Effect of E-Bike Versus Bike Commuting on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Overweight Adults: A 4-Week Randomized Pilot Study Demands of Simulated Commuting Using an Electrically Assisted Bicycle Active transportation to school over 2 years in relation to weight status and physical activity. Use of in-home stationary cycling equipment among parents in a family-based randomized trial intervention. Cross sectional analysis of the association between mode of school transportation and physical fitness in children and adolescents “Walk in to Work Out”: a randomised controlled trial of a self help intervention to promote active commuting
Objective : To assess if active commuting with an electrically assisted bicycle ( e-bike ) during a 4-week period can induce increases in cardiorespiratory fitness measured as peak oxygen uptake ( V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak ) in untrained , overweight individuals , and if these changes are comparable with those induced by a conventional bicycle . Design : Four-week r and omized pilot study . Setting : Controlled laboratory . Participants : Thirty-two volunteers ( 28 men ) participated . Seventeen { median age 37 years [ interquartile range ( IQR ) 34 , 45 ] , median body mass index [ BMI ] 29 kg/m2 [ IQR 27 , 31 ] } were r and omized to the E-Bike group and 15 [ median age 43 years ( IQR 38 , 45 ) , median BMI 28 kg/m2 ( IQR 26 , 29 ) ] to the Bike group . Interventions : Participants in both groups were instructed to use the bicycle allocated to them ( e-bike or conventional bicycle ) for an active commute to work in the Basel ( Switzerl and ) area at a self-chosen speed on at least 3 days per week during the 4-week intervention period . Main Outcome Measures : V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak was assessed before and after the intervention in an all-out exercise test on a bicycle ergometer . Results : V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak increased by an average of 3.6 mL/(kg·min ) [ SD 3.6 mL/(kg·min ) ] in the E-Bike group and by 2.2 mL/(kg·min ) [ SD 3.5 mL/(kg·min ) ] in the Bike group , with an adjusted difference between the 2 groups of 1.4 mL/(kg·min ) [ 95 % confidence interval , −1.4 - 4.1 ; P = 0.327 ] . Conclusions : E-bikes may have the potential to improve cardiorespiratory fitness similar to conventional bicycles despite the available power assist , as they enable higher biking speeds and greater elevation gain The American College of Sports Medicine ( ACSM ) recommends adults participate in weekly aerobic activity for a minimum of 30 minutes moderate intensity exercise 5 days per week or 20 minutes of vigorous activity 3 days per week . The electrically assisted bicycle may help individuals achieve the ACSM ’s aerobic recommendations and introduce inactive individuals to physical activity . To compare the physiological requirements of riding a bicycle with electric pedal assist versus non-assist among healthy active young adults . 6 males and 6 females completed two r and omized cycling trials using electric pedal assist ( PAB ) and non-assist ( NON ) . Cycling trials were completed over a 3.54 km course with varying terrain . Time to completion was faster in the PAB ( 12.5 ± 0.3 min ) than the NON ( 13.8 ± 0.3 min , p=0.01 ) . Rating of Perceived Exertion ( RPE ) was lower in the PAB ( 12.0 ± 0.4 ) than the NON ( 14.8 ± 0.5 , p < 0.001 ) . There was no difference in mean VO2 between PAB ( 2.3 ± 0.1 L·min−1 ) and NON ( 2.5 ± 0.1 L·min−1 , p=0.45 ) . There was no difference in mean power output when comparing PAB ( 115 ± 11 Watts ) to NON ( 128 ± 11 Watts , p=0.38 ) . There was no difference in heart rate between PAB ( 147 ± 5 bpm ) and NON ( 149 ± 5 bpm , p=0.77 ) . Recreationally active younger ( college age ) individuals may self-select a similar physiological intensity of physical activity regardless of mechanical assistance , result ing in quicker completion of a commuting task with PAB . Both the PAB and NON exercise bouts met ACSM criteria for vigorous exercise OBJECTIVE To prospect ively examine potential benefits of active commuting to school on measures of weight status and physical activity in a sample of youth . RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES A cohort of students from seven elementary schools was measured four times -- in the fall and spring of fourth grade ( N = 1083 ) and fifth grade ( N = 924 ) . Participants were classified as active ( walking , biking , or skateboarding to school almost every day for baseline analyses or at least 2 d/wk for analyses of consistent active commuting ) or non-active commuters to school . Accelerometers were used to measure physical activity . Height , weight , and skinfolds were objective ly assessed . RESULTS Boys who actively commuted to school had lower BMI ( p < 0.01 ) and skinfolds ( p < 0.05 ) than non-active commuters to school in the fourth grade . Active commuting to school over 2 years was not associated with BMI change or overweight status . DISCUSSION Walking and cycling to school may contribute to preventing excessive weight gain , or leaner children may walk or cycle to school OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the use of home exercise equipment in the form of exergame cycling compared to a stationary recumbent bicycle ergometer in front of TV in the home over 3 months among parents of an intervention with their inactive children . The primary outcome was bike use ( total weekly duration ) . Predictors of bike use in the form of theory of planned behavior and self-determination theory were also examined . