So ... both Doom and Gloom, eh?

Firsdt off, the idea that it takes strength to keep a bike upright ... you're doing it wrong. The little 4' 11" 80 pound women road racers seem to manage ... and though pound for pound their are fierce, overall that simply aren't that strong. Look at Chris Froome---yeah, he looks like most power-lifters,. he has the fitness to handle the speed.

The other major fallacy---speed kills. if that were the case their wouldn't be a motorcycle industry. There are all kinds of old folk out there on big, fast, heavy bikes ... and doing just fine, thank you very much. And they are going quite a bit faster than any e-assist bike.

Things are actually fairly simple. If the e-bike industry reaches sufficient mass, politicians, trade groups, and activist groups will all start discussing regulation. People will talk about kids on MUPs, terminal speed, group rides, traffic, safety .... industry spokespeople will look to preserve the best-selling features ... and things will work out.

Mopeds didn't exist int he U.S. forever, even thought hey were all over Europe. Suddenly they started catching on in the U.S. .... and laws were made to accommodate them. The world didn't end, people didn't die in droves, asnd cycling is still here and healthy.

People found out that mopeds are only fun when the weather is nice, and can't carry much, and can't use highways ... so cars resurged as the desired transport mode for the young and less affluent, and credit policies expanded to lure them in. But you can still buy and ride a moped.

E-bikes will be the same. People will find that they offer some benefits, but most people really won't want to go on fast group rides where they have to hold a wheel and focus all the time---just not that fun for most people. People will realize that they still have to compete with cars on the road, and most people won't want to do that.

Most people who are likely to want e-bikes are going to want either to blast along at thrilling speed without pedaling much (and their machines will be regulated as such) or want to putter around with a little pedaling and a little help, but wont want to kill themselves with effort.

Very few athletes are going to want to work really hard on a bike and use a little assist to keep up with the B group.

We hear from them because this is a cycling site. But most of the people who want to ride a bike fast---the sort which might post here---wouldn't enjoy riding with the fast group if they weren't riding because the challenge is a physical and mental challenge to endure and exert.

And those riders, from having ridden with the A group, dropped to the B group over time, and now don't want to do the No-Drop ride ... will know how to handle themselves in a peloton.

Doom and Gloom, hatred, fear, insecurity ... whatever. Why people cannot just stay cool and Accept Change is beyond me ... but so are a lot of really seemingly basic thongs, like "Why can't we all cooperate, be honest, compassionate, and tolerant?"