Cycle Touring is now cool

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bertgrower
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Cycle Touring is now cool

Post by bertgrower »

Have just seen on www.cyclingabout.com reviews and coments about Touring Bikes.

Does this mean we may have thrown the baby out with the bath water?
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Heltor Chasca
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Re: Cycle Touring is now cool

Post by Heltor Chasca »

How do you mean? Is touring by bike strictly governed by a tradition of norms?

Or should we embrace the fact you can do it on any bike? If successfully marketing these modern set ups brings more types of people to touring, then that's a good thing no?
bertgrower
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Re: Cycle Touring is now cool

Post by bertgrower »

It is the use of the word Touring. We been told it was off putting , non u?
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mjr
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Re: Cycle Touring is now cool

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bertgrower wrote:It is the use of the word Touring. We been told it was off putting , non u?

Who by? Links, please!
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
bertgrower
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Re: Cycle Touring is now cool

Post by bertgrower »

mjr wrote:
bertgrower wrote:It is the use of the word Touring. We been told it was off putting , non u?

Who by? Links, please!



CTC changed its branding name because it was more appealing if they use Cycling UK.
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Heltor Chasca
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Re: Cycle Touring is now cool

Post by Heltor Chasca »

Whatii? But thank you for pointing me towards this website. It's full of great stuff.
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mjr
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Re: Cycle Touring is now cool

Post by mjr »

bertgrower wrote:
mjr wrote:
bertgrower wrote:It is the use of the word Touring. We been told it was off putting , non u?

Who by? Links, please!


CTC changed its branding name because it was more appealing if they use Cycling UK.

CTC said it was because "There's a disconnect between our name and what we're doing outside of touring cycling. It can limit us when we're trying to get more people to join us on our local rides, when we're trying to get media attention, or when we're trying to secure funding for cycling."

I don't remember it being dismissed as off-putting exactly. It seemed to be that CTC wants to be everything to all types of cyclists and compete with the other cycling bodies instead of cooperating with them.

HSBCUKBC has now reciprocated by starting to publish articles on cycle touring (where they massively overcomplicate everything IMO). The two biggest cycling groups seem to be hurtling towards a head-on collision and I suspect it's not going to do anyone any good.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
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horizon
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Re: Cycle Touring is now cool

Post by horizon »

Heltor Chasca wrote:How do you mean? Is touring by bike strictly governed by a tradition of norms?

Or should we embrace the fact you can do it on any bike? If successfully marketing these modern set ups brings more types of people to touring, then that's a good thing no?



The tradition of norms (which has obviously evolved well to suit a particular type of touring) might not be governing very much anymore. Earlier in the month I did a 200 mile ride over a few days along gentle B roads, some on popular LEJOG routes and even a couple of stretches of NCN. I saw maybe 5 or 6 other touring cyclists in that time in the peak holiday season.

It could well be that touring is shifting off-road and the website linked to above is reflecting the changing nature of touring and the gear that goes with it. It will be interesting to see how it evolves from now on.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
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