A different perspective on eBikes

Hi Everyone,
I'll begin by saying I have enormous respect for the women that participate in this forum. I am offering a different perspective here after reading many of the earlier postings on eBikes. I am in my mid 50s. I cycle (14 - 15 mph mva), I run a ten minute mile, I hike, scuba dive and mountain climb. From a cardio perspective I'm in the top two percent of women in my age range. I am not elderly or balance challenged (OMG). I still ride my carbon fiber beauty of a road bike. But this year I bought an eBike to add to my riding. I live in a VERY hilly area and sometimes I just love to go out and ride without killing myself on the hills (11% grades in some areas). I can also just hop on it for quick errands. And mostly... It is just amazing fun to not be dropped on every hill. I can finally ride with my husband who maintains a 19 - 20 mph mva. I'd also like to clear up a misunderstanding regarding how hard it is. The bike is heavy and ONLY offers assist when you are pedaling. How much assist you get can be adjusted on the bike computer so you can work as hard as you want. Tailing my husband's riding group at 20 mph I can easily turn it into a zone 3 ride over 30 miles.

In my area anyway, even the women I've met tend to look down on a 14 -15 mph ave. The cycling club that we belong to has told me I'm not fast enough to join their weekly rides, (though my DH and I do participate in several weekend rides). We also participate in cycling events all over the northeast. Even during those there are cracks about slow riders. There is a kind of snobbery that seems to infiltrate cycling. I would never show up at an event on the eBike. But for me cycling is a multi-dimensional activity. I do it for the joy of it whether I am on my road bike or my eBike.

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Originally Posted by Blue_Pearl

In my area anyway, even the women I've met tend to look down on a 14 -15 mph ave. The cycling club that we belong to has told me I'm not fast enough to join their weekly rides, (though my DH and I do participate in several weekend rides). We also participate in cycling events all over the northeast. Even during those there are cracks about slow riders. There is a kind of snobbery that seems to infiltrate cycling. I would never show up at an event on the eBike. But for me cycling is a multi-dimensional activity. I do it for the joy of it whether I am on my road bike or my eBike.

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Ugh, I can rant and rant about the lack of friendly but serious group rides in the 12-15mph range up here. I'm currently running 13-15mph average depending on hilly vs not, was ~11-14 last year, and am trying to get faster but all the advice to ride with groups that are just a bit faster than is comfortable require there to be groups at that pace.

I wish I had time to start one. But I don't, and I do enjoy solo riding, so I do that.

And I agree about the cracks -- I was insulted to my face on the first century ride I did by another rider; it was really depressing, even though I was on my way to my highest average yet (13.9mph) and a sub-8 hour century (my goal had been 8:30!) It's fine to say "you're not fast enough for this ride" politely if true (for a group ride -- the century wasn't a group ride and I was riding solo almost the entire time), but the insults are uncalled for. We're all riders.

I don't personally have any interest in eBikes, at least not right now, but I could totally see myself getting an e-assist cargo bike if we ever go car-free.

Hi Antimony, I agree that it is good riding manners not to try and participate in rides that are beyond scope :-). If riding was all I did and really dedicated myself to it the way many great women have, I'd up my time. But there are so many other things I love to do. The eBike is great for cargo :-) It is on/off road too so if the roads are too jammed I can choose an off road option to my destination. My DH is really sweet and will ride with me as his "cool down" ride but it is so much fun to ride with him without slowing him down. A sub 8 hour century... that is great! I love the Fall centuries around here and in Maine - so beautiful!

Sadly that seems to be a trend in this country for group rides :( while there was a time when I could ride all day long, my highest average was only 13. I never was able to find a regular riding partner who would stick around at that speed. Can't say that I was ever insulted, thankfully. Now there WAS a few who would ride with me occasionally and I always appreciated that. I just got used to riding solo :-)

Nothing wrong with your e-bike! It helps you have fun & get out there. That is what matters!

Reminds me of that children’s rhyme about sticks and stones.:) As long as my riding isn’t actually affecting others in a negative way, If someone throws a comment at me like what you’re writing about I’d look at as more about their attitude than anything else…..but then since I mostly ride alone, my rides are usually for whatever reason I want them to be. I will ride with a stronger rider/s for the challenge though but if I'm riding with someone less strong I made that decision and will ride with them and enjoy it.

I don’t know why someone would judge anyone riding an ebike in a negative way. Anything that gets a person outside and exercising in any way is a good thing to me!!! There have been some climbs when I could have deeply, I mean deeply, desired the use of an e assist!

Sounds like fun! We've worked hard in our biking community to cultivate a "medium speed" non-competitive riding group. One person shows up and gets dropped... they don't come back and think they're the only one... but 2 or 3 of us would go on a ride and be our own group (especially on rides that claimed to be "social" and "no-drop")... and now we are A Contingency. Yes, we're still completely looked down on by some... though often there's that other thing that happens -- they really think and claim to be nice to everybody but just don't *comprehend* that some people can ride 50 miles at 12 mph.

