Electric bike and muscles

[UrbanPuma]

Hi all,

Can someone explain how an electric bike affects certain muscles; hips, hip flexors, quads (particularly inner thigh vmo), and lower back?

I find when i have stiff leg/back, I feel freer/looser after a ride. Does it therefore loosen tight muscles and build others, if so, which ones?

Thanks for your help

Urbanpuma

 

[jackhandy]

Only contribution I can make:

The motor takes the very hard work out of climbing & headwinds, so I can maintain an easy cadence of around 65 - 75 uphill & on the flat - No honking needed.

This gives my leg & backside muscles a good workout without over straining them.

 

[Clockwise]

The same as with normal cycling but without over exerting youself, depending on how much assistance you use it could be like being 1 gear lower or like being 3 or 4 lower.

I'm unsure how acurate this is but searches all seemed to give this image of muscles during a pedal stroke. I also know your style of bike being more upright like a dutch bike or hunched over like a racer effects things too but can't say how much.

 

[david1949]

I have had may two knees replaced in 6 years I can do a 15 mile cycle ride every 2 day and no problem. But to walk 3 mile it would kill me my consultant has told me that cycling is the best exercise I can do for the lower body compared to running or jogging. He tells me he does more knee replacement on sport people than anyone else and out of them over half are runners and jogger's.

 

[Dynamic Position]

I found that since using an e-bike I don't suffer from leg cramp as much.

 

[UrbanPuma]

Thanks for your replies.

What if your kneecaps track laterally due to a muscular imbalance (weak inner thigh muscles) - would an electric bike help build this muscle or will it exacerbate the problem further?

I have heard that cycling on a non-electric bike causes the outer thigh muscles to build up more than the inner thigh, therefore would the same thing happen using an electric bike?

 

[flecc]

Thanks for your replies.

What if your kneecaps track laterally due to a muscular imbalance (weak inner thigh muscles) - would an electric bike help build this muscle or will it exacerbate the problem further?

I have heard that cycling on a non-electric bike causes the outer thigh muscles to build up more than the inner thigh, therefore would the same thing happen using an electric bike?

On a hub motor bike, neither, the proportional muscle efforts will be exactly the same as with unpowered cycling, just at a lower level for all muscles depending on the power of the assistance.

The Panasonic type of instant response crank motor which feeds in power according to the the rider input throughout the pedal arc will vary the arc positions of the muscle effort within the diagram that Clockwise posted, but again it will make no difference to any lateral muscle imbalance between inner and outer knee extensors.

Essentially, e-cycling is exactly the same as normal cycling, just less effort.

 

[Gdread]

Thanks for your replies.

What if your kneecaps track laterally due to a muscular imbalance (weak inner thigh muscles) - would an electric bike help build this muscle or will it exacerbate the problem further?

I have heard that cycling on a non-electric bike causes the outer thigh muscles to build up more than the inner thigh, therefore would the same thing happen using an electric bike?

I can't do all the physio terms so not sure what lateral movement means but I had a problematic (ie torn 30 years ago)anterior cruciate ligament that meant my lower leg would move about a lot, physio recommend cycling and 14 months on its much much better.

 

[UrbanPuma]

Thanks for all your replies - much appreciated.