7 Must-know Health Benefits of Riding Pedal Assist Bikes
Riding a bike has long been associated with better health and fitness. However, traditional bikes require a decent amount of physical exertion which may be challenging for some individuals. This is where pedal assist bikes come into the picture.
These electric-powered bicycles provide motor assistance when you pedal, making cycling easier and more accessible. If you are wondering whether pedal assist bikes offer the same health perks as traditional cycling, the answer is most likely yes! Here are 7 potential ways riding an e-bike can boost your physical and mental health:
1. Enhanced Cardiovascular Health
Riding a pedal assist bike regularly can strengthen your cardiovascular system in several ways. Cycling makes your heart beat faster and pump more blood throughout your body. Over time, this increased cardiac workload can enlarge the heart muscle, allowing it to deliver more oxygenated blood with each contraction.
In addition, the rhythmic nature of pedaling works your heart without huge spikes in effort. This builds endurance, so your heart grows accustomed to working moderately hard for sustained periods. With a stronger cardiovascular system, you may notice your resting heart rate decreases as you get into better shape.
The aerobic exercise of riding an e-bike requires your breathing and lung function to increase. Your lungs will inhale more oxygen and distribute it efficiently via the bloodstream. Improved lung capacity and tissue elasticity are other cardiovascular perks of regular cycling.
For further insights, read more here: Pedaling to a Healthier Heart.
2. Better Weight Management
Pedal assist bikes can help with weight loss in a few key ways. First, cycling burns calories and body fat. A 155 lb person may burn 260-400 calories per 30 minutes of pedal-assisted riding. The exact amount depends on your weight, speed, and terrain difficulty. This calorie expenditure from regular e-bike use really adds up over time.
Riding an e-bike also builds metabolism-boosting muscle in your legs and core. More lean muscle mass equals more calories burned even when at rest. Combine this with the cardiovascular training effects, and your body becomes adept at using fat stores for energy.
Using a pedal assist bike for transportation or running errands removes opportunities to drive. The incidental physical activity from short, frequent rides makes it easier to maintain a calorie deficit without rigorous exercise. For weight loss, consistency with e-bike use is key.
Click for more: How Long Should I Ride A Bike To Lose Belly Fat In 2023?
3. Improved Mental Well-being
The combination of exercise plus being outdoors on a pedal assist bike can work wonders for your mood and mental health. Physical activity releases feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. In fact, cycling is linked to reduced risk for depression and improved cognitive function.
Riding an e-bike can be a form of moving meditation. The rhythmic pedaling, fresh air, and scenery provide a soothing effect on your mind. Pushing your physical limits also builds confidence and self-esteem. With regular e-bike rides, many riders report decreased anxiety, stress, and general happiness.
Cycling is a social activity, too. Riding with a group or just being around others outdoors has been shown to improve mood and alleviate loneliness. For many, e-bikes provide a welcoming, stigma-free way to get those mental health benefits.
Discover now: How cycling can improve your mental health.
4. Lower Impact on Joints
The low-impact nature of cycling is ideal for people with joint issues, injuries, or arthritis. When you pedal, the force is distributed evenly across your joints. Your weight is supported by the bike seat, rather than your hip and knee joints bearing the brunt of it. This protects your joints from jarring impacts that can worsen cartilage damage and inflammation. The smooth, circular pedaling motion keeps the joints mobile while strengthening the surrounding muscles.
Pedal assist bikes provide further joint relief. The motor engages when you need extra power, allowing you to maintain speed and momentum without having to push heavily through each pedal stroke. This removes strain and impact on your knees, ankles, and hips. Riders can further adjust the pedal assist level based on how their joints are feeling that day. On days when your arthritis is flaring up, you can rely more on motor assistance to avoid pain and risk of further injury. The flexibility of pedal assist makes cycling accessible even when joints are bothering you.
Regular cycling keeps the joints lubricated and nourished to prevent stiffness. Strengthening the muscles around the joints provides added stability and protection from injury. For those recovering from joint surgery or injuries, pedal assist bikes provide a safe way to regain mobility at your own pace.
Find out the details: 8 Important Health Benefits Of Electric Bikes.
5. Enhanced Muscle Tone
Riding a pedal assist bike regularly promotes stronger leg and core muscles. Cycling uses your glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles to power each pedal stroke. This repetitive motion acts as a strength workout for your lower body. The micro-bursts of assistance from the electric motor allow you to pedal against greater resistance. This builds muscular endurance as you push yourself harder than you may be able to on a traditional bike.
Cycling up hills and accelerating from stops engages your largest muscle groups. The combined strength and cardio workout tones and sculpts your leg muscles. Your core also gets a workout from remaining balanced on the bike seat during the ride. Stronger leg and core muscles will boost your metabolism, power your pedal stroke, and improve stability. You'll also enjoy more muscle definition from consistent cycling. For many e-bike riders, the toned legs are an added bonus to the cardiovascular benefits!
Click to learn: 10 Reasons Why You Need Electric Bikes For Daily Commuting.
6. Better Respiratory Health
The aerobic exercise of cycling requires increased breathing and lung capacity. Your respiratory rate and depth of breath must elevate to provide oxygen to working muscles. This is especially true when riding up hills or sprinting.
With an e-bike, you can maintain faster paces with less exhaustion. This allows for a more sustained cardio activity to expand lung capacity. The deep rhythmic breathing fully engages the diaphragm and intercostal muscles between the ribs. Strengthening the breathing muscles allows more oxygen to be inhaled and transported throughout the bloodstream. Your pulmonary system becomes more efficient at diffusing oxygen into circulation. Improved lung function and stamina make breathing easier when doing everyday activities.
For those with respiratory limitations, the pedal assist feature enables cycling without overexerting their lungs. With doctor approval, e-bike riding can safely improve respiratory fitness levels over time.
Explore further: Best 5 Reasons To Have An E-Bike.
7. Increased Longevity
The combination of cardiovascular, muscular, and mental benefits of riding an e-bike can significantly increase your longevity. Regular exercise has been proven to extend lifespan by counteracting age-related decline.
Cycling ticks all the boxes for an ideal anti-aging activity. It improves heart health, lowers blood pressure, prevents obesity, and gives you sharper mental acuity. Aerobic exercise and leg strength boost immunity, energy levels, and quality of life. Pedal assist bikes make it easy to adopt and stick to a cycling habit. The joy and comfort of riding an e-bike encourages you to do it daily. More time spent exercising through cycling directly translates to added years of healthy life.
Conclusion
In summary, pedal assist bikes represent an exciting evolution in cycling that can make exercise more accessible and enjoyable. While specific research is limited, many experts believe e-bikes can provide excellent health benefits with less stress on your body. If you are looking for a fun new way to get active, pedal assist bikes are worth considering.
