This is what cycling's all about ....

[Fab Foodie]

Following our 5th successful 'Abingdon Cycling Festival' the other weekend and a change in the light and weather, we've all kinds of cyclist once again coming out of the woodwork for our Thursday evening social rides, about 30 last night split into 3 groups, Mellow, Medium and Fast.
In the Mellow group we had an age span of 74 years!

Members of all groups convened at the end at the KH&B for free chip butties and recovery pints.

There's definitely a 'market' for social/leisure cycling groups, if you feel the need, start your own 'Freewheeling' style group and feel the love xx

It's not about the bike, the speed or the lycra ... it's about bringing people together and good times.

 

[Glow worm]

Looks fun although all the lycra and lids would put me off.. If there's similar for old duffers in jeans I'd be up for it

 

[MikeG]

Chip butties!!!!!!!

No digestive system deserves that.

 

[Kies]

A lovely picture, and please don't take this the wrong way ..... But isn't cycling so middle class and white?
Would love to see more Asian,African and Oriental folks take the social side of cycling up.

 

[raleighnut]

That's a cyclist size portion of chips, what were the others having.

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

A lovely picture, and please don't take this the wrong way ..... But isn't cycling so middle class and white?
Would love to see more Asian,African and Oriental folks take the social side of cycling up.

Maybe not many about in Abingdon?

 

[MikeG]

A lovely picture, and please don't take this the wrong way ..... But isn't cycling so middle class and white?
Would love to see more Asian,African and Oriental folks take the social side of cycling up.

What's middle class got to do with it? And how can you tell someone's social class, whatever that means these days, from seeing them standing astride a bike in a photo? This may say more about your perceptions than about the people riding. I completely agree with you regarding the white thing, though.

 

[Cycleops]

What's middle class got to do with it? And how can you tell someone's social class, whatever that means these days, from seeing them standing astride a bike in a photo? This may say more about your perceptions than about the people riding. I completely agree with you regarding the white thing, though.

Interesting what you say about class, I was reading recently it is more defined by what marmalade you eat and what car you drive, apparently people see themselves as upper middle class if they have an older VW rather then a Mondeo! So making the distinction is rather more difficult. Cycling does seem to be more of a WASP pastime.

 

[MikeG]

I was brought up in Australia, which has no class at all . I simply don't understand the British obsession with class, and looking for nuances in class (I'm a better sort of middle class than him because of X, Y or Z) just seems ridiculous to me. As of course does pride in one's class. "Working class and proud of it" just seems gormless to me.

Anyway, wasn't this thread about a social bike ride?

 

[Cycleops]

I found that class in Australia is defined by money.

 

[AndyRM]

Anyway, wasn't this thread about a social bike ride?

This. Away and 'rejuvenate' CA&D with a thread about class and skin colour...

 

[Fab Foodie]

I

A lovely picture, and please don't take this the wrong way ..... But isn't cycling so middle class and white?
Would love to see more Asian,African and Oriental folks take the social side of cycling up.

I think our new club chairperson is going to be a lovely Malaysian .... lady .... And we have a Mr Chang as well.

Otherwise, Abingdon is mighty white, that's the demographic we have to pull from.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Looks fun although all the lycra and lids would put me off.. If there's similar for old duffers in jeans I'd be up for it

Well there are 3 groups and this photo was a snapshot of the square. The eldest was 84 but he's a lycra and lids man. Mrs FF was in leggings and a lid, Fiona's in jeans and jumper, there's a lass in red baggy sweats you can see, we had a lad in jumper and jeans last week, a kid on a bmx, and interestingly enough there is a notable trend on these rides to less lids and more caps amongst the lycra crowd.
The revolution has to start somewhere.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Here are photos from the festival to give you a better idea who we are managing to attract through our efforts:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.773036732709203.1073741836.110475642298652&type=1

 

[raleighnut]

Here in Leicester (probably the most multi-cultural small city) the majority of cyclists on organised rides are white but I wouldn't say middle class, middle aged though. My opinion is its a cultural thing i.e. Pushbike- poor Car- rich and white cyclists are seen as being a bit odd ( "you spent how much on a bike! I could sell you a car for that" ) Whilst there are many Asian Afro/Caribbean and European commuters on cycles not many cycle for fun/fitness seeming to much prefer the Gym or football/cricket to looning about in lycra.