Things you hate about cycling!

[roubaixtuesday]

I often hear this not just from cyclists but people in general, with a bit of gentle questioning it turns out they have never tried it or run a couple of times and packed it in.

I have done a lot of running and a lot of cycling, I still do a bit of running but not much (cycling accident stopped it for 5 years)
running is harder than cycling, you have to put in the effort to enjoy it, you can cycle with very little effort or put in a lot of effort and strive for improvement, but running even at a moderate pace is hard for a lot of people.

I would agree road running can get boring at times, (I find time trialling the same) but get off road and explore and running can be fantastic.

I'm in the "running is crap" camp - for me at least.

I've done quite a lot more of it in the last couple of years on physio advice after a knee injury.

I'm just not very good at it, have the style and athleticism of an asthmatic hippo, and don't really enjoy it, even with a perfect Parkrun and lovely wooded off road valley to go through directly on my doorstep.

The few times I've attempted triathlons I've been top 10% in the cycle, bottom 10% in the run, or thereabouts, middle in the swim.

But each to their own.

 

[cougie uk]

The faff of Getting ready to go out where in running it's top, shorts, trainers and water bottle.
Mind you i'll take cycling over running any day.
Runners listen to music while they are out because it's just BORING.

It's a lot better now than it used to be. I remember Winter bike rides with 5 layers of kit. Modern clothing is fantastic.

 

[Shadow]

I would agree road running can get boring at times, but get off road and explore and running can be fantastic.

So how come 99.9% of the time, runners do not appear to be happy, enjoying themselves or smiling?

Unlike those who ride bikes.

 

[Mike_P]

Stupidly low branches especially over cycle tracks. Got a face fall of leaves the other day due to missing the sole clear gap and at another location it is now definitely a case of duck.

 

[simongt]

So how come 99.9% of the time, runners do not appear to be happy, enjoying themselves or smiling?

That has often occurred to me over the many years of seeing joggers whilst commuting by bike. Invariably, the expression is one of trying to hide the pain / discomfort, the blank 'thousand yard stare' or sweating furiously at the effort and wondering why they're doing it.
Hmm.

 

[C R]

Glorious sunshine all week, and then chucking down all weekend.

 

[ColinJ]

Glorious sunshine all week, and then chucking down all weekend.

What is a 'weekend'...?



Signed,
ColinJ (pensioner)

PS I used to hate looking out of the office window at sunshine, home window at rain too, when I last had that problem!

 

[C R]

What is a 'weekend'...?



Signed,
ColinJ (pensioner)

PS I used to hate looking out of the office window at sunshine, home window at rain too, when I last had that problem!

Weekend is the wet period during which you don't have to work so you could be riding, in between sunny periods during which yo do have to work, and can't go riding. See also long bank holiday.

 

[ColinJ]

Weekend is the wet period during which you don't have to work so you could be riding, in between sunny periods during which yo do have to work, and can't go riding. See also long bank holiday.

That is why they invented flexi-time!

Mind you, that doesn't help much if it rains all day, every day... I went to Scotland for 6 weeks one summer as a child and it poured every day, all day, the whole time that I was there!

 

[ColinJ]

I went to Scotland for 6 weeks one summer as a child and it poured every day, all day, the whole time that I was there!

To be fair... we went another year and got the opposite - 6 weeks of sunshine all day, every day.

 

[Sixmile]

The wee sneaky potholes that appear without warning sending shockwaves through your wrists and bangle.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The lack of water fountains in villages and towns. On a long ride I need to top up my water and I hate buying it in a plastic bottle I will immediately dispose of.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Being lectured about "you really should wear a h*lm*t", usually by people who went out on their bike once in 2021 and fell off, and are now convinced their headwear saved their lives.

 

[Baldy]

I went to Scotland for 6 weeks one summer as a child and it poured every day, all day, the whole time that I was there!

It only rains up here when the tourists come, once they go away the sun comes out.

 

[Petrichorwheels]

I have done a lot of running and a lot of cycling, I still do a bit of running but not much (cycling accident stopped it for 5 years)
running is harder than cycling, you have to put in the effort to enjoy it

must be why I don't remember ever seeing a runner looking as if they were enjoying it. Can't imagine anyone mid-run ever thinking "hello birds, hello trees, hello skies" either. Or pausing a while if they see something interesting.
So I assume they are into pain.
Interesting folk maybe.