Does Riding an Electric Bike Help You Lose Weight?
December 27, 2022
Something has led you down the path toward wanting an electric bike–maybe you moved somewhere more urban and don’t see the need to have a vehicle, or maybe you are looking to take on a weekend hobby. Maybe you are looking to lose weight; you want to be healthy and give your body the opportunity to perform and function at its best. As you’ll see in this article, electric bikes are a great form of transportation that also help you shed some pounds.
If you’re on the hunt for electric bikes for sale, there are probably many questions going through your mind. What size batteries are best for an electric bike? Which electric bike has the longest range? We have answers to all your questions, but right now, let’s address the one at hand.
To answer it simply, yes! Riding an electric bike can help you lose weight. But how does that work?
Burning Calories
If you are aware of the popularity of spin classes, you know that cycling burns calories. Emphasis on the burn. Interestingly enough, a study by Alessio et al. comparing metabolic expenditure of traditional cycling vs ebiking reports that while statistically significant, the difference in calories burned between the two was not great. For a 3-mile simulated commute, traditional bike riders burned 505 calories on average. This is compared to 422 calories on an ebike with 125–175 watts of assistance vs 344 on an ebike with 200–250 watts. Now, we’re not all scientists, but the proof is in the pudding. Allow me to explain why.
A Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives study shows that the typical person who decides to invest in an ebike will ride more often, in greater variances of situations, and for longer than on a traditional bike! An ebike provides a non-cyclist the opportunity to ride further and faster. Moreover, the motor is there for you when you begin to experience muscle fatigue, allowing you to maintain a baseline aerobic output for longer periods. At face value, the difference between riding a regular bike compared to an electric bike is the assistance. However, in either case, when you pedal, you burn. The takeaway is that for those of us who are not hardcore cyclists, put an ebike in our hands and we will get outside, burn more calories, and ride faster for longer than ever before.
Easy on Your Joints
If you are looking to lose weight, there are a multitude of different exercises and classes that you can take. There is yoga, HIIT, boxing, and pilates—the list goes on. The problem with some of these options is that they are more high-impact and they can negatively affect your joints. Electric bikes allow you to burn a high number of calories through low-impact movement; this can keep you going longer while giving you the workout you need.
Terrain and Elevation
There is a chance that somewhere during your ride, you will encounter a hill or bumpy terrain. It’s just a given. Maybe you come across a street that has a steep downhill or an incline.
Electric bikes still push your limits and your body, but also assist you. If you are going up an incline, you will inevitably slow down and have to pedal harder to maintain speed to the top, but an e-bike will help you get up that hill without terrible strain. That way, you can keep biking and burning calories without any figurative bumps in the road.
Thrill
An electric bike provides one of the most fun ways to get fit. Cruising around your city or observing nature while burning calories–it doesn’t get better than that.
Ready to hop on the e-bike train? Ride1UP’s got you covered with an array of options to suit your needs. Check us out today!