'Rediscovering cycling thanks to my e-bike has transformed my commute and fitness'

It has all of the exercise benefits of a standard bicycle, but the assist boost is like the gentle push of a hand on your back

Dr Shane O'Hanlon: "Outdoor cycling lifts mood, particularly when passing through green space. Myths about e-bikes not being ‘real’ exercise don’t hold — studies confirm e-bike users get similar benefits to normal cyclists."

If someone told me there was an invention that makes exercise fun and therefore helps you to live longer, I’d have assumed that it was too good to be true. Yet, an e-bike has proven to be a life-changing tool for my health and happiness.

As a doctor, I’ve always known that exercise is key to healthy ageing, but I let cycling slip away. Rediscovering it in middle age, thanks to my e-bike, has transformed my commute and my fitness.

Cycling offers benefits for all ages, and Ireland’s expanding greenways and cycle lanes make it easier than ever. Getting back on the saddle might be the best health decision you can make.

In my 20s, my bike was my lifeline, zipping me to lectures and hospital placements.

But the need for a car, due to unsociable working hours and babies, relegated it to rusting in the shed. Like many doctors, I was not practising what I preached, telling my patients to exercise, then driving home exhausted.

By my 40s, I was thinking about health span — years lived without disease. I started running and doing workouts, but life kept crowding them out. My bus commute, almost an hour of sitting still, felt like wasted time. I dismissed cycling because of memories of sweaty, breathless arrivals at college.

My outlook changed, however, when I cycled an e-bike while on holidays in Paris. I learned that they offer real exercise with adjustable effort. But, most of all, they are fun. I took the plunge and got my own, immediately feeling the freedom of my student days return without the struggle.

Cycling is a health transformer, and whether you’re 30 or 70, it delivers better benefits than most pills. Studies show 150 minutes of weekly cycling cuts heart-disease risk by around 30% and premature death by up to 40%. It’s low-impact, sparing joints while boosting mobility — ideal for our ageing population.

Outdoor cycling lifts mood, particularly when passing through green space. Myths about e-bikes not being ‘real’ exercise don’t hold — studies confirm e-bike users get similar benefits to normal cyclists. 

In fact, I can tailor my exercise level to keep my heart rate in the aerobic zone, something that was never possible with my normal bike. My Vo2max, a measure of fitness and predictor of longevity, has reached a new peak, and my resting heart rate a new low.

The World Health Organisation recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly — my commute alone achieves double that. I arrive at work fresh, invigorated, and on schedule (traffic or ghost buses are no longer an issue).

It’s not just me—one day in our hospital canteen, a patient lit up when I mentioned cycling. He told me his e-bike helps him cycle 70km at a go, one for every year of his age. He agreed that moderate-intensity cardio training was much easier, as his heart rate had been much too fast on a regular bike.

An e-bike only helps when you want it to, and stops assisting when you reach 25km/hr. Of course, you don’t need to go any faster than you’re comfortable with, and greater speed confers greater risk of injury. 

I mostly keep it to a smooth 15km/hr, and the pedal assist is like that lovely childhood feeling of someone’s hand on your back giving a gentle boost. 

The battery makes hills and long distances easily manageable, opening up new routes. For older adults or those with mobility issues, e-bikes can greatly enhance independence.

I used to think e-bikes were pricey, dangerous, and not real exercise. I was wrong — my e-bike has turned my commute in to a health boost, showing me that exercise can fit a busy life. Ireland’s cycleways and Bike to Work scheme make now a great time to start.

Pedal-assist lets you gradually build strength and ease yourself in to faster speeds when ready. Cycling isn’t just for the young — it’s for anyone who wants to live longer, feel better, and rediscover freedom. Next time you’re stuck in traffic, imagine pedalling past on an e-bike. Your body, mind, and future self will thank you.

• Dr Shane O’Hanlon is a consultant geriatrician, Mater Private Network
• Bike Week runs until May 18. For information on cycle safety, see the Road Safety Authority website.