E-bikes : Fitter or Fatter?

[@TimFromWales]

WARNING - E-Bikes can make you you have lots more fun....

[@MotorSagla-k5f]

Hello Tim! My experience is the same. The dropperpost of my regular bike I use to ride about 70% was on repair for weeks. So I only took the E-bike. Today was the first ride without motor, no power lost! 😊

[@TimFromWales]

Excellent

[@monguzzle]

I'm a gravel rider and lapsed ironman triathlete. I used to do tons of very long road rides but like many people had a few years away from it when I became a parent. Got a Specialized Creo 2 to replace my Diverge, and it has been amazing. I've definitely seen my fitness increase because I basically only ride it in eco mode, but it's allowed me to crack out far longer rides, with more climbing, than I'd likely have done on the non-electric Diverge. I'll be adding an Amish bike back in before too long as I do miss riding purely on my own steam, but the Creo 2 has been a a game changer. For MTB I'd absolutely recommend electric to just about anyone. More laps, more fun.

[@SaintViper]

E-bikes are great You can get a good workout if you want, all depends on how you ride it. Lots of downhill runs with a heavy bike, means as you say you get a good upperbody workout as well.

[@TimFromWales]

Yup - if I ride more often I’ll be fitter and stronger. But the same goes for my “normal” bike. Bottom line is it just another bike and you can let it carry you or you can use it effectively

[@deivclayton]

Just got my first e-bike last week. What I'm finding is I'm riding twice as long hours because it's so much fun, so I end up exercising longer at a less painfully hard intensity. Hills still require effort, but it's a moderated effort so you end up riding MORE hills because they become more fun. BTW, I'm from Utah, but I LOVE Wales. Such a great place and I want to go back everyday since my vacation there.

[@TimFromWales]

Wales is simply Home that’s all I can say….

[@5492sparky]

Spot on Mate. Absolutely agree with what you’re saying. 👍

[@TimFromWales]

Thanks 👍

[@mrl5786]

Spot on! Ride for fun!

[@waynegiles9320]

Love my eeb, also got an XC hardtail. Both brilliant fun, just different rides.

[@DennisWallman]

Or you can do what I did - start from zero fitness. The e-bike will make you fitter reeal quick :D.

[@TimFromWales]

Great point

[@ChrisITW04]

Hired an ebike again in Peaslake. Garmjn said i burned 1800 calories in the 4 hours i was riding. Much more than i do normally on my bike. Maybe a 3rd more. Did about twice the distance in the time

[@TimFromWales]

I did similar yesterday 1500 in about 3 hours.

[@ChrisITW04]

@@TimFromWales I assume it's to do with training zones and being in the optimal one because you're expending less effort but virtually non stop.. I haven't looked into it enough

[@TimFromWales]

@@ChrisITW04 Nor me, I think its something I could probably have researched to make this video more insightful - but then there's a danger I come across as sounding like I know what I'm talking about....

[@ChrisITW04]

@@TimFromWales I just think the main takeaway is, more fun in the same amount of time and more often.

[@monguzzle]

Spot on. It lets you stay in the best exertion phase for far longer.

[@damirculic9352]

Riding e-bike is like when you doing assisted pull-ups , it gives you some results but nowhere near like when you're doing real pull-ups.

[@monguzzle]

@@damirculic9352 nope. It just lets you spend a lot longer doing the pull ups each time.

[@TimFromWales]

Fair analogy

[@lincolnlendor7690]

… well said!!

[@TimFromWales]

🙌🏼

[@vr_gamers8116]

Speaking from my own experience, you can definitely become faster, fitter, slimmer and an overall stronger more skilful rider from riding just E-Bikes, however if you use both, it's like having your cake and eating it, although you still have to put the work/miles in to see the results, E-bikes allow for less recovery days and are IMHO one of the best, if not THEE best training tool any cyclist can have.

[@TimFromWales]

So my video was trying to focus on the fitness side , so for me I’ve not noticed any difference in my weight or fitness. BUT I honestly have ridden less this last year then in previous years - so I think it’s allowed me to get by with lesser fitness. My main point was that it won’t make you less fit… You could argue that I am less fit as a result of riding less and riding an ebike when doing most of that riding.? But I think I’m at a reasonably stable level of fitness that would take a very noticeable change in my lifestyle to change. With regards the speed - what I have noticed is that when I ride a non eeb, I find myself pedaling faster as I have become accustomed to the higher cadence. I plan some follow up “vlogs” discussing the other aspects. Definitely notice an improvement in riding.

[@vr_gamers8116]

@@TimFromWales Yeah I understand what you're saying, it is of course a personal journey, dependant on your own experience, rider fitness level and input of effort, but I can say without doubt I'm definitely faster, fitter, slimmer and a much stronger rider after three years of owning several EBIKES, EMTB, E-Gravel & E-Commuter. My Strava stats all indicate I'm faster, fitter stronger in every department, cardio, strength/power endurance and stamina since I started using EBIKES as part of my personal training regime 3 years ago. Of course I still ride my OG bikes too, I'm recording overall much better stats across the board on every bike. Good luck with the training and I hope you can make or find time to get out more this year, it doesn't matter which bike you ride, the key is getting out as much as you can. Ideally I ride 40-50 miles every other day, but I prefer 30 miles every day, I swap from E-Bike one day to OG the next, works like a charm. I rest on a Sunday Lol... ATB from Scotland.