So I started a few outdoor rides recently. I have a nice 10km loop from home that has all right turns and only 2 traffic lights so I can do it over and over again with only being 5km max from home at any point. So its fun, because I see many of the same walkers and joggers, and roller bladers on each loop (there is a wide multi use path beside the bike lane on a 4km stretch that you can put your head down on and hammer).

So I am kind of hammering away just as I joined this section and there was a guy in jeans and a hybrid bike around 25m ahead riding bolt upright.

I was riding on my TT bike and "should" have caught him quickly unless it was Frodo commuting or Froome pedaling with one leg and one lung. I was riding at around 40 kph and this guy was holding constant. Then we hit a 4-5% leg (the loop has 100m vertical per loop) and he just stomped on the pedals like he was Froome on Ventoux. He probably went from 40 kph to 50 kph....I went backwards fast!

I got totally dropped. I felt fat and out of shape. He turned left at the traffic light 1km later (I could not catch him on the false flat at the top). I kept on my loop wondering if my brakes were rubbing. I have no power meter so was not sure how "bad" I really was.

Anyway, it was kind of fun trying to keep up with a guy on an eBike and not knowing it!!!! But I can see the value of these things allowing mixed ability riding in groups.

Then I am on the next loop, same spot where he dropped me and I see he is on an eBike probably riding 70kph going down the same 4% grade !!!! Haha