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 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.
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.
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.
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.
@@andreawilson81 As a 22 year old black gentleman , I use my ebike daily in my career - I ride up and down Oxford street collecting phones that people don't want any more.
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 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.
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.
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 .
After 4 strokes at age 42, I will not accept comments about e-bikes being for lazy people anymore. My e-bike has helped me throughout my recovery process. Today, just over half a year after my last stroke, I am physically back to roughly 80 percent of what I was before. Believe me, I have come a loooong way, from barely making it up a flight of stairs to virtually always cycling outside of the range of the e-assist.
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.
I am nearly 66, no comorbidities, no prescription drugs, no arthritis, slim and extremely fit. The secret to this is racing, commuting and riding a normal bike all my life and still doing it. At 61 I was third fastest scratch ( all ages ) first claim member, in the evening TT series, in my cycling club. Still do century rides with 1000's of feet of climbing in the summer solo. Exercise all your life and reep the benefits in old age.
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 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!
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++++
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.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
You start out by saying let's be honest, and then you immediately are dishonest. There are different assist levels dummy. You can go from 300 to 400% assist to none...and everywhere in between. There's even a setting that gives you just the correct amount assist to mimic an analog bike. So in your haste to try to knock down e-bikers you forgot to actually research... Even better, maybe one day you'll be able to afford one? Short story long, what you're talking about anyone with an e-bike can do. And when you shut the motor off you're actually getting more of a workout cuz you're cranking around a 40 to 60 lb bicycle on top of your own weight. See what I did here was I was honest. You, were not. Good try though!
As others have mentioned, you can turn off the assistance. (Or in my case, I plan to gradually reduce the assistance level. Then my long-term goal is to keep it off unless I'm feeling unwell or whatever.)
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😎❤
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!
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 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.
14 days in on my new steed. I have felt my core awakening the last few days. Among other places. At 54 this is what the doctor ordered. My cars haven’t moved. I have made adjustments to how I travel in my free time which includes walking, riding and mass transit. My body has been put on notice. Ebiking has no limits in my city with ample bike routes and paths. I’m happy with my decision. My knees and hips were hurting on my regular bike. The pedal assist helps me manage the pain before it gets bad. Win win.
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
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
Also with Addison's and thanks to eBike I am able to bike once again. Made 40 miles and was more than just wobbly 😊 but still, the feeling when riding is just amazing..
I'm almost 65 years old, and I hit 160bpm on my E-MTB yesterday. According to my Garmin, I'm in the top 10% VO2 MAX for my age and gender, and my primary exercise is my E-MTB. Thanks for getting the word out there!
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.
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 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.
I bought an ebike with a torque sensor. You only get assist when you put pressure on the pedals, no ghost pedaling. I was 260lbs when I bought it and riding short trips in highest assist and now, I'm down to 188lbs and riding 30 miles a trip on lowest assist. I'm 71 and use this for exercise.
I'm 52yrs old and been riding an ebike now for 16 months. I rode just over 5500km in that time and lost 46kg. I reversed my bad cholesterol and lowered my blood pressure to levels where I don't need meds for it anymore. I ride 10x more than most guys on normal bikes and enjoy it 100x more than them. Can definitely recommend
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.
im 55 years young..stayed in shape my whole life riding bikes, got random terminal lung disease ( pulmonary fibrosis ) thought my bike riding days were over. nope ! not yet.. just bought xp3.0 and love it. 😀
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 dont want to sound negative but im speaking with my real life experience. I have been cycling to work on a normal bike for over 14 years. this involves an avg 5.5 mile one way journey with an average time of 23 mins. im also an avid cyclist doing regular long weekend rides. my fitness level is pretty much above average as I can do 100 miles easily under 7 hours. I am on my late 40's now but im still pretty much the same fitness level, until......... for over a year now I have been using Ebike with pedal assist. Initially, I liked it because it saves me energy riding all week to do my weekend ride and I still have enough energy doing core workout after work. but since using my ebike there were a changes that happened and I became lazy. its easy to be reliant on pedal assist and just use the max power specially when you are running late, and speaking of late I tend to wake up much later because I know I can get to work faster (15mins or less) and I dont have to cool down when I arrive at work. on a normal bike I have to cool down for about 5 mins before entering my work place and its more evident when Im late because I have to put more effort just to reach work on time. the result after a year of using ebike, I gained weight from 72kg to 81kg eating the same amount of food (pre ebike). my weekend ride (on a normal bike) became less and less as I become lazier. I feel much colder when cycling because im not putting much effort in pedaling on ebike. I agree that for some people who does not ride bikes like i do, it can encourage them to ride a bike or encourage physically challenge people to go out and ride a bike but from my perspective it can be a negative thing as my fitness level just went down very easily and my enthusiasm to cycling became much less. some might say "why cant you just lower the assist setting or just turn it off?" and my answer is "so whats the point of the ebike then?" might as well use a normal bike.. Ebikes are great but and theres no doubt about it but it can be detrimental for people who are already in shape and have a good fitness level. Im happy to say that the Gods of fitness probably intervened because my ebike stopped working and I took that as a sign to go back riding normal bike and get my fitness back.
