Introduction: Why an E-Bike?
Short answer: Because my knees and joints have been letting me down my whole life.
For someone with my joints, cycling is already one of the kindest endurance activities there is — no impact, controlled range of motion. The motor removes the remaining obstacle: it lets me adjust the challenge to match my condition on the day. On a good day I ride almost entirely on Eco and earn every watt myself. On a day when the knees are complaining, a touch more assist keeps me riding instead of sitting at home waiting to feel better.
The result is that I train more consistently than I ever could on an unassisted bike, because a flare-up costs me a bit of intensity rather than a week off the bike. For a 69-year-old preparing to ride 5.500 km, consistency beats heroics — and the e-bike is what makes consistency possible.
An Incident in Coastal Spain
Rain can come quickly in many places and that is certainly true in coastal northern Spain. I was 20 km into my 60 km ride when a downpour appeared from behind the mountain. By the time I got home I was more water than flesh. On the e-bike I could push myself without destroying my joints. This happens on new trails, on which I'm tense enough. I know I can call on the motor to assist me to face whatever comes with far less risk of stressing my joints.
Assist as a Dial, Not a Shortcut
That's also why my training updates discuss assist levels as seriously as heart rate. For me, motor assist isn't a shortcut; it's a dial I use to keep my effort where it's supposed to be.
In practice, this means:
- Good joint days: Eco mode or off, earning most of the watts
- Compromised joint days: Moderate assist to maintain endurance-zone effort without joint strain
- Bad days: The option to take the assist higher, or to skip the ride entirely without guilt
The training data tracks assist levels alongside heart rate because they are interdependent variables. Adjusting assist changes the demand, just as adjusting resistance on a stationary bike would.
The Traditional Cyclist Question
Will I get the same fitness benefits as an unassisted rider? For my situation, the answer is yes—with caveats. The key is maintaining the effort zone (in my case, 125–142 bpm for endurance) regardless of assist level. If I use too much assist and drift below the zone, I gain no cardiovascular benefit. If I use too little assist and exceed the zone, I risk joint stress. The balance requires monitoring, which is why I track both metrics.
For readers who view e-bikes as "cheating," I offer this: the goal is not purity of effort. The goal is completing a 5.500 km tour at age 70 without joint damage that prevents me from enjoying the journey. The method serves the outcome.
*Data sources: Fit e-bike app, Renpho body composition scale, Polar Flow VO2max estimates, blood pressure monitor readings taken pre-rising after emptying bladder.
Medical disclaimer: Training and nutrition recommendations should be confirmed against personal health circumstances and medication status. I have physician confirmation of no heart-rate-affecting medication and no cardiac condition. General advice to readers: consult your doctor before starting any new training program.*