The rollercoaster of cycling popularity

[Brandane]

I can confirm that @Brandane is, the lightest Scottish drizzle puts him off riding

🤣🤣🤣

With good reasons! I cycle for enjoyment, but....
1. Light Scottish drizzle is like a London monsoon. And it tends to last for hours/days/weeks.
2. Rain is not good for bike components.
3. Cycling is just so much more enjoyable in dry weather.....

 

[Pat "5mph"]

That's the crux of the matter though, is it not? If one REALLY wanted to cycle commute.
But there aren't many people who REALLY want to cycle commute, and the weather and hills are contributory factors as to why they really DON'T want to cycle commute.

Well, if one doesn't want to, one doesn't want to, granted.
It seems though, that the ones that don't want to/never tried to are making it harder for the ones that want to!

 

[blackrat]

Well, if one doesn't want to, one doesn't want to, granted.
It seems though, that the ones that don't want to/never tried to are making it harder for the ones that want to!

"It seems though, that the ones that don't want to/never tried to are making it harder for the ones that want to!"
How on earth do you reckon that? No cyclist makes it harder for others to commute.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

No cyclist makes it harder for others to commute.

I meant motorist, of course, and the odd non driver that hates all cyclist because "they jump red lights when I'm crossing and should wear helmets".

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I am always puzzled by the "you NEED this type of bike to do this type of journey"

OK - if you are going along really rough steep mountain paths then a bike designed for it is a good idea
and if you are racing then the same applies

But all my life I have had basic normal bikes
my bike as a kid was a Peugeot with drops and 10 gears (only person I knew with that!!)
but the frame was steel and all that

but I rode that thing up all sorts of paths and along all sorts of roads
which some manufacturers seem to think can only be traversed on a proper MTB - in spite of my old bike having very very basic normal tyres

and nowadays I mostly ride on paths and tracks around the area - canal paths being a common one
and even in the wet I don;t seem to have no problems with anything except grip on steep slopes

Which makes me suspect the "marketing" is more important than the actual product and many people who buy specialist bikes would be fine with a decent hybrid

 

[blackrat]

Cycling is like any other pursuit in that it becomes a personal choice whether or not to participate. External forces or influence rarely prevents any activity and participating in such is nearly always a matter of desire, and in most cases, it is a determination to engage in an activity that drives us to do it.
It is aphorism to say that anyone can cycle the roads of Britain as long as they want to do it badly enough. Caveat emptor!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Cycling is like any other pursuit in that it becomes a personal choice whether or not to participate. External forces or influence rarely prevents any activity and participating in such is nearly always a matter of desire, and in most cases, it is a determination to engage in an activity that drives us to do it.
It is aphorism to say that anyone can cycle the roads of Britain as long as they want to do it badly enough. Caveat emptor!

Some roads are fine

Some - not so much

Runcorn has several big dual carriage ways leading traffic round it - or one to the middle but round the side of the centre (almost like they don't want visitors!!)
anyway - they are 2 lanes wide and have a proper hard shoulder - like a motorway, which is how people see them

BUT, in theory bikes are allowed on them as far as I can tell
in fact as you approach the Mersey Gateway Bridge to Widnes, as you hit the part where there are no more junctions
at that point you come across the only no cycling signs

But cycling on those road is dangerous due to the speed of the traffic and the fact that they just don;t expect you to be there
and probably don't think you should be for good reasons based on how the road looks

and the fact that the "hard shoulder" is often covered in grit and other assorted debris and stuff

 

[katiewlx]

Of course, but if you want to commute to work, you must have a reliable machine and suitable clothing, good lights at the very minimum. A track pump? Spare tubes?
Even for basics, I would say nowadays, you'll need at least £300 to start from scratch, with a refurbished second hand bike plus accessories.

but compared to driving which would be my only other alternative for a commute, is it really that expensive ? my car has cost me £500 this year already in MOT/servicing costs, that doesnt include insurance, VED or petrol costs or further repair costs if required.

cycling is by far the cheaper option, even if you bought a new £300 bike every year.

how to change into your "professional image", this is a major barrier for (some) women that need to wear a certain work attire, makeup, hair do. I am a woman, if I had to wear office clothes I would find it quite difficult to commute exclusively by bike.

yes, I didnt mention it in my first piece, even though it directly affects me too, because well its obviously more a barrier only women face, and I think we're getting something like theres 3x more men cycle than women in the UK still.

so as a generic thing impacting cycling popularity, I still think theres like at least 5 things ranked above it in my list of things Id fix first, that impact everyone regardless of age, ability, gender, race or anything

and whilst it is a barrier, that absolutely will put some women off cycling, its still absolutely something you can work around/solve if you are committed to cycling, but the commitment has to come first.

