[bwoah]

Surgery recovery, too. An older cyclist is going to need surgeries more often than a younger one, and will take much longer to recover. For some guys a high-end electric assist bike is how they stay riding with the A-group while they're recovering.

[rglullis]

Other than ego, what's forcing people recovering from surgery to ride with the A-group?

[supermatt]

Friendship and other social connections?

[littlestymaar]

Humans being social animals.