E-Bike Versus Classic Bike Intervention Trial

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Physical Activity; Obesity
• Interventions: Behavioral: Commuting to work

• Registration Number: NCT02495740
• Lead Sponsor: University of Basel

Brief Summary

The effects of active commuting with an e-bike, as compared with a "classic" bike, on cardiorespiratory fitness and vascular health are largely unknown. To assess whether active commuting with an e-bike or a classic bike increases peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) in untrained and overweight individuals.

Detailed Description

Riding an electrically assisted bicycle (e-bike) is thought to be suitable to increase physical activity in daily life, to promote health, and to increase cardiorespiratory fitness in normal-weight individuals. The positive effect of commuting to work by a normal bike on cardiorespiratory fitness has been shown to be an important predictor of cardiovascular mortality in previous studies. We thought to improve maximal oxygen uptake by commuting to work by e-bike vs. classic bike. Besides cardiorespiratory fitness we assessed arterial stiffness as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity as an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-05
• Primary Completion: 2012-10
• Study Completion: 2013-04
• Status Verified: 2015-07
• Study First Submitted: 2015-07-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-07-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-07-10
• Study First Posted: 2015-07-13
• Last Update Posted: 2015-07-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 33

Inclusion Criteria

body mass index 25-35 kg/m2, and willingness to commute to work by e-bike or by normal bike at least 3 times per week with a one-way distance of ≥ 6 km.

Exclusion Criteria

cycling as a leisure-time activity, active commuting to work or exercise training more than once per week within 4 weeks before the start of the study, uncontrolled cardiovascular diseases limiting cardiorespiratory fitness, stage II arterial hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure > 95 mmHg), renal diseases, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HbA1c > 6.5%), or active malignancy or chemotherapy during the past 6 months.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Bike intervention	Commuting to work	Intervention is active commuting to work by classic bike for a period of 4 weeks at least 3 times per week with a minimal distance of 6 km per way
E-bike intervention	Commuting to work	Intervention is active commuting to work by an electric assisted bike to work for a period of 4 weeks at least 3 times per week with a minimal distance of 6 km per way

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
maximal oxygen uptake	4 weeks	maximal oxygen uptake measured on a cycle ergometer with a ramp protocol

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department for Sport, Exercise and Health, Sports and Exercise Medicine, University of Basel; 🇨🇭 Basel, Switzerland