What sort of Cyclist are YOU ?

[Paulus]

I have been a keen racing cyclist years back, I have been a tourer around large parts of Britain and Europe and I am also a utility cyclist who does his shopping by bike and prefer to use the bike instead of the car or bus.

 

[sevenfourate]

Currently on LEJOG……

Good luck, enjoy, be safe 🚴🏻‍♂️

 

[Mike Ayling]

Recreational cyclist but having spent the last two weeks in Belgium I will be doing a lot more local transport stuff, shopping, library church etc.

 

[Ratchet Cat]

I’m a lifelong cyclist with a recently diagnosed health condition. My physio said cycling on the flat is ok.
I find cycling easier than walking.
I will never give up my bikes 😸

 

[wakemalcolm]

Started back in the 80s when I considered curling up with the Freewheel catalogue represented a good read and an acceptable way to spend an evening; even the Ribble mail order form looked enticing.
Looking back I seem to have been hoodwinked by most of the trends: had a steel road frame converted to take canti's, owned a couple of mountain bikes, entered a few Sportives, and these days mostly hammer along gravel trails on a bike better suited to the road.
Given endless time and no responsibilities, I'd ride more but family life's all about compromises. I'll get out once or twice a week and maybe a week living like an itinerant vagrant in the summer.

 

[PeteXXX]

I can't ride as much as I used to due to an ongoing knee problem but do still ride locally rather than drive.
My days of long rides is over but I remember many happy long days out with friends & solo.
After over 20 imperial centuries & numerous metric centuries & a LEJOG, my longest ride recently was just under 30 miles and my knee did suffer for it the following day or two!!

Still, I enjoy getting out on one or the other of my bikes to visit friends for coffee and cake. Ice-cream, too 👌

 

[VinSumRox]

I am now a regular recreational cyclist, usually out for 2 or 3 times a week with a road, gravel and a hardtail MTB.
Have been a lifelong bike commuter with an occasional tour thrown in. Started riding longer distances on road when decided to do a sportif for charity and met a local guy to ride with regularly, about 15 years ago and not stopped.

 

[G-Zero]

I’ve always had bikes since being a kid and later did the C2C three times with an old Claude Butler, carrying all my kit in a rucksack. I later bought a Scott G-Zero (forum name) mountain bike and joined Cyclechat in 2011, shifting across to a Cube CX bike.

Then on moving to a new office closer to home, I bought a rack and panniers, and started to commute most days in all weather conditions. That increase in fitness and colleagues convinced me to buy my first Cube road bike and I was soon doing the occasional sportive and many longer days in the saddle.

At 55 I retired from work in 2017 and have continued to cycle, replacing my Cube roadie with a more modern Scott, with electrickery SRAM gears. That bike carried me through many Strava Gran Fondos and a couple of Scottish sportive rides last year.
Very recently my old Cube CX bike was replaced by a gravel bike, with more electrickery Di2 gears and I’ve just added a rack and new panniers to it. Initially the panniers will be used for shopping and days out while on holiday in the campervan, as I don’t like driving once set up, but I have a mind to start bike packing too. I’ve already got a lightweight tent and kit for sea kayak and mountain trips, so it seems a bit silly not to give it a go. I also plan to enter our local gravel ride ‘The Gralloch’ next year.

These days I consider myself to be mostly a fair weather cyclist, avoiding heavy rain where possible, and living in Scotland that usually means spending time indoors on worldwide rides with young lycra clad ladies and gentlemen iFit trainers on my NordicTrak indoor cycle.

I am currently carrying what I think is a hernia, which is reducing my time in the saddle due to a deep ache in my groin if I ride too long (referred in August 2026 and still awaiting an NHS appt), but still getting plenty of rides in.

I think I ticked the correct box above 😅

 

[Binky]

I wonder how many on this forum don't actually ride. It seems a lot identify as cyclists but no longer do or even never did.
If you no longer ride a bike or do a certain activity does that still mean you are one?

 

[wakemalcolm]

Oh yeah, forgot I was a commuter for 32 years: think it saved me about 2 years worth of work compared with what I would otherwise have spent on public transport although I probably spent more on scones as a result.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I wonder how many on this forum don't actually ride. It seems a lot identify as cyclists but no longer do or even never did.
If you no longer ride a bike or do a certain activity does that still mean you are one?

There comes a time when you simply can't ride a bike anymore, for various reasons. In my case I have balance issues which rules out two wheels.

And no, I don't want a trike.

 

[Gillstay]

Since when has going shooting been normal, or maybe I should say, when was it last a normal activity?
Unless you are an armed copper or in the military.

Its out in the country, we tend to shoot in the pub. Bell target shooting. Does feel odd wandering into the pub with a rifle.
Americans always seem amazed.

 

[Binky]

There comes a time when you simply can't ride a bike anymore, for various reasons. In my case I have balance issues which rules out two wheels.

And no, I don't want a trike.

I agree, as and when or if the time comes I can't ride a regular two wheel upright bike I cannot ever see me riding a trike or recumbant etc. Just doesn't appeal in the slightest.

 

[Gillstay]

I wonder how many on this forum don't actually ride. It seems a lot identify as cyclists but no longer do or even never did.
If you no longer ride a bike or do a certain activity does that still mean you are one?

You can still mend them for others.

 

[sevenfourate]

I agree, as and when or if the time comes I can't ride a regular two wheel upright bike I cannot ever see me riding a trike or recumbant etc. Just doesn't appeal in the slightest.

Easy for me to scoff too right now. But if / when I can’t walk along the Beach - and an Electric (?) Trike etc is the only real way to get out and enjoy the fresh air unaided - I suspect I’ll be extremely glad the freedom that affords me…….