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.
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!
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 !! 🎉😂
Allot of great stories and its really great to see people cycling now that didn't or couldn't previously. The thing is most of you have missed out since you started so old. Cycling on an analog bike is actually easier than an Ebike except for certain things like Hills, long distances and constant speed. Now all these things can be done by either, and both can be done by both bikes but the analog takes more fitness as you get doing bigger hills, intervals and distance. Why does one think the e-bike is easier to ride? if you put the same effort out, it's the same other then the ebike goes faster at that point. I know that speed is fun, but in the analog world you work up to speed by getting in shape. That is a way better plan than not having any skills but you can go fast all of a sudden (just wait till SHTF when your going fast and have no skills). I will own one someday to take me to places that are way to difficult on my analog bike but recently when faced with the decision, I purchased a motorcycle that does 100x more for less money and upkeep. Its funny how folks will go ebike but not a motorcycle when there are smaller motorcycles that are easy to maneuver and ride. Also, why wouldn't folks just ride a regular bike, if it's all the same effort but only difference is speed, you just need to be more fit which is good anyhow. I just find it so perplexing that someone says I can't ride an analog bike but I can ride and E-bike (usually they want to do more than just ride..like MTB or hills). Again, if you live in a hilly area and don't want to get in shape or want to commute far and don't want to get in shape, then it's a good fit, but still not as good as a small motorcycle but that's why we have choices. The unfortunate thing is that all of these ebikes will be useless in a few years as there will be no replacement parts for them as they outdate monthly and there are no standards for motors (mounting) and batteries. These ebikes are just landfill fodder until they get much better and standardize a bit. I just traveled around the USA and saw allot of ebikes being used but I can see how they will be banned in allot of areas due to their speed and lack of talented users. The rentals at the National parks are crazy, it will end there very soon as it is crazy (renting a motorcycle to anyone...yes it's a motorcycle when you have a motor and especially when you don't have to pedal which I see allot) and very dangerous since they go real fast and ride wherever they want. So many places have no ebikes signs already and I read about the debate almost every day. Good luck out there.
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?
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.
Avid "mamil", but I ride an ebike all the time as well. *All* of my e-bike trips are trips where I would otherwise have used a car (work, errands, etc). A huge percentage of e-bike trips are replacing vehicle trips. "Cheating" is driving the car.
I'm in my 40s and haven't really cycled since I was 15. The e bike has made cycling fun and I can see the weight loss . It really helps to give me confidence to move quicker when on busier roads . I absolutely love the freedom it gives me .
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.
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! :)
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
On my Diamondback union 2 with the bosch speed line motor, ive gone from 110 watts per 30 mile ride to 190 watt average in the last 4 months. Gone from 300 to 260 pounds in that same time. The Ebike let me get back into riding shape without hurting myself to much. Now I ride 30 miles with 40 percent no motor usage at all. Getting stronger every week, and I just love to ride the ebike. You really get exactly what you want from an ebike. If you want to get into shape you will do it, and the ebike lets you end every hard ride with a smile. I don't own a car, never have, and the ebike is perfect for commuting.
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.
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'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.
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 really love my e-bike but haven’t found it helpful for weight loss. My heart rate on my e-bike was only about 80 when I borrowed a heart rate monitor watch by comparison on my mountain bike my heart rate was 160 riding up the same hills. My heart rate is higher walking than riding my e-bike with high level pedal assist. I love how my e-bike makes it possible for me to ride to the bike path from my house. On my mountain bike, I struggled to get up the hills and was intimidated by the busy road. I only drove to the bike path and had to put my bike in my car. Now with my e-bike I can ride to the bike path from my house.
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.
Love this! 😍 When i tell people I got an ebike they roll their eyes like that's a fun toy, but it's not exercise. I have had a chronic pain and mobility issues for 17 years and used to hike a lot. I got very very depressed the smaller my world got 😢 We rented some e-bikes in the Grand Canyon and it changed my life! I had the joy of being outside again 😃 ( I was having trouble with my foot and ankle and could only do tiny hikes) We road all the way to the end at the canyon rim and back and let me tell you I was exhausted but exhilarated 🤩
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.
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.
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 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
Doing High-intensity interval training on any ebike is the best! The reason is it is heavier than a non ebike, AND knowing you have the battery and motor to get you home, you can be more intense in your cardio training. You can empty your tank completely, and then if needed use the motor to get back. I lowered my resting heart rate to below 50 bpm doing my riding hard work outs on a ebike. cheers!
83. E-bike is first choice. 10,000 miles on my current ebike. I ride at level 1 power. Use throttle when racing to beat traffic signal. Usually ride at 20 MPH. Florida. I understand NYC has a 18 mph speed limit. If you get a ticket, the ebike is confiscated and the fine is $1800. In Florida, the cops all recognize me, sometimes slow down when going by me when I'm riding against traffic. Over the years, some of my friends have been killed riding with the traffic flow. Hit from behind.
