The Hidden Side Effect of Riding an Ebike
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 มิ.ย. 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.
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 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
I’m a 47 y/o female. I have RA and bought my e-bike recently. I feel like it lets me exercise without over doing it. Also gets me to/from work once a week or so. I feel blessed to have mine as well.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
life changing my friend
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.
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!
You never hear someone walking say to someone on a conventional bike "that's cheating"
So true 😂
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!
The true enemy of cyclists of all kinds 😂
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'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 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'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.
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
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.
how do you stay in the heart rate zone for fat burning without having the work being performed being the same on analog or Ebike? this makes no sense and sounds like a lame sales pitch. You would be going faster on the ebike for the same effort but your heart rate has no clue about what bike your on.
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
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.
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 ❤️
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. 👍🏾👊🏾
I have cycled al of my life . 2 years ago I hurt my left knee and last year I hurt my right knee. I noticed about a month ago was struggling to ride my bike so I took the plunge and got an ebike ,it is like a new lease on life it feels great and really enjoyable again
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 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 !! 🎉😂
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.
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.
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.
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
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. 🚲😎
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.
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.
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.
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 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 😢)
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.
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.
Great video! A lot of excellent points that I wasn’t aware of. Thank you!
Interesting figures at the end. In my mid 20s, I am now 80, I cycled around Derbyshire at weekends, covering well over 100 miles in a day. I thought nothing of a twenty mile ride to see my girlfriend, at an average speed of 18 to 20 mph.I had built my own bike around a hand made frame, very light, very quick. I was very fit. At college, as part of the biology course, we tested fitness and found that the critical figure was heart beat recovery time. After the up-down three steps for ten minutes, my rate was normalised in half the time of anyone else in the group. I wondered how you would compare on recovery rates?
Really interesting! I'll have to do some more research into heart beat recovery time
Riding in the United States, I see a huge percentage of American riders who were simply trying to buy a cheap motorcycle that didn't require insurance or registration, and who view the pedals as inconveniently placed foot pegs.
Great vid, I can definitely say since getting e-bikes I’ve gotten into better shape physically, mentally and emotionally. Regardless of how much or how little effort you choose to put in, you’re outside adventuring and it has a giant positive impact on your well being. You can jog, walk, hop on one leg or ride something, long as you’re moving around outside it’s going to be beneficial to your fitness and health.
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.
it also helps older people to stay active, when a normal bike becomes to hard for them.
Absolutely!
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 am an 80 year old man. I have cycled all my life, the first time I tried an e-bike, I couldn't believe it. I had 12 bikes, I kept three of them and had them converted, then I bought four more. Now I try to ride every day that is not too cold. I also have severe arthritis and Pulmonary Hypertension, so at times, I have to ride with an oxygen tank. Everyone should own an e-bike. The best invention of the century. By the way, there was a study done years ago about the best invention of the 20th Century. Bikes came in first and Penicillin second.
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.
I’ll admit, I’m a road bike snob, I personally wouldn’t use an e-bike, but I’m in a different stage in my life where I prefer working out on the bike, completing Strava segments, and chasing KOMs. For commuting, e-bikes are amazing, especially for people who don’t cycle everyday, older people, and those who are trying to get more fit. It’s a great whole body workout, and people can legit cycle into their 60 & 70s. If e-bikes can introduce you to this awesome sport, and help your fitness, that’s a massive win.
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.
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 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'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 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 👍
Everything in this video makes sense. But I was a little surprised that it wasn't mentioned by anyone the risk of a fatal accident when riding an electric bike you are at three times higher than on a normal bike. I've looked at a few studies and through my own experience working in the ER, I can definitely say they are more dangerous. So please everyone where a helmet and stay safe out there 🙏.
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
Great information and helpful
One added benefit I've not seen mentioned; you get to see so much wildlife and magical things like that on an ebike. Everytime i ride, i sneak up on at least a few adorable little animals or beautiful birds flying at speed with me, you'd never get to see or fully enjoy that in a car or struggling on an analog bike (at least not in my experience)
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’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.
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!
loved your video, thank you!
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!
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.
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.
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 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!
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.
As a 50 year old, obese woman, I just rode a bike for the first time in 25 years. It was an e-bike that allowed that to happen. My local library has an ebike that they lend that can hold my weight. I've had a broken foot that is still healing and I was looking for things I could do out in nature to replace the hiking that I can't do for a few more months. I was able to get on that ebike and have an amazing 11 mile ride after a quarter century without riding. I pedaled unassisted most of the time, but I used the assist on hills that would have required me to push too hard on my broken foot. I got sweaty, my muscles could feel the work, and I had a marvelous time while getting a workout.
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.
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 video, excellent sources and scientific data/fact. Self confessed E-biker, l use my e-road bike to train (Etape Loch Ness and other 100 mile events) and will jump onto my 7 year old carbon Cube for these events on the day. My e-bikes, l feel, make me training harder on the flat to keep above the assit and improves my fitness in the longrun.
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.
I've been diagnosed with severe arthritis in left ankle and c spine and need to go to ebjking this is encouraging
I hope ebiking gives you the mobility you need!
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! :)
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.
I've had an e-bike for 6 months and covered 1,800km. I didn't buy it to be lazy but to cover more ground in the same time period as I could on a normal bike. Plus I just don't enjoy riding up hills which meant I didn't want to ride often on analogue, but now I ride nearly every day for fun. Each 1hour bike ride I'm burning around 700cal according to my apple watch, changed my life and fitness levels!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
I am 76 and love bikes, especially e bikes they are so much fun, my heart rate measurement taken over 2023 averages 48 - 160 bpm, average rest at 55 bpm, current 2024 average is 49 - 151 bpm, average rest at 52 bpm, so that's an improvement! At the moment I am grappling with the decision on should I buy an electric cargo bike to add to the three e bikes and six acoustic bikes?
As a 60 year old conventional cyclist averaging 5000km a year I’ve been looking at e-bikes as a way to continue my cycling in my later years. Also enjoy having family and friends join me who are less inclined to ride daily.
Do it.
Closing in on 70. Have 3 analog and one e-bike. Get an e-bike before you need it to familiarize yourself. Many wait leading to older e-bike riders having too many accidents.
Thanks, I just purchased a Mountain bike, 29 inch tire not an E-Bike. Glad to hear about the benefits you are getting.
Im over 65, i wrecked my first ebike, that I bought used. So I bought a new one recently. I rode700 miles the first year. Now i have a good ebike, life is back to normal again. Ha ha.
I agree with you. When I got my E-Bike I quickly realized that I was getting a good workout every time I ride.
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.
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."