Pedal Power - The Unstoppable Growth of Cycling

[Markymark]

What's the big deal with Lycra? I can't quite understand the media's obsession with the material when it comes to cyclists? Do they get excited about Barbour jackets and walking boots worn by ramblers?

Because whenever you want to ridicule a group or country you do it on their clothes or what they eat. Large amounts of racism is on this basis.

 

[Drago]

I sort of see. I wonder why such ire is reserved for lycra wearers, and not tweed wearers on a Pashley Flying Zeppelin?

 

[Markymark]

I sort of see. I wonder why such ire is reserved for lycra wearers, and not tweed wearers on a Pashley Flying Zeppelin?

Its a stereo type. People make fun of all sorts of groups for what they wear when in reality iften only a minority of that group wear it.

 

[Mugshot]

I can't quite understand the media's obsession with the material when it comes to cyclists?

And not just the media but other cyclists too, as is neatly evidenced here rather frequently. Rather perversely it is both the lycra wearers and non-wearers that like to obsess over others wearing lycra, lycra wearers that mock the FKWs or the newbies that are obviously all the gear and no idea as though you have to earn the right to wear it and the jeans wearers that seem to think that all those in lycra are wanna bes with a Strava obsession. It's a crazy, mixed up, mad, mad world

 

[Drago]

I still don't entirely get it, I must confess. As someone who spends a bit of time on a bicycle, if I were asked to create a stereotypical cyclist they'd be on a badly maintained MTB with the seat set too low and a dirty fluorescent tabard lieu of lights, usually spotted wobbling all over the footway. Certainly here in Carrotshire they represent largest sub species of cyclist.

 

[Markymark]

But a non cyclist will probably have the greatest irritation from a club run taking up all that space on their country roads in that stupid gear.

 

[mustang1]

Very true, is your new hobby fishing?

Moon walking. The Michael Jackson one.

 

[snorri]

Do they get excited about Barbour jackets and walking boots worn by ramblers?

Yes of course, and about yachtsmen in short wellies, golfers in flamboyant styles and as for jodhpurs........
The difference is IMO that the vast majority of sports people only veer from "normal" clothing whilst on the sports ground, be that a golf course, sailing club, tennis court, football pitch etc. Whereas sporting cyclists have the audacity to carry out their sporting activity in the public arena.

 

[srw]

And so do I but not all the time.

My point is that there are other cyclists apart from us lycra riding people and that they need to be shown as well. It is not all about sports riding. It is about normal people using a sustainable form of transport.

In London (where the photos in the OP were probably taken) your typical normal person using a sustainable form of transport does wear lycra - or fluoro tops or baggy shorts. I'm unusual in that I neither dress up for nor take a shower after my short (half-hour) commute.

Even for the Fridays post-Christmas pootle around London (a very gentle 10 miles in 3 hours around London) most people dressed up specially in some way - and for most of them it wasn't the sort of dressing-up I did (Christmas jumper).

I'm quite happy with promoting cycling in any way at all. The next stage can come later.

 

[mjr]

Here is a clip of Chris Boardman in Copenhagen. This is what cycling is like all over Denmark. But we also have a massive sports cycling scene. The majority of times I see things in the UK about bikes, there is usually someone in lycra. It makes you feel that most cyclists in the UK are sports cyclists.

Now I love Chris Boardman, but he does commit a few sins, one of which is in that video, attempting to reserve the word "cyclist" for sports cyclists. We don't do that for "motorist" and shouldn't do it for "cyclist" either, so I won't share that video.

Most UK videos seem to be by cycling enthusiasts riding with other cycling enthusiasts on some sort of "epic" where lycra is more likely, or from the mass media who seem unwilling to show much other than sports cycling. Everyday cycling is better. The camera was on the huh, but https://goblinrefuge.com/mediagoblin/u/mjray/m/two-minutes-on-ncr1-king-s-lynn/ doesn't seem to have any lycra, I think the only hi-viz are work jackets and only two riders in two minutes are wearing helmets (which is itself unusually high for here IMO).

My point is that there are other cyclists apart from us lycra riding people and that they need to be shown as well. It is not all about sports riding. It is about normal people using a sustainable form of transport.

