Electric bikes represent a truly sustainable transportation option for the modern commuter… and for anyone who just enjoys riding a bicycle. What you may not realize, however, is just how good riding a bike is for your health overall. That’s because every electric bike is just that — a bicycle. Cycling has many health benefits, but the best part is, it imparts those benefits to you in a way that almost anyone can tolerate, even those who might have trouble with other types of exercising. You don’t need to buy an electric bicycle to get the health benefits of cycling, of course, but when you do buy an eBike, you have the added option of letting the motor do the work when it comes to going up steep hills… or if you run out of energy while on a particularly long ride. This means that you can ride your eBike farther, and for longer, taking risks that you might not take if you didn’t have the electric motor for pedal assist or for an effortless electric ride. This encouragement helps get you out on the bike and keep you moving. That’s why an eBike is that much better than a standard bicycle. Electric bikes offer all the advantage of a regular bicycle with none of the drawbacks. Never struggle up a big hill again. Never worry that you might ride so far that you won’t be able to pedal back home. The electric bike is your ticket to freedom and, as it turns out, better health.

Now, before we go any farther, let’s just stop and remind you that before you add more bike riding to your life, you need to make sure you can handle that increased level of physical activity. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor about things like that. Once you’re cleared to exercise, though, you’ll quickly find that cycling is a fun way not just to increase your physical activity level, but to actually get somewhere that you need to go productively.

The most obvious benefit of riding an electric bicycle (provided you pedal it at least part of the time) is that it increases your overall level of physical activity, which is almost always a good thing. This will help you to lose weight. There are only two ways to lose weight if you are heavier than you want to be. One is to reduce the amount of calories you consume. The other is to increase the amount of calories you burn through exercise. But if you are already a very heavy person (or simply heavier than you want to be, exercising can be a big problem for you. That’s because physical exertion puts strain on your already overstressed joints. And if you’re worried about hurting yourself, that can prevent you from exercising, locking you into a vicious cycle in which you need to exercise because there’s too much strain on your body, but you are afraid to exercise because there’s too much strain on your body. Bicycling, however, is low impact. If you are able to sit on the bicycle and balance as you pedal, you can ride a bike, and the strain on your body is much, much less. That’s because your rear end is bearing the brunt of your weight (your spine is also holding you up, and the associated core muscles of the torso), so there’s much less load on your knees and ankles. And obviously, if you’ve just started adding more bike riding to your routine, you might be worried about getting tired… and if you do, you’ve got that electric motor to help take the burden off you and get you where you need to go. Pedal assist can also make it possible for you to go farther and get there faster than pedaling manually by itself.

The rest of the health benefits of bicycling are pretty amazing, if you stop and think about. They include better cardiovascular health and, interestingly, better sleep, which leads to better health and even more effective weight loss. If you’re not sleeping, you are experiencing a buildup of the stress hormone, cortisol, in your body. This hormone makes it harder for you to lose weight effectively. (That’s why sleep apnea patients who aren’t getting treated often have difficulty losing weight — they don’t get restful sleep and they have too much cortisol). Moderate levels of physical exercise help promote sleep, as does fresh air and the Vitamin D your skin absorbs from sunlight when you are outside riding a bike. (That’s one of the reasons electric bikes are better for exercise than stationary bicycles, which are always parked inside.) When you add an eBike to your daily physical activity, you are getting more exercise, which helps you to sleep better, which promotes better health and weight loss. That weight loss makes it easier for you to engage in physical activity, which helps you to exercise more, which helps you to lose weight, which helps you to sleep better… and this is the opposite of a “vicious cycle” in that now you’re locked into a cycle of improved health and well-being. And it’s all thanks to your Wave eBike!

Multiple studies of exercise show that people who engage in moderate exercise have a better chance of living longer than people who don’t exercise. There are also studies suggesting that a woman who is carrying a baby will be healthier overall if she gets some exercise during her pregnancy. Exercise can also elevate your mood by producing endorphins during physical activity. Moderate to vigorous exercise also helps you feel more awake and alert. In other words, if you really want to wake up in the morning, don’t slug back another coffee. Instead, ride your electric bicycle to the office, and you’ll be wide awake, alert, and feeling good when you get there. Make that part of your daily routine and you’ll really start to see improvements.

Electric bikes are a great way to improve your health. They’re also fun! Get yours today and start experiencing the benefits that riding an eBike can provide.