Hey Hubbers,
I come to you today not as a hater, but as a man hanging on by his literal fingernails.
My local club rides have seen a fantastic influx of e-bikes lately. It’s great—more people, longer loops, fewer calls to wives for "rescue pickups." All good things. However, we’ve reached a new evolution: The E-Bike Ride Captain.
Here’s the deal: Our rides used to be advertised at a civilised 21km/h. I’d finish feeling "good-tired." Now, with a ride leader who has a motor and a battery doing the heavy lifting, that average has crept up to 24km/h.
The real "fun" starts when the road tilts up. In the Old Days (circa 2022), the laws of physics dictated that the group slowed to a dignified 15km/h on a climb. Now? The Captain hits the "Turbo" button, whistles a tune, and maintains 19km/h while the rest of us analog riders are seeing stars and tasting iron.
I’m getting home shattered, depleted, and wondering if I accidentally signed up for the Cape Epic qualifiers instead of a social Saturday spin.
So, I’m putting it to the collective wisdom of the Hub:
1. Is the "E-Pace Creep" a documented phenomenon in your clubs?
2. Is it fair for a ride leader on an e-bike to set the pace from the front?
3. Do I have a legitimate gripe about "advertised vs. actual" speed, or do I just need to shut up, HTFU (Harden The Flip Up), and buy a bigger lung?
Looking forward to the spicy takes. 🍿
