¿Pueden las bicicletas de montaña eléctricas mantenerte igual de activo y saludable que las bicicletas de montaña tradicionales?

Autores/as

  • Juan Carlos Redondo Castán Universidad de León
  • José María Izquierdo Velasco Universidad de Valladolid
  • Miguel Ramírez Jiménez Universidad de Valladolid
  • Silvia Sedano Campo Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v76.117884

Palabras clave:

Actividad física, bicicleta de montaña eléctrica (eMTB), carga de entrenamiento , intensidad del ejercicio, respuesta cardiorrespiratoria

Resumen

Introducción: El uso de bicicletas eléctricas de montaña ha aumentado el interés por su contribución a la actividad física y la salud, pero la evidencia en condiciones reales es limitada.

Objetivo: Se exploró si la transición de bicicleta de montaña convencional a bicicleta eléctrica de montaña permitió mantener intensidades saludables en un ciclista recreativo bajo distintas asistencias.

Metodología: Se realizó un estudio longitudinal de caso único durante dieciséis semanas. Se compararon cuatro condiciones: bicicleta convencional y bicicleta eléctrica con tres configuraciones de asistencia. Se registraron frecuencia cardíaca, velocidad, potencia, cadencia, pendiente, percepción del esfuerzo e índices de carga en veintiocho salidas reales (setecientos setenta y ocho kilómetros).

Resultados: Se observaron diferencias fisiológicas entre condiciones. En este participante, modos de menor asistencia y el modo restringido se asociaron con intensidades moderadas a vigorosas y menor carga fisiológica momentánea que la bicicleta convencional. En pendientes pronunciadas, algunos modos asistidos alcanzaron intensidades relativas próximas al umbral funcional de potencia.

Discusión: Los patrones fueron coherentes con estudios previos que describieron respuestas relevantes cuando la asistencia se reguló, y mostraron la influencia del terreno y del modo.

Conclusiones: Este estudio exploratorio sugiere que algunos usuarios pueden sostener intensidades saludables con bicicleta eléctrica en condiciones específicas.

Referencias

Allen, H., Coggan, A. R., & McGregor, S. (2019). Training and racing with a power meter. VeloPress.

Anderson, E., & Durstine, J. L. (2019). Physical activity, exercise, and chronic diseases: A brief review. Sports medicine and health science, 1(1), 3-10.

Backman, C. L., & Harris, S. R. (1999). Case studies, single-subject research, and n of 1 randomized trials: Comparisons and Contrasts: 1. American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 78(2), 170-176.

Barker, J. B., Mellalieu, S. D., McCarthy, P. J., Jones, M. V., & Moran, A. (2013). A review of single-case research in sport psychology 1997–2012: Research trends and future directions. Journal of Ap-plied Sport Psychology, 25(1), 4-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2012.709579

Berntsen, S., Malnes, L., Langåker, A., & Bere, E. (2017). Physical activity when riding an electric assisted bicycle. International journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 14, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0513-z

Blanco Herrera, J., & Almeida Cunha Arantes, A. (2002). Determination of training zones by two differ-ent methods. Arch. med. deporte, 445-448.

Bouillod, A., Pinot, J., Soto-Romero, G., Bertucci, W., & Grappe, F. (2017). Validity, sensitivity, reproduc-ibility, and robustness of the PowerTap, Stages, and Garmin Vector power meters in compari-son with the SRM device. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 12(8), 1023-1030. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2016-0436

Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G.,…Chou, R. (2020). World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. British jour-nal of sports medicine, 54(24), 1451-1462. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955

Campbell, T., Kirkwood, L., McLean, G., Torsius, M., & Florida-James, G. (2021). Trail use, motivations, and environmental attitudes of 3780 European mountain bikers: What is sustainable? Interna-tional Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 12971. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182412971

Carpes, F. P., Mota, C. B., & Faria, I. E. (2010). On the bilateral asymmetry during running and cycling–A review considering leg preference. Physical therapy in sport, 11(4), 136-142.

