One of the complaints you get from traditional cyclists is that electric bicycles are bad because you aren’t training as you ride like with a traditional bicycle. In reality, using pedal assist is a great way to get fit, especially since some studies suggest that eBike cyclists even ride 50% more than traditional cyclists. This high level of sustained aerobic exercise on ebikes is great for burning fat, which in turn has led to improved blood pressure, core strength, and mental health. There are a ton of great health benefits that come from using an electric bike, which you can learn more about by visiting the link above and this one here.
However, you may be wondering how you can actually make the most of your eBike and ride it in such a way as to maximize the health gains that come with cycling. We have developed this short post to give you a few key suggestions and ideas that will help you make the adjustments you need for even healthier riding. By putting our suggestions into practice, not only will you find yourself burning fat faster and your overall health improving, but your rides will be more enjoyable and you’ll even travel farther as well.
Let us know what you think of our tips for eBike exercise, and feel free to leave a comment below or send us an email with your own exercise program suggestions for eBikes!
Exercise Programs Tips for Electric Bikes:
Tip #1: Use Pedal Assist Only:
There are three classes of eBikes, with Class 1 and 3 eBikes featuring pedal assist and Class 2 eBikes typically featuring pedal and throttle assist. Throttle assist is a great way to get you where you want to go quickly, but it does mean you won’t be pedaling as hard in order to activate and maintain your motor. When it comes time to workout, or you have time to waste before you need to get to your destination, turn off your throttle and just rely on your pedal assist only to maximize your exercise gains.
Tip #2: Go with a Lower Motor Assistance Mode:
Most eBikes will let you choose from several assistance levels in order to determine how much of a boost you receive while pedaling. Ideally, you’ll want to stick to the lower motor assistance levels over the more powerful options if your focus is on maximizing your workouts. The lower motor assistance will force you to rely more on your own strength rather than the motor, forcing you to burn calories quicker as a result. Furthermore, using the lower power setting will also cause your eBike battery to last longer, allowing you to travel farther before the battery needs to be recharged. While it might take longer to get to your destination, you’ll not only have a better workout by going with a lower power setting, but will make sure you have juice left in the battery to help you on your return trip home.
Tip #3: Alternatively, Go as Fast as You Can:
This is an alternative workout program to our last tip, where you can set your motor to the highest power assistance level so you can try to pedal as fast as you can. The motor power cuts off at 20/28 MPH, so you will have to rely on manual pedaling to go even faster than the threshold set by your eBike. By setting it to the highest power, it becomes a game of trying to beat your motor, with your motor helping you climb back above the speed limit if you do occasionally slow down and fall under. This will drain the battery quickly, but it provides a very good high intensity workout if you don’t have a lot of time to train with your eBike.
Tip #4: Challenge Terrain that You Can’t Train on With a Normal Bike:
Is there a steep part of town or a distant hill that you dread trying to climb with a traditional bicycle? If so, that’s one of the best places to take your eBike to for a truly intense training. The motor power may help you climb, but even with a strong motor you’ll still be targeting core muscles in order to climb steep hills, trails, and mountains. Just remember to stay safe, and to take it slowly and carefully so that you don’t wind up hurting yourself while you challenge a difficult climb.
Tip #5: Take Care of Yourself Off the Bike as Well:
Did you know that one of the biggest impact factors on how well your training session will go is actually determined by what you off the bike? Drinking plenty of water before, during, and after rides will keep your system flush and system working great in order to properly burn fat and build muscle. Getting plenty of sleep will reduce recovery and boost your metabolism as well, while eating a well balanced diet matters just as much as how much activity you get in on the eBike. Finally, properly stretching and engaging in recovery sports will help you tone and develop your muscles without pushing you past your limit, which in turn will help you ride more often and for longer stretches of time. Switching up your workout programs on a eBike is important, but make sure you have a good plan for what you do off the eBike as well.
Conclusion: The More You Ride, the More You Grow:
The simple fact is that however you ride, the most important thing you can do is ride! Everytime you think about taking a car or some other form of transportation, ask yourself if it might be better to use an eBike instead. While you might be a little bit slower with an eBike, the more time you can spend on a eBike riding, the greater gains you’ll have when it comes to your personal training. So, no matter what level of pedal assist you use, just try to ride as much as you can if you want to make significant improvements to your personal health while riding an eBike!
Leave a Reply