over the peddle bike is its weight and range. I can get 70 miles with 1200 meters of climbing out my e-bike; so when I want to go further or know I’m climbing more; I’ll just take my regular bike. PS I also added a lower gear on my e road bike so doing hills is more efficient and uses the battery less.
With my E-bike I started commuting with the bike again (at least sometimes, but hopefully more in the future). For most parts I'm at or over the 25km/h so the assist is very low or none. But it helps me at steeper passages or when I get tired. It just lets me drive further because I don't need to fear getting home or getting totally exhausted at a climb.
If I need something from the city center it is much more comfortable (and cheaper) doing that by bike.
I'm 52yrs old and been riding an ebike now for 16 months. I rode just over 5500km in that time and lost 46kg. I reversed my bad cholesterol and lowered my blood pressure to levels where I don't need meds for it anymore. I ride 10x more than most guys on normal bikes and enjoy it 100x more than them. Can definitely recommend
Here in the US, things are a little different. Most bikes have throttles and I see lots of folks, often over 200 pounds, riding along on the throttle. I think 'If you pedaled it, you could dump some of that extra fat', but I'm happy the are at least riding instead of driving.
I see younger people doing the same thing. It's just cheap transportation for them, no reason to hate. Should I hate motorcyclists because they NEVER pedal?
Those are pretty much e-motos. Pedal assist only to me is a true ebike. They each have their awesome place in this world for different things.
I've been riding in the Surrey Hills for about 15 years. I bought an ebike about a year ago because some of the hills were getting too much- I could still manage one or two but I found I was doing shorter and shorter rides or just avoiding certain routes altogether. With the ebike I ride with the motor off most of the time (or on minimal assist to counter the fact the bike weighs almost double my standard road bike) but I no longer fear the major climbs and I don't have to worry that I'll run out of energy while still a long way from home. As a result I'm riding for longer on more varied routes.
I still take the non electric road bike out in good weather and I should mention that for the majority of the ride it's actually faster (skinny tyres, light weight) and takes LESS effort to ride on the flat or minor climbs so it's still good to alternate.
Or go on the MTB. Or jump on the Zwift for an hour....
You are no doubt athletic and active and even after a terrible set back you continue to remain active, kudos to you. A person like you understands the importance of maintaining a certain level of fitness and riding a bike is a great way to reach your goals. I am in my mid 60's and ride my non-ebike maybe 2000 miles per year and completely enjoy the experience and freedom. On an average ride I try to keep my speed at or above 15 mph ( I ride a mountain bike on the road) for 20 mile rides, heartrate stays above 140 for most of the ride which lasts over 1 hour. If I had an ebike I would predict that my heart rate would drop down to the 120s or 130s for the same type of riding. When riding with the wind in my favor, I feel like I am not working at all, it's so easy and that is what I would feel if I used any assist from the electric motor. The assist feature is very useful for mountain riders who tackle almost impossible pitches. What I am seeing is that the majority of the riders I see, Southern California, is that they are not pedaling at all, they use the throttle at all times that that throttle is pinned to the max. They are dangerous riders who disobey common traffic laws and because of them the laws will need to be modified. Young children are some of the worst offenders.
No one should say they are useless, for people with some disability or distance to biking, the e-bikes are a great welcome cycle. As you also mentioned it will get you started easier adapt to a life style of more fresh air, and some exercise. So sure with the right distances it will keep one fit. But your figures and data aren't show here. The dramatic change of using a cycle without electric support or full support is large. More exercise expected from that, more fitness. Simply a heavier and more enduring way of keeping fit.
Yet what would stop anyone, from using an e-bike, I don't see that as fair since it has a great scape of choice it creates, specially when you use it like you do. To revalidate. What you see a lot though is that full electrical supports get a favor, and yeah I see few on those bikes paddle, I see them getting the lightest of workouts if any real workout at all, and that is a sure problem. There is variations in e-bikes, which you regretfully did not mention. So as for validity to this small elaboration, the validity is low, it has more to it than shown.
