The "E-Pace" Creep: Is it just me, or is the Peloton plugged in?

[Prince Albert Cycles]

1 hour ago, BrianMTB said:

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. 🍿

Change the captain

[Mamil]

2 hours ago, BrianMTB said:

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. 🍿

24kmph average is actually slow and I am what it says on the tin -- a proper mamil.

[Martin Albrecht]

8 minutes ago, Mamil said:

24kmph average is actually slow and I am what it says on the tin -- a proper mamil.

Was thinking the same, but then it also all depends on the route. Also, if the group is advertised as 21km/h but is actually 24km/h, that could catch you out. 
 

but mainly terrain makes all the difference. I made the mistake of joining a medium fast trail running group that other day, thinking 10km/h is nothing. That’s only 6min/km…. Till I realised how steep the terrain was…. Then I nearly died and quickly dropped back to the “social” group 

[The Ouzo]

We have similar in our groups, but the e-bikes that ride with us normally just need a reminder to back off on the hills. 
 

most of the time though we just grit our teeth, wipe the blood out of our eyes and keep pushing, makes us stronger 

[Eugene Oppelt]

A true chain gang leader takes care of the group, whether on an e-bike or hardtail or 26er. The alpha has a set of skills demonstrated through awareness, maturity, empathy, humour and honouring the code of the group (rules, agreements, etiquette, standards).

Edited February 24 by Eugene Oppelt

[Headshot]

3 hours ago, Meezo said:

how does one become the leader, is this a natural thing? 

The leader is decided by who has the biggest motor and battery combo obviously. Duh!

[Skubarra]

Is that a specific e-bike only problem though? Any cycling group will have stonger and weaker riders on the day and unless its a drop ride its the responsibility of the stronger riders to make sure everyone is keeping up? 

[betaboy]

You have one brilliant option… that will challenge the leadership.
It’s called EPO. It will turn you into an E bike killer. For a good example please Google search Jan Ullrich. ✅👍🏻🤭

You welcome.🤓

[betaboy]

52 minutes ago, Eugene Oppelt said:

A true chain gang leader takes care of the group, whether on an e-bike or hardtail or 26er. The alpha has a set of skills demonstrated through awareness, maturity, empathy, humour and honouring the code of the group (rules, agreements, etiquette, standards).

Sounds like you’d fit in well with the current Republican administration! All looks good on paper but hard to actually enforce. In a perfect world there would NOT be motorbikes, sorry E bikes.🤭

[SwissVan]

Doping and e bikes, like peanut butter and syrup 

[Steven421]

Reading all these comments, and I am really glad for the club I am riding in. Good leaders, very strong riders. No-one ever gets left behind, and we always have a back-up vehicle for every single ride. 

We have Flying-Thursdays where our group splits into two, both with leaders. G1 will average 28-30km/h & G2 will average 35km/h+++, with both groups having a back-up vehicle. This way we as a club accommodate all skill levels.  

['Kaze Pete]

Train harder to rider faster.
Insist on making the rides long enough to flatten an ebike battery. Make sure there are hills at the end. 

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, Skubarra said:

Is that a specific e-bike only problem though? Any cycling group will have stonger and weaker riders on the day and unless its a drop ride its the responsibility of the stronger riders to make sure everyone is keeping up? 

Yes it's an ebike specific thing. 

Eric the ebike can comfortably do 30km/h on the flat and 25 kmh up hill while holding a conversation. 

Alan analogue is much fitter, he can pull the group at 30km/h on the flat but is bleeding through nostrils at 25km/h uphill for a minute and then he's cooked.

 

It requires management. And they're noisy

[betaboy]

30 minutes ago, 'Kaze Pete said:

Train harder to rider faster.
Insist on making the rides long enough to flatten an ebike battery. Make sure there are hills at the end. 

I think those e bikes gangs are looking for you already 🤣🤣🤣🫵🏻

[Skubarra]

12 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Yes it's an ebike specific thing. 

Eric the ebike can comfortably do 30km/h on the flat and 25 kmh up hill while holding a conversation. 

Alan analogue is much fitter, he can pull the group at 30km/h on the flat but is bleeding through nostrils at 25km/h uphill for a minute and then he's cooked.

 

It requires management. And they're noisy

My point is just that you don't need an ebike in the group for someone to be much faster on climbs (and be considerate to the slower climbers).

Maybe captain ebike is an ex-analogue rider who is now getting his revenge for all the times he was dropped by the skinnies in the group.

 

 

[The Ouzo]

3 hours ago, Skubarra said:

Is that a specific e-bike only problem though? Any cycling group will have stonger and weaker riders on the day and unless its a drop ride its the responsibility of the stronger riders to make sure everyone is keeping up? 

What I’ve seen with our group is that the guys will sit a comfortable effort on the flats, once they hit the inclines I can only think that their physical effort stays similar but the ebike ups its assistance, so speed then stays the same.