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 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
Just damn well do it ! I'm 77 yo. Ride convential bicycle and my ebicycle at times - like when it's windy. I do my best to ride every day, yep 7 days per week. Greetings from Melbourne Australia. Distance I don't care about, time riding is more important to me. 30 mins each day, followed by a 15 min walk. - keeps my 'hinges' loose. It's our Summertime here, so ride in the early morn, around the nearby Lakes. Cycling is addictive ! Just gotta do it every day.
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 😢)
I'm 71 and got a Giant e-bike and put 14k on it. I now ride a recumbent e-trike eCat559 and love it. Took a few falls on the Giant so this is much safer. I live in Tulsa, Ok and it has great trails I ride almost every day. I already have 17k on the eCat 559. I highly recommend all e-bike/trikes. :)
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
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 👍
E-bikes ensure that people that never liked cycling are now enjoying cycling in my country. They also use them to go to work instead of the car. E-bikes also keeps our elderly - like my parents (in law) - and people with chronic illnesses fit, like myself. I used do a lot of sports before I got a chronic illness, i.e. soccer, tennis, squash, swimming, mountain biking, running, etc. I can't do those sports anymore. But now I do hiking and cycling on my e-bike to keep fit. I love my e-bike! It's one of the best purchases of my life!
I used to think that they were solely for slugs and the creepers who use them to hang on group rides. In 2022, I rented a high end mountain bike in Crested Butte, Colorado. The town sits at about 8,500 feet in elevation (do your own math, Euros) and many trails are quite higher. Even in turbo mode, I was able to get in a great workout because I was able to maintain tempo in the Red Zone (near my anaerobic threshold) for longer on nasty climbs at altitude. Now, I think that they are a net positive because many people who did not ride before are able to get some form of exercise. Ghost pedaling and sunlight are better than nothing.
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.
I started e-biking just a couple months ago and am completely hooked! I use my e-bike as a car replacement with the benefit of exercise. It’s just fun! I also live in a city with a lot of hills (I do a minimum 600ft of elevation in a day). I wouldn’t have been *able* to start cycling on an acoustic bike right out the gate. Cycling in all forms isn’t something to gatekeep but to celebrate!
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.
No one should say they are useless, for people with some disability or distance to biking, the e-bikes are a great welcome cycle. As you also mentioned it will get you started easier adapt to a life style of more fresh air, and some exercise. So sure with the right distances it will keep one fit. But your figures and data aren't show here. The dramatic change of using a cycle without electric support or full support is large. More exercise expected from that, more fitness. Simply a heavier and more enduring way of keeping fit. Yet what would stop anyone, from using an e-bike, I don't see that as fair since it has a great scape of choice it creates, specially when you use it like you do. To revalidate. What you see a lot though is that full electrical supports get a favor, and yeah I see few on those bikes paddle, I see them getting the lightest of workouts if any real workout at all, and that is a sure problem. There is variations in e-bikes, which you regretfully did not mention. So as for validity to this small elaboration, the validity is low, it has more to it than shown. So...I am awaiting better research result. What is a second problem though is the risk of getting injured on an e-bike, or to injure other people. Well that is an issue. I tell you, it is. There have been reported increasing amounts of accidents with e-bikes, so using it as a revalidation tool, might not even be all too smart, when you do it after a long time of not cycling at all. With your personal situation this seems not the case, which also hurts the validity of this research/test so far. A lot of people namely exchanged their car for an e-bike, or switch them for use in better weather conditions. So yet step on these cycles with hardly any experience at all. So if it is a more healthy way of traveling or keeps you fit, well...this should be researched more exactly. So saying I use a e-bike to stay fit, is a bit of a contradiction to me. In some occasions, and for the lowest forms of stress during workouts, maybe, that is, when you manage to avoid crashing. With a normal bike, you can I hope see in, that the work out is more heavy, more complete, and you keep more control over your cycle, since you paddle it yourself. It also doesn't consume electricity and or needs batteries to be recycled. So overall seen. Why use an e-bike if you are fit, and can ride a normal bike? Well that is I think simply answered, because people think it is fun to do. Well...it will still keep your body moving, so unhealthy, I would not dare to say. People following also trends though. Trends are...full electric supports. That I call no cycles, but electric motor cycles, which has little to do with biking for exercise. I mean, seriously, I stand with that answer. I plaid for better research. Meanwhile sure it is your workout, and you are having fun at it. So why stop yourself, right? You're doing fine. But please also recognise, workouts, become different, and more intensive, on a non electrical supported cycle. :) And I will sure say I am so happy with people switching their cars, for e-bikes, I love that movement and trend. So keep it up, get out there, get at it! :D
Man, reading the comments it makes me so happy that older people are enjoying cycling thanks to e-bikes, but all yall youngsters don't think for a second this fun is reserved for old folks! I am 32 and after a 6 year critical depression, I stopped all my recreational activities, this included cycling and BMX. I beat the depression, but I was left sedentary, but after buying an ebike, I am regaining a lot of my lost fitness thanks to the assist that allows me to push myself to the limit worry free, and the mental health bonus riding in the mornings gives me is invaluable. So, get on riding dudes!
