Pedal Power - The Unstoppable Growth of Cycling

[GrumpyGregry]

Ooh. I was in Norway once, deep in the bowels of Phillips Petroleum, when something bad happened. My Norwegian contact said a word very like that, laden with venom. I didn't need to google translate it.

Yebbut Swedes wanting to say the Anglo-Saxon f-word say the Anglo-Saxon f-word. Liberally. And often. But the subtitlers never translate that one but give us Fan! as anything from Whoops! to ****!

 

[Scoosh]

MOD NOTE:
Many posts have been Deleted for going Off Topic and targeting an individual member of CycleChat.

Keep to the point of the Increase in Cycling, please and avoid the personal stuff.

Thank you.

 

[FrankCrank]

.....heh heh - all that MAMIL stuff and snobbery is starting to flourish over this way too, but each to their own I guess.

I have one piece of cycling specific clothing (a pair of SPD shoes for my recumbent trike for safety reasons) and doubt I will ever purchase any lycra type stuff, besides I'd look and feel a complete plonker.

Live and let live - if dressing the part is what makes it all so enjoyable then go for it.....

 

[Drago]

I wear lycra. Not because I'm a "sportsman", but because I enjoy the company of the Japanese trawlers that shadow me everywhere.

Scientific purposes!

 

[grumpyoldwoman]

Unfortunately there are too many of the type who walk up a hill pushing their bike so they can roll down the other side shouting 'weeee'. People who 'enjoy the simple pleasures of riding a bike'. I always thought that mentality was for 7 year olds.

Cycling is a sport. You should do it to the best of your ability and aim to make constsnt improvement. I can't understand how so many 'cyclists' have no interest in times, power, speed etc. It's like going to the gym and lifting the same weight every time, never adding more.

I don't see it as a ''sport'',granted it is if that's how you choose to ride.I ride to get to work and for the pure enjoyment and achievement of cycling further than I have previously.

I'm obviously not a proper cyclist in your book,but you know what,I'm going to carry on enjoying it......even more now,just because it doesn't fit your view of cycling :-)

 

[ianrauk]

I also don't see cycling as a sport, even with the mileage I do as a lycra'd up MAMIL. I find cycle racing quite tedious and I would never join a road club. But the way I see it is that the more cyclists on the road, what ever their persuasion and for what ever reason they cycle. Then that can only be a good thing.

 

[Citius]

Cycling is a sport - but it is not only a sport. A bit like driving a car - some people use one to drive to work, others choose to compete on the track.

 

[subaqua]

I watched an article on BBC Breakfast this morning , which said commuting levels for cyclists had stayed the same.

which is a pity if there has been a growth in weekend riders, what's missing ( and don't say segregated lanes FFS) to enable people to commute to work.

the article pointed out not feeling safe, and lack of showers as big ones.

 

[Inertia]

I watched an article on BBC Breakfast this morning , which said commuting levels for cyclists had stayed the same.

which is a pity if there has been a growth in weekend riders, what's missing ( and don't say segregated lanes FFS) to enable people to commute to work.

the article pointed out not feeling safe, and lack of showers as big ones.

In fairness I think the not feeling safe was her personal view (she said she was an unsteady cyclist or something?) but the showers was a good point. I actually get by without showers but I have a friend who sweats going up stairs. He cycles to work and would be in trouble without them.

The guy in the piece was late but IMO that was a lack of planning, my journey time is consistent as I'm not held up by traffic much. The only way I as a cyclist am late, is if I leave the house late. They did say its the second most relaxing way to commute, only beaten by walking which is something I value more than the comfort of the car,

 

[ianrauk]

Cycling is a sport - but it is not only a sport. A bit like driving a car - some people use one to drive to work, others choose to compete on the track.

Sorry, to clarify, I meant to me it's not a sport ie I don't look at it as I'm doing a sport. More of a hobby,leisure and commuting activity.

 

[ianrauk]

BBC Breakfast this morning , which said commuting levels for cyclists had stayed the same.

I actually disagree with this. What do they base that assertion on?
Every year I see more and more cyclists on my commute. Yourself on your commute, which I can imagine has far more cycle commuters then mine, must have seen an increase over the years too.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I watched an article on BBC Breakfast this morning , which said commuting levels for cyclists had stayed the same.

which is a pity if there has been a growth in weekend riders, what's missing ( and don't say segregated lanes FFS) to enable people to commute to work.

the article pointed out not feeling safe, and lack of showers as big ones.

It was very interesting. They thought there was no increase in commuting, but an increase in weekend warriors. That's my impression too.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I actually disagree with this. What do they base that assertion on?
Every year I see more and more cyclists on my commute. Yourself on your commute, which I can imagine has far more cycle commuters then mine, must have seen an increase over the years too.

I was just thinking the same after being struck by how many cyclists I crossed on my way back from Welling to Deptford last night. I've never seen so many out and about on that route.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I was just thinking the same after being struck by how many cyclists I crossed on my way back from Welling to Deptford last night. I've never seen so many out and about on that route.

That may be New Years resolutioners, they'll gradually reduce in numbers over the year.

 

[Red17]

I watched an article on BBC Breakfast this morning , which said commuting levels for cyclists had stayed the same.
.

Would be interesting to know what measurement they were using. Surveys available on the web (TFL / government) that I can find show actual numbers of cyclists increasing dramatically since 2001, but the % of the population commuting by bike staying fairly constant.

All depends how you want to present the statistics.