Quote Originally Posted by Blue_Pearl View Post
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.
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.