Switching from conventional bikes to e-bikes is not beneficial.

[e-boy]

http://sciencenordic.com/e-cycling-good-exercise

“Switching from conventional bikes to e-bikes is not beneficial. But if more people stop driving cars and start using e-bikes to their jobs it would have a positive effect on public health.”

 

[Deleted member 4210]

Good physical activity
Re-read the article !!!!! “The conclusion is that e-cycling is a good form of physical activity and I think many will be surprised to hear it. "

"On average the cyclists on e-bikes were 8.5 times as active as when resting, as opposed to 10.9 times as active when using conventional bicycles." (so do the math folks on 8.5 times vs 10.9 times. If you're doing 78% of the activity on an e-bike vs a regular bike, you merely have to ride 22% further, or another 2.2 miles on a 10 mile ride, to duplicate exercise activity of a regular bike. I'd be willing to bet big money, people riding e-bikes ride A LOT further than they would on a regular bike, bc they would give up to easily and early on their regular bike.)

"This was a smaller difference in oxygen consumption than the researchers anticipated. The e-bike riders utilized an average of 51 percent of their lung capacity. On conventional bikes they
used 58 percent on average."

Draw your own conclusions folks, but this study, like all studies provides a very very very small sampling of a comparison. E-Bikes are AWESOME for your health, particularly when most people who have regular bikes, leave them sitting in the garage collecting dust, whereas the people that have bought e-bikes from me, all say they are out now biking regularly, whereas before they weren't barely biking at all.

 

[Trail Cruiser]

You don't get the benefit of cycling if there is no motivation to cycle in the first place. And that is what ebikes offer, motivation to get out from the couch and spend more time cycling. There are several scientific studies on this but I'll point one study on sedentary women and time spent cycling, and data gathered while they're on the road.

The study concluded that ..."regular use of the e-bike could well facilitate and promote more frequent and/or prolonged exercise"...

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-012-2382-0

 

[harryS]

Winter here in the Midwest. No biking. Gonna gain 10 pounds by New Years. Doubly sad..

 

[rich c]

Winter here in the Midwest. No biking. Gonna gain 10 pounds by New Years. Doubly sad..

You just need the right gear. I cycle into the 20s if there is no ice on the trail. Just snow, I still go!

 

[Over50]

Winter here in the Midwest. No biking. Gonna gain 10 pounds by New Years. Doubly sad..

I'm dreading the same thing. Regaining the 10 pounds I've lost since I started e-bike commuting. It isn't just the wet, icy streets that hinder me but all the salt they put down. Generally when the salt goes down I take a hiatus except for on weekends when I have extra time to clean the bike after a ride.

As for the article: yes, as others have pointed out, switching from only riding regular bikes to mostly riding e-bikes has meant a lot more miles ridden. So while I have fewer miles on a regular bike vs last year, I have a lot more miles overall. I've seen the benefit to my weight, stamina and waistline. Certainly I'm not as fit as most road bikers but I'm certainly better off than I probably would have been if I hadn't purchased an e-bike and increased my miles significantly.

 

[John from Connecticut]

Good physical activity
Re-read the article !!!!! “The conclusion is that e-cycling is a good form of physical activity and I think many will be surprised to hear it. "

"On average the cyclists on e-bikes were 8.5 times as active as when resting, as opposed to 10.9 times as active when using conventional bicycles." (so do the math folks on 8.5 times vs 10.9 times. If you're doing 78% of the activity on an e-bike vs a regular bike, you merely have to ride 22% further, or another 2.2 miles on a 10 mile ride, to duplicate exercise activity of a regular bike. I'd be willing to bet big money, people riding e-bikes ride A LOT further than they would on a regular bike, bc they would give up to easily and early on their regular bike.)

"This was a smaller difference in oxygen consumption than the researchers anticipated. The e-bike riders utilized an average of 51 percent of their lung capacity. On conventional bikes they
used 58 percent on average."

Draw your own conclusions folks, but this study, like all studies provides a very very very small sampling of a comparison. E-Bikes are AWESOME for your health, particularly when most people who have regular bikes, leave them sitting in the garage collecting dust, whereas the people that have bought e-bikes from me, all say they are out now biking regularly, whereas before they weren't barely biking at all.

Two years ago I purchased a Trek 7.7 FX Touring non-e-bike Bike ( Full Carbon ). It doesn't get much lighter or easier to pedal in this price range. In two full summers, May to October I rode this bike 793 miles.....

This past July and October I purchased two e-bikes, a Trek XM700+ and a Trek Powerfly7 . In three months I've ridden 1350 miles ....and I can't wait to get out and ride as the weather permits. Need I say more about the joy and value of an e-bike for me.

John from CT

 

[newfydog]

You're right. Since I got my ebike I have been riding every day. I have had a few crashes and got some bruises. This would never have happened if I had stayed on the sofa.

