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E-bike riders get MORE exercise than regular cyclists, according to results of new study

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Jack Sexty's picture

Jack Sexty

Jack is the news editor here at eBikeTips, and also edits the live blog and writes tech news over on our sister site road.cc. Jack first became fascinated with e-bikes when an elderly gentleman breezed past him without a care in the world up a big old hill in North Wales - thus realising e-bikes are the real deal! Although he genuinely enjoys time trials and lung-busting climbs without assistance, Jack likes nothing more than cruising round town on an e-bike during his days off.   

8 comments

4 years 5 months ago

Of course I exercise more - I sold a car to buy an e-cargo bike, naturally it has replaced journeys that were previously driven. Including carrying a week’s worth of groceries.

But aside from that, pedelecs do require you to exercise. I ride mine in Eco mode most of the time, which limits it to 50% of my effort. It stops assisting at 25kmh. I try to ride faster than 25 wherever possible. Most of my travel on it is a 25km+ round trip. I don’t put any less effort in than I do on my non-electric bikes. It’s just faster.

4 years 5 months ago

I definitely commute more often on my ebike. Rain, darkness and lugging a laptop were all used as excuses to take the car before I got my Shimano powered bike a year ago. Just did Mon-Fri during one of the rainiest winters Auck has seen and I never managed that before. And it's fun!

Jack Sexty's picture
4 years 5 months ago

Full report is linked in the article, here it is again ICYMI... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019821930017X

Re the distance and amount of exercise... the main takeaway I got is that e-bikers feel more capable of taking the longer trips, perhaps because they know they have the assistance to fall back on. Most of the time commuters travelling on or above the 25km/h mark won't use it anyway, so the exercise benefits are the same as the rider of a non-assisted bike for most of those kilometres.

And as BikeJon says... well the benefits vs a car are very obvious!

4 years 5 months ago

I've done over 300 miles on my e-cargo bike that I would otherwise have done in a car (due to the kids/loads I was carrying). Car replacement type of journeys is where e-bikes really score. Of course you would put more effort in on a standard bike vs ebike but it is interesting to know that encourages people to cycle for longer on their ebikes. One thing is for sure, you are definitely getting more exercise on an ebike vs going in the car and having a whole heap load more fun too and not paying fuel, parking etc. It's win-win if you ask me. I do more journey by bike with an ebike included in with my others as I'll go out on it even when my legs are shot after riding my regular road bike. Road bike = training, ebike = getting stuff done.

4 years 5 months ago

Interesting article, can we see the full report please? I have just finished riding an e-bike, (peddle assist.) I had it for two weeks. I have cycled for 53 years on racers, tourers and mtb bikes, and can now add a peddle assist electric bike to my experience. My views. At first I found the e bike heavy, and cumbersome, came without a rack and bottle baze-ons also the saddle was very uncomfortable, so I put my brookes on it.   I set off on my first jaunt and wondered why it kept slowing down, then I realised that it was limited to 15mph, and I could not go any faster! This was annoying so I slowed down and began to enjoy a ride along Southport coastal road into a strong head wind. Aha! This is where the e bike scores as the motor kept me bowling along withut any real effort on my part. However, my heart rate barely increased. Surely exercise was meant to raise the heart rate! I then went into town, then across town then back again. It was so easy!  For a city urban bike it did excatly as its name would suggest, and guess what? I had great fun zipping along roads and cutting through traffic acting a little like a hooligan! Legally of course! Would I have done this on my normal bike? Yes, but it would have taken a little more effort, and I would have felt that I had exercised, and that for me means legs and heart working and I like that feeling. So the e-bike  took something away, a sense of acomplishment, but delivered a travel experience akin to a car but without all the difficulties associated with car ownership, parking, traffic, etc. If I was twenty years older, it would be a yes from me as it would help keep my hips, knees and ankles working, and it would possiblly replace the car for shopping trips and visiting friends. if only I could see the digital readout!!!! 

4 years 5 months ago

I go out twice as often, go three times as far and have four times the fun.....of course I get more exercise now I have an ebike.

4 years 5 months ago

Not that they asked me, but yes, I certailnly cycle more often and further with the e-bike. Where I would be put off from cycling on wet and windy days, or when I've got large amounts of stuff to lug about, having the e-bike means I'm much happier to venture out. 

4 years 5 months ago

Stupid article. 8 vs 5.3km. If your assisted most of the time then it's hardly exercise. Thankfully the schools are back next week so the author can learn more.