Generally speaking, GrNY is a club for people who enjoy mixed terrain riding on manual bicycles. Exceptions to the manual bicycle rule: Pedal-assist (no throttle) e-bike riders who join our shortest distance (most casual pace group) and ride in a way that is respectful to that group. In general, e-bike riders should stay in the middle (or back half) of the pack, not in the front. Moving towards the front of the group (especially on climbs) risks blowing up the expected pace of the ride. E-bike riders who ride off the front of the group, ride in an unpredictable manner, or otherwise do not naturally mesh with the pace and skill of the group may be asked to either, a) ride off the back of the group, or b) to leave the group and ride solo.
GrNY Guidelines for E-bikes
1) It must be a state legal, pedal-assisted e-bike (no throttles allowed). This is required for our club insurance. Our rides are frequently in NY, NJ, and CT and may cross the borders of more than one state during a single ride.
2) E-bike riders should stay out of the medium or faster pace groups and instead ride with the slowest (and most casual) pace group.
3) In general, e-bike riders should stay in the middle (or back half) of the group, not in the front. Moving towards the front of the group (especially on climbs) risks blowing up the expected pace of the ride. E-bike riders who ride off the front of the group, ride in an unpredictable manner, or otherwise do not naturally mesh with the pace and skill of the group may be asked to either, a) ride off the back of the group, or b) to leave the group and ride solo.
4) Expect that some riders will be riding near their physical limits (i.e., working very hard) and socialize and communicate accordingly when interacting with other riders. Zooming past other riders (especially on the hills), while those riders are at the limit, is unsafe and will also annoy your fellow riders.
5) One challenge for e-bikes fitting within road (or gravel) group rides is that power output can be quite different than manual bikes. On steep hills, an e-biker might have the power of a pro rider. On flats and downhills, they will have only the power in their legs once they hit the speed limiter on the bike. Then there is the challenge of hitting speeds at which the motor assistance turns off suddenly while in a pace line. For instance, many pedal-assist e-bikes provide zero assistance above 20 MPH. On flat pavement and slight downward grades, the “medium” and “long” pace groups will exceed that speed on pavement, especially when drafting. That is one reason we expect e-bike riders to join the slowest and most casual pace groups, where drafting is much less common. Rubber-banding between being dropped (on flat or downward grades) and catching up (on hills) is not a good way to mesh with the group.
There are a wide variety of opinions about e-bikes and where they fit in the scheme of group rides. Some of our riders are strongly opposed. Others are neutral as long as the person on the e-bike rides appropriately. Others are positively in support of e-bikes if they allow experienced and skilled riders to continue to ride with their companions as they age or if they suffer from health problems. Whether you are riding an e-bike or a manual bike, if you mesh with the way the group rides, people probably won’t think much about the bike you are riding. Riding in ways that are unpredictable, or that don’t mesh with the group, is not going to win friends among your fellow riders. It might also put fellow riders at greater risk, which will result in the unpredictable rider (whether on a manual bike or e-bike) being asked to leave the group ride.