Why E-biking for Older Cyclists?

Having ridden regular bikes for many years and enjoying it tremendously, I was curious to find out more why e-biking for older cyclists makes sense. Does e-biking offer a better recreation experience even if cycling was never a big thing for you?

I stumbled across electric bikes or e-bikes by chance as I wasn’t a fan of the idea of riding a bike with a motor. Like many people, my male ego shaped my thinking. I thought e-bikes are expensive, frivolous toys that “real” cyclists wouldn’t be caught riding.

Then I tried riding an e-bike and was hooked.  I had a blast cycling along the city pathways and cruising up hills with little effort.

Reasons  to consider e-biking

Based on this experience, I’m now looking for an electric bike. However, I still need to determine if it makes sense given their high cost and the fact I already have two perfectly good regular bikes. .

The more I looked into buying an e-bike, the more sense it made. While there might be more reasons, here are four benefits I discovered have helped me make a decision.  Any or all may help you determine if e-biking is good choice for you.

Four Benefits of E-biking

• Increased fitness
• Environmental advantages
• Improved Health
• Sheer FUN

Why e-biking increases your fitness level

If you have explored the idea of ebiking with a regular cyclist, you probably have heard comments similar to these.

“I cycle for fitness” followed by “E-biking isn’t exercise as you don’t need to pedal.”

However, the evidence suggests otherwise. Research on e-bike usage indicates bike owners increase their level of exercise as they ride more often and longer distances than they did riding standard bikes. And by a lot!

A recently published Norwegian study found that people who purchased an e-bike increased their bicycle use from 2.1 to 9.2 km on average. At the same time, they decreased their use of walking, public transport and car driving. As well, cycling as share of all kms travelled increased from 17 to 49 percent after they had acquired the e-bike.

Pretty impressive and a clear indicator that e-biking activity has a positive impact on fitness levels.   

OK they might ride more often and go further distances, but do they get as much exercise compared to regular cyclists?  It appears so.  A study of over 10000 cyclists across Europe produced two important findings:

• E-bikers take longer trips by e-bike compared to regular cyclists
• Physical activity gains from active travel are similar in e-bikers and cyclists

These findings dispel the notion that e-biking doesn’t have the same exercise value as regular cycling. 

Finally, a 2018 US study provided additional insights on the benefits e-bikes offer, particularly for individuals who are not previous cyclists.  It concluded that the electric assist of the e-bike helps to generate more trips, longer trips and different types of bicycle trips.  This means that people are getting out more often and for longer periods of time.

 Hard to beat this outcome.

Why e-biking is good for the environment

It may not be obvious how e-biking can have a positive impact on the environment.  Other than the battery, regular bikes and e-bikes are pretty similar.  Both have a manufacturing  and transportation environmental footprint.  The lithium batteries used in most e-bikes today obviously has some impact not seen in regular bikes, though this is relatively small.

So how can they have a positive environmental impact?

The big reason is e-bikers substitute private automobile with their e-bike. The previous studies cited provide evidence that trips normally taken by private vehicle are regularly replaced by owners using their e-bike.  For younger riders, they use their e-bike for commuting purposes.  It can provide a faster way to travel to work in many large cities.

But even for older e-bike users, trips normally taken by private vehicle are replaced by e-bikes.  The quick trip to the local store, visit to the dentist, or monthly visit to the barber are done by e-bike as part of a lifestyle change.

Health Benefits of E-biking for Older Cyclists

The fact people are getting out more often to exercise on their e-bike provides a clear health benefit.

The research also shows that individuals who normally would not get out are enjoying the benefits of their e-bike. This includes older individuals with a physical impairment, people who are carrying extra weight, and the elderly.  They have more independence and confidence in their ability to cycle longer distances and more challenging terrain.

This perspective is supported by a 2019 US study on the impact of cycling on both physical and cognitive benefits offered by e-bikes (and regular bikes).  It concluded, “cycling over an eight-week period showed trends for improving a number of different executive functions, particularly updating and inhibition as well as processing speed for e-bike participants. As e-bike participants benefitted as much (if not more) than pedal cyclists, this suggests that it is not just the physical component of the activity but a number of different aspects of cycling that can improve cognition and mental health, e.g., engagement with the outdoor environment, independence and mobility.”

So not only will you get the exercise you want, it will help retain your mental capacity.  And don’t we all need more help with this!

E-biking is so much damn fun

While all the above are good reasons for getting your e-bike, the most compelling is that it is so much fun.  It offers a new sense of freedom and eliminates many of our physical barriers faced as the years go by.  Whether you are 50 or 80, there is an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy yourself more often. It is the means to enjoy new experiences with your adult kids and new friends you’ll make. 

You will rediscover new challenges by tackling those hills you have avoided. Or simply enjoy a leisurely ride in your neighborhood.  It will open you up to new experiences and provide something more to talk about than your sore knee.  And with the impact of COVID restrictions, provide an healthy option to Netflix.

Upcoming posts will focus on some of the practical aspects of e-bike ownership including how to choose your e-bike, how to protect it, and how to maintain your e-bike.

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