Just turned 70, been on bikes my entire life, fairly serious mountain biker in my earlier days. Got my first ebike almost 4 years ago, a killer full suspension mtb, pedal assist only, and I have been HOOKED since day one! I ride 75 to 100+ miles every week. One of my favorite things is to let friends who haven't ridden one try mine and then see the huge smiles on their faces as they say "That's so amazing!" or words to that effect. When someone tells me "That's cheating" I just say no, it's not, but if I ever screwed around on my wife, that would be!
I e-bike with a group of Seniors in AZ every weekend. Besides the physical there are also social & mental benefits of just getting outside. Without the electric motor most of us would not have dreamed to still be cycling anymore 😅
As a three time head and neck cancer survivor. Who has mountain biked for 35 years. For recovery and restoration, the eBike has been a MASSIVE asset. Where i ride twice as much as I use to and twice the distance. So, I have even more fun and spend even more time in the saddle! I’m in love with ebiking, as it’s been an incredible tool in both physical and mental gain! 🤟🏼😊
I recently purchased an e-bike to allow me to get more exercise! I live in an area of lots of wind which kept me inside because of the extra exertion to ride against the wind! Now, with my e-bike, I ride 20 miles every morning, wind or no wind with pedal assist! I push hard the whole distance which gives me a great workout, I come home having worked up a good sweat, my heart gets a good workout, my diabetes numbers drop, I have lost several pounds, and it is all attributed to riding the E-bike. I am 71 years, and it is allowing me to be outside more and is improving my health! I do not use the throttle, only a level of pedal assist! It is the best investment I could have made!
Yes! And etrikes too! For anyone who has difficulty balancing in two wheels, or for running errands when you need that lovely storage on the back. I got one for my son who has cerebral palsy. This is his vehicle. He can’t drive a car, but this gives him independence, exercise (which is not always easy with CP), and fun use of his body. I’ve started using his trike for the grocery shopping. Which is much more difficult on two wheels due to limited storage, and getting up the hill to our home. But this becomes a fun errand on the etrike.
I will openly admit that I used to think e-bikes are just a stupid product for lazy people when they started appearing here; an opinion I came up with on a whim and never stopped to consider. I felt ill towards people who used them, thinking they're just the kind of people who are so lazy and I guess stupid that they'd ride an e-bike. I wasn't anything one would call a cyclist myself. Well that's just the tip of the iceberg of why sometimes I wish my memory was worse than it is. But I think this universal bashing of ebikes is a psychological phenomenon that was inevitable. Not being open to different things, new things, more advanced things. It's probably more complicated but maybe one could say the emotional reaction evoked biases towards ebikes and the people riding them. Maybe conventional cycling has this sense of pride within it that "we're putting in more effort for the same thing so it's more proper" that may be hurt by the emergence of e-bikes. Similar to why one may devalue the 1x drivetrain for it's complexity and disadvantages compared to the good old 3x crankset: "we're doing it using less sophisticated and less specialized tools so it's more proper". I can't articulate it very well but I like the 3x and I'm personally not so excited to get my e-bike. I still have the emotional reaction. But things like this happen all the time and it's all relative anyways. I guess some old people will say having gears on a bike is needless complexity and will swear by their single speed coaster brake and again "we're doing it in a less convenient way so it's more proper". I think there can be a point where something becomes too convenient though. I believe our lives in the developed world tend to be too conveninent in many other ways and the increased appeal of e-bikes compared to regular ones can be seen as a consequence of that. So then is it my fault that I'm too lazy to ride a bike and have to rely on my motor, and so I don't get the benefits of only pedalling, and society has to supply the demand for more complicated machines than what is really needed? Or maybe the way I and everyone around lives because of things outside our control just make it quite inconvenient to cycle normally, so I have the choice of getting a considerable amount of exercise and having fun seeing the world with an e-bike, or going on a regular bike that can be ultimately more frustrating and less rewarding in my life? I tend to lean towards the latter interepretation of things in general. I don't own an e-bike but I ride my gas motorized bicycle (a moped really, so I don't pedal at all, lol) a lot more than my pedal bikes recreationally. Maybe it's sad that a bike without assist can be that much less attractive for many people, but that's the way things are, and perhaps it is a bit hypocritical or at the very least intolerant to judge people for choosing the simpler option within the context of our surely not so simple lives. I wonder how many people have read through all this! Such a ramble but I don't feel like grinding my brain gears on it any more. Talk about too convenient.
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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.
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.
@@andreawilson81 As a 22 year old black gentleman , I use my ebike daily in my career - I ride up and down Oxford street collecting phones that people don't want any more.
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.
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 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.
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.
After 4 strokes at age 42, I will not accept comments about e-bikes being for lazy people anymore. My e-bike has helped me throughout my recovery process. Today, just over half a year after my last stroke, I am physically back to roughly 80 percent of what I was before. Believe me, I have come a loooong way, from barely making it up a flight of stairs to virtually always cycling outside of the range of the e-assist.
Incredible. You’re an inspiration! 😍
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.