Chaney, R. A., Hall, P. C., Crowder, A. R., Crookston, B. T., & West, J. H. (2019). Mountain biker attitudes and perceptions of eMTBs (electric-mountain bikes). Sport Sciences for Health, 15(3), 577-583. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-019-00555-z

Cherry, C. R., Yang, H., Jones, L. R., & He, M. (2016). Dynamics of electric bike ownership and use in Kunming, China. Transport Policy, 45, 127-135.

Edwards, S. (1994). The heart rate monitor book. In: LWW.

Ferrucci, L., Forlani, F., & Picciotti, A. (2021). Sports consumption behavior: Discovering typologies of amateur cyclists. Polish Journal of Sport and Tourism, 28(4), 26-31.

Foster, C., Hoyos, J., Earnest, C., & Lucia, A. (2005). Regulation of energy expenditure during prolonged athletic competition. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 37(4), 670-675.

Garrosa-Martín, G., Muniesa, C. A., Molina-Martín, J. J., & Diez-Vega, I. (2023). Low Back Pain in Cycling. Are There Differences between Road and Mountain Biking? International Journal of Environ-mental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 3791. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053791

Hamer, M., Lavoie, K. L., & Bacon, S. L. (2014). Taking up physical activity in later life and healthy age-ing: the English longitudinal study of ageing. British journal of sports medicine, 48(3), 239-243.

Karsten, B., Petrigna, L., Klose, A., Bianco, A., Townsend, N., & Triska, C. (2021). Relationship between the critical power test and a 20-min functional threshold power test in cycling. Frontiers in physiology, 11, 613151. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.613151

Katsanos, C. S., & Moffatt, R. J. (2005). Reliability of heart rate responses at given ratings of perceived exertion in cycling and walking. Research quarterly for exercise and sport, 76(4), 433.

Kelly, M., Morgan, A., Ellis, S., Younger, T., Huntley, J., & Swann, C. (2010). Evidence based public health: a review of the experience of the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of developing public health guidance in England. Social science & medicine, 71(6), 1056-1062. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.06.032

Kuwaczka, L. F., Mitterwallner, V., Audorff, V., & Steinbauer, M. J. (2023). Ecological impacts of (electri-cally assisted) mountain biking. Global Ecology and Conservation, 44, e02475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02475

Langford, B. C., Cherry, C. R., Bassett Jr, D. R., Fitzhugh, E. C., & Dhakal, N. (2017). Comparing physical activity of pedal-assist electric bikes with walking and conventional bicycles. Journal of Transport & Health, 6, 463-473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2017.06.002

López-Miñarro, P., & Rodríguez, J. M. (2010). Heart rate and overall ratings of perceived exertion during Spinning® cycle indoor session in novice adults. Science & Sports, 25(5), 238-244.

MacArthur, J., Cherry, C. R., Harpool, M., & Scheppke, D. (2018). A North American survey of electric bicycle owners.

Mitterwallner, V., Steinbauer, M. J., Besold, A., Dreitz, A., Karl, M., Wachsmuth, N.,…Audorff, V. (2021). Electrically assisted mountain biking: Riding faster, higher, farther in natural mountain systems. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 36, 100448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2021.100448

Muyor, J. M., Vaquero-Cristóbal, R., Alacid, F., & López-Miñarro, P. A. (2015). Rating of perceived exer-tion as a tool to control intensity in indoor cycling activity. Revista de psicología del deporte, 24(1), 45-52.

Nolan, K., Shearn, P., Gholitabar, M., & Richardson, J. (2018). NICE public health guidance update. In: Oxford University Press.

Ostrowski, A., Stanula, A., AMBROŻY, T., RYDZIK, Ł., Skaliy, A., Skalski, D.,…Mulyk, K. (2023). Physical effort and pace of MTB and eMTB bicycles on mountain trails-a case study. Journal of Physical Education & Sport, 23(7).

