Weight gain from EMTB

[Growmac]

I ride about twice the miles on my analogue Enduro as I do on my Trek Rail.

If I'm riding with friends where everyone's on an ebike and going hard I still find my average heart rate is about 10-15 bpm lower than on my Enduro. I'm not 100% sure why, but my theory is that the technicalities of the trail don't let me go as flat out because of the higher average speed. Skill and technicality get in the way. The ebike definitely gives me a better upper body workout though.

So yeah, I have sympathy with the OP. Getting an ebike let me keep up, and then get fit enough to ride analogue with the fast group of friends I hang out with now. Regular bike rides are more strenuous than ebike rides, but probably only because other factors come in to it.

(Edited to remove snark)

 

[rzr]

Actually, almost any sport will burn almost the same calories an hour if done at similar intensity. It's your capacity to do aerobic stuff

exactly, that's the point.
I noticed that on EMTB is harder to keep the same intensity...
yes, you can do that, but you have to focus a lot. I had intense rides, but some of them are less.
maybe because non-stop climbs are shorter? dunno.
This is from my experience, I ride my Levo for 6 months, on different modes, different intensities, I can easily reach >90%mHR on techy climbs.
Also I do 2500m elevation on my analog Transition Sentinel (160/150mm travel) and burn 4kkcal (I weight 73kg)
It's the same with a road bike, training is better, because i'm able to execute better intervals. Steady power for some time (possibly longer, like 15-20 mins)

but calories=calories of course, doesn't if it was ebike, bike, rowing or playing chess

 

[saifyboss]

I did a quick search on this and didnt find much. Be honest, how many of you have gained a decent amount of weight going from an analog to an eeb? Ive been riding regularly (analog) for a little over two years. In the last year, Ive really stepped it up to averaging 4x a week, about 50ish miles, and 6000 ft +. This is a mix of enduro/dh, xc, and a little gravel mixed in. I also hit the gym about 3x a week. In pretty good shape and fairly strong for my age. Rides usually end with a big meal (bar food) and occasionally a few IPAs. With all the riding I did, it was easy to burn off the calories and then some.

I picked up an emtb this past november. I still get out about 4x a week, but most of my rides are on the emtb. The bad part is, Im still eating/drinking the same post ride. In 3 months, Ive gained 10 lbs!

Yes, the emtb does provide a decent workout, but no where near an analog, especially on the tough climbs which my local trails are full of. I’m talking climbs where your lungs are exploding and you curse the day you ever stepped foot on a bike. I miss the feeling of coming back from a ride completely drained. I love the hell out of the ebike, as nothing comes close in producing the smiles per hour (sph) for me. However, I think Im going to have to suck it up (literally) and take out the old pedal bikes a couple times per week.

How many of you have gained a sizable amount of weight? How much? Are you adding the analog back in the mix? Do you not care? Is a hotdog a sandwich?

Here i have lost 5 kg from 77, you need to join gym or hire some personal trainer lol

 

[Paris Doo]

Since I got my e bike I haven't lost any weight but I haven't gained either. Compared to last year and my regular bike I have already done 700 km vs. 200 km and I feel in much better shape & riding form but my weight has remained the same and the reason is that even though I ride more I also eat more so it is a simple calculation of calories in vs. out.

Now I am on a diet and the benefit of riding an e bike is that even though I feel a bit weaker I can still ride 2-3 times per week without feeling exhausted or burn my legs in the process.

 

[CliffP]

I lost 50 lbs. it is possible that EMTBs saved my life

 

[irie]

Nope, not buying it.

You can take a horse to water, but ...

 

[Weeksy]

I think i'm different to many in the fact that Ebikes are not for fitness or weight for me, the Ebike is the 'plaything' for me. It's the bike that enables me to lap more at lower efforts.
I still manual MTB i still do lots of Zwift riding, the Ebike isn't for me to work on fitness, but more to enjoy trails and work i guess on technique.
I could lower the power on the Eeb, but don't ...