I am nearly 66, no comorbidities, no prescription drugs, no arthritis, slim and extremely fit. The secret to this is racing, commuting and riding a normal bike all my life and still doing it. At 61 I was third fastest scratch ( all ages ) first claim member, in the evening TT series, in my cycling club. Still do century rides with 1000's of feet of climbing in the summer solo. Exercise all your life and reep the benefits in old age.
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 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!
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.
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.
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 👌🏻
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’ve been using e-bike for the last 4years as a commute option. But I still have 2 regular bikes to cycling during the weekends.
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 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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
You never hear someone walking say to someone on a conventional bike "that's cheating"
So true 😂
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.
You start out by saying let's be honest, and then you immediately are dishonest.
There are different assist levels dummy. You can go from 300 to 400% assist to none...and everywhere in between. There's even a setting that gives you just the correct amount assist to mimic an analog bike. So in your haste to try to knock down e-bikers you forgot to actually research... Even better, maybe one day you'll be able to afford one?
Short story long, what you're talking about anyone with an e-bike can do. And when you shut the motor off you're actually getting more of a workout cuz you're cranking around a 40 to 60 lb bicycle on top of your own weight.
See what I did here was I was honest. You, were not. Good try though!
As others have mentioned, you can turn off the assistance. (Or in my case, I plan to gradually reduce the assistance level. Then my long-term goal is to keep it off unless I'm feeling unwell or whatever.)
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stravassholes...yay.
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.
Thanks for the video. I am 74 and I bought an e-Bike two years ago. Now I can ride with young people and enjoy the trip.
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 ❤️
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 😂
Yeah like sitting I'm car is so active.
I have e bike and love it.
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 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.
I’m 64 bought myself a step through e-bike.the big side effect it got me back into cycling.Never cheating ,it’s good for the mind.body.spirit.
14 days in on my new steed. I have felt my core awakening the last few days. Among other places. At 54 this is what the doctor ordered. My cars haven’t moved. I have made adjustments to how I travel in my free time which includes walking, riding and mass transit. My body has been put on notice. Ebiking has no limits in my city with ample bike routes and paths. I’m happy with my decision. My knees and hips were hurting on my regular bike. The pedal assist helps me manage the pain before it gets bad. Win win.
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
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
Also with Addison's and thanks to eBike I am able to bike once again. Made 40 miles and was more than just wobbly 😊 but still, the feeling when riding is just amazing..
I'm almost 65 years old, and I hit 160bpm on my E-MTB yesterday. According to my Garmin, I'm in the top 10% VO2 MAX for my age and gender, and my primary exercise is my E-MTB. Thanks for getting the word out there!
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.
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 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.
I bought an ebike with a torque sensor. You only get assist when you put pressure on the pedals, no ghost pedaling. I was 260lbs when I bought it and riding short trips in highest assist and now, I'm down to 188lbs and riding 30 miles a trip on lowest assist. I'm 71 and use this for exercise.
I'm 52yrs old and been riding an ebike now for 16 months. I rode just over 5500km in that time and lost 46kg. I reversed my bad cholesterol and lowered my blood pressure to levels where I don't need meds for it anymore. I ride 10x more than most guys on normal bikes and enjoy it 100x more than them. Can definitely recommend
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.
@@jeffminnich3291having pedal assist while on hills helps a lot with not getting over exerted and staying in that sweet spot
As a 57yr old guy with health issues my ebike is a godsend, pedal and power assist option is the the best combo ever.
im 55 years young..stayed in shape my whole life riding bikes, got random terminal lung disease ( pulmonary fibrosis ) thought my bike riding days were over. nope ! not yet.. just bought xp3.0 and love it. 😀
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 dont want to sound negative but im speaking with my real life experience.
I have been cycling to work on a normal bike for over 14 years. this involves an avg 5.5 mile one way journey with an average time of 23 mins. im also an avid cyclist doing regular long weekend rides. my fitness level is pretty much above average as I can do 100 miles easily under 7 hours. I am on my late 40's now but im still pretty much the same fitness level, until.........
for over a year now I have been using Ebike with pedal assist. Initially, I liked it because it saves me energy riding all week to do my weekend ride and I still have enough energy doing core workout after work. but since using my ebike there were a changes that happened and I became lazy. its easy to be reliant on pedal assist and just use the max power specially when you are running late, and speaking of late I tend to wake up much later because I know I can get to work faster (15mins or less) and I dont have to cool down when I arrive at work. on a normal bike I have to cool down for about 5 mins before entering my work place and its more evident when Im late because I have to put more effort just to reach work on time.
the result after a year of using ebike, I gained weight from 72kg to 81kg eating the same amount of food (pre ebike). my weekend ride (on a normal bike) became less and less as I become lazier. I feel much colder when cycling because im not putting much effort in pedaling on ebike. I agree that for some people who does not ride bikes like i do, it can encourage them to ride a bike or encourage physically challenge people to go out and ride a bike but from my perspective it can be a negative thing as my fitness level just went down very easily and my enthusiasm to cycling became much less.
some might say "why cant you just lower the assist setting or just turn it off?" and my answer is "so whats the point of the ebike then?" might as well use a normal bike.. Ebikes are great but and theres no doubt about it but it can be detrimental for people who are already in shape and have a good fitness level.
