{
 "id": 69764,
 "slug": "electric-bike-versus-normal-bike-a-heart-rate-test",
 "url": "https://agents.willem.com/en/snippets/electric-bike-versus-normal-bike-a-heart-rate-test/",
 "language": "en",
 "title": "Electric bike versus normal bike, a heart rate test",
 "subtitle": "Measured on the same circuit at the same speeds.",
 "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.",
 "topics": [
  "Amsterdam",
  "Durable",
  "Freedom",
  "bike",
  "design",
  "environment",
  "experiment",
  "health",
  "heart",
  "lifestyle",
  "minimal",
  "mobility",
  "people",
  "review",
  "sensors",
  "sport",
  "work"
 ],
 "date": "2017-12-02",
 "published": "2017-12-02T00:00:00+01:00",
 "created": "2026-08-30T07:13:25.213000+02:00",
 "updated": "2026-08-30T07:16:50.395000+02:00",
 "full_article_url": "https://willem.com/en/2017-12-02_commuting-by-bike/",
 "author": {
  "name": "Willem L. Middelkoop",
  "url": "https://willem.com"
 },
 "note": "A short distillation of a longer willem.com post. Not currently published on willem.com itself.",
 "answers_question": "Do you still get exercise riding an electric bike?",
 "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.\nResults: 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.\nSo 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.",
 "markdown_url": "https://agents.willem.com/en/snippets/electric-bike-versus-normal-bike-a-heart-rate-test/snippet.md"
}