Originally Posted by
Lurch
Amen to all you said. I just turned 76 and still enjoy riding my less than trendy bikes. Was managing to ride my age at least once per year until age 71. I still ride around town as much as possible and commute to a volunteer job each week. Due to age and a slowly progressive blood disorder my endurance isn't what it once was, so I recently traded my 13-year old commuter bike for a pedal assist model. It's only 250 watts, but it smooths out the hills and allows me to keep riding. I still have to pedal to make it go and I don't use the assist for the flats, so my average speed is about the same as the old pedal bike. I agonized over the decision for a couple of years, but have no regrets at this point. I did keep one old hybrid and ride it for the shorter trips and errands, so...best of both worlds.
I'm really torn about this. I can't come up with a good reason for why I'd really
need an e-bike at this point, but I'm kind of a techie person and am pretty fascinated by the technology and all that. Besides, my wife just got one and absolutely loves it. She mainly uses the assist for hills and riding into the wind, but has already ridden farther and more often than she has in years. And of course, she can not only keep up with me without any trouble, but can whip me any time she wants to!
But would I want to show up for one of our group rides with an e-bike? Maybe it's all a matter of ego (probably is!), but it would seem like I'd have it "too easy"when everyone else is busting it to do a 40-miler or whatever.
I could almost justify it if I didn't have to give up one of my current bikes, but we're already short of garage space. Although I do have any extra ceiling-mounted lift hanger...