Im happy to say that the Gods of fitness probably intervened because my ebike stopped working and I took that as a sign to go back riding normal bike and get my fitness back.
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.
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!
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 !! 🎉😂
Allot of great stories and its really great to see people cycling now that didn't or couldn't previously.
The thing is most of you have missed out since you started so old. Cycling on an analog bike is actually easier than an Ebike except for certain things like Hills, long distances and constant speed. Now all these things can be done by either, and both can be done by both bikes but the analog takes more fitness as you get doing bigger hills, intervals and distance. Why does one think the e-bike is easier to ride? if you put the same effort out, it's the same other then the ebike goes faster at that point. I know that speed is fun, but in the analog world you work up to speed by getting in shape. That is a way better plan than not having any skills but you can go fast all of a sudden (just wait till SHTF when your going fast and have no skills). I will own one someday to take me to places that are way to difficult on my analog bike but recently when faced with the decision, I purchased a motorcycle that does 100x more for less money and upkeep. Its funny how folks will go ebike but not a motorcycle when there are smaller motorcycles that are easy to maneuver and ride. Also, why wouldn't folks just ride a regular bike, if it's all the same effort but only difference is speed, you just need to be more fit which is good anyhow. I just find it so perplexing that someone says I can't ride an analog bike but I can ride and E-bike (usually they want to do more than just ride..like MTB or hills). Again, if you live in a hilly area and don't want to get in shape or want to commute far and don't want to get in shape, then it's a good fit, but still not as good as a small motorcycle but that's why we have choices. The unfortunate thing is that all of these ebikes will be useless in a few years as there will be no replacement parts for them as they outdate monthly and there are no standards for motors (mounting) and batteries. These ebikes are just landfill fodder until they get much better and standardize a bit. I just traveled around the USA and saw allot of ebikes being used but I can see how they will be banned in allot of areas due to their speed and lack of talented users. The rentals at the National parks are crazy, it will end there very soon as it is crazy (renting a motorcycle to anyone...yes it's a motorcycle when you have a motor and especially when you don't have to pedal which I see allot) and very dangerous since they go real fast and ride wherever they want. So many places have no ebikes signs already and I read about the debate almost every day. Good luck out there.
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 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.
Avid "mamil", but I ride an ebike all the time as well. *All* of my e-bike trips are trips where I would otherwise have used a car (work, errands, etc). A huge percentage of e-bike trips are replacing vehicle trips. "Cheating" is driving the car.
I'm in my 40s and haven't really cycled since I was 15. The e bike has made cycling fun and I can see the weight loss . It really helps to give me confidence to move quicker when on busier roads . I absolutely love the freedom it gives me .
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.
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! :)
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
On my Diamondback union 2 with the bosch speed line motor, ive gone from 110 watts per 30 mile ride to 190 watt average in the last 4 months. Gone from 300 to 260 pounds in that same time. The Ebike let me get back into riding shape without hurting myself to much. Now I ride 30 miles with 40 percent no motor usage at all. Getting stronger every week, and I just love to ride the ebike. You really get exactly what you want from an ebike. If you want to get into shape you will do it, and the ebike lets you end every hard ride with a smile. I don't own a car, never have, and the ebike is perfect for commuting.
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'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.
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 really love my e-bike but haven’t found it helpful for weight loss. My heart rate on my e-bike was only about 80 when I borrowed a heart rate monitor watch by comparison on my mountain bike my heart rate was 160 riding up the same hills. My heart rate is higher walking than riding my e-bike with high level pedal assist. I love how my e-bike makes it possible for me to ride to the bike path from my house. On my mountain bike, I struggled to get up the hills and was intimidated by the busy road. I only drove to the bike path and had to put my bike in my car. Now with my e-bike I can ride to the bike path from my house.
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.
Love this! 😍 When i tell people I got an ebike they roll their eyes like that's a fun toy, but it's not exercise. I have had a chronic pain and mobility issues for 17 years and used to hike a lot. I got very very depressed the smaller my world got 😢 We rented some e-bikes in the Grand Canyon and it changed my life! I had the joy of being outside again 😃 ( I was having trouble with my foot and ankle and could only do tiny hikes) We road all the way to the end at the canyon rim and back and let me tell you I was exhausted but exhilarated 🤩
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.
I agree with you. When I got my E-Bike I quickly realized that I was getting a good workout every time I ride.
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 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...
Doing High-intensity interval training on any ebike is the best! The reason is it is heavier than a non ebike, AND knowing you have the battery and motor to get you home, you can be more intense in your cardio training. You can empty your tank completely, and then if needed use the motor to get back. I lowered my resting heart rate to below 50 bpm doing my riding hard work outs on a ebike. cheers!
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.
83. E-bike is first choice. 10,000 miles on my current ebike. I ride at level 1 power. Use throttle when racing to beat traffic signal. Usually ride at 20 MPH. Florida. I understand NYC has a 18 mph speed limit. If you get a ticket, the ebike is confiscated and the fine is $1800. In Florida, the cops all recognize me, sometimes slow down when going by me when I'm riding against traffic. Over the years, some of my friends have been killed riding with the traffic flow. Hit from behind.
it also helps older people to stay active, when a normal bike becomes to hard for them.
