The Fitness Benefits of Electric Bikes

• It’s Not Really Cheating: The Fitness Benefits of Electric Bikes

• Why eBikes make hard workouts easier to start

You’re probably thinking it, so let’s just say it... Is riding an eBike cheating?

Maybe you grew up believing that a “real” workout has to hurt a little — or that the miles only count if all the effort comes from your own two legs. But here’s the thing: fitness doesn’t care about purity tests. Your legs don’t keep score based on how miserable you were, and your heart rate doesn’t know whether you made it up the climb with a boost or entirely on your own.

What matters is that you’re moving. That you’re pedaling. And that you’re showing up again tomorrow.

For a lot of riders, that’s exactly what eBikes make possible — more rides, longer rides, and the kind of consistency that actually builds fitness.

So to answer the question: No, riding an eBike isn’t cheating. It’s using a powerful tool that, when used well, can be one of the smartest ways to get stronger on two wheels.

Below, we break down the real fitness benefits of electric biking — based on how people actually ride.

1. eBikes Help You Ride More Often

Consistency beats intensity every time.

One of the biggest barriers to fitness isn’t motivation — it’s friction. Traffic. Hills. Time. Fatigue. eBikes remove just enough resistance to make riding feel doable on days you’d otherwise skip it.

When rides feel accessible, they happen more often. Quick spins turn into daily habits. Bike errands replace car trips. Commutes become movement, not stress.

More rides mean more calories burned, more cardiovascular work, and more time in motion. It adds up fast.

2. Pedal Assist Still Requires Real Effort

This surprises a lot of first-time eBike riders.

Pedal assist doesn’t replace your legs — it amplifies them. You still pedal. You still engage your muscles. You just get to choose how much support you want along the way.

Most riders naturally push harder than they expect, especially when climbing hills, riding into the wind, or keeping pace with friends.  

Pedal assist bridges the gap. You get the workout you need, and you get to stay in the pack. Whether it’s riding with a faster partner or joining a group ride that used to feel intimidating,

Translation: you’re working. You just don’t have to feel wrecked afterward.

3. Cardio Without the Burnout

Traditional cardio can be all-or-nothing. Too hard, too exhausting, and too easy to abandon.

eBikes live in the sweet spot. Because you can adjust assist levels on the fly, you can push harder when you’re feeling strong, dial it back when fatigue hits, and maintain a steady heart rate for longer durations.

This makes electric biking ideal for aerobic fitness, endurance building, and heart health — especially for riders easing back into exercise or managing joint stress.

It’s cardio that adapts to you, not the other way around.

4. Hills Become Training, Not Barriers

Hills stop more rides than bad weather ever will.

On an eBike, climbs transform from ride-enders into strength builders. Instead of avoiding elevation, you engage with it, maintaining cadence on the climb and building leg strength gradually without grinding yourself into the ground.

You’re not skipping the work. You’re scaling it intelligently.

5. Longer Rides Mean More Total Exercise

eBikes help riders go farther without overreaching, leading to more time in the saddle. A ride that might have been 30 minutes on a traditional bike becomes 60 or 90 minutes with pedal assist.

That extended saddle time delivers higher overall calorie burn, greater cardiovascular benefit, and improved muscular endurance. And because you finish feeling energized, not depleted, you’re more likely to ride again tomorrow.

Ed Ditto rode a Level 2 across the US. See the article here

6. Strength Building Without High Impact

Electric bikes are joint-friendly by design. Like traditional bikes, you’re engaging major muscle groups — quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves, and core — without the impact associated with running and other workouts. Add in a cadence-smoothing electric boost, and eBikes become a game-changer for cross-training athletes, riders with knee or back concerns, and anyone prioritizing longevity and recovery.

Low impact doesn’t mean low effort. It means sustainable effort.

7. Mental Fitness Counts Too

Regular eBike riding supports mental health in powerful ways. It gets you outside and moving, away from screens and the noise of the day. The steady rhythm helps melt away stress, lift your mood, and bring back that feeling of freedom and control that keeps you coming back.

When movement feels joyful, it becomes part of your identity — not another box to check — and that mental lift often fuels better physical habits across the board.

8. You Control the Challenge

This is where eBikes quietly outperform almost every other fitness tool.

On an eBike, you’re always in control. Increase the assist on recovery days. Decrease the boost when you’re training harder. Adapt instantly to terrain, traffic, or energy levels. No matter where you’re riding or what your goals look like, you make the call — moment by moment.

That flexibility keeps riders engaged long-term, which is where real fitness gains live.

No rigid programs. No pressure. Just consistent progress that you control.

9. Perfect for Active Recovery

Athletes know that not every workout should be a max-effort interval session. eBikes are the ultimate tool for 'Zone 2' training—keeping your heart rate in a fat-burning, endurance-building zone without accidentally spiking into the red zone on hills.

Lower intensity can be good in certain situations. Many fitness enthusiasts value Zone 2 training (exercising at 60-70% of max heart rate).

Translation: An eBike can be a legitimate training tool for athletes and beginners.

10. Fitness That Fits Real Life

Let’s be honest — most people aren’t training for a race. They’re trying to stay active, feel better in their bodies, and move through life with more energy.

Electric bikes support fitness that fits real life. They turn commutes, errands, and weekend rides into meaningful movement without requiring extra time carved out of the day.

That’s not cheating. That’s smart.

The Bottom Line: Movement You Stick With Wins

Fitness doesn’t have to hurt to work.

Electric bikes remove the intimidation factor while preserving what matters most: consistency, effort, and joy. Whether you’re new to cycling or rediscovering it after time away, eBikes meet you where you are — and help you go further than you expected.

That’s not cheating.
That’s choosing a path you’ll actually ride.

A gentle reminder that the fitness benefits strictly apply to Pedal Assist (PAS), not just holding down the throttle.

The beauty is in the choice. Use the throttle to get off the line at a stoplight, but rely on the pedals to keep the body moving. The fitness is in the pedaling; the throttle is just your backup plan.

Studies have shown, like this one from BYU, that eBike riders maintain roughly 75% to 85% of the heart rate of traditional cyclists over the same distance—but because they often ride longer, the total calorie burn ends up being surprisingly comparable.

If you’re curious what that kind of movement could look like in your own routine, we’re always riding alongside you. Join the ride.

Find a dealer near you to test ride our bikes