volosong

I know BF has an Electric Bike sub-forum, but this post has more to do with age than the type of bike. About a month ago, I purchased a Pinarello Dyodo. It's a pedal-assist electric bike from the Pinarello family, (you only get a motor assist if you are pedaling, the harder one pedals, the more assist it provides). The frame is the same layup as the Prince and Dogma. Riding it, you can feel the pedigree. Same carbon quality as the Prince. The Dogma is the best and the highest quality, (and lightest).

Today, I rode a 50-miler, and this evening, I'm not totally exhausted or physically destroyed as I would be if using one of my older "analog" bikes. It dawned on me, around 40 miles into the ride, that I felt the power I used to have when I was in my 20s and 30s. When I wanted a burst of power to crest a little rise, the electric assist felt like the days of old when my body was young and strong, (I'm currently a few weeks shy of age 69).

The Dyodo has four assist modes, none, low, medium, and turbo. Today's half-century was mostly flat, but did have a few hills and a 15-mile stretch with a stiff headwind. Used all four power modes today. In heavy beach traffic, I went no assist as the speeds needed to be slow because of kids and dogs. With no assist, it just feels like a heavy bike. The low power assist mode is pretty worthless, but did use it some on pancake-flat stretches when there were other riders nearby. The middle power mode is the most useful and a good compromise between power usage and amount of assist. The turbo mode was most useful on the hills and into the headwind.

At times, it felt like I was "cheating", especially when I passed riders on "real" bikes and then left them in the dust. At least I wore my Velo Poseur/Charlatan kit today. That was appropriate.

Biker395 

Sounds like you are having fun. I say go for it!

Wildwood 

volosong - as same agers, I hear ya.
I've got enough bikes that missing an electric assist is beginning to feel deficient. I'm going to wait about 5 years when those garage queen electrics start showing up on Craigs.

Maybe older brother will send me the 2 electric Specialized S-Works mtn bikes he bought and never rides.

donheff

I turn 72 in a couple of months and I have been eyeing high end ebikes like your Pinarello. I want a light weight, gravel or touring style bike for pretty much the same reasons you mention. I'm not in a rush since I get out ~4 times a week on my regular bike but the time is coming. With each passing year, the options and prices improve.

big john

meh

Mtl01

I think the pedal assist bikes are a great innovation. It's good that they get people out riding who otherwise may give up biking for one reason or another. The technology behind them seems to be getting better each year.

Haven't used one yet myself but can certainly see where they may be an option down the road.

Happy it brought back the joy of riding for you!

jackb

On a ride through Austria on our way to Budapest my wife and I got tired of fighting strong headwinds and called the tour company to change to electric bikes. They met us at our hotel in Vienna and we did the exchange. Best move we could have made. We then had a good ride regardless of wind direction. We don't own ebikes, but I can see them in our future. We are in our early seventies.

jppe

I wonder how I might could just add an electric motor to the Pinarello Prince that I already ride???

Jumpski

Life is short- enjoy!

momsonherbike

Don't. Your Prince will look like a crappy pauper then. No DIY ebike has ever looked sleek because of the external battery or a bulky ugly add-on motor for pedal assist.

Best to simply buy the latest technology already integrated into the bike itself, like the OP's bike, or this one. Technology in the ebike industry is moving extremely fast, and producing better looking, faster, more reliable bikes for us old timers that still want to fully enjoy our cycling on a quality built bike without stopping from old age injuries and pain.

rydabent

I firmly believe bikes keep you young. I am 82 and ride approx 25 miles every other day.

John E

I do not have any eBike plans personally, but I really like the way they have brought more people into cycling.

BEC111

I’m with you. At 72, I’ve ridden nearly 300 miles in the month since I got my Turbo Vado 4 XL. In the previous year I’d only ridden about 110 miles on my Cannondale Adventure 1. Illness was the main cause, but after recovering from the illness my conditioning had declined to a degree that had taken the joy out of all but the shortest rides.

Ebike = Joy

BEC111

I’m with you. At 72, I’ve ridden nearly 300 miles in the month since I got my Turbo Vado 4 XL. In the previous year I’d only ridden about 110 miles on my Cannondale Adventure 1. Illness was the main cause, but after recovering from the illness my conditioning had declined to a degree that had taken the joy out of all but the shortest rides.

Ebike = Joy

fastcarbon

That is exactly why I will neither ride nor buy an e bike. I won't work as hard.