Is road cycling most popular in the UK?

[Welsh wheels]

I reckon that the UK might have the highest proportion of cyclists per head than any other country. Cycling is popular in other European countries as well, but I think that the road cycling culture has really taken hold in the UK compared to other countries. And outside of Europe, cycling is nowhere near as popular. Discuss/disagree.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

I reckon we're not even in the top 10.

And I would be amazed if we are even anywhere near that. Based on my unscientific observations elsewhere in the EU, Africa and USA.

 

[Welsh wheels]

One word: Holland.

Do Holland have the same cycling club culture as us though?

 

[The Crofted Crest]

Take a look at Top 10 Countries with Most Bicycles per Capita. The UK doesn't even come close to Finland for bikes, but it's probably up there in the hubris stakes.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Do Holland have the same cycling club culture as us though?

In a major PITA kinda way yes. Cycle on Saturday and Sunday there and you’ll see why. Worse than the mopeds.

 

[ianrauk]

As well as Spain and Italy, from my personal experience I'd throw in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Denmark... and that's just in Europe.

I don't think I have ever seen so many road cycling clubs out on a Saturday morning as I have in Belgium.

 

[Dave7]

Do Holland have the same cycling club culture as us though?

In my humble opinion that might depend on what type of road cycling you mean. I have been there quite a few times but not for some 8 years. The normal roads seemed crammed with hoards of 'sit up & beg/Dutch style/flat bar cyclists. The roads are geared up for them........unlike here. Over here you seem to get the occasional cyclist that uses it for his/her daily trip to the shops etc.
If on the other hand you mean drop bar cyclists that go out for 30/50/100 mile jaunts........I have no idea

 

[ianrauk]

They do certainly seem to like to swarm...

Swarm is an apt description. Woe betide any other poor unfortunate canal path user that happens to be in the peleton's way. They take no prisoners.

 

[ianrauk]

It would be interesting to hear what @Shut Up Legs has to say.
My perception is that despite the anti cyclist rhetoric that you hear coming from Australia, Road/Club cycling sees to be very popular.

 

[Black Sheep]

I would argue that mountain biking is more popular in the UK, there are many many people who'll load their bike up and head to the peak district, wales or the lakes etc to go ride, myself included.

my town has two cycle clubs based near it and hosts an annual hill climb event, but I see more mountain bikes being ridden through town than road bikes (I'm not counting bike shaped objects)

 

[Milkfloat]

Looking for data on cycling as a sport rather than for transport I came up with this:

This is from: https://ecf.com/sites/ecf.com/files/CONEBI market report analysis 2016.pdf

I think it shows that the UK has a high number of sales per head of population, but a low figure for cycling as main mode of transport. So eitehr, we have a huge n+1 success or we buy bikes for leisure/sport rather than transport.

 

[Drago]

Club riders are very popular with the Daily Mail set.





























As targets for abuse.

 

[Tim Hall]

I don't think I have ever seen so many road cycling clubs out on a Saturday morning as I have in Belgium.

They do certainly seem to like to swarm...

Swarm is an apt description. Woe betide any other poor unfortunate canal path user that happens to be in the peleton's way. They take no prisoners.

Hatchet faced racers ((™) @User13710) blasting up and down at full chat. I'm off there on Friday...

 

[swee'pea99]

Amazing figures for Holland at that link:

• People: 16,652,800
• Bicycles: 16,500,000
• Cyclists: ~99.1%

 

[Black Sheep]

Looking for data on cycling as a sport rather than for transport I came up with this:
View attachment 412706

This is from: https://ecf.com/sites/ecf.com/files/CONEBI market report analysis 2016.pdf

I think it shows that the UK has a high number of sales per head of population, but a low figure for cycling as main mode of transport. So eitehr, we have a huge n+1 success or we buy bikes for leisure/sport rather than transport.

I guess that includes data for children's bikes and bike shaped objects from sports direct (the wife won't go anywhere near that shop with me as I take the mick out of the bikes / want to fix them) the latter of which will be bought mid-summer, ridden once or twice before being consigned to the shed, dragged out a as spring cleaning 9 months later, put on freecycle and a replacement bought later in the summer and so the cycle continues (pun not intended)