Pedelecs as a physically active transportation mode.
BACKGROUND
Pedelecs are bicycles that provide electric assistance only when a rider is pedaling and have become increasingly popular.


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
Twenty sedentary commuters visited the laboratory for baseline physiological measurements [body composition, maximum oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]), 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.


RESULTS
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), [Formula: see text] (2.21 ± 0.48-2.39 ± 0.52 L min(-1), p < 0.05), and end of [Formula: see text] 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).


CONCLUSIONS
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, [Formula: see text], and power output. Pedelecs are an effective form of active transportation that can improve some cardiometabolic risk factors within only 4 weeks.
Department of Integrative Physiology, UCB 354, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA. james.peterman@colorado.edu.
James E
JE
Peterman
Department of Integrative Physiology, UCB 354, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
Kalee L
KL
Morris
Department of Integrative Physiology, UCB 354, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
Rodger
R
Kram
Department of Integrative Physiology, UCB 354, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
William C
WC
Byrnes
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D014186:Transportation / Q000295:instrumentation*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
Active commuting; Cycling; Electric assist bicycle; Intervention; Transportation