Absolutely!
1 of my Favorite Hidden side effects of riding my Ebike is that i have so much more energy to finish my day.
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 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
Saving hard for my E-bike and I'm 76. Should I hurry up and get mine? D
This is your sign to go for it 😍
Just damn well do it !
I'm 77 yo. Ride convential bicycle and my ebicycle at times - like when it's windy.
I do my best to ride every day, yep 7 days per week.
Greetings from
Melbourne Australia.
Distance I don't care about, time riding is more important to me. 30 mins each day, followed by a 15 min walk. - keeps my 'hinges' loose.
It's our Summertime here, so ride in the early morn, around the nearby Lakes. Cycling is addictive ! Just gotta do it every day.
dang at that age you can get 3 ebike at least but im not judging ebike is fun and travel distances far than traditional bicycle
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 😢)
No exercise is worse than some. Full stop.
I'm 71 and got a Giant e-bike and put 14k on it. I now ride a recumbent e-trike eCat559 and love it. Took a few falls on the Giant so this is much safer. I live in Tulsa, Ok and it has great trails I ride almost every day. I already have 17k on the eCat 559. I highly recommend all e-bike/trikes. :)
If I'm cheating why is my heart rate between 135 & 150 while I ride for 90-120 minutes?
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
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 👍
E-bikes ensure that people that never liked cycling are now enjoying cycling in my country. They also use them to go to work instead of the car. E-bikes also keeps our elderly - like my parents (in law) - and people with chronic illnesses fit, like myself.
I used do a lot of sports before I got a chronic illness, i.e. soccer, tennis, squash, swimming, mountain biking, running, etc. I can't do those sports anymore. But now I do hiking and cycling on my e-bike to keep fit. I love my e-bike! It's one of the best purchases of my life!
I used to think that they were solely for slugs and the creepers who use them to hang on group rides. In 2022, I rented a high end mountain bike in Crested Butte, Colorado. The town sits at about 8,500 feet in elevation (do your own math, Euros) and many trails are quite higher. Even in turbo mode, I was able to get in a great workout because I was able to maintain tempo in the Red Zone (near my anaerobic threshold) for longer on nasty climbs at altitude.
Now, I think that they are a net positive because many people who did not ride before are able to get some form of exercise. Ghost pedaling and sunlight are better than nothing.
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.
I started e-biking just a couple months ago and am completely hooked! I use my e-bike as a car replacement with the benefit of exercise. It’s just fun!
I also live in a city with a lot of hills (I do a minimum 600ft of elevation in a day). I wouldn’t have been *able* to start cycling on an acoustic bike right out the gate. Cycling in all forms isn’t something to gatekeep but to celebrate!
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.
No one should say they are useless, for people with some disability or distance to biking, the e-bikes are a great welcome cycle. As you also mentioned it will get you started easier adapt to a life style of more fresh air, and some exercise. So sure with the right distances it will keep one fit. But your figures and data aren't show here. The dramatic change of using a cycle without electric support or full support is large. More exercise expected from that, more fitness. Simply a heavier and more enduring way of keeping fit.
Yet what would stop anyone, from using an e-bike, I don't see that as fair since it has a great scape of choice it creates, specially when you use it like you do. To revalidate. What you see a lot though is that full electrical supports get a favor, and yeah I see few on those bikes paddle, I see them getting the lightest of workouts if any real workout at all, and that is a sure problem. There is variations in e-bikes, which you regretfully did not mention. So as for validity to this small elaboration, the validity is low, it has more to it than shown.
So...I am awaiting better research result. What is a second problem though is the risk of getting injured on an e-bike, or to injure other people. Well that is an issue. I tell you, it is. There have been reported increasing amounts of accidents with e-bikes, so using it as a revalidation tool, might not even be all too smart, when you do it after a long time of not cycling at all. With your personal situation this seems not the case, which also hurts the validity of this research/test so far.
A lot of people namely exchanged their car for an e-bike, or switch them for use in better weather conditions. So yet step on these cycles with hardly any experience at all. So if it is a more healthy way of traveling or keeps you fit, well...this should be researched more exactly. So saying I use a e-bike to stay fit, is a bit of a contradiction to me. In some occasions, and for the lowest forms of stress during workouts, maybe, that is, when you manage to avoid crashing.
With a normal bike, you can I hope see in, that the work out is more heavy, more complete, and you keep more control over your cycle, since you paddle it yourself. It also doesn't consume electricity and or needs batteries to be recycled. So overall seen. Why use an e-bike if you are fit, and can ride a normal bike? Well that is I think simply answered, because people think it is fun to do. Well...it will still keep your body moving, so unhealthy, I would not dare to say. People following also trends though. Trends are...full electric supports.
