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.