AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Eh? I can't think of a major city in the UK which doesn't have some kind of cycling provision and infrastructure.
The rollercoaster of cycling popularity
- Thread starter johnnyb47
- Start date
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Eh? I can't think of a major city in the UK which doesn't have some kind of cycling provision and infrastructure.
Oldhippy
Cynical idealist
Bicycles are a form of transport, not an activity in my opinion. There are many who both get out once a week in a group ride and many who use their bike as transport or just commuting. Far from a niche I feel but those of us who would ride over driving just get lost in the noise of the car is king mentality with the greater population.
classic33
Leg End Member
midlandsgrimpeur
Senior Member
The problem is that it resets the market price at all levels. Larger bike companies have increasingly raised prices way beyond inflation, they use the guise of tech advancements (aero frames, disc brakes, integration of components etc.) to justify them. A 12k bike means your 'mid range' is now 6k and your 'beginner' bike is £2k. Yes, the likes of Halfords, Decathlon offer budget bikes under a grand, but it is a struggle to find anything carbon under £2k from most major bike manufacturers. Look at the new Caad14, the cheapest version with 105 mechanical is £2995 at full retail, and it's an alu bike!
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
I very much doubt that. The statistics suggest that around 10% of adults actually do ride a bike on the road at least occasionally, never mind just thinking about it.
You are suggesting only 1 person in 10,000 would even consider it. If it were even close to that low, you wouldn't have places like Halfords selling bikes.
Which country do you live in?
I'm not aware of any country which does NOT have some cycling specific provisions. The UK certainly does, even though it may not be nearly as much as we would like.
We are a fairly niche activity, but not nearly as much so as you are painting it.
- Location
- Glasgow
My first commuter was £30 from a car boot sale.
It took me to work and back home for quite a few months, before I had to get a few things fixed at the LBS, cost £80 - the LBS said it wasn't worth it!
Still, I used it for another year or so, by then I had discovered Cycle Chat and wanted .... more!
We really need to make a distinction between cycling to get from A to B and cycling to get up the hills for sport.
Anyone could take up utilitarian cycling, I'm not saying they should do it every day without fail, without running alternative transport, but if more folks would use a bike for perfectly duable short trips there would be a lot let conflict on the roads.
The planet would love it too!
midlandsgrimpeur
Senior Member
My first commuter was £30 from a car boot sale.
It took me to work and back home for quite a few months, before I had to get a few things fixed at the LBS, cost £80 - the LBS said it wasn't worth it!
Still, I used it for another year or so, by then I had discovered Cycle Chat and wanted .... more!
We really need to make a distinction between cycling to get from A to B and cycling to get up the hills for sport.
Anyone could take up utilitarian cycling, I'm not saying they should do it every day without fail, without running alternative transport, but if more folks would use a bike for perfectly duable short trips there would be a lot let conflict on the roads.
The planet would love it too!
Fair point, and as you say I am specifically talking about road bikes. The fact that £12k bikes do exist is of relevance to that particular market though. For cyclists that do want to get into road cycling and aspire to buy a decent carbon road bike, it has become prohibitively expensive for many.
- Location
- Glasgow
What happened to the non carbon road bikes (steel, alu) are they not good enough anymore to ride in a group for leisure up the hills?
Maybe the engines need better fuel
Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
You don't need carbon or deep pockets to buy a top quality bike -
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/bikefi.../comfort/push/aluminium/?rootfdid=modelfinder
midlandsgrimpeur
Senior Member
You don't, but bikes like this are not the norm anymore. Five or six years ago all the major brands would have had several models like this. Your choice in the sub £1k category for a road bike is quite limited now.
Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Shop round and there is no problem -
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2340-slr-8.8-2021.html
And for more -
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/buying-guides/best-cheap-road-bikes-under-1000
midlandsgrimpeur
Senior Member
What happened to the non carbon road bikes (steel, alu) are they not good enough anymore to ride in a group for leisure up the hills?
Maybe the engines need better fuel
Not all brands make them. As above, you can get a £999 Canyon, but the new Cannondale Caad is now £3k. Most big brand alloy bikes are going to be in the £1000-1500 bracket. That might seem reasonable but to many that is a heck of a lot of money for a fairly basic road bike.
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Vapin' Joe
Formerly known as Smokin Joe
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Not at all.
In 1990 I paid £700 for a Raleigh Dynatech. It came with a seven speed cassette, down tube shifters and a Shimano 600 groupset. Type that figure into the BoE inflation calculator and it would be £1753 today. For less than that you can now buy scores of road bikes that would beat it hands down in every department.
As we age prices always seem to be higher because we think of them in terms of years ago, but in most cases nearly everything is cheaper in real terms.
teeonethousand
Über Member
Buying stuff you need is all about logic and what will suffice. Buying something you want, over and above your needs, is all about emotion. Companies know this and aim for a niche or a range accordingly. High price, top of the range, latest tech, what the pros use etc all play to emotions and make you feel good. You pays your money and you get your kicks.