That I call no cycles, but electric motor cycles, which has little to do with biking for exercise. I mean, seriously, I stand with that answer. I plaid for better research. Meanwhile sure it is your workout, and you are having fun at it. So why stop yourself, right? You're doing fine. But please also recognise, workouts, become different, and more intensive, on a non electrical supported cycle. :) And I will sure say I am so happy with people switching their cars, for e-bikes, I love that movement and trend. So keep it up, get out there, get at it! :D
Man, reading the comments it makes me so happy that older people are enjoying cycling thanks to e-bikes, but all yall youngsters don't think for a second this fun is reserved for old folks!
I am 32 and after a 6 year critical depression, I stopped all my recreational activities, this included cycling and BMX. I beat the depression, but I was left sedentary, but after buying an ebike, I am regaining a lot of my lost fitness thanks to the assist that allows me to push myself to the limit worry free, and the mental health bonus riding in the mornings gives me is invaluable.
So, get on riding dudes!
Just turned 70, been on bikes my entire life, fairly serious mountain biker in my earlier days. Got my first ebike almost 4 years ago, a killer full suspension mtb, pedal assist only, and I have been HOOKED since day one! I ride 75 to 100+ miles every week. One of my favorite things is to let friends who haven't ridden one try mine and then see the huge smiles on their faces as they say "That's so amazing!" or words to that effect. When someone tells me "That's cheating" I just say no, it's not, but if I ever screwed around on my wife, that would be!
I e-bike with a group of Seniors in AZ every weekend. Besides the physical there are also social & mental benefits of just getting outside. Without the electric motor most of us would not have dreamed to still be cycling anymore 😅
As a three time head and neck cancer survivor. Who has mountain biked for 35 years. For recovery and restoration, the eBike has been a MASSIVE asset. Where i ride twice as much as I use to and twice the distance. So, I have even more fun and spend even more time in the saddle! I’m in love with ebiking, as it’s been an incredible tool in both physical and mental gain! 🤟🏼😊
I recently purchased an e-bike to allow me to get more exercise! I live in an area of lots of wind which kept me inside because of the extra exertion to ride against the wind! Now, with my e-bike, I ride 20 miles every morning, wind or no wind with pedal assist! I push hard the whole distance which gives me a great workout, I come home having worked up a good sweat, my heart gets a good workout, my diabetes numbers drop, I have lost several pounds, and it is all attributed to riding the E-bike. I am 71 years, and it is allowing me to be outside more and is improving my health! I do not use the throttle, only a level of pedal assist! It is the best investment I could have made!
Yes! And etrikes too! For anyone who has difficulty balancing in two wheels, or for running errands when you need that lovely storage on the back. I got one for my son who has cerebral palsy. This is his vehicle. He can’t drive a car, but this gives him independence, exercise (which is not always easy with CP), and fun use of his body. I’ve started using his trike for the grocery shopping. Which is much more difficult on two wheels due to limited storage, and getting up the hill to our home. But this becomes a fun errand on the etrike.
I will openly admit that I used to think e-bikes are just a stupid product for lazy people when they started appearing here; an opinion I came up with on a whim and never stopped to consider. I felt ill towards people who used them, thinking they're just the kind of people who are so lazy and I guess stupid that they'd ride an e-bike. I wasn't anything one would call a cyclist myself. Well that's just the tip of the iceberg of why sometimes I wish my memory was worse than it is.
But I think this universal bashing of ebikes is a psychological phenomenon that was inevitable. Not being open to different things, new things, more advanced things. It's probably more complicated but maybe one could say the emotional reaction evoked biases towards ebikes and the people riding them.
Maybe conventional cycling has this sense of pride within it that "we're putting in more effort for the same thing so it's more proper" that may be hurt by the emergence of e-bikes. Similar to why one may devalue the 1x drivetrain for it's complexity and disadvantages compared to the good old 3x crankset: "we're doing it using less sophisticated and less specialized tools so it's more proper". I can't articulate it very well but I like the 3x and I'm personally not so excited to get my e-bike. I still have the emotional reaction. But things like this happen all the time and it's all relative anyways. I guess some old people will say having gears on a bike is needless complexity and will swear by their single speed coaster brake and again "we're doing it in a less convenient way so it's more proper".
I think there can be a point where something becomes too convenient though. I believe our lives in the developed world tend to be too conveninent in many other ways and the increased appeal of e-bikes compared to regular ones can be seen as a consequence of that. So then is it my fault that I'm too lazy to ride a bike and have to rely on my motor, and so I don't get the benefits of only pedalling, and society has to supply the demand for more complicated machines than what is really needed? Or maybe the way I and everyone around lives because of things outside our control just make it quite inconvenient to cycle normally, so I have the choice of getting a considerable amount of exercise and having fun seeing the world with an e-bike, or going on a regular bike that can be ultimately more frustrating and less rewarding in my life? I tend to lean towards the latter interepretation of things in general. I don't own an e-bike but I ride my gas motorized bicycle (a moped really, so I don't pedal at all, lol) a lot more than my pedal bikes recreationally. Maybe it's sad that a bike without assist can be that much less attractive for many people, but that's the way things are, and perhaps it is a bit hypocritical or at the very least intolerant to judge people for choosing the simpler option within the context of our surely not so simple lives.
I wonder how many people have read through all this! Such a ramble but I don't feel like grinding my brain gears on it any more. Talk about too convenient.