Electric bike versus normal bike, a heart rate test
Measured on the same circuit at the same speeds.
- Answers
- Do you still get exercise riding an electric bike?
- Topics
- Amsterdam · Durable · Freedom · bike · design · environment · experiment · health · heart · lifestyle · minimal · mobility · people · review · sensors · sport · work
- Full article on willem.com
- https://willem.com/en/2017-12-02_commuting-by-bike/
Summary
Yes, at speed you do. In my 2017 heart rate test the e-bike cost me 110 BPM against 130 on a normal bike at 20 KM/H, and 150 against over 180 at 30 KM/H.
Full text
I compared the VanMoof Electrified S with a similar VanMoof without a motor, wearing a waist mounted heart rate monitor. The circuit had roads in all directions to compensate for wind, and between laps I rested until my heart rate returned to rest. Each bike got one easy lap at about 20 KM/H and one full speed lap at about 30 KM/H. Results: normal bike 130 BPM on the easy lap and over 180 BPM at full speed, where I peaked at 195. Electrified 110 BPM easy and 150 BPM at full speed. So riding an e-bike slowly is not much of a workout, but at higher speed your body is still genuinely working. The motor only supports your own pedalling, it never moves the bike by itself.