According to Cycling UK, around 15% of children and adults in England ride a bike more than once per week, making cycling one of the most popular forms of outdoor exercise.
It's hardly surprising; not only can cycling boost cardiovascular fitness without being harsh on the joints, but it also encourages us to spend time outdoors while offering an eco-friendly method of transportation.
But how do the physical and mental health benefits of using an electric bike compare?
What is an Electric Bike?
Thanks to the addition of an electric motor, electric bikes (often referred to as e-bikes) assist the rider, making peddling a little easier. This ultimately allows a wider demographic of users to enjoy cycling. For example, people with limited biking experience or a lower fitness level may opt for an electric bike over a standard pushbike, as might those with health conditions that reduce their ability to exercise intensely.
5 Benefits of Riding an Electric Bike
It’s a common myth that riding an electric bike has few health benefits when compared to riding a regular pushbike. In fact, a growing body of research suggests that e-biking can be powerful in the maintenance of both physical and mental health. Here are just five of the many health benefits associated with using an electric bike.
Better Cardiovascular Health
While riding an electric bike is sometimes viewed as ‘cheating’, the research suggests otherwise. A 2018 literature review found that riding an electric bike provided a level of physical activity that was less intense than riding a standard pushbike, but more intense than walking. Ultimately, the same review found that using an electric bike can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in previously inactive people.
Weight Management
The NHS recommends that adults participate in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week to maintain a healthy weight, offering examples like cycling, walking, swimming and dancing. With research finding that riding an electric bike is superior to walking in terms of exercise intensity, e-biking could be an excellent and sustainable physical activity for long-term weight management.
Improving Muscle Tone
A 2015 study found that cycling led to muscle hypertrophy in both young and older adults, with strength gains being most significant among older groups. While riding an electric bike may be a little less intense than traditional cycling, it still requires balance, flexibility, core strength and constant use of the leg muscles and glutes.
Boosting Mental Health
The health benefits of e-biking are not exclusively physical; research has shown that cycling can promote better mental well-being, too. In fact, a 2024 study by the University of Edinburgh found a 15% reduction in prescriptions for depression or anxiety among those who cycled to work when compared to non-cyclists over a period of five years. When investigating electric bikes specifically, an earlier 2022 study found that e-biking improved participants’ mental well-being and happiness.
Improving Sleep Quality
Low-impact physical activity like cycling has been shown to be positively related to both sleep quality and sleep duration in men and women. In an article for Bupa, senior sleep psychologist Amy Gallagher explains that good sleep quality is associated with positive health outcomes including improved concentration, weight maintenance, heart and immune system strength, as well as lowered stress levels, better mental health and stronger interpersonal relationships.
Why Choose an Electric Bike Over a Standard Bike?
While both standard and electric bikes have a great range of advantages, electric bikes can be a superior option for those who:
- Wish to explore the outdoors or travel sustainably while enjoying leisurely exercise.
- Have a health condition like arthritis that requires low-impact exercise.
- Are new to cycling or have a lower level of fitness.
- Have mobility limitations that make riding a standard pushbike more difficult.
- Are more interested in the mental health benefits of cycling than intense physical activity.
Get in touch today to explore our range of durable, cutting-edge electric bikes and find the perfect fit for your goals and fitness level.
*Speak to your GP to discuss suitability before starting a new exercise regime.