... I love that cycling is expanding -- and hope enough of us don't just sequester ourselves into little factions. We're still such a minority in the culture that we'll do a whole lot better helping each other instead of competing for resources...

Well said all of you :-) I've been to events like the D2R2 (Deerfield Dirt Road Randonee) where I've been one of a tiny handful of women participating. I get the competitive drive. I've had it myself, but as a trainer I just love seeing people out exercising and enjoying themselves (even when it means pushing hard). I respect anyone getting out there and making an effort! It's a beautiful thing!

If you are free on Wednesdays, I have the group for you! The Wednesday Wheelers are part of CRW. We mostly ride in the NW suburbs, with occasional trips to the north shore, Cape, etc. The rolling average is about 13.5. Many times the ride is split into 2-3 groups, where the fastest group has an average of 15 over hilly terrain. There are some who want slower than 13.5, too. We use a human arrowing system. While sometimes I get a little frustrated with the group, these are for the most part *very serious* athletes, some who have slowed down, others who just want to ride at this speed and socialize. It is not a group for beginners by any means. If you want to get on the email list, PM me and I will send you the contact name.
You would also be perfect for the AMC Thursday night ride series. Go to Outdoors.org and you can look up where the rides are each week. I am a leader for AMC, and you would be perfect for the rides my DH and I lead. AMC rides are social and not like typical bike clubs. We have our characters, but it's fun.
And finally, you sound like you would be a good match for riding with me. When I work hard, my average is around 15.5, but throw in some hills in Harvard and/or 50-60 miles, go down accordingly! I don't do lots of group rides, even though I am a leader and tend to ride with my husband and one other couple. Let me know.

Thank you so much Crankin! I am happy to ride alone but find it so much more fun with company! I PM'd ya!

Makes me glad I live in the area I do and have my club. Every Saturday there's probably 200 riders that meet at a park and they call out speeds and you join the speed you're comfortable. The last group is 12-14 and no one looks down on that group. That group also breaks up into distance choices 20, 25 & 35 or 40.

Interesting to read everyone else's experiences re: speeds of group rides and getting grief for not being fast. I have found that there aren't many slower group rides around here but there are a few (there's one club in the Portland area whose rides seem to be a little slower than the other area clubs), though they are not as close to where I live as I would prefer. That said, when I showed up to a ride where the group turned out to be too fast for me, people were friendly, supportive and didn't give me a hard time. It's too bad others here have had to deal with rudeness and being looked down upon...we all have different strengths, and for some of us speed just isn't one of them but we may have more endurance, and we enjoy riding just as much as the "speed demons" do.

PS: Blue_Pearl, what is the D2R2? Sounds interesting...I like riding dirt roads!

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Originally Posted by Jolt

PS: Blue_Pearl, what is the D2R2? Sounds interesting...I like riding dirt roads!

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here :)

Looks like it might be fun, at least if I can get better at climbing! It appears I _am_ off work that weekend...

It is an amazing ride. You have to be pretty handy at navigation but the roads are spectacular! I love randonees... you the bike and the road. The people are so nice, from the riders to the support. There is a beautiful kind of camaraderie on rides like this. Even the best riders walk some of the climbs - no shame :-)

I think that it is great as long as you are out riding.

Plus, you are not trying to compete on your electronic bike.

I do get irritated at people who yell out "Cheater" when people are riding on electronic bikes. At least you are out there exercising.

I would just like to extend an invitation to Blue Pearl and anyone else who is "not fast enough" to ride with our club if you're ever in the DC area. We welcome everyone. Yes there are fast group rides, but we also have rides in slower categories (10-12 mph, 12-14, 14-16) as well as all-pace no-drop rides. We're also working on an effort to have more rides for beginners. And if anyone in our club ever insulted another cyclist for riding "too slow," I would probably faint from surprise because they are just the nicest people you'll ever meet.

I think we have one member with a recumbent bike that has an electric motor. He finds it helpful for getting up hills. People ask him about it out of curiosity, but otherwise he's no different from anyone else on the ride.

I *have* ridden with groups/clubs that are rude to slower riders, riders on more upright bikes, riders that are mostly commuters, etc but I don't ride with those groups ever again after having that experience. Aint nobody got time for that.

I'm glad you are enjoying your bike! Once you find some good riding buddies, it's invaluable. Good luck regardless of type of bike!

I agree whole heartedly that what ever gets someone else out and enjoying exercising is a good thing. Unfortunately, you're right, there is a lot of negative behaviour, and unnecessary competitiveness in group rides that breeds nasty comments. A group ride isn't a competition unless someone says it is, so who cares?