So...I am awaiting better research result. What is a second problem though is the risk of getting injured on an e-bike, or to injure other people. Well that is an issue. I tell you, it is. There have been reported increasing amounts of accidents with e-bikes, so using it as a revalidation tool, might not even be all too smart, when you do it after a long time of not cycling at all. With your personal situation this seems not the case, which also hurts the validity of this research/test so far.
A lot of people namely exchanged their car for an e-bike, or switch them for use in better weather conditions. So yet step on these cycles with hardly any experience at all. So if it is a more healthy way of traveling or keeps you fit, well...this should be researched more exactly. So saying I use a e-bike to stay fit, is a bit of a contradiction to me. In some occasions, and for the lowest forms of stress during workouts, maybe, that is, when you manage to avoid crashing.
With a normal bike, you can I hope see in, that the work out is more heavy, more complete, and you keep more control over your cycle, since you paddle it yourself. It also doesn't consume electricity and or needs batteries to be recycled. So overall seen. Why use an e-bike if you are fit, and can ride a normal bike? Well that is I think simply answered, because people think it is fun to do. Well...it will still keep your body moving, so unhealthy, I would not dare to say. People following also trends though. Trends are...full electric supports.
That I call no cycles, but electric motor cycles, which has little to do with biking for exercise. I mean, seriously, I stand with that answer. I plaid for better research. Meanwhile sure it is your workout, and you are having fun at it. So why stop yourself, right? You're doing fine. But please also recognise, workouts, become different, and more intensive, on a non electrical supported cycle. :) And I will sure say I am so happy with people switching their cars, for e-bikes, I love that movement and trend. So keep it up, get out there, get at it! :D
Thanks, I just purchased a Mountain bike, 29 inch tire not an E-Bike. Glad to hear about the benefits you are getting.
I'm 71 and got a Giant e-bike and put 14k on it. I now ride a recumbent e-trike eCat559 and love it. Took a few falls on the Giant so this is much safer. I live in Tulsa, Ok and it has great trails I ride almost every day. I already have 17k on the eCat 559. I highly recommend all e-bike/trikes. :)
I have no idea why eBikes are so divisive. An eBike is a bicycle with some assistance - I'm talking about the type that has a crank mounted motor where you have to pedal to go forward, just like a bicycle without a motor. I have a momentum eBike which for me is wonderful and gives me plenty of exercise too. It's helped a great deal with my osteoarthritis and I can cycle again like I did when I was young. I don't care if people think I'm cheating!
You are so right. Riding an ebike takes effort what ever the level. Most Ebikes motors cut out at around 15 MPH which means if you are cyling at 16-17 MPH it is your effort that is pushing the bike. I love my ebikes and would recommend them to anyone who wants to get back into cycling but thinks they are not fit enough. Another great video thank you.
I first tried to commute everyday 2x16km with a one uphill each way and often windy as it is along the coast on a regular bike. Time could vary from 1- 1 1/2 hour depending on the wind. I seldom do it 5 times a week because I run out of energy at the end of the week. Then I switched to ebike, my time is about 45 min almost everyday, strong headwind adds 5 min, heavy storm adds 10 min and takes almost all the battery😀 . But most fascinating has been that my average heartrate is higher for the whole commute on the ebike but I get less tired after a week.
I am pleased this video took a broad look at the differences between those who road everyday pedal assist then converted compared to somebody who stayed close to home and is now getting outside for exercise more. My e-bike lets me pedal to point B which is further out than I normally would venture and use the electric to cruise home most of the way with a few hill climbs on the pedal. I'm 65 who now gets out more and sees nature and meet people which in itself is socially healthier. I give my e-bike some credit for this.
The other side effect is, you don't get invited on rides anymore from conventional cyclists you thought were friends until you got an Ebike due of a knee injury. I'm having so much fun red lining my heart rate with the ebike! Climbing faster and depending fresher and faster! And no knee pain for some reason!
