I have cycled for years and still ride my Domane (and Bike Friday while traveling), but at 75 I tired of getting dropped on the hills and having others wait for me. In fact, it was clear my son, who is very competitive in duathlons, no longer enjoyed riding with me. My pedal assist bike has changed all of that, and on it I feel like I’m 45 again.

Specialized says in their ads, “It’s you, only faster.” The motor ain’t helping if I ain’t pedaling. If fact, if starting up a hill I am coasting, I will likely have to pull a 55 pound bike up that hill unassisted. And the pedal assist drops out at 28 mph, which is fast enough (although my son stills goes faster than me DOWN the hills.) I usually ride in ECO mode, instead of SPORT or TURBO, and I do get a workout, but granted not as much as I would if I were on my Trek.

Since I don’t “show off” and ride away from the group, the folks I ride with seem to enjoy my riding with them. Now instead of them waiting for me, they enjoy drafting off me.

The only times I have regretted riding my Turbo (which I have had for almost two years) is the three times I rode longer than my battery charge. But I have done several metric centuries on it and expect to go another one in the morning.