 

[EMTBSEAN]

I lost almost 7 stone to be able to ride a bike but since then I’ve put 3 stone back on even though I was doing over a 100 miles a week, I’m back on the diet but it’s slow going despite going to the gym 4 times a week, I’ve had a few health issues but hopefully that’s all behind me and I’m able to do more biking now

 

[tjl5709]

I stopped riding my analog MTB as the hill climbs became to much and I would end up going anarobic and then bonking. (I'm old). My eMTB allows me to ride the trails again and I can keep my heart rate below a thresh hold that then allows me to ride for hours. As an old MTBer, these eMTB's have been a godsend for me.

 

[EMTBSEAN]

I stopped riding my analog MTB as the hill climbs became to much and I would end up going anarobic and then bonking. (I'm old). My eMTB allows me to ride the trails again and I can keep my heart rate below a thresh hold that then allows me to ride for hours. As an old MTBer, these eMTB's have been a godsend for me.

I can relate to that entirely mate, I’m old too

 

[Ribinrobin]

Ride my normal bike more than my e-bike, most my ebike mates are unfit. They are E-MTB fit don't get me wrong they can move bike around etc, but on a normal bike they can only do 1-2 hills before throwing in towel.

 

[Stihldog]

I lost almost 7 stone to be able to ride…

Holy Crap! If I lost that much I’d probably disappear.
(Not exactly sure how much a stone weighs?)

 

[The Hodge]

Holy Crap! If I lost that much I’d probably disappear.
(Not exactly sure how much a stone weighs?)

14lbs

 

[RustyIron]

eMTB's don't make you fat.
Ice cream and beer make you fat.

 

[Ark]

Riding EMTB doesnt cause weight gain.
Eating too much does.

 

[Stihldog]

14lbs

Ok thanks. That puts me at 12+ stone.

The problem I have is that I lose weight when I stop riding for a while. I can almost lose 10lbs. When I was working I would gain 20+lbs…or more.

Different metabolism I guess. The eMTB keeps me in shape …and now the Fuel EXE keeps me in better shape.

Ps; my helmet makes me look fat .

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Holy Crap! If I lost that much I’d probably disappear.
(Not exactly sure how much a stone weighs?)

Roughly 108lb’s lost I envy people who can eat whatever they want to and don’t gain weight, it’s the total opposite for me and pretty miserable at times, I have to exercise to loose weight and keep it from coming back, if I don’t work or go to the gym I can gain weight by pounds a week, sitting around all day is not an option for me, think yourselves very lucky guys

 

[Stihldog]

Roughly 108lb’s lost I envy people who can eat whatever they want to and don’t gain weight, it’s the total opposite for me and pretty miserable at times, I have to exercise to loose weight and keep it from coming back, if I don’t work or go to the gym I can gain weight by pounds a week, sitting around all day is not an option for me, think yourselves very lucky guys

I suppose it can be a blessing and a curse. I really need to pay attention to my diet. If I don’t …my day is ruined. A large breakfast is a must for me. I must carry energy bars when I ride all the time. Hypoglycaemia is a real risk when it happens, so I take every measure to avoid that.

When I worked (as a heli-faller), 5 meals a day were a must. My back-pac was filled with food. I know it’s genetic …my sister, and one of my sons, has the same issue. Sweats, shaking and confusion are some of the signs I need to be aware of…before it gets critical. A “crash” can happen quickly.

Diet is so important. My calorie intake is rediculous sometimes, just to maintain normalcy.

 

[Canyon Shawn]

I had a slight hypoclicimia problem. For me it was caused from an endless cycle of eating junk carbs, having a low blood sugar crash and repeat. It took a while to break that cycle. I’m actually better if I don’t eat till late afternoon and eat a quality lunch and dinner, and stay away from the carb junk.

I broke that cycle by abstaining from any refined sugar for a month. After that month, I felt better, I could even hear better. Just to see what would happen, I took a sip of a Coke. I could immediately feel the warmth of the sugar running through my body. It was weird!

 

[arTNC]

I stopped riding my analog MTB as the hill climbs became to much and I would end up going anarobic and then bonking. (I'm old). My eMTB allows me to ride the trails again and I can keep my heart rate below a thresh hold that then allows me to ride for hours. As an old MTBer, these eMTB's have been a godsend for me.

I believe this post is spot on for many older riders. Clearly as one can see from the many responses here that there is no one size fits all or a blanket you can throw over the whole emtb thing. I mountain biked for decades on pedal-only MTB's like many, but at a certain point it became harder to maintain the level of effort I had put forth, and it became harder to ride as frequently because of muscle fatigue and other factors that come with age. It also became harder to ride challenging terrain that was so much fun when younger.

