Answered Anybody losing weight on an e-mtb?

[Shifty]

So I got the bike to recover from a hip fracture. Using eco mainly on trails.

Do we think there is much health benefit on e-bike?
49 years old
Resting heart rate 50
75kg
Heart rate running ave 145
Heart rate e-bike average 120

 

[Beekeeper]

I was 100kg. Trying to lose 10kg to compensate for all the extra stuff I have to carry e.g. tools, pumps, repair kits, torches. The bike lock alone is 2.5kg
I joined weight watchers a few weeks ago to do this.
Lost 3.4kg so far.

 

[Gary]

there's a health benefit from any form of excercise

Do E-bikes help you lose weight?
Yes. if you previously did LESS exercise
No. if you ditch riding normal bikes in favour of motor assitance.

I ride on average at least 10hrs a week (actual riding time). and pretty much always have done
At least half of those hours are now ridden using an Emtb.
In the first few months of riding emtb. I actually rode a little more but PUT ON WEIGHT (about a stone).
My diet hasn't changed. And that's the issue. I eat the same amount I have done for years but don't burn as many calories off as the motor is doing so much of the work I used to do myself.

 

[Zimmerframe]

Trying to lose 10kg to compensate for all the extra stuff I have to carry e.g. tools, pumps, repair kits, torches.

Keep in mind that Beekeepers part time job is repairing inflatable "friends" and "farm animals" ... It's a nasty job, but someone has to do it, and the urgent call out rates are very profitable.

Like @Gary, I've put on weight since starting to emtb. About 3kg's. But for me that's increase in muscle mass on legs/glutes/shoulders/upper arms, just from using muscles I didn't normally use to the same extent or in the same way. I also eat way more after a ride as I'm starving, but then I'm a bit like a shrew and if I don't eat every 10 minutes, I'd probably die

@Gary - did you get the sommet ?

 

[55plusmxinsanity]

So I got the bike to recover from a hip fracture. Using eco mainly on trails.

Do we think there is much health benefit on e-bike?
49 years old
Resting heart rate 50
75kg
Heart rate running ave 145
Heart rate e-bike average 120

My numbers are very similar to yours, except for my e-bike average; it is 135-140 same as my running average.
I use a hr monitor when I ride and on the e-bike I use it’s assist as needed to keep my hr in the 125-150 zone.

So yeah, weight loss is more than possible, for me it’s fat loss, staying lean is my goal. E-bike is only the fun part of that equation, not eating like shit is the major part.

 

[Rusty]

Losing weight on an ebike is easy - as long as you don't ride it like you would an analogue bike.
Pretty much it is the same as walking - many go out in an unfit state and find initially they drop weight fairly easily but results taper off then plateau. The reason for this is that as we get fitter we follow the traditional response is to up the pace and walk a bit faster - which seems to do little for weight loss. Good for the health of heart & lungs and builds up muscle but bad for weight loss.
When walking the ideal is to walk at a steady SLOW pace - about 3mph. As one gets fitter this is hard to do, but using pedometers or heart rate monitors are great for assisting at keeping things slower. With an ebike, because of the assist we go out harder and do our 'loop' in shorter time. What we should do is extend that loop and ride slower.

@Zimmerframe ....... just avoid stopping for wine and croissants every 5-10 km and you might find weight loss easier

 

[Zimmerframe]

just avoid stopping for wine and croissants every 5-10 km and you might find weight loss easier

Madness .. I now have an extra 2 croissants in the morning and an extra half chicken later... I'm not like Gary, I don't have a handy pie basket mounted on the handlebars in order to maintain a healthy calorific intake whilst out on the bike.

Funny you say about the wine .. I always thought that "French" Strava should monitor for particularly slow segment times and flag these as "RW" - for where an obvious mid segment red wine break has taken place.

 

[Beekeeper]

Keep in mind that Beekeepers part time job is repairing inflatable "friends" and "farm animals" ... It's a nasty job, but someone has to do it, and the urgent call out rates are very profitable.

Like @Gary, I've put on weight since starting to emtb. About 3kg's. But for me that's increase in muscle mass on legs/glutes/shoulders/upper arms, just from using muscles I didn't normally use to the same extent or in the same way. I also eat way more after a ride as I'm starving, but then I'm a bit like a shrew and if I don't eat every 10 minutes, I'd probably die

@Gary - did you get the sommet ?