 

[katiewlx]

Am I missing something regarding commuting?

I don't know about you guys but when I've been out on my bike I sweat quite a bit and I'm pretty knackered after as well. But that doesn't matter because I jump in the shower when I get home and chillax afterwards.

But if that ride would have been a commute to work, with maybe no shower/changing facilities there, then does that mean that a lot of cycling commuters start their day at work all sweaty and knackered!

I wouldn't like to start my day at work like that.

it depends, how much effort you are putting in, what the weather is like, what kind of kit you are wearing, and arguably how often you are doing it.

I really only overheat in the high summer or if Ive overdressed for the conditions. but you can moderate your pace or de-layer to stay cooler, a cool flannel on your forehead like you're treating a fever can sap alot of your excess body heat away post ride too. its hard to explain but you kind of work out what works best for you when you do it. so I might look a bit flushed or glowing till I cool down, but its not quite sweaty betty syndrome.

as for being knackered, there are times I can be really tired post ride,say after a crazy strong headwind all the way, or a bad nights sleep, but I actually still feel more awake and better, than if Ive driven in. there is something in that whole exercise thing in the morning wakes you up and boosts your energy levels during the day.

 

[Dogtrousers]

That's the crux of the matter though, is it not? If one REALLY wanted to cycle commute.
But there aren't many people who REALLY want to cycle commute, and the weather and hills are contributory factors as to why they really DON'T want to cycle commute.

About 10 years ago I changed jobs and thought I'd give cycle commuting a go. For a while I had strange and very long train commute with a (Brompton) link and that worked ok. But then I had a daily 11km into London. I really didn't like it at all. I stuck with it to see if it would grow on me, trying to go back to my student days when I cycled absolutely everywhere in London. But no. Just because I like riding my bike for fun at weekends it doesn't necessarily follow that I'll like commuting. I eventually reverted to the world of trains and sudoku.

 

[matticus]

"how to change into your "professional image", this is a major barrier for (some) women that need to wear a certain work attire, makeup, hair do. I am a woman, if I had to wear office clothes I would find it quite difficult to commute exclusively by bike."


yes, I didnt mention it in my first piece, even though it directly affects me too, because well its obviously more a barrier only women face, and I think we're getting something like theres 3x more men cycle than women in the UK still.

so as a generic thing impacting cycling popularity, I still think theres like at least 5 things ranked above it in my list of things Id fix first, that impact everyone regardless of age, ability, gender, race or anything

and whilst it is a barrier, that absolutely will put some women off cycling, its still absolutely something you can work around/solve if you are committed to cycling, but the commitment has to come first.

Exactly. The Dutch have female lawyers, architect, politicians .. who cycle to work.
And the Netherlands has hotter summers than us!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Exactly. The Dutch have female lawyers, architect, politicians .. who cycle to work.
And the Netherlands has hotter summers than us!

and, of course, if a woman wants to cycle to work she might well have hair that would not respond well to wearing a helmet
and would also not respond well to the wind factor
adding another thing to be sorted out on getting to work

doesn;t apply to every woman and does apply to some men

but it does add another thing to say that the cycle commute has to have a backup

 

[Brandane]

if a woman wants to cycle to work she might well have hair that would not respond well to wearing a helmet

I know there is a special place reserved for such discussions, but worth pointing out that such headwear is NOT a requirement, and apparently rarely seen in places like the Netherlands.

 

[matticus]

and, of course, if a woman wants to cycle to work she might well have hair that would not respond well to wearing a helmet
and would also not respond well to the wind factor
adding another thing to be sorted out on getting to work

doesn;t apply to every woman and does apply to some men

but it does add another thing to say that the cycle commute has to have a backup

<sigh> Dutch cyclist numbers are very slightly skewed towards women over men.
So it clearly isn't a real problem, numerically.

 

[Tom B]

I would say no as most people are too idle .

Peoples attitude to driving and fuel costs play a part.

Even at £2 a litre, despite much belly aching and inflated vehicles coats people are finding money for cars and fuel. They prioritise it other many other things and see maintaining car payments and fuel as an essential. There is no appetite currently to reduce milage.

I cross paths with a food bank at work, it never ceases to amaze me how many people turn up in a car to hoover up free food, despite living less than half a mile away, often smoking a fag.

I think we have some way to go, probably £2.60/ltr before people will really start to make changes to their milage and car use.