Health and fitness benefits of e-bikes

Whether you’re looking to save money on your commute or reduce your carbon footprint, there are plenty of reasons to buy an e-bike in 2024.

Arguably, though, there is no greater reason to start riding an e-bike than the health benefits it offers. Indeed, never has taking care of our personal health been a higher priority.

Of course, maintaining a healthy body is always important, but in light of the coronavirus pandemic - in which clear links were drawn between conditions such as obesity, and respiratory concerns and hospitalisations - doing what you can to stay fit is a top priority.

What’s more, huge swathes of society struggled with their mental health over the two years of intermittent lockdowns - and continue to do so as the nation returns to its feet. E-bikes are a highly accessible (and fun!) way to support your mental health as well as keep fit and healthy. Let’s look at our top five health and fitness benefits of e-bikes.

Improved cardiovascular system and heart health

The cardiovascular system refers to your heart and lungs. Regular e-bike riding will increase the efficiency of your cardiovascular system - meaning your body will be able to absorb more oxygen while getting rid of waste carbon dioxide.

More efficient capillaries in your lungs, as well as more oxygen-carrying red blood cells, can result from regular moderate exercise - leaving you feeling fitter and more energetic.

Exercise gets your heart beating - and riding an e-bike is no different in that regard. While you can use power assist to build up intensity gradually, limiting any strain on your heart, you’ll find over time that your heart won’t need to beat so fast while riding at the same speeds. This is due to your heart growing stronger and more efficient thanks to your efforts. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, regular exercise, such as e-bike riding, is “one of your most effective tools for strengthening the heart muscle”, with subsequent benefits such as reduced blood pressure which can lessen the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

E-bike riding helps you maintain a healthy weight

Riding an e-bike gets you up and moving. An active hobby such as cycling will get you burning more energy. Perhaps you will use your e-bike to commute or run errands. Think how you would have spent that time otherwise - likely totally sedate. Not only does the exercise in itself burn calories which can help you lose excess weight, you’ll also find your metabolism improves. A more efficient metabolism will keep you energised and support you in keeping the pounds.

Interestingly, the University of Bristol recently carried out a study linking e-bike riding to reduced risk of type two diabetes - which can be caused by being overweight. Some will claim that a conventional bike will help you lose weight faster than e-bike. This isn’t entirely correct. Riding an e-bike can be as challenging or easy as you like, thanks to the power assist option.

What’s more, being more accessible to riders who are perhaps lacking in fitness initially or new to the sport, we tend to see those using an e-bike for exercise far less likely to give up after having been put off by the initial difficulty level.

Riding an e-bike improves wellbeing and reduces stress

At Eco Bike HQ. we love the great outdoors - and with summer around the corner, what better time to get out into nature with your e-bike. But even if you can’t get out of town, simply exercising outdoors can give your mood a lift

The links between exercise and mental health are well established. The NHS have reported those who exercise regularly are 30% less likely to suffer from depression.

Exercise can be a great stress reliever. Those who commute to work by bike often find that top-and-tailing their working day with exercise provides them with focus in the morning (plenty of oxygen to the brain) and a sense of calm at the end, having released tension through physical exertion.

If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, fresh air and exercise are proven to help. Sleeping well can have a huge impact on mental health and is a major potential benefit of e-bike riding.

E-bikes can help with muscle tone and strength

The fitness fans in our team love riding their e-bikes as it offers a superb, low-impact workout for their legs and core. In particular, you’ll notice that e-bike riding particularly targets your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. Unlike running, which can cause damage as a result of pounding on the joints, e-bike riding is completely smooth. What’s more, with power assist, riders can reduce difficulty when necessary, ensuring these muscles are not over-strained.