The rollercoaster of cycling popularity

[Willd]

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.

I'd agree based on today's observations, more people jogging than out on bikes...

 

[cyberknight]

as i dont have a social circle i cant comment

 

[Alex321]

That partially sums it up - too much hassle.

Plus, even as a cyclist, cycling is pretty boring especially over the same old routes which is inevitable for utility cycling.

Some find it boring, some don't.

If I was getting bored by it, I would probably stop. But I enjoy my cycling, most of the time.

 

[Oldhippy]

Looking at Holland where utilitarian cycling is the norm the winters are colder and whilst you see the lycra clad road bike riders they are outnumbered by people just going about their day in regular clothes, they have outstanding infrastructure to make it easy. Again, I refer you to Bike Nation by Peter Walker. It has been proved again and again, if the right environment is there people will use it. OK, you'll never get everyone out of a car but many countries prove beyond doubt you can shop, work, even a plumber with the right bike and so many other things on a bicycle. The UK weirdly has a totally skewed view of cycling in general and one of many consequences is more ill health, more traffic, less decent public transport due to the overwhelming view that car is king and that the end of the discussion.

 

[Alex321]

Looking at Holland where utilitarian cycling is the norm the winters are colder and whilst you see the lycra clad road bike riders they are outnumbered by people just going about their day in regular clothes, they have outstanding infrastructure to make it easy. Again, I refer you to Bike Nation by Peter Walker. It has been proved again and again, if the right environment is there people will use it. OK, you'll never get everyone out of a car but many countries prove beyond doubt you can shop, work, even a plumber with the right bike and so many other things on a bicycle. The UK weirdly has a totally skewed view of cycling in general and one of many consequences is more ill health, more traffic, less decent public transport due to the overwhelming view that car is king and that the end of the discussion.

The Netherlands is more unusual than the UK, but you also have to remember that most of the Netherlands is pretty well flat. Which makes a big difference to cycling.

 

[Oldhippy]

@Alex321 agreed, but Germany, Holland, France, Spain, many South American countries and many others have superb cycling infrastructure and hills and mountains even, without the driving lobbies calling out 'war on motorists' we in the UK seem to live in a parallel universe where we watch other countries do these things and then give it a half ar#ed attempt then leave it claiming no one used it.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

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.

I have been saying for years that the cycling industry as a whole has been pushing it as a leisure activity for years (and the pandemic created the perfect opportunity for this as you say). Problem is that it isn't really, it is more the preserve of commuting (alternative transport) or serious enthusiasts. There really isn't much middle ground with cycling.

My main gripe is that so many manufacturers used the post pandemic boom to ramp up prices; bikes, clothing, components. The problem was that the short term leisure consumer would always drift away and the long term cyclist (most of us on here I would guess) tend to resent the years of price gouging. As a result we are now seeing an industry with serious long term financial decline in effect.

 

[blackrat]

I'd agree based on today's observations, more people jogging than out on bikes...

All jogging needs is a pair of good running shoes, shorts and you are out the door. Cycling however is a HUGE expense and one has to be really into the sport/activity to stay with it. Around here most riders are into their middle age before they start Audaxing or riding recreational (here are NO commuters) and have the money to persevere. with it. I have spent thousands on bikes and only hundreds on running/hiking shoes.

 

[travellingwest]

All jogging needs is a pair of good running shoes, shorts and you are out the door. Cycling however is a HUGE expense

This. Buying a pair of trainers and something to run in clothing wise isn't anywhere near as expensive as a bike, a helmet, a lock, lights, a bag for your stuff (whatever kind of bag) and so on. Jogging on the pavement is easier than riding on roads full of potentially heavy traffic that doesn't really care about cyclists too much, think we're in the way, and well, you know the rest.
I also see the problem, as I have right now, nowhere for lots of people to park their bikes safely in their place of work. As an example: I can't put mine in the yard at our shop behind the warehouse, then go out the big gates the lorries come in because a certain person might think I'm stealing stuff and sneaking it out the back. So I have to wheel my bike through the shop. Not ideal. Nor is there more than one pathetic bike rack for 3 bikes out the front. So not enough for staff or customers really. Nor is there anywhere I can change if I arrive either hot and sweaty or drenched.
We simply aren't set up for cycling to become a serious form of transport that would also change how we move about in our leisure time. It isn't too late for government to change things but I don't think the will is there (nor the funds right now). We've brainwashed the people into believing that car is king and the best way to gete from A to B. It's not easy to change decades of belief.

