Do You Get Exercise on an Electric Bike?
Electric bikes (eBikes) have transformed the way people get around. eBikes are popular for urban commuters to get to the office and for families to enjoy their surroundings but what about physical rewards for biking around?
With everyone on their New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or get in better shape people are looking for exercise options that are fun and effective. So, do you get exercise on an electric bike?
Despite a motor and a battery, you absolutely can get exercise and lose weight with an eBike. There’s no question that eBikes make riding much easier and let’s you go cover a lot of distance without exhausting yourself but anytime you’re out and moving around you’re getting great exercise.
Anytime you’re riding your eBike you’re getting some physical activity, but what type of workout and its intensity mostly depends on what mode you’re riding in and how much power you use. Let’s learn more about using an eBike for exercise including how different modes affect exercise effort and pointers on choosing an eBike for exercising.
Different eBike Modes and Exercise
Exercising with Full Power
Full power or full throttle generally means the eBike’s motor and battery is doing the work for you. When you want to spend the least amount of effort, full throttle is the way to go. Because you’re giving the least effort full throttle is least useful mode for exercise but as we stated above, even full power gets you out and moving – that’s exercise.
Exercising with Pedal Assist
Pedal assist is an eBike mode where the motor only engages when you pedal the bike. Pedal assist is useful for riders who don’t want to ride full throttle the entire time, need help tackling hills, or who want a decent workout while riding their eBike. Exercising with pedal assist uses requires more effort than full throttle but manual mode gives the best workout.
Exercising on Manual Mode
Manual mode cuts power to the motor and battery, leaving you to move the bike with only your legs and effort. Once power is cut, the eBike is essentially a conventional bike, albeit heavier than most bikes. Because you’re not getting assistance from the motor, manual mode provides the most strenuous workout and will help you burn off that belly you cultivated over the holiday season.
Tips for Manual Mode
If you’re purchasing an eBike but plan to ride on manual mode frequently here are some pointers:
So, Do You Get Exercise on an Electric Bike?
Nothing says you have the stay on one mode for your entire ride. You could start a workout with pedal assist to get the blood pumping, follow with manual mode for a real workout, then switch to full throttle as you cool down. You can use any combination of eBike power modes to tailor the best workout for you.
An eBike’s versatility also means it’s a great exercise tool for everyone from older kids to older adults. Because you decide the effort you spend you don’t need to worry about overdoing it and can always let full throttle take over if needed. It’s now unsurprising to see eBikes dotting both school and retirement community parking lots thanks to their versatility.
Getting Exercise on an eBike
Anytime you’re riding your eBike around in the sunshine you’re doing much better than sitting on the couch. You can use different eBike modes to push yourself harder but no matter which way you ride you’re getting exercise. If you’re ready to enjoy the benefits of an eBike including exercise check out the wide array of online eBikes, read reviews, and order today.