Yes, but.... everyday riding is harder to make into sexy films. I've only got four half-decent ones from about a year and two of those are long distance rides where some people wore lycra.

What's the big deal with Lycra? I can't quite understand the media's obsession with the material when it comes to cyclists? Do they get excited about Barbour jackets and walking boots worn by ramblers?

No, they get excited about the walking socks IIRC and write rude things about Argyle. But this isn't only the media's obsession. Just look at the number of posts on here happily telling anyone who rides more than a minimal distance that they ought to wear revealing Lycra padded trousers with no underwear

 

[mjr]

with all due respect the fact that you are unable to ride as someone else does due to a medical condition is not really a valid reason for poo pooing their efforts.

And with all due respect, I'm not poo-pooing their efforts, but suggesting obsessive target fixation is unhealthy and will catch up with them eventually when they either start getting old or ill, leaving them disillusioned and bereft if they don't get over it, come to terms with their own mortality and rejoice - you're not getting out of this alive! If you want to chase targets for a while, enjoy it, but there's more to cycling than that.

 

[bpsmith]

And with all due respect, I'm not poo-pooing their efforts, but suggesting obsessive target fixation is unhealthy and will catch up with them eventually when they either start getting old or ill, leaving them disillusioned and bereft if they don't get over it, come to terms with their own mortality and rejoice - you're not getting out of this alive! If you want to chase targets for a while, enjoy it, but there's more to cycling than that.

Targets are just that, targets. If I want to challenge myself to ride an average of 20mph on a chosen route, once or even every ride, then that's up to me. Do I think I am better than anyone else? No. Do I have a ticker sharing that? Presently, no. Have I had one in the past? Yes, when VeloViewer was free. If I only achieve 18mph, then am I the same as someone who has also achieved 18mph, but were targeting themselves for 16mph? Maybe, but depends on the effort put in and the realism of both parties target.

Targets also change, on a daily, weekly or even yearly basis. Doesn't mean that we will suffer when we can't hit the same target as previously.

In reality, nobody should be ridiculing anyone else. We should all allow each other to challenge themselves in the manner they want to and accept that we are not all the same.

As for disabilities, there is no reason why anyone who has to consider a challenging personal situation to not be able to set themselves a challenge. It might not be the same challenge as someone else, but there are always people faster or slower irrespective of disability. I respect anyone who sets themselves a challenge and achieves it. Albeit, Steven Abraham with a 75k mile challenge (over proper terrain, not on the flat like someone else) or someone, who has never ridden before, striving to do their first 5 mile ride.

We should all be encouraging not judging.

 

[grumpyoldwoman]

What's the big deal with Lycra? I can't quite understand the media's obsession with the material when it comes to cyclists? Do they get excited about Barbour jackets and walking boots worn by ramblers?

I don't know if the media does,but being a rambler myself,I can get very about jackets and walking boots.In fact my ''walking coat'' and boots are what I use for

 

[summerdays]

And with all due respect, I'm not poo-pooing their efforts, but suggesting obsessive target fixation is unhealthy and will catch up with them eventually when they either start getting old or ill, leaving them disillusioned and bereft if they don't get over it, come to terms with their own mortality and rejoice - you're not getting out of this alive! If you want to chase targets for a while, enjoy it, but there's more to cycling than that.

It's only a problem if they make it one.... I added up my annual mileage last week and it wasn't as much as I'd have liked.... On the other hand it might be easier to beat this year. It's a tool for comparing how I think I'm doing with what I did, I'm not going to get stressed or disillusioned I missed a target. It's just another level of enjoyment of my cycling. If I was worried about comparing myself to others I wouldn't follow those people who do mega miles.

I also have a friend who doesn't do much cycling, especially with me as he is paranoid I will be annoyed at the slow speed he says he goes at. Anyway I've set him a goal that we are going to go for a couple of miles cycling in the quiet lanes to a pub, completely on the flat in the summer time, no stress, and we can get someone to come and pick us up afterwards so he doesn't have to do get back on the bike after the drink! I don't care, I'd still record it on Strava for the miles and be happy I was cycling with him (I'm not the fast cyclist he thinks I am).

 

[bpsmith]

Exactly, @summerdays. I just don't understand people who think you're a plonker just because you use Strava or a.n.other tool for logging your rides.