[Closed] Has your fitness got worse since buying an eMtb?

Mine has got better because I ride more often on an eMTB

Bookmarking.😉

Wouldn't you be pedalling with the same effort just be going faster?

That's what I'd be like if I had an eeb. Actually thinking about it, I'd probably have a stronger core and upper body from the extra weight.

i dont own a ebike now, but in the past i have owned 2.
when riding a ebike i could ride up climbs that i was unable to ride up on a non ebike.

fitter or not, i dont know.

Wouldn’t you be pedalling with the same effort just be going faster?

And then I would be covering more ground for the same time, which potentially could be a win.

Ton, interested to hear why you don’t have an eMtb anymore.

Also been having similar thoughts, I ride around 100 miles a week across MTB and road but my fella has recently got a full fat emtb for his knackered knees. Now wondering if a half fat could be an option for days when I'm pretty tired but still want to ride with him, only problem is the cost is too high for a once a week bike. For example tomorrow will be my fourth day in a row but we're riding together as he's off work and the weather is looking ok.

Be careful putting the rise into the same group as the sl levo. 60 v 35 nm are very different bikes. Doesn't answer your question though. Sorry.

@boardmanfs18

i used them for a few years when i had a heart problem.
once i got mended i went back to a normal bike. i kind of like to suffer a bit whilst cycling.

but, when i need one again, i will buy one. hopefully not for a long time.

No of course, on average, they are not.

No, mine hasn’t, im 3 stone lighter than when I first got mine.
This is mostly because I actually go out on the ebike.
My HR goes slightly higher on the ebike, I think this is because I’m not so worried about bonking while far from home. (Because I have my Ebackup!!)
Probably fair to point out, getting my Ebike coincided with changes in my eating habits.

Same as Mark, I got fitter because I was riding more, then as I got fitter I started riding normal bikes more, and I got fitter still.

Injury wiped all that out, I’ve since sold the ebike, and getting fit again is more challenging.

According to that sustainabikity rrport Trek did, ebike riders consume fewer calories than non-ebike riders. That can only because they are not burning as many, which means they are not pedalling so hard or as much.

No idea but after the discussions on "accoustic" bikes I'd just like to say how much I like the terms full fat and half fat for referring to ebikers

😁

I've had a Levo SL for just over a year. My fitness hasn't suffered but that's because I ration my rides on the ebike and ride my conventional bike a couple of times a week. If you only ride an ebike (even a half fat one), I think you're kidding yourself if you think your fitness won't suffer. You just don't get the same workout. That's not to say you won't be fit, just not as fit as if you weren't riding an ebike.

Ton on an early Ebike, with a heart problem. (Ton, not the bike.)

https://flic.kr/p/cwSJsm

Yes.
More riding (distance and height) but definite decrease in fitness and it shows when back out on non assited bikes.

Thats on a full fat bike, I am toying with going half fat as a compromise.

I take a perverse enjoyment in riding my Levo with zero assistance for the vast majority of the time on group rides (I use the power to get there and back, solo, and for the odd silly climb at absolute full speed).

So I’m not sure my opinion is relevant because no-one else seems to do this (and everyone thinks I’m making it up anyway!)

Stayed about the same i reckon. That's a combination of eebing and mtbing and graveling.

Although I am doing a bit less riding on normal bikes since getting the eeb, that's balanced out by the eeb letting me do a lot more riding overall due to needing less recovery time, or still being able to go out and enjoy myself if im a bit tired.

Eeb alone, or not really doing much normal riding, would definitely dent fitness.

Need to get yourself high up in the heart rate a couple of times a week to maintain top fitness IMO. Harder to achieve that on the eeb alone I reckon.

Also worth saying one negative of ebikes is that when you get back on a normal bike it can feel really hard work and slow and unfit. However looking at Strava segment times or comparing myself to peers, actually im not.

I’d just like to say how much I like the terms full fat and half fat for referring to ebikers

I still don’t know what half fat and full fat mean referring to ebikers? Smaller motor = ‘half fat?’ Full fat = motor twice that size?

My Mum and I did Rapha 100 last month. Me on my road bike, her on her Specialised ebike. Now it meant she rode a lot further than she would have done. But interestingly she literally burnt half the calories I did (both wearing Garmin watches - though I also had a HR strap on so mine was more accurate!). And she doesn’t run it in turbo all the time as she’s super stubborn.