Unfortunately my bees often get blamed for unruly wasp behaviour ?

 

[Beekeeper]

Madness .. I now have an extra 2 croissants in the morning and an extra half chicken later... I'm not like Gary, I don't have a handy pie basket mounted on the handlebars in order to maintain a healthy calorific intake whilst out on the bike.

Funny you say about the wine .. I always thought that "French" Strava should monitor for particularly slow segment times and flag these as "RW" - for where an obvious mid segment red wine break has taken place.

I try to lay off the honey ? but difficult when I’m always covered in the stuff

 

[steve_sordy]

My riding distance and frequency dropped when I got osteo-arthritis in my knees. Both have increased since the eBike and I'm a happy chappy. My weight has not changed because I weigh myself every morning and I eat/move about accordingly.

What has changed is that the muscles in my legs are not as pronounced.

 

[Gary]

Like @Gary, I've put on weight since starting to emtb. About 3kg's. But for me that's increase in muscle mass on legs/glutes/shoulders/upper arms, just from using muscles I didn't normally use to the same extent or in the same way.

3kg of Muscle?

erm...

you sure about that Arnie?

 

[Cuberidersue]

my average HR when riding my eBike , is more than when riding my Push Bike!! so riding an eBike is good exercise and way more fun

 

[Gary]

@Gary - did you get the sommet ?

Nah.. Don't be silly my sexy little secretary.
I had no intention of travelling hundreds of miles to spend MOAR on a second hand ESommet than Wiggle sold me a brand new one for a few months back.
My PM was about something entirely different.
Sorry for not letting you know not to update my diary

xx

 

[Zimmerframe]

3kg of Muscle?

erm...

you sure about that Arnie?

Please, that's Mr Swarzy on the forum .. that is over 8 months, so not exactly a vast gain !

Nah.. Don't be silly my sexy little secretary.
I had no intention of travelling hundreds of miles to spend MOAR on a second hand ESommet than Wiggle sold me a brand new one for a few months back.
My PM was about something entirely different.
Sorry for not letting you know not to update my diary

There's no point me sitting around here in a short skirt and doing my nails if I don't at least do something useful once in a while .. Anyway, I've just cleared your diary for yesterday incase you do decide you wanted to go after all.

 

[Shifty]

My numbers are very similar to yours, except for my e-bike average; it is 135-140 same as my running average.
I use a hr monitor when I ride and on the e-bike I use it’s assist as needed to keep my hr in the 125-150 zone.

So yeah, weight loss is more than possible, for me it’s fat loss, staying lean is my goal. E-bike is only the fun part of that equation, not eating like shit is the major part.

I hear what you say about not eating shIt! like they say about running.... you cant outrun a poor diet,(or outride one!)

 

[steve_sordy]

Don't know about losing weight, but I'm sure losing pounds.

(British joke)

 

[GuyBerry]

I keep my heart rate in the

My numbers are very similar to yours, except for my e-bike average; it is 135-140 same as my running average.
I use a hr monitor when I ride and on the e-bike I use it’s assist as needed to keep my hr in the 125-150 zone.

So yeah, weight loss is more than possible, for me it’s fat loss, staying lean is my goal. E-bike is only the fun part of that equation, not eating like shit is the major part.

I do the same. Actually, I gain a lot more muscle on the e-MTB than my race full-suspension XC rig, as I keep assistance low in short climbs, meaning I have to push a lot harder to get the extra weight up the hill

 

[Gary]

as I keep assistance low in short climbs, meaning I have to push a lot harder to get the extra weight up the hill

how low do you keep it that it's harder than a lightweight Xc bike?

 

[GuyBerry]

how low do you keep it that it's harder than a lightweight Xc bike?

10-15%

 

[Rich-EMTB-UK]

I run mine on 15% with upto 25% motor in ECO. This rides very similar to my carbon Yeti.

 

[Beekeeper]

my average HR when riding my eBike , is more than when riding my Push Bike!! so riding an eBike is good exercise and way more fun

When riding my ebike my HR increases dramatically when I think about how much the bike cost ?

 

[DrStupid]

I lost 25 lbs in about 3 months and now have settled at about 152 lbs. I wasn't doing any regular cardiovascular work at all, before the bike, and now get 18 to 40 minutes of cardio 5 to 7 days a week.

I certainly am eating more, and trying to eat better.

My resting heart rate went from mid seventies to mid sixties over the same time frame.