I got frustrated enough, that I took one of my old pedal MTB's, a 2003 SC Bullit, and added a Bafang mid-drive to it. Wow!...I was having fun again...AND...I was riding more frequently and harder. I've never been a heart rate monitor or other device guy to measure effort, just went by how far my tongue hung out...LOL!

Depending on how your ride your emtb, there is no free lunch in terms of fitness if you're truly riding hard with decent effort. Sure...if you're riding your emtb on the city park bike path at a leisurely pace, then that's a whole different issue as far as fitness goes. But if you're riding your emtb on a trail, going fast, attacking challenging terrain...your age will not be the natural hinderance that it can be to maintain a regular, fun, regime of fitness.

Recently picking up a Rail 7 has only increased my riding frequency over the mid-drive Bullit as the bike is definitely superior in all ways which encourages more riding in more challenging terrain. The emtb has been a huge benefit in keeping me active and fit. I have never had the discipline to be a gym or workout program person. The MTB and now emtb, however, has always made it easy and fun to keep me motivated to exercise. My main riding trail is about 12 minutes from my house, and maybe most don't have that luxury and access.

 

[Mrj35]

I did a quick search on this and didnt find much. Be honest, how many of you have gained a decent amount of weight going from an analog to an eeb? Ive been riding regularly (analog) for a little over two years. In the last year, Ive really stepped it up to averaging 4x a week, about 50ish miles, and 6000 ft +. This is a mix of enduro/dh, xc, and a little gravel mixed in. I also hit the gym about 3x a week. In pretty good shape and fairly strong for my age. Rides usually end with a big meal (bar food) and occasionally a few IPAs. With all the riding I did, it was easy to burn off the calories and then some.

I picked up an emtb this past november. I still get out about 4x a week, but most of my rides are on the emtb. The bad part is, Im still eating/drinking the same post ride. In 3 months, Ive gained 10 lbs!

Yes, the emtb does provide a decent workout, but no where near an analog, especially on the tough climbs which my local trails are full of. I’m talking climbs where your lungs are exploding and you curse the day you ever stepped foot on a bike. I miss the feeling of coming back from a ride completely drained. I love the hell out of the ebike, as nothing comes close in producing the smiles per hour (sph) for me. However, I think Im going to have to suck it up (literally) and take out the old pedal bikes a couple times per week.

How many of you have gained a sizable amount of weight? How much? Are you adding the analog back in the mix? Do you not care? Is a hotdog a sandwich?

I gained weight before I got the ebike lol. Now I'm building muscle

 

[Mrj35]

I appreciate everyones input. However, with everything else being the same, i.e, diet, time in the saddle, etc, my anecdotal experience is the ebike simply cannot burn the calories that pedaling an anolog would. I think we can all agree that calories burned per hour on a ebike cannot match that of an anlaog. I would have to change one of the existing factors like more time in the saddle, improving my diet, and/or decreasing the assist. . I was just surprised how much of a difference it made in a relatively short time. Im just as surprised that no one else gained weight switching to an eeb.

Additional time in the saddle isnt an option as Im maxed out on time available to ride (about 8 hrs a week). So, the diet definitely needs to change along with decreasing the assist. I also plan to take the analog out more often.

The rain here in socal isnt helping anything! Enjoy your weekend all!

what type of terrain do you ride? If you can find steep technical climbs and steep, fast demanding descents you may be able to offset your previous fitness goals. Do like 1200-1800 meters of steep tech climbs and you'll probably get closer to it.
I used to do 1000 meter+ climbs that were technical, steep and varied followed by double black descents pretty regularly and I won't deny that it was extremely demanding. I would walk atleast 30-40% of those climbs as I just couldn't maintain the fitness for it unless I rode that stuff 4 times a week.
Now I can ride 100% of the climbs and its ok if I only get out once a week or every other week.
The other option is just go back to the regular bike.

 

[Plummet]

I'm lighter than pre-e me.

But E hasnt replaced mtb for me it was an addition. I still mtb too.

I also ride it like i stole it!

 

[irie]

In the vast majority of cases if you gain weight you're eating too much. It really is this uncomplicated.