Just one single observation. However she has already doubled her normal average miles for the year, and she’s definitely fitter.

Schrodingers bicycle.

I burn less calories and have a lower heart rate using an ebike compared to my normal bike. I think you do loose fitness.

But you gain a better average speed and a longer distance; for the same time.

I did 50km on an ebike around CYB and was less tired after that than I was after doing 30km on my normal mtb.

Great fun emtb’s though.

“ Also worth saying one negative of ebikes is that when you get back on a normal bike it can feel really hard work and slow and unfit.”

This is another reason why riding an ebike with the power off sometimes is really nice - I get back on my hardtail and it feels so fast and easy!

I think there’s a bit of a tendency to put really draggy tyres on ebikes on the grounds that you have the motor to help out - but that means it always feels more like you need the motor, and above the cut-out speed you need a steeper gradient to keep the bike rolling fast (or more leg power).

“ I still don’t know what half fat and full fat mean referring to ebikers? Smaller motor = ‘half fat?’ Full fat = motor twice that size?”

Yes, a Levo is full fat, a Levo SL is half fat. The former is much heavier and has about twice the real world power.

It's difficult to say as I haven't really done the sort of ride I used to do on my neeb, now that I have the eeb.

Doing about 3 times the elevation at least on the eeb.
I generally ride my neebs on dog rides and local xc and take the eeb for bigger weekend days.

It's pretty soul destroying going up the first hill on a neeb when used to an eeb, but whether that means you're less fit I don't know.

It's just the difference is painfully apparent.

Wouldn’t you be pedalling with the same effort just be going faster?

Thats how I use mine ( or did - I ride my fatty now)

its also possible to ride at the same speed for less effort

Yep, same, it's new to me too

Wouldn’t you be pedalling with the same effort just be going faster?

Which means you finish quicker. Therefore fewer calories burnt, because you've done less work.

I can't see it to be honest, you'll be fitter riding a neeb (I like that!).

I do other things for my fitness, eeb is for fun and exploring.

“ Which means you finish quicker.”

I always refer to the length of a ride I’m going on in terms of hours, not distance. Don’t most MTBers do that?

My normal night ride is a 2.5-3 hour ride (2 hours with the group). A quick ride is 1-2 hours. A bigger ride is half a day or a full day. The distance is the integral of speed over time! 😉

Yeah I tend to plan rides by time rather than distance also. Whether eeb or not.

Though on the eeb it's rare to do anything more than 4 hours due to battery constraints

For me I actually got fitter and also dropped some weight.
Gone from 95 kg down to 84 kg.
It's amazing how much more you want to go out for a ride when you know you have a backup of knowing that if your really struggling you can just whack her in turbo and get home without dying
It's also great for when I've cooked myself on one of my manual bikes the day before and still want to go out and smash some descents despite being ****ed.

Also as a sidenote that most of the E negative folks don't give a shit about it helps massively with descending skills on two counts
One because you can do so much more of it in a given time span and two because the weight of the bike teaches you how to ride smoothly and gives you a good upper body workout.

I’m not sure of an answer. I purchased a half fat rise at the start of the year and I’ve lost fitness but I can’t blame the bike. I feel it’s more down to your own motivation. You can still keep very fit on an ebike if you put the effort in on each ride. The main difference is that you can still have a lot of fun without putting in the effort.

It’s great if your out of shape as you can still go out for a few hours and rely on the bike when you have nothing left.

Also worth considering if you plan to ride with others on e bikes or mountain bikes. If I knew a keen group of ebikers who put in a good effort I’m sure I would still aim to compete. Riding with my normal ( and in very good shape friends )it really makes no difference if I’m fit or not, so harder to find the drive to stay in shape. Not sure if this has all made sense as I’ve had a few drinks - another positive / negative of an ebike, they are hangover friendly.

Had e-mtb's for the last 3 years

I found i put on weight whilst having the e mtb's as i wasnt riding a normal mtb or my road bikes as much as i used to because i was addicted to the speed of the emtb

Yes you can ride an e mtb in lower assistance levels and lose weight but the temptation to just whack it in turbo and blast around the trails was too easy to do

Have now gone back to riding the road bike more often and trying to use the hardtail once a week

Now save the emtb for when i have not much time spare or if im with friends who also have them

Also need to find the time to get out on the BMX and gravel bike

Who knew having too many types of bikes and not enough time to ride them would be a problem lol

Which means you finish quicker. Therefore fewer calories burnt, because you’ve done less work.

unless you ride for the same length of time?