Still, it's sad that more people don't remember how much fun they had riding bikes when they were kids and can still do that now.

 

[katiewlx]

The Netherlands is more unusual than the UK, but you also have to remember that most of the Netherlands is pretty well flat. Which makes a big difference to cycling.

so is much of East Anglia...and yet here we are still not making much difference to cycling in the UK.

 

[katiewlx]

All jogging needs is a pair of good running shoes, shorts and you are out the door. Cycling however is a HUGE expense and one has to be really into the sport/activity to stay with it. Around here most riders are into their middle age before they start Audaxing or riding recreational (here are NO commuters) and have the money to persevere. with it. I have spent thousands on bikes and only hundreds on running/hiking shoes.

cycling is as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it imo as a hobby. just like running is, the amount of debates I get subjected to by my running friends or colleagues at work about which new trainer gives them the right energy boost return and so on, is no different to cyclists arguing over which kit or bikes are more aero.

I started adult cycling in my basic gym/exercise gear, because I didnt know any different, it worked and hey actually kit wasnt exactly much different on the womens side of things back then anyway. my bike was a cheap bso, I was so clueless I didnt even realise knobbly tyres werent terribly good for riding on roads, yeah blame the cycle shop who saw me coming with that.

but I persisted with it and caught the bug and then as I got more into it spent more money and upgraded things, thats how passion translates into things you like doing. You dont suddenly decide you want to learn music, and buy a whole orchestra of instruments, and a bunch of lessons do you, you probably look for a cheaper second hand instrument you like and see if you like it first.

for me the biggest blocker to newbie cyclists isnt the cost of bikes or kit, or the weather, or the inclines or lack of them in the geography of the UK, its simply that most of the roads theyll ride on arent that safe for them because of the way people drive on them, and around cyclists.

the biggest gain for cycling during the pandemic lockdowns were the roads were so much quieter, and so it felt safe, you stick a newbie on a bike on a road now and expect them to cope with tipper trucks often no more than a couple of feet away from them, drivers in cars some of whom think inches are enough, often at speeds that are way in excess of the actual limit, and thats before we chuck in the ones too busy on their phones to bother actually driving.

solve peoples attitudes to driving safely thesedays and youll boost the numbers of cyclists.

 

[blackrat]

cycling is as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it imo as a hobby. just like running is, the amount of debates I get subjected to by my running friends or colleagues at work about which new trainer gives them the right energy boost return and so on, is no different to cyclists arguing over which kit or bikes are more aero.

I started adult cycling in my basic gym/exercise gear, because I didnt know any different, it worked and hey actually kit wasnt exactly much different on the womens side of things back then anyway. my bike was a cheap bso, I was so clueless I didnt even realise knobbly tyres werent terribly good for riding on roads, yeah blame the cycle shop who saw me coming with that.

but I persisted with it and caught the bug and then as I got more into it spent more money and upgraded things, thats how passion translates into things you like doing. You dont suddenly decide you want to learn music, and buy a whole orchestra of instruments, and a bunch of lessons do you, you probably look for a cheaper second hand instrument you like and see if you like it first.

for me the biggest blocker to newbie cyclists isnt the cost of bikes or kit, or the weather, or the inclines or lack of them in the geography of the UK, its simply that most of the roads theyll ride on arent that safe for them because of the way people drive on them, and around cyclists.

the biggest gain for cycling during the pandemic lockdowns were the roads were so much quieter, and so it felt safe, you stick a newbie on a bike on a road now and expect them to cope with tipper trucks often no more than a couple of feet away from them, drivers in cars some of whom think inches are enough, often at speeds that are way in excess of the actual limit, and thats before we chuck in the ones too busy on their phones to bother actually driving.

solve peoples attitudes to driving safely thesedays and youll boost the numbers of cyclists.

When I hike I never break a chain, I never have a derailleur fail, I never have to replace a cassette, I never have to buy yet another computer, I never have to, well, you get the idea. To suggest the only deterrent to cycling is the traffic, is sort of silly.