Brilliant rallying call for people to get out there. Well done Eilis. So we have a commuting health league here:- Analogue Bike, first, then EBike, then Walking and then eScooter. So the eScooter should be labelled a health hazard as it discourages anyone from doing anything cardio, or getting any exercise, or obtaining any benefits at all, it is a health parasite. But this is great news as it is as I have always thought. One point though, you are a real, fit, dedicated erider, but how many people are eriding, consistently, a good number of miles, every week, every month of the year, come rain, shine, snow, wind? That is the problem I think, maintaining a consistent regime. Great video, thank you.
The way I see it is even if you replace one car journey with riding your bike then that's a win.
Absolutely, Thomas, but I think the bigger issue related to health benefits of riding. The environmental benefits are very clear as we both agree.@@ThomasMTube
I have cycled an e-bike the 10 mile round trip to work everyday now since the start of lock down. We have now sold one of our cars as I never used mine! I feel a lot better for it and even though I havent lost any weight, I havent gained any either! I ride a Cube 500 Touring.
Great information and helpful
I love to ride. I found i have exercise induced heart issues. Riding my pedal bike was sketchy. If i had to climb a hill or hit wind, I'd have to either walk or slow down to the point i could walk faster. The dr said i shouldn't take my heart rate over 130bpm and i was constantly in the 130 to 160+ range. My ebike has been a game changer for me. Depending on the situation i can use my assistance level to keep my heart rate at or under my Dr's recommendation.
The very fact that this is even a conversation topic shows that there are two wildly different cultures who ride bikes now. The old school is doing it for fitness, and the rest of us just want to sit upright on a comfortable seat and get out and be active while having a good time and seeing some beautiful places in the world, or find a different way to get around town than a car. Both are completely valid. This isn’t a competition, people. And for those of us who are in our 50s and beyond, electric bikes are awesome to help offset the aging process. Whenever I hear somebody try to comment that I might be lazy, I know they have their head up their ass.
I think it all depends on the type of e-bike as you get pedal assist (mid motor which needs to pedal to be engaged and move forward), hub motor which can be full (no pedaling needed) or slightly pedal asssit. as everyone jsut thinks you push a button and it goes but not all bikes do this.
I bought one so I could ride for longer and to assist on bigger hills, but normally it will be on the lowest "eoc" mode which pretty much I have to pedal pretty decently to get moving but it only really kicks in when on inclines.
I’ve always been pretty active and road a mountain bike for years. I blew out my knee skiing and try to ride but hills are more difficult. I just bought and e-bike and love being outside again!!
Eight years ago at age 58, I popped my achilles tendon while playing tennis, and cycling was recommended as the relatively low impact exercise for my rehab. I’m an outdoor person, so I bought an e-bike and found it to be the perfect activity not just for my rehab, but for my complete makeover in becoming a very physically active senior adult in retirement! It transformed my life and I’m so happy for it! :)
I just bought an e-bike a couple of months ago and I’ve been riding it once or twice a week. I’d love to ride more but it’s been cold. So I weigh over 300 pounds and I got a fat tire E bike for heavier people. I wore my Apple fitness tracker watch and it said that my heart rate was getting 116 to 130 which is good because I’m 53 years old. So I have thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed getting on the bike. I know that I’m getting work out because I’m sweating and my face is red when I get through and so and plus the heart rate on my Apple Watch Was not lying. So it’s a work out it’s just not a super Duper frustrating workout like it would be on a regular bike. Because when you hit the hills on a regular bike, it’s so difficult that you feel like you’re just not having fun anymore it’s just completely miserable unless you’re in super shape. So it’s very enjoyable and I’m just so thrilled that I bought it.
uber video 👍🏼
I have a fat tire ebike and an analog hybrid. When it's very windy (as is often in wales) i'd not want to cycle into the wind but with the e-bike I can! , so I have some exercise where i'd have otherwise have none.
My e-bike is about 33-35kg my analog about 12kg - I will often turn the motor off and step on the pedals to get a workout.
However I can do hills that the medication I take for my heart would not allow.