(I like that!).

Who knew the position of the space would be so important...

Do you ride an eeb?
No, a neeb.

Like too

Genuine question. Is this "ebike means you can ride further in a limited time" thing something people with shit rides from the door or are time-poor do?

I'm not bothered if i do 7 miles in an hour, 2 miles or 10 miles, I just like to get out and ride.

“ Who knew having too many types of bikes and not enough time to ride them would be a problem lol”

Anyone with small children and no local family members to help out with childcare?

“ Genuine question. Is this “ebike means you can ride further in a limited time” thing something people with shit rides from the door or are time-poor do?”

See above.

I bought an eBike in the summer. Did 550 km in turbo - was soo much fun! Got back on my none assisted bike and it’s a struggle. I had the fun / fitness leaver in the wrong position. I’m going to stick with the acoustic version for a bit.

I got fitter. Was out riding more and was also riding a lot harder than I did on the normal bike (checked via HR watch) as knew that the motor would back me up if I ran out of legs. Also found I didn't stop as much (i.e. at the end of a climb before a descent).
Would ride for the same amount of time, just do a lot more distance, a lot more descents and take less breaks.
Though, this is not true if out with other folks as I'm the only one I know with an eBike.

I generally ride it in Eco mode (Shimano one).

Still do my normal rides around town or road/bike paths too.

I always refer to the length of a ride I’m going on in terms of hours, not distance. Don’t most MTBers do that?

Nah, football pitches.

IMO if you are already a fit rider they won't help your fitness improve.

In my case though having had a few problems over the past few years, getting an ebike has been very beneficial, before I was going out for just a hour a week struggling up the hill, and not even enjoying the downhill bits because I was so wasted by the uphill's I was too knackered to ride them properly

in fact I have now added an e gravel bike for fitness work over the winter, it allows me to get out for 4+ hour rides on a Sunday with friends that just wasn't possible before.

A mate loaned me an older Turbo Levo to help me in my recovery from 15 months of long covid. It was brilliant for that, allowed me to ride local trails, and run a half-reasonable HR on local Peak District climbs. As I got fitter, I started to ride normal bikes again, which is hard - no-one tells you this, but e-bikes disguise the dead spot in the pedal stroke very effectively - and rode more and more in a low eco setting, which made things harder work, but still easier than a proper bike.

If you think hooning around everywhere in a turbo/boost setting is going to have a marked impact on fitness then you're basically delusional ime. If you run a low enough setting that you're getting the same fitness stimulus as you would from a normal bike, then why bother with an e-bike at all. But it depends on how fit you are / want to be I think.

I haven't touched the e-bike for a month now. I've been on the cross bike and the road bike and the mountain bike and they're all brilliant. For me, once the novelty and rehab benefits of the e-bike had worn off, I wasn't that fussed. Then again I like ups and hammering flatter stuff and the downs equally as much and I like being properly fit.

They're also bastard heavy to lift over stiles and gates. And I hate having a limited battery range. I like being able to ride for as long as my legs last. Oh, and the noise, the Levo is pretty quiet, but one of the reasons I ride bikes is to escape from noise and artifice, not to embrace more of it and inflict it on other people too.

My take: if riding an e-bike improves your fitness then you're probably ill or recovering or not very fit to start off with. Nothing wrong with any of that, I was that person, but all the bunkum about turning the motor off and riding unassisted? How slow are your group rides?

I don’t own one and haven’t ridden one, but….

A friend has one, due to his fight with cancer he doesn’t have the energy to ride a mountain bike, so bought an ebike. He happily admits it takes a lot less effort to ride than a bike.

Another buddy has one, due to a knee injury. I rode with him and his 4 or 5 buddies all on ebikes. Me on a bike. It was a great ride, but I had to work hard to keep up. Pretty much all of them didn’t crack a sweat over the entire ride.

Obviously this is just two examples and everyone is different, but I think you would have to be really committed to actually blow yourself out on a regular basis whilst riding an ebike. So the chances of improving fitness are slim, unless you literally start with zero (IMO obvs!)