robertg200

I recently got a 2012 IZIP Zuma and I love it. Can hardly stay off it. Ride it every day for exercise. But, I don't have anyone to ride with, so am wondering I'd the non-electric groups will look down their noses at me if I join them? I'm 70 years old and not in condition to ride for an hour or two without the pedal assist of an electric.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Metal Man

They may, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I would have to think they would look at you with admiration that you're still getting out on the bike.
I have ridden my electric with my bike club a few times. I make it a point to keep the boost low and work
very hard to keep up and try to stay to the rear of the group.
I figure if you're passing everyone they may get ticked off about it.
A big part of what got me interested in E bikes is that my wife and I were on a ride the YMCA was having and there was an older gentleman close to your age riding. My wife asked what the big thing was on the down tube of his bike. I didn't know much about ,
but I said I thought it was a battery and the bike was electric.
He had much the same story as you , that he couldn't ride without it. I thought how great it was that this could make it possible for him to ride his bike.

EBikeFL 

So that's why all the other cyclists on the road are upset with me.

Oh, well. They pass me in their cars when I'm hauling my groceries so I guess we're even. Some even try to run me over.

dougmc

They might, though being 70 they ought to cut you some slack -- at least you're out there.

That said, you don't have to rub their noses in it -- the least you could do is make sure you're pedalling when everybody else is pedalling (i.e. just about all the time unless you're bombing down a hill.) Don't make it look too easy.

rscamp

My thought is - what an excellent use of an ebike! Absolutely join any group you like! Just don't pass everyone and ride at the front.

robertg200

I only ride at around 12-13 mph. I use pedal assist most of the time, but like to turn it off to get the exercise benefit when on flats. I'm in Florida, so there are lots of those. Is 12-13 mph fast enough for group riding?

rscamp

I have ridden with fairly fit road cyclists and I found with the e-trike I would easily pass them on hills, be about the same speed on the downhills and would lose ground on the flats being limited to 32km/h (20mph).

Tony N.

On another note. If you are fast enough on it, you could offer on some rides to pace the ones that are training. What great fun. And if you work out with it by pedaling most of the time, you will get in shape and could opt for a bike that is not pedal assist for some of your rides.

Creakyknees

Look for "touring" or "no drop" rides; they tend to be a bit slower pace and more welcoming than "race pace" rides.

nliang

I have the BionX SL350 installed in my HP Velotechnik Scopion FS and I ride with roadies all the time.
On flat with level 2 assist I can maintain an average speed of 19.5 mph and 21 mph at level 4, the roadies can pass me anytime at will;
on downhill, I used to be able to pass them but now I lose betweem 4 to 5 mph due to motor drag;
on uphill for less than 3 degree grade, I am still losing because there is no more power assist above 20 mph, but once the grade is above 3 degree, I will slowly walk away from them.

Metal Man

They may enjoy for the challenge and motivation in trying to keep up with you.

350htrr

Bwaa... They don't seem to enjoy it when I can keep up to them after they pass me not seeing my BIONX while I dawdle along looking at the birds the bees and the moose, then decide to see just what they can do... It NEVER fails, after they pass me they look back a few minuter later and there I am... 100 yards behind them, so they speed up and there I am 100 yards behind them. Now they get serious and the body language says so... And there I am 100 yards behind them. A hill is coming up and they are now full out, and there I am 50 yards behind them 1/2 way up the hill. Now they start to pedal standing up and there I am 25 yards behind them... Now the are pissed that they can't drop me and I am catching up... When I pass them you can see the great relief in their eyes when they see the hub & battery on my bike, but most of them still try and keep up, nobody has yet managed to do that yet, tho on fully level ground some of them probably would get ahead of me but I would ALWAYS catch up...

Trikin'

The group I joined were a "no drop" and "no one left behind" bunch. When I arrived for the 1st (to me) ride my pusher trailer got alot of attention. There was 1 fellow who just couldn't get over the thought it was a "cheater" and would point that out throughout the ride. All I wanted was to ride with a group for companionship, but this guy wouldn't shut-up. The nxt couple of rides I left the trailer at home, but riding a trike also created a rift with these wannabe roadies.

prathmann

I'd expect most of the people on the more casual, recreational rides to be fine with someone having electric assist. But I would suggest that you be reasonably confident that your bike is in good working order. We had someone join us on a few of our easier rides with an electric assist bike that frequently had mechanical/electrical issues. Other riders then felt obligated to help but had little experience fixing problems with the battery and electrical drive components.

SoSalty

You're my man! I'm 57 and hope to be out there riding with the youngins at 70+. Good heavens, fight hard for next to last place and notice the respect you'll get.