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial . METHOD Sixty eight parents of children aged 10 - 14 were r and omized to either the exergame condition ( n=36 ) or the st and ard bike condition ( n=32 ) . Weekly bike use was recorded in a log-book . RESULTS The exergame bike and a st and ard bike in front of a TV had similar use across three months ( p=.13 , ηp2=.02 ) , which declined over time ( p<.01 , ηp2=.14 ) . Parents who were active at baseline and had the intention to use the bikes were more likely to use the bikes ( p<.05 ) . Furthermore , those who reported higher perceived control , intrinsic motivation , and affective attitude were more likely to use the bikes ( p<.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS The findings suggested that irrespective of modality , use of exercise equipment declined considerably for parents over three-months . Parents may also benefit from family physical activity interventions , but it depends on their physical activity status , how much they would enjoy using the equipment , and their overall perceived control over being physically active . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov # NCT01373762 . Registered 1 June 2011 Objective To investigate the associations between body composition , cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in relation to travel mode to school in children and adolescents . Method Children and adolescents from 40 elementary schools and 23 high schools representing all regions in Norway were invited to participate in the study . Anthropometry , cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness  were tested at the school location . Question naires were used in order to register mode of transport to school , age , gender and levels of leisure time physical activity . Results A total of 1694 ( i.e. 60 % of all invited participants ) children and adolescents at a mean age of 9.6 and 15.6 respectively ( SD = 0.4 for both groups ) were analyzed for associations with physical fitness variables . Males cycling to school had lower sum of skin folds than adolescents walking to school . Higher cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and male cyclists compared to walkers and passive commuters were observed . Among children , cycling and walking to school , higher isometric muscle endurance in the back extensors compared to passive commuters was observed . Conclusion Based on this national representative cross-sectional examination of r and omly selected children and adolescents there is evidence that active commuting , especially cycling , is associated with a favourable body composition and better cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness as compared to passive commuting Study objective : To determine if a self help intervention , delivered via written interactive material s ( the “ Walk in to Work Out ” pack ) , could increase  active commuting behaviour ( walking and cycling ) . Design : R and omised controlled trial . The intervention group received the “ Walk in to Work Out ” pack , which contained written interactive material s based on the transtheoretical model of behaviour change , local information about distances and routes , and safety information . The control group received the pack six months later . Focus groups were also conducted after six months . Setting : Three workplaces in the city of Glasgow , Scotl and , UK . Participants : 295 employees who had been identified as thinking about , or doing some irregular , walking or cycling to work . Main results : The intervention group was almost twice as likely to increase walking to work as the control group at six months ( odds ratio of 1.93 , 95 % confidence intervals 1.06 to 3.52 ) . The intervention was not successful at increasing cycling . There were no distance travelled to work , gender , or age influences on the results . Twenty five per cent ( 95 % confidence intervals 17 % to 32 % ) of the intervention group , who received the pack at baseline , were regularly actively commuting at the 12 month follow up . Conclusion : The “ Walk in to Work Out ” pack was successful in increasing walking but not cycling . The environment for cycling must be improved before cycling will become a popular option
There was moderate evidence that  e-cycling provided physical activity of at least moderate intensity , which was lower than the intensity elicited during conventional cycling , but higher than that during walking .
There was also moderate evidence that  e-cycling can improve cardiorespiratory fitness in physically inactive individuals .
Evidence of the impact of e-cycling  on metabolic and psychological health outcomes was inconclusive .
Conclusion E-cycling can contribute to meeting physical activity recommendations and increasing physical fitness .
As such , e-bikes offer a potential alternative to conventional cycling .
Background Electrically assisted bicycles ( e-bikes ) have been highlighted as a method of active travel that could overcome some of the commonly reported barriers to cycle commuting .
The objective of this systematic review was to assess the health benefits associated with e-cycling .