 

[e-boy]

Two years ago I purchased a Trek 7.7 FX Touring non-e-bike Bike ( Full Carbon ). It doesn't get much lighter or easier to pedal in this price range. In two full summers, May to October I rode this bike 793 miles.....

This past July and October I purchased two e-bikes, a Trek XM700+ and a Trek Powerfly7 . In three months I've ridden 1350 miles ....and I can't wait to get out and ride as the weather permits. Need I say more about the joy and value of an e-bike for me.

John from CT

Re: the PF 7 , do you ride it mostly as a MTB , or do you also ride on pavement ?
Curious which you prefer ; the 700 or 7 ?

Edit : OK , saw your post in another thread about these 2 bikes .

 

[newfydog]

"On average the cyclists on e-bikes were 8.5 times as active as when resting, as opposed to 10.9 times as active when using conventional bicycles." (so do the math folks on 8.5 times vs 10.9 times. If you're doing 78% of the activity on an e-bike vs a regular bike, you merely have to ride 22% further, or another 2.2 miles on a 10 mile ride, to duplicate exercise activity of a regular bike.

I think your math is wrong.....on an ebike you go faster. To get the same amount of exercise, one would have to bike 22% longer time. Going 22% farther would actually result in a shorter ride.

 

[Redskulls]

Winter here in the Midwest. No biking. Gonna gain 10 pounds by New Years. Doubly sad..

HarryS:
I am further north in Quebec Canada. I been cycling for several years now in the winter with a regular bike.
This year is my first with The Baron.
Here are a few pictures from last years winter in my city of Montreal:
(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)

All are when it is snowing, as you see we have extreme winters here.
I could have put pictures from when the roads were cleared but how is that difference than any other day other than the cold.

Personally last year I had lots of fun commuting 25 Km's to a work and anther 25 Km's back. Since September I have not used my car except for reasons I couldn't use The Baron.
And as Rich mentions below its all in the gear you wear. get the right combinations and you will be fine no mater what the weather is like outside.

 

[opimax]

New, if you pedal for 1 hour at full speed on a regular bike or pedal 1 hour at full speed on an ebike or pedal 1 hour on a stationary bike at full speed, what are the differences? What are the similarities? On a stationary bike I burned 100 calories(random number) , on a regular bike i burned about the same 100 calories, and on an ebike I burned about the same 100 calories too. So for the similarities I burned 100 calories on each bike. The differences, I went 0 miles on a stationary bike, i went 10 miles on regular bike (10 mph) and on an ebike I went 20 miles (20 mph) . I burned about the same amount of calories but went further faster. If your goal is to get somewhere quickly most practical would be the ebike. if you goal is to look at your walls while exercising only choice is the stationary. If your goal is to get there on the most economical way l would take a regular bike. And lastly for me if i wanted to maximize "fun" I would also be on the ebike.

It could easily be argued if you factor time into the cost, the ebike is the cheapest too so this too could be a benefit for switching to an ebike.

For me Fun is is the biggest factor when I ride so the ebike is a hands down winner!! your mileage may vary (literally )

 

[John from Connecticut]

Re: the PF 7 , do you ride it mostly as a MTB , or do you also ride on pavement ?
Curious which you prefer ; the 700 or 7 ?

Edit : OK , saw your post in another thread about these 2 bikes .

Howdy,
I don't think I mentioned in the 'other thread' If 20 mph max as the Powerfly 7 is set is not a problem and you were to replace
the stock mtn tires with something less aggressive for the road, yet trail worthy the Powerfly 7 would probably be the best choice for
a trail/road bike combo. The geometry of the XM700+ is all road aka commuter, or so it seems to me.

I rode my XM700+ only once on a stone dust trail with the stock tires ( which was a big mistake, I crashed) and didn't feel secure, yet I loved the
idea of trail (non mtn bike) riding. For me and my style of riding, non aggressive, safe secure and enjoyable, each bike serves a specific
purpose and does it well.

John from CT

 

[newfydog]

New, if you pedal for 1 hour at full speed on a regular bike or pedal 1 hour at full speed on an ebike or pedal 1 hour on a stationary bike at full speed, what are the differences? What are the similarities? On a stationary bike I burned 100 calories(random number) , on a regular bike i burned about the same 100 calories, and on an ebike I burned about the same 100 calories too. So for the similarities I burned 100 calories on each bike. The differences, I went 0 miles on a stationary bike, i went 10 miles on regular bike (10 mph) and on an ebike I went 20 miles (20 mph) . I burned about the same amount of calories but went further faster. If your goal is to get somewhere quickly most practical would be the ebike. if you goal is to look at your walls while exercising only choice is the stationary. If your goal is to get there on the most economical way l would take a regular bike. And lastly for me if i wanted to maximize "fun" I would also be on the ebike.

It could easily be argued if you factor time into the cost, the ebike is the cheapest too so this too could be a benefit for switching to an ebike.

