Can I get the same level of fitness riding a E-bike versus an Acoustic bike?

I rode my Specialized Tarmac Pro Acoustic bicycle and my Specialized Creo E-bike on the same loop. 16.5 miles and about 900 feet of climbing. I did the following four loops to compare the following data.
Ave and max Speed
Ave and max Heart rate
Ave and max Power
Training stress score (TSS)
Intensity Factor (IF)
The first lap was on the acoustic bike,
The second, third and fourth lap was completed the next day on the Specialized Creo.
2nd lap was completed in Eco
3rd lap was completed in Sport
4th lap was completed in Turbo.
The laps on the E-bike were done consecutive on the same day to get as accurate results as possible. Please watch to the end of the video to see the data from the tests. I think the differences might surprise you.
Hope You like the comparison, please like, share this video.
Now get out there and ride your bike Acoustic or E.......

[@tomevans5458]

In my late 50's my wife and I gave away our regular bikes with the thought that we were done riding. I weigh 350 lbs and found that riding was not as enjoyable as it once was. Our friends had ebikes and encouraged us to get them. We purchased a Radwagon 4 and a Radrover Labor Day weekend in 2021. Since then, we had ridden our bikes over 5500 miles and seen more areas of our city than we had seen in the previous 60 years. We only use the throttle for starting out and some hills, I ride in PASS 2-3 and my wife rides in Pass 2 most of the time. We ride 6-7 days a week for 1-1.5 hours. One of the best things we have ever purchased.

[@thee-bikeandacousticrider]

Great to hear. It is all about getting out and riding. Thanks for watching.

[@lynnwilkirson8703]

The turbo mode makes you feel like a pro rider. So that was the most fun.

[@beaujim108]

I'm 76 and hadn't ridden much in the last 4 years. So this year I wanted to do the classic early season training routine of 1000 miles of small chain ring easy riding "feeling the pedals" not mashing or too easy spinning. Because I ride bike trails with underpasses with steep climbs (36 on 29 mile route, 56 on 40 mile route), it is impossible not to stand or mash the pedals so not easy to stay in the low effort zone on a regular bike. So I rode a Juiced Cross Current S2 for 1300 miles of base training. Heart rate averaged 110 to 122 with max typically around 140 but up to 153 pushing a gentle 1 mile hill. I rode in eco mode and used the throttle to finish off the steep climbs. When I started riding my old trek 5900 "acoustic" bike a few weeks ago my legs felt weak and I felt I may have wasted 1300 miles. My avg speed was 2.5 mph lower, my avg heart rate was over 130, and I was slow climbing the longer steep inclines. My legs are tired and tender after every 30 to 40 mile ride. It is really apparent that riding at the easy level on the ebike I can completely recover in 2 days, but I'm still adapting to the trek and my legs are still a bit tired after 2 days. The good news is that after only 6 rides on the trek I'm able to sprint up the short steep hills at the same speed I did 4 years ago. But my avg HR on my last ride was 140 with a max of 173 so good bye fat burning zone. The training benefit of being able to stay in a low aerobic zone building capillaries in the legs, adding mitochondria to the heart muscle cells, and avoiding fatigue, so that you can ride everyday should not be under rated. All bikes are fun.

[@jancoetzer9941]

The data makes sense to me. I think that if one was to ride for one hour at a time (constant gradient), instead of a fixed route, the rider output, TSS, heart rate data, etc. would be very similar, with the distance and average speed changing as the assist level increases. E-bikes simply take you farther in a shorter time - you can still murder yourself as you do on the acoustic version.

[@r.halsinger3684]

great video and very informative. I'm now in my late 50s and have been driving a Creo for two years and I feel good and fit. I'll follow you from now on.😀😀

[@thee-bikeandacousticrider]

Great to hear. So glad you and your wife made the investment into the e-bikes. Glad you both are having fun that is what it is all about.

[@Frank-ch6xn]

Here are some of my stats, Dogma F-8 versus Creo SL on 18 mile loop with 1100 feet of climbing (Turbo 40% of the time, off 40% time)...you be the judge. Dogma F-8: Avg Max Speed 16.3 mi/h 44.3 mi/h Heart Rat 144 bpm 161 bpm Calories 649 Elapsed Time 1:07:27 Creo SL: Avg Max Speed 22.7 mi/h 42.3 mi/h Heart Rate 134 bpm 165 bpm Calories 485 Temperature 77 ℉ Elapsed Time 48:40

[@thee-bikeandacousticrider]

Pretty good numbers. Definitely more work on the acoustic bike. for the additional time on the bike, I would have thought there would be more caloric burn. Max HR higher and average lower. Overall great comparison. Big question is after riding the acoustic bike could you ride hard the next day? Or needed longer recovery? That is what I typically find. Thanks for watching and sharing.

[@Frank-ch6xn]

I'm 74, so I need more rest between rides than most folks. I don't ride more than 3 times a week. I can do it, but just prefer not to with either bike. I rode in your area in the Agoura Hills for the 1968 Olympic Trials and another time up on a big group ride on Mulholland, past the Rock Store, etc. in 2013.@@thee-bikeandacousticrider

[@justwhenithought]

Great data. Thanks for doing the test and capturing the data. One missing personal / subjective data point: which do you enjoy most among the four versions?

[@YoLeKatz]

How about commenting on the level of 'fun' for each category? (I know it's totally subjective, but still apt.)

[@TheJkarc007]

Yes of course, turn off the E bike.

[@kcdiazWTV]

Why is it called acoustic?

[@thee-bikeandacousticrider]

I agree weird term. The E-bike industry has named the non-Ebike that, so people can distinguish the two bicycles.

[@jancoetzer9941]

Acoustic = unplugged - just a clever slang term. I love it!@@thee-bikeandacousticrider

[@vanivari359]

comes from the acoustic guitar vs electric guitar i guess. Stupid name as usual.

[@bikeman123]

It's not

[@redleaderone8429]

Creo won’t go passed 20mph hits a wall

[@thee-bikeandacousticrider]

Is your Creo a US version or Europe? If in the US take it to the shop as the programming maybe wrong for the bike. If Europe version that is usually the countries limit. Hope that helps.

[@redleaderone8429]

@@thee-bikeandacousticrider I just got a Levociraptor for it

[@bikeman123]

WTF is sn acoustic bike?

[@thee-bikeandacousticrider]

The industry has labeled the non-Ebke Acoustic. I guess it is easier to say than a non-E-bike? Appreciate the feedback and support on the channel.