Peterman, J., Morris, K., Kram, R., & Byrnes, W. (2016). Pedelecs as a physically active transportation mode. European Journal Of Applied Physiology, 116(8), 1565-1573. doi: 10.1007/s00421-016-3408-9
A write up about the study, carried out at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is on their website. The full text is linked above. A summary of the study findings is below:
A self-selected sample of 20 sedentary car commuters had their baseline physiological measurements taken before 4 weeks of commuting to and from work using a pedelec at least 3 times a week/40 minutes per day while wired up to heart monitors/gps. Two different pedelecs were used: a 2015 Trek T80+ (Waterloo, WI, USA) and a 2013 E-Motion City Wave (Foothill Ranch, CA, USA). The Trek had a motor located in the rear wheel hub and the E-Motion had a middrive motor, which provided power to the bicycle crank. Both pedelecs had 250 W motors that required pedaling and provided pedal assistance up to speeds of 20mph.
Results: Participants averaged 4.9 ± 1.2 METS when riding. Average speed was around 15mph. Four weeks of pedelec commuting significantly improved 2-h post-OGTT glucose (5.53 ± 1.18-5.03 ± 0.91 mmol L(-1), p < 0.05), (2.21 ± 0.48-2.39 ± 0.52 L min(-1), p < 0.05), 2-h post-plasma glucose levels are an important risk factor to measure, as they are independently associated with risk for diabetes, and cardiovascular disease mortality. The study also measured improvements in power output by the end of 4 weeks (165.1 ± 37.1-189.3 ± 38.2 W, p < 0.05). The 4 week study period was not long enough to measure improvements in blood lipids. The absence of a control group was another limiting factor. Commuting with a pedelec was associated with significant improvements in some major cardiometabolic risk factors.
A write up about the study, carried out at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is on their website. The full text is linked above. A summary of the study findings is below:
A self-selected sample of 20 sedentary car commuters had their baseline physiological measurements taken before 4 weeks of commuting to and from work using a pedelec at least 3 times a week/40 minutes per day while wired up to heart monitors/gps. Two different pedelecs were used: a 2015 Trek T80+ (Waterloo, WI, USA) and a 2013 E-Motion City Wave (Foothill Ranch, CA, USA). The Trek had a motor located in the rear wheel hub and the E-Motion had a middrive motor, which provided power to the bicycle crank. Both pedelecs had 250 W motors that required pedaling and provided pedal assistance up to speeds of 20mph.
Results: Participants averaged 4.9 ± 1.2 METS when riding. Average speed was around 15mph. Four weeks of pedelec commuting significantly improved 2-h post-OGTT glucose (5.53 ± 1.18-5.03 ± 0.91 mmol L(-1), p < 0.05), (2.21 ± 0.48-2.39 ± 0.52 L min(-1), p < 0.05), 2-h post-plasma glucose levels are an important risk factor to measure, as they are independently associated with risk for diabetes, and cardiovascular disease mortality. The study also measured improvements in power output by the end of 4 weeks (165.1 ± 37.1-189.3 ± 38.2 W, p < 0.05). The 4 week study period was not long enough to measure improvements in blood lipids. The absence of a control group was another limiting factor. Commuting with a pedelec was associated with significant improvements in some major cardiometabolic risk factors.
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