A different perspective on eBikes

[thekarens]

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.

[Jolt]

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!

[rebeccaC]

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

here

[Jolt]

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

[Blue_Pearl]

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 :-)

[TigerMom]

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.

[ny biker]

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.

[Wahine]

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?