The rollercoaster of cycling popularity

[johnnyb47]

Hi,
Over the years the popularity of cycling seems to come and go.
The last big uptake happened during the pandemic were it seemed everybody was buying bikes to avoid public transport or to just enjoy getting out to get some exercise which was allowed during lockdown.
Even the bike shops struggled to keep pace with the huge demand.
As soon as the pandemic ended the whole industry seemed to collapse with people ditching there bikes and mothballing them to the garage shed.
Granted not everybody did this but never the less a lot did.
A few years later things have moved on and were now facing a new global crisis.
Fuel has sky rocketed in price due to the events in the middle east and each and every one of us will feel the effects of it one way or another.
Is this going to be the dawn of where the popularity of cycling comes back round full circle again,
Hmmm interesting times

 

[cyberknight]

I would say no as most people are too idle .

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I would say no as most people are too idle .

Not too idle, they just don't like cycling. My social circle comprises of fit outdoor types, but riding a bike simply does not appeal to any of them.

 

[Debade]

I think the pandemic was driven by boredom. If people were riding bikes to save money, there would already be higher levels of biking. I think to change that, biking economics needs to become a required course, 😃

 

[Dogtrousers]

Pandemic cycling was all about leisure. Something fun to do during lockdown while the sun is shining.

Fuel prices/shortages would drive utility cycling which is way more difficult and requires secure places to lock bikes, carrying capacity, the need to ride in locations that aren't nice, the need to do it when the weather isn't ideal and so on. That's a much harder sell.

 

[esoxlucius]

Cycling is great on the face of it.....until you get on a bike and realise it takes a little effort.....or a lot of effort in some instances! And when that realisation hits, then the people who thought it was a bit of easy fun, then put said bike in the shed!

No pain, no gain was always invented for such pastimes as cycling.

 

[DCLane]

Cycling is great on the face of it.....until you get on a bike and realise it takes a little effort.....or a lot of effort in some instances! And when that realisation hits, then the people who thought it was a bit of easy fun, then put said bike in the shed!

This ...

... people who buy a bike thinking they'll get fit, then realise it's a LOT harder than when they were 8. So throw it in the shed/garage and eventually sell it needing work for whatever they can.

 

[All uphill]

This ...

... people who buy a bike thinking they'll get fit, then realise it's a LOT harder than when they were 8. So throw it in the shed/garage and eventually sell it needing work for whatever they can.

As well as the physical effort there's also mixing with other vehicles, finding sensible routes, clothing, locks...

It's not an easy transition, imo.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

So many newcomers are oblivious to how aero drag from their riding position and their riding kit has a huge effect on their speed for a given effort, before looking at tyres/tubes rolling resistance and improving their Lactate Threshold Heart Rate plus Functional Threshold Power through training.

 

[kingrollo]

Been cycling since 1989 - I might just be a miserable old git - but this current decline seems terminal - at least in terms of road cycling.

New cyclists in 2026 will either go e mtb or e gravel - imo that's a poor intro to cycling. It sort of bypasses the winter miles summer smiles logic - but rewards of being fast in June and July are sweeter when you have put the work in to get there.

That's not a dig at e bikes btw - after a recent HA that's what I ride now.

 

[markemark]

Large numbers of cyclists in London are commuters. People aren’t going into the office as much so there’s a drop in demand.

I also suspect the cycle industry make a massive incorrect assumption that the pandemic numbers would be sustained. It dropped back to normal after they overstretched themselves. Business model fail.