For me Fun is is the biggest factor when I ride so the ebike is a hands down winner!! your mileage may vary (literally )

Agreed. We are saying the same thing. You just said it more clearly.

 

[Calldon]

I own a beautiful bike for which I paid $500 about 4 years ago. I've ridden it about 5 times and none in the last 2 years. I've ordered a rad Mini and I'm selling my other bike to a co-worker. I drive electric car and I think the electric bike will be a fun ride. And it gives me something to brag about, owning a diesel car and an electric car and now riding an electric bike.

I'm of the mindset that I wasn't riding my regular bike and now, I WILL be riding this bike. Owning and riding an electric bike Is more exercise than owning and NOT riding a $500 bike. I hope my Radmini arrives soon. I'm ready to start having fun.

 

[rich c]

And it gives me something to brag about, owning a diesel car

Really? I drove by the Central Illinois repository for VW diesel cars recently. I can't even imagine how many thousands of vehicles are parked there, acres and acres of them just rusting away. Is was around 9:00 pm, and they had a security car driving up and down the lines and lines of them, to even waste more energy! Such a sad sight!

 

[John from Connecticut]

Re: the PF 7 , do you ride it mostly as a MTB , or do you also ride on pavement ?
Curious which you prefer ; the 700 or 7 ?

Edit : OK , saw your post in another thread about these 2 bikes .

My reply is a bit old, Sorry I missed your question some time ago about where I ride my Trek Powerfly 7 vs the XM700+ .
I ride the XM700+ exclusively on pavement and the Powerfly7 on gravel/stonedust Rails to Trails conversions. No MTB trail
riding whatsoever. I'm so physically under qualified for real MTB trail riding I would get seriously hurt.
I really like both bikes a lot. Trek has done a great job.

 

[Mark Wyvratt]

I developed Guillain Barre syndrome six years ago. I was paralyzed from the waist down. Eventually was able to walk again with difficulty. Still with poor balance. Exercise intolerance with constant pain and numbness of my lower legs and right arm. If it wasn’t for the ebike I wouldn’t be able to ride at all. Riding make me feel alive again. Some riders told me they would not ride with me because of the E bike. I had to explain to them the rationale for why I use it. I had a radrover this summer and it was great but heard too many negative comments on the local trails near Pittsburgh so I upgraded to the bulls estream evo 45 fs mainly because it is a great bike that doesn’t look like a ebike.

 

[LimboJim]

View attachment 19725 I developed Guillain Barre syndrome six years ago. I was paralyzed from the waist down. Eventually was able to walk again with difficulty. Still with poor balance. Exercise intolerance with constant pain and numbness of my lower legs and right arm. If it wasn’t for the ebike I wouldn’t be able to ride at all. Riding make me feel alive again. Some riders told me they would not ride with me because of the E bike. I had to explain to them the rationale for why I use it. I had a radrover this summer and it was great but heard too many negative comments on the local trails near Pittsburgh so I upgraded to the bulls estream evo 45 fs mainly because it is a great bike that doesn’t look like a ebike.

More power to ya, Mark, and welcome to the EBR forums! Glad you got some function back; I've battle Lyme a few times this past decade, though with nowhere near the difficulty you experienced. The last time made climbing the steep Holyoke Range trails in my backyard downright miserable on my old Stumpjumper. Until I learned about pedal assist, I thought I was done cycling singletrack after 25+ years, but now I ride further, longer and more often than I ever did, even in my 30s.

Aside from its "stealth," that Bulls is a FAR superior bike, and well worth 2-3X the price, especially for trail riding! Throttles have no place on bicycle trails, IMO.

 

[JRA]

After 56 years of bicycle ownership I feel that I pretty much know when I am getting the proper amount of exercise that I want to achieve and e bikes are just another way to get there. A good explanation above for sure. The fact that my plan is to have them to use well into the future as age continues its course is a comfort to me as cycling is my primary form of exercise and the time of the day when mentally I feel my best also, which also continues for some time after. I do admit on the front side it is hard to get the first pedal stroke in but always worth it!

And Limbo Jim:
Aside from its "stealth," that Bulls is a FAR superior bike, and well worth 2-3X the price, especially for trail riding! Throttles have no place on bicycle trails, IMO.

I am really happy that you have found the best bike for your needs at a cost that you feel is worth every penny of it. Many spend lots more than they should trying to get something that they are truly in sync with. But please don't be so down on throttles on e bikes, especially on mid drives for trail use. My bike has a simple one that I use only for starts, useful in any situation flat, up or down, and then only to assist getting in enough pedal stroke to activate my torque sensing PAS. Also it is useful for when I don't quite get to the top, which is not often due to the bikes ability to climb stupid steep greasy slopes here in the PNW, as I can use it to help the weight of the bike up to a transition to be able to mount again.

Any cyclist would benefit from having one like it. But the stigma that if there is one on the bike that is all that will be used is unfounded and hopefully at some point the e bike community will realize that they pose no real threat to the sanctity of cycling.