I do about 40+ miles a week. Also if I do a (for me) 20+ mile cycle on the analog bike I can still have a gentler cycle the following day on my e-bike. - In wales you make the most of EVERY dry day 🤫
'murican here. i have a 500w fat tire ebike. it easily defeats the wind. i'm also a type 2 and my blood sugar is always 20-30 lower for a day or so after a ride.
Avid "mamil", but I ride an ebike all the time as well. *All* of my e-bike trips are trips where I would otherwise have used a car (work, errands, etc). A huge percentage of e-bike trips are replacing vehicle trips. "Cheating" is driving the car.
Ebikes are great at getting people out. However we have to be honest about the core of the matter. If getting fitter and healthier is your goal, ebikes will bring you "from nothing to something" for sure. But you'll plateau because at a certain point you will not be adding enough intensity to keep progressing. For those of us with basic knowledge of training, this is obvious. But people who haven't yet acquired this knowledge will often try to remedy their glass ceiling by increasing the volume of their rides. More and longer riding. Which isn't going to do much for them besides frustrating them and potentially getting burnt out and losing the fun. No judgement about riding ebikes. We just need to also be honest and tell people they'll need to do additional strength training or higher intensity efforts if their wish is to continue experiencing health and fitness gains.
My e-bike is an Axon Rides Model S, which is a single speed bicycle with an electric motor!! Very necessary for an old Asthmatic like me!!
Amazing how different locales create such a diverse cycling environment. I live rural in the forests and big hills. Seeing urban riders brings me back to earth.
I'm still getting used to my ebike. I prefer a LPB - leg powered bike. I have range and breakdown anxiety.
I have one due to disability. I uses to walk everywhere. But nw can't walk to the end of my street and back. After a couple of years sending a fortune on delivery costs, and muscle loss due to sofa sitting. I got my bike, and I'm now able to get outdoors n to my corner shop.
I don't look disabled, am able to balance and am under 50...
So is a better option (cheaper and slighty faster) than a mobility scooter.
Promotes core muscle usage, flexibility in my joints and gives me independence without relying on taxis.
I got an vado 3 5-years ago because I hate the suck part of riding on my weekends rides. We would generally ride 20-30 miles. I was the first in my friend group to get one. It is perfect for me because I only use the power assist when I stop enjoying the ride or starting to fall behind. It also gets me on the bike when I was not feeling like riding. I would often not even use the power assist but had it available to use at any time. Now 5 years later I have 5 family members and friends that are now regularly riding with us that would never be riding if it were not for an e-bike options.
I am a person who prefers to do environmentally friendly things as long as it does not slow me down too much. I have always wanted to be car free for the reason of the environment, and tried with traditional bikes in the past but the "slow me down too much" kicked in and I returned to the car, but with an E-bike I have been able to consistently kick the car habit. So, for me the fitness analysis really comes down to the question; "is better exercise than driving a car?" For that, I am very convinced that I get a much better workout riding my e-bike than driving a car.
I am 77. I am going out and run my dogs with my Etrike, now. Each dog gets 2-3 miles. I get 4-9 miles. The dogs love it. I love it! It is keeping my from having another heart attack! I skip Etriking two days, I get chest pains. i pedal.... I am fine. Great granddaughters pup hits 19mph. I love feeling like I am about to fly. I even like the fear of the landing. I am alive!
I have three e-bikes as well. One I use almost exclusively for weekend/holiday/vacation adventures (really, really) long trips. The other two I use for work commutes. The oldest of those two I ride on Monday and Fridays. The newest one I ride Tuesday s through Thursdays. Having three such bikes slows down the wear and tear for each and provides me with alternatives if one bike is in the shop.
When spring arrives I will get another bike, this time non-electric. I am strong enough to handle such a bike now after decades away from cycling.
The pedal assist and gearing of ebikes can be used in a manner that allows the rider to provide all power needed for level terrain and have the motor assist on steeper hills. Ebike features allow the rider to customize their ride/workout. Great tool, great fun.