Pans Sancho, M. À., Antón González, L., & Villarrasa Sapiña, I. (2023). Análisis de edades, género y nivel socioeconómico del tiempo de uso del sistema de bicicletas compartidas de València (España).

Perez-Landaluce, J., Fernández-García, B., Rodríguez-Alonso, M., García-Herrero, F., García-Zapico, P., Patterson, A., & Terrados, N. (2002). Physiological differences and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in professional, amateur and young cyclists. Journal of sports medicine and physical fit-ness, 42(4), 389-395.

Richard Davison, R., Swan, D., Coleman, D., & Bird, S. (2000). Correlates of simulated hill climb cycling performance. Journal of sports sciences, 18(2), 105-110.

Robertson, R. J., Goss, F. L., Dube, J., Rutkowski, J., Dupain, M., Brennan, C., & Andreacci, J. (2004). Valida-tion of the adult OMNI scale of perceived exertion for cycle ergometer exercise. Medicine & Sci-ence in Sports & Exercise, 36(1), 102-108.

Robinson, M. E., Plasschaert, J., & Kisaalita, N. R. (2011). Effects of high intensity training by heart rate or power in recreational cyclists. Journal of sports science & medicine, 10(3), 498.

Rønnestad, B. R., Hansen, J., Stensløkken, L., Joyner, M. J., & Lundby, C. (2019). Case studies in physiolo-gy: temporal changes in determinants of aerobic performance in individual going from alpine skier to world junior champion time trial cyclist. Journal of Applied Physiology, 127(2), 306-311. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00798.2018

Sanders, D., Taylor, R. J., Myers, T., & Akubat, I. (2020). A field-based cycling test to assess predictors of endurance performance and establishing training zones. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 34(12), 3482-3488. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001910

Services, U. D. o. H. a. H. (2018). 2018 Physical activity guidelines advisory committee scientific report.

Simons, M., Van Es, E., & Hendriksen, I. (2009). Electrically assisted cycling: a new mode for meeting physical activity guidelines? Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41(11), 2097-2102. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181a6aaa4

Szychowska, A., & Drygas, W. (2022). Physical activity as a determinant of successful aging: a narrative review article. Aging clinical and experimental research, 34(6), 1209-1214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-021-02037-0

Sáez Padilla, J., Cantonero Cobos, J. M., Moreno Sánchez, E., Molina López, J., & Tornero Quiñones, I. (2022). Beneficios y barreras del desplazamiento activo hacia el centro escolar: una revisión sistemática (Benefits and barriers of active commuting to the school center: a systematic re-view). Retos, 43, 572-578. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v43i0.89075

Taylor, S., Burrow, C., & Button, S. (2023). Challenging hegemonic velocipedic modality in the great outdoors: The seemingly inexorable rise of the electric mountain bike. Journal of Outdoor Rec-reation and Tourism, 43, 100684. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2023.100684

Vásquez-Gómez, J. A., Cigarroa, I., Faúndez-Casanova, C., Álvarez, C., Villouta, P. L., & Castillo-Retamal, M. (2025). Necesidad de transporte activo para la mejora de la salud cardiorrespiratoria: análisis de encuesta poblacional en Chile. Retos, 66, 339-348. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v66.110851

Wallace, L. K., Slattery, K. M., & Coutts, A. J. (2014). A comparison of methods for quantifying training load: relationships between modelled and actual training responses. Eur J Appl Physiol, 114(1), 11-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2745-1.

Descargas

Publicado

20-01-2026

Número

Sección

Artículos de carácter científico: investigaciones básicas y/o aplicadas

Cómo citar

Redondo Castán, J. C., Izquierdo Velasco, J. M., Ramírez Jiménez, M., & Sedano Campo, S. (2026). ¿Pueden las bicicletas de montaña eléctricas mantenerte igual de activo y saludable que las bicicletas de montaña tradicionales?. Retos, 76, 563-575. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v76.117884