Here's a way to make yourself a little stronger, improve your heart health, boost your mood and thinking power, and provide a little adventure: E-bikes.
That's right, electric bikes. Those are pedal bikes fitted with a motor. There are also adult trikes that can be fitted with a motor.
According to a 2019 study from the UK, E-bikes might actually provide older adults with more physical and mental benefits than a conventional bike. A group of 100 older adults, ages 50 to 83, participated in the study. Half of the group rode a conventional bike, half rode an E bike. Each participant had to ride at least three times a week for thirty minutes. The E-bike riders showed similar or greater benefits than the pedal cyclists. Researchers concluded that it is not just physical activity that creates benefits, it is also engagement with the outdoor environment. E-bike riders could stay out longer and go more places, for one thing.
You might be wondering, if the bike is powered by electricity, how your muscles get a workout. According to National Geographic, most riders use a low pedal assist power setting. So they are pedalling, but just not as hard. Turns out that confers a lot of benefits. E-bike riders spend more time on their bikes and studies show they have reduced stress, improved sleep, and increased levels of happiness.
There are a wide range of prices for E-bikes. You can buy an E-trike, such as the Liberty Trike, for about $2,000. This very small adult trike holds riders up to 300 pounds, folds up and can be used in some public places as a mobility device. Other bikes and trikes can range in cost from $2,000 to even $13,000. Generally, the lighter the bike, the higher the cost.
E-bike clubs provide companionship on the trails.
