I probably don’t have to convince you that there are many health benefits that go along with riding an electric bike, but some of the well-being perks may surprise you. Cyclists enjoying a boost from a pedal-assist bike participate in a form of accessible exercise that amplifies their physical and mental health. If you aren’t an e-bike convert already, keep reading to find out what you may be missing out on and learn how riding an electric bike enhances an active lifestyle.
Recent scientific studies have confirmed that riding an e‐bike can improve mental and physical health, happiness, and overall sense of well‐being. For some people, these claims might be obvious while others may be more hesitant to accept the huge health benefits of pedal-assisted bikes that require less effort than standard bicycles. Rest assured that no matter how you like to ride on two wheels, you’re promoting the health of your mind and body.
E-bikes offer an accessible form of cardiovascular exercise that you can adapt to your own fitness goals and personal circumstances. If you’re looking to get a workout in, simply choose the lower levels of pedal assist to earn your ride or ease back into cycling with more assistance. Any time you’re pedaling, you are burning calories and putting in effort that helps achieve the benefits from physical activity.
A 2022 study in Australia confirmed that e-biking leads to physical gains such as “increased fitness, increased strength, increases in energy levels along with some weight loss”. In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, Professor Uwe Tegtbur at the Institute of Sports Medicine at the Hannover Medical School shared that riding an e-bike between 12 to 15 kilometers daily has these benefits:
"What happens to your body when you e-bike every day?" — Electroheads youtube channel takes on the common misconception that e-bikes are 'cheating' — watch as they bust the myths and reveal the real fitness benefits of riding electric.
Cycling in general is a low-impact way to stay healthy and electric bikes are an even more accessible option for riders with lower strength levels or mobility restrictions. This form of exercise takes it easy on critical areas of the body such as the knees, hands, and lower back. Pedal assistance can help people with conditions such as joint pain, motor function disorders, or recovering injuries continue to enjoy riding.
How does riding an electric bike compare to conventional cycling? It’s common sense that riding a standard bicycle requires more physical effort, but the difference may come as a surprise. A 2017 study found that e-bikes require moderate physical exertion while riding on flat or downhill gradients and count as vigorous efforts while going uphill. Another 2019 study from BYU showed that e-bikes can provide intense exercise, it’s just that it doesn’t feel like a workout. The previously mentioned Australian study also found that “compared to regular cycling, e-bike users still receive a moderate amount of physical activity”.
Common metrics that demonstrate the physical gains from frequent exercise include maximum rate of oxygen consumption (also called VO2 max) and peak power output. Recent systematic reviews from 2018 and 2022 both pointed out scientific studies that reported increases in VO2 max and maximum power output following e-biking.
You may have the idea that using an e-bike is the same as riding a standard bicycle, only with less effort. Pedal-assist bikes are only healthy-ish compared to traditional pedal power, right? However, that interpretation misses out on some critical advantages that come from riding an e-bike. If you’re trying to meet certain physical fitness goals, e-biking can definitely help you get there!
E-bikes can also play a significant role in supporting mental health and overall positivity. Ask any cyclist and they’ll probably report that they feel better after riding— e-bikes deliver those same feel-good effects. A 2022 study in Australia found that e-biking leads to “improvements in mental well-being including feeling happier and more socially connected… Riding an e-bike created a sense of well-being (feeling good) and increased motivation in other areas of life too”.
There are even more spill-over mental health benefits that come from e-biking. Various studies including a 2019 study from England showed that riding e-bikes leads to improved social contact in the community. Stronger social ties, stress relief, and feelings of personal freedom are all related to cycling and can go a long way in boosting your mental well-being.
One of the best examples of the multiple health benefits of riding an e-bike is commuting. Getting to work or school by bike is already a great decision for your health— incorporating daily exercise, accomplishment, and increased time outdoors— but it can still have its downsides. Long commutes or arriving at your destination sweaty can make the healthy habit impractical for conventional cyclists. But riding an e-bike and its convenient pedal assistance can save your commute.
