Skip to Content

Are E-Bikes Good For Losing Weight?

Every day, more people are looking for ways to lose weight. That’s honestly a no-brainer since healthy body size is one of the best ways to lead a healthy life. So you’ll see many people running, jogging, swimming, visiting the gym, and the most interesting of them all – cycling. Normally, a traditional bike is used for this purpose, and many would argue that there’s no way an electric bike could help you lose weight.

Contrary to what people may think, E-Bikes are great for losing weight. Frequent use can help the rider lose weight and stay fit as much as any other bike. Using your E-Bike regularly, and riding with pedal assist (instead of purely throttle power) will make the most impact here.

It’s even more interesting that the pedal-assist offered by an e-bike allows it to be a suitable form of exercise for the elderly and people with different health problems. So are you ready to find out how you can lose weight with this wonder on wheels? Then let’s go!

Can E-Bikes Help You Lose Weight?

Biker riding downhill with a modern electric bicycle or mountain bike in autumn

There are many reasons why everyone should own a cycle, and many of these are health-related. Whether standard or electric, riding a bike can help improve your heart rate and strengthen your bones and muscles. The best part of these benefits is that cycling helps lower cholesterol in the body, which can help you lose weight.

Riding an electric bike one of the best ways to achieve these benefits. It’s true that traditional bikes burn more calories, but the electric bike also offers the option for a lower-intensity workout. This means you’re bound to lose considerable weight after riding the e-bike continuously, without sweating it out as much as you would with its standard cousin.

The e-bike offers the pedal assist function to help riders experience less stress and pain during and after riding. This feature makes it a highly recommended machine for riders of various ages and health statuses.

Furthermore, seeing as an e-bike is easier to ride, it’s easy to incorporate the bike into our daily physical activities. From going to the supermarket, commuting to the office, and simply riding for fun, an e-bike can be a regular feature in your life.

Once this cycle becomes a major part of your lifestyle, it means you’re daily engaging in physical exercise – whether you like it or not. So you end up losing weight without doing too much and working too hard for it.

How to Lose Weight on an Electric Bike

Now that you know that an e-bike can help you lose weight, here are the steps you need to take to get the best out of the weight-losing function of the bike:

Ride as Often as Possible

This is an obvious tip. The secret to successfully losing weight is to consistently do whatever you’re doing to lose it, including cycling. If you want the e-bike to be effective in your weight loss journey, you have to ensure you ride it as often as possible.

You can achieve this by making your e-bike your daily means of transportation. In other words, it’s time to give your car a break and commute around town with your cycle. The more you ride, the more and faster you’ll burn those calories.

Use the Pedal Assist Moderately

While the pedal assist is one of the best features of an electric bike, utilizing it at a high level can be as counterproductive as using the low level. Every e-bike comes with four to eight levels of pedal assist, so you can always adjust it as you like.

If you plan to burn calories, you may think that the lowest level of pedal-assist would be the best option. However, that might wear you out, especially if you’re an inexperienced rider. In the same vein, utilizing a high – or even the highest – pedal assist won’t have much effect on your weight loss goals.

To get the best of your pedal assist, place it at a level that isn’t stressful but will also allow you to exercise.

Consider Riding Off-Road

It’s easy to get used to cycling on tarred roads and even trails, but how about you spice it up with something different? This would look like riding on off-road trails. No, we don’t mean you don’t have to find a complex path, but try something different from what you’re already used to.

While cycling down a nature trail will help you put more effort into pedaling, the change of environment will also ensure you have a more enjoyable time riding.

Ride with Others

Sometimes, you may not feel like riding, but it makes it easier to get out there and do what needs to be done when you have someone to cycle with. The whole point is to get you riding more, and if you need a partner to keep you accountable, why not?

How Many Calories Can E-Bike Riding Burn?

Family with small children cycling outdoors in summer nature

We’ve already established that a conventional bike burns more calories than an electric bike, but that doesn’t mean the latter is lagging either. According to a recent study, a man riding a standard bike for one hour will burn between 500 and 600 calories, while the same man on an e-bike will burn between 300 and 400 calories.

There’s an obvious 20-25% difference, but it’s also apparent that an e-bike can help you lose weight too. It’s incredible that you get to burn that many calories within an hour, even with electric assistance.

To add to the advantages of an electric bike, let’s also note that these machines are heavier than standard bikes. By implication, they are heftier to lift and require more effort to balance. Moving and lifting one of these is a form of a weight training exercise.

What Diet Goes Well with E-Biking as an Exercise?

They’ve always said you are what you eat. If you want to lose weight, eat foods that encourage it. Dietary recommendations differ, and that’s why you should consult a doctor to know what works for you.

Still, here are some general tips you should consider:

  • Avoid processed and fatty foods.
  • Eat more whole grains than refined ones.
  • Take sugar out of your meals
  • Reduce dairy products intake.
  • Incorporate healthy fruit and vegetables into your diet.

Following these rules will go a long way in ensuring that you get the best out of your electric bike.

Healthy Snacks for E-Bike Riding

Although one of the goals is to burn calories, you also need enough fuel in your body, especially if you’ll be riding for a long time and cycling across rough terrains. Since you can’t pack a full meal along with you, you need healthy snacks that will provide you with the energy you need for your journey.

These snacks should have the necessary nutrients, as well as be portable and long-lasting. Here are some healthy snacks you can pack for your next bike trip:

  • Fruits like bananas contain potassium and other nutrients that will fuel your muscles and give you more riding power.
  • Dried fruits and nuts like apricots and raisins also contain necessary nutrients.
  • Energy bars that contain whole grains and dried fruits.
  •  Water – do we even need to explain how important this is?

Once you’re done riding, you might want to eat a small meal that contains carbohydrates, fats, and protein. A combo of this will help you gain back strength in no time.