Pedelecs as a physically active transportation mode

Pedelecs are bicycles that provide electric assistance only when a rider is pedaling and have become increasingly popular. Our purpose was to quantify usage patterns over 4 weeks of real-world commuting with a pedelec and to determine if pedelec use would improve cardiometabolic risk factors. Twenty sedentary commuters visited the laboratory for baseline physiological measurements [body composition, maximum oxygen consumption (), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), blood lipid profile, and 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)]. The following 4 weeks, participants were instructed to commute using a pedelec at least 3 days week(-1) for 40 min day(-1) while wearing a heart rate monitor and a GPS device. Metabolic equivalents (METS) were estimated from heart rate data. Following the intervention, we repeated the physiological measurements. Average total distance and time were 317.9 +/- 113.8 km and 15.9 +/- 3.4 h, respectively. Participants averaged 4.9 +/- 1.2 METS when riding. 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), and end of test power output (165.1 +/- 37.1-189.3 +/- 38.2 W, p < 0.05). There were trends for improvements in MAP (84.6 +/- 10.5-83.2 +/- 9.4 mmHg, p = 0.15) and fat mass (28.6 +/- 11.3-28.2 +/- 11.4 kg, p = 0.07). Participants rode a pedelec in the real world at a self-selected moderate intensity, which helped them meet physical activity recommendations. Pedelec commuting also resulted in significant improvements in 2-h post-OGTT glucose, , and power output. Pedelecs are an effective form of active transportation that can improve some cardiometabolic risk factors within only 4 weeks.