In recent years, due to various nationwide lockdowns and the need to change our now sedentary lifestyle which isn't good for the planet, more and more people have started cycling. This silent and green revolution is stimulating the city administrations to devote more space and importance to cyclists, with new infrastructures (cycle paths and parking), special fiscal arrangements to assist the purchase of bikes, reduction of traffic and other important measures to make cycling safe and accessible to all. E-bikes are undoubtedly among the undisputed stars of this change as they allow users to travel longer distances than normal muscle-powered bicycles, in many cases replacing the car for home-work commutes. According to a report curated by Shimano, in fact, a quarter of Europeans (24%) already own an e-bike, or in any case are likely to buy or use one this year more than last year.
While in some cases it is still snubbed by bicycle purists, the electric bike is in fact becoming more mainstream, because its benefits are undeniable. First of all, we must dispel a myth: e-bikes or assisted-pedal bikes are almost as effective as muscle-powered bikes to perform aerobic activity and combat sedentary lifestyles. Moreover, since they only support pedalling up to 25 kilometres per hour, the effort can be modulated, and the genuine help they provide is especially when setting off from a standstill. The piece of research Physical activity when riding an electric assisted bicycle has pointed out that people switching from cars to electric bikes for their home-work commute show the same cardiovascular improvements as people using traditional bicycles.
Another piece of research, entitled Electric bicycles as a new active transportation modality to promote health, has calculated that using a muscle-powered bike involves an average MET of 6.4-8.2, while an e-bike involves 4.1-6.1 (the MET, metabolic equivalent of activity, is a unit that estimates the amount of energy used by the body during physical activity). Other pieces of research, such as The effect of cycling on cognitive function and well-being in older adults, show that cycling increases people's cognitive abilities, with no difference between assisted and traditional bikes. So, with an electric bicycle, you usually pedal more.
The ability of electric bikes to travel longer and on more complicated routes is therefore crucial. It is good for the body and also for the environment, as has been said, because it allows you to cycle for all your city travel, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of motor vehicles. Many e-bikes also allow - thanks to sensors connected to an App - you to view the amount of greenhouse gas saved, stimulating people to cycle even more.
But e-bikes are also a nice incentive to bicycle touring and adventure cycling. Routes that are fascinating but unaffordable on a traditional bicycle for those who are less trained, especially those in the mountains, become accessible to almost everyone thanks to the power of the electric power and the extraordinary technology of mountain e-bikes. According to the Shimano report, the majority of e-bike owners also use them for pleasure, family trips or just to get out. Many have said they want to buy or rent one to travel longer distances or steeper climbs, and have recognised the importance of electric bikes for physical and mental well-being. The revolution is already under way, and it is happening on an e-bike.