The aforementioned study from 2017 concluded that riding an e-bike elicited higher enjoyment scores, less exertion, and a lower need to shower when compared to walking and conventional bicycles. Arriving at work happy and sweat-free? That sounds like an ideal commute to me!
Electric bikes make cycling more inclusive, enabling people of all ages and fitness levels to enjoy riding. Simply getting out and going for a ride is the ultimate goal of any bike owner and e-bikes can help you do just that. Riding an e-bike is a more accessible form of exercise that welcomes people to the world of cycling who otherwise wouldn’t bike as much, whether it be low mobility, a long commute, or fitness barriers.
A 2017 study showed that e-bikes motivate higher participation in bike-riding activities and even encourage others to consider e-bikes as an alternate mode of transport. In a 2019 Norwegian study that provided bicycles to inactive or less-fit participants, the researchers found physical activity levels increased significantly when participants were given e-bikes to use. Cycling with greater frequency and more people on bikes? Seems like a win-win!
A 2019 study featured in Nature confirmed that spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and well-being. An e-bike can help more people reach that health goal to support their mental and physical health. Another 2019 study from New Zealand discovered huge mental health benefits associated with getting outdoors and using an e-bike as a form of transportation.
What are fellow cyclists saying about the health benefits of riding an e-bike? Scientific findings are all well and good but personal stories are another method and powerful way to demonstrate supposed health gains. We’ve asked one of our own from the Sundays team to share how riding an electric bike has improved their lifestyle:
"I initially had my reservations about e-bikes and how they might affect the perception of normal bikes for some people. After going for a ride with my now 80-year-old dad and seeing him keep up and enjoy the ride, my mind has been changed. Of course, this is an obvious example of where an e-bike has a role to play, but for me, seeing more people on bikes is always a win." — Nic Grobler
It’s not only your body that appreciates when you ride an electric bike— e-bike usage promotes the health and sustainability of our planet. The numerous environmental benefits require a whole other discussion that I’ll dive into soon. Elevate your understanding of e-bike insurance and related topics with exclusive insights and tailored advice featured in the Sundays Journal!
Absolutely! Studies show that riding an e-bike requires moderate effort and can boost physical fitness. While it’s not as strenuous as conventional cycling or riding uphill unassisted, e-biking still provides the kind of moderate activity that most health professionals recommend.
Electric bikes are generally more expensive and heavier than conventional bicycles. If you run out of charge on a ride, you’ll have to exert more energy while pedaling. The additional weight and faster speed of e-bikes require more experience to ride safely, especially if you frequently ride in the city which can increase the risk of a traffic incident.
Electric bikes offer multiple physical and mental health benefits as well as helping users save money and cut their emissions in the long run. E-bikes are especially well-suited to commuting, completing errands, and replacing short car trips in the city. Electric bikes enable riders to simultaneously get exercise, boost their mood, and avoid taking less sustainable forms of transportation.
References and resources
National Library of Medicine — Health and well‐being benefits of e‐bike commuting for inactive, overweight people living in regional Australia
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Der Spiegel
spiegel.de
Study: On the Ebike with a 110 Pulse to Fight a Heart Attack
ebike24.com
BYU — E-bikes provide intense exercise, but it doesn’t feel like a workout
news.byu.edu
University of Reading Study — 'Instead of "closing down" at our ages… we’re thinking of exciting and challenging things to do': older people’s microadventures outdoors on (e)bikes
core.ac.uk
E-cycling and health benefits: A systematic literature review with meta-analyses
frontiersin.org
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity — Health benefits of electrically-assisted cycling: a systematic review
ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com
Research Gate — Bicycle usage among inactive adults provided with electrically assisted bicycles
researchgate.net
Journal of Transport & Health — Why are cyclists the happiest commuters? Health, pleasure and thee-bike
bpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.auckland.ac.nz
Journal of Transport & Health — Comparing physical activity of pedal-assist electric bikes with walking and conventional bicycles
sciencedirect.com
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice — Electrically-assisted bikes: Potential impacts on travel behaviour
sciencedirect.com
Nature — Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing
nature.com