I recently had blood work done and my sugar was normal for the first time in at least ten years.

For me the ebike has had a very positive impact on my health, and a very negative impact on my finances.

 

[55plusmxinsanity]

I lost 25 lbs in about 3 months and now have settled at about 152 lbs. I wasn't doing any regular cardiovascular work at all, before the bike, and now get 18 to 40 minutes of cardio 5 to 7 days a week.

I certainly am eating more, and trying to eat better.

My resting heart rate went from mid seventies to mid sixties over the same time frame.

I recently had blood work done and my sugar was normal for the first time in at least ten years.

For me the ebike has has very positive impact on my health, and a very negative impact on my finances.

Lol, and now you’ll likely have extra years to make those finances up and more?

 

[HORSPWR]

there's a health benefit from any form of excercise

Do E-bikes help you lose weight?
Yes. if you previously did LESS exercise
No. if you ditch riding normal bikes in favour of motor assitance.

I ride on average at least 10hrs a week (actual riding time). and pretty much always have done
At least half of those hours are now ridden using an Emtb.
In the first few months of riding emtb. I actually rode a little more but PUT ON WEIGHT (about a stone).
My diet hasn't changed. And that's the issue. I eat the same amount I have done for years but don't burn as many calories off as the motor is doing so much of the work I used to do myself.

If you put on a stone in just a few months but sorry buddy, you're either eating too much shit or too many calorie dense stews/casseroles/gravy laden dishes or your portion sizes are too big.

Plus ebikes can help you to ride further for longer.

 

[Shifty]

I lost 25 lbs in about 3 months and now have settled at about 152 lbs. I wasn't doing any regular cardiovascular work at all, before the bike, and now get 18 to 40 minutes of cardio 5 to 7 days a week.

I certainly am eating more, and trying to eat better.

My resting heart rate went from mid seventies to mid sixties over the same time frame.

I recently had blood work done and my sugar was normal for the first time in at least ten years.

For me the ebike has had a very positive impact on my health, and a very negative impact on my finances.

That’s brilliant news. Nice to see the benefits on your health

 

[Jamsxr]

My eBike got me out riding significantly more, from 50-100km per month to 500km, and reignited my passion for MTB. I’ve not lost much weight but I’ve swapped a load of fat for muscle.

Due to the increase in riding my skills have also significantly improved and I’m now tackling features and lines all the time. (E)MTB is so fun ?

 

[Gary]

If you put on a stone in just a few months but sorry buddy, you're either eating too much shit or too many calorie dense stews/casseroles/gravy laden dishes or your portion sizes are too big.

Plus ebikes can help you to ride further for longer.

Thanks Einstein.

How about you actually read what I typed before making aspersions on my exact diet?.. Maybe read more slowly...


Clue: what outcome will cutting exercise load but not calorie intake have? .

I don't ride Emtb longer or further than I rode regular bikes as they simply do not have the range. But even if they did I'd have to ride them a whole lot MOAR to burn the same amount of calories.

 

[DrStupid]

The long ride in the middle was actually 60% mowing the lawn. The fitbit thinks I'm riding the bike when I mow. Lol.
Essentially this is a typical week for me.

One or two loops around the property, everyday, rain or shine and the weight started falling off. I went to the Dr. because I feared my prediabetic state and finally switched into the real diabetes, and this was causing the sudden weight lose. It turns out regular exercise is simply good for you...

The thing about the ebike is, I want to ride it. It's no burden, requires very little special gear, and maintenance is only minutes a day,. A few miles of trail on my own farm is sufficient. I used to use dirtbikes to stay in shape, but as I aged... they became burdensome for more reasons than I care to mention here.

The ebike just seems to fill the void, nicely balancing fitness and fun. Also, the tech and nuances revolving around the emtb thing is fascinating. It's not necessary to learn all this shit, you can just go ride if that suits you... but for an old technology geek like me, it's a hoot.

 

[Tamas]

Last year, I started to gain weight (and lost fitness) when I started to ride my ebike instead of my regular trail bike. This year, I tried to ride 50/50 and ended up riding my trail bike more than my ebike and things went back to ‘normal’.

 

[Ozbog]

Dropped 10 kilos the first month with a change in diet. Went on the Michael Mosley 5 and 2 diet. Energy levels are through the roof. Ride eco majority of the times. But try and ride 30% faster to compensate for assist.