How the spirit of cycling has changed

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
Post Reply
david7591
Posts: 200
Joined: 29 Dec 2015, 11:02pm

How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by david7591 »

pete75
Posts: 16370
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 2:37pm

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by pete75 »

Oh how true......

"And the chat is about bikes and times, Strava segments, with the same fervour dull men use to talk about football teams. People are less and less likely to talk about experiences, the things they’ve seen, the places they’ve been, the fun and epic hardship they’ve experienced. They’re less and less likely to talk about the joy of cycling. "
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
User avatar
al_yrpal
Posts: 11536
Joined: 25 Jul 2007, 9:47pm
Location: Think Cheddar and Cider
Contact:

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by al_yrpal »

I can identify with the feelings of the author, but I dont let it micturate me off. Being retired means that I avoid cycling at weekends. When the Strada crowd are not around, the woods and bridleways are empty off road except for grey haired ramblers, perfect peace. My daughter in law is caught up in the scene described where a corporate group cycle off on a huge distance cycling for a charitable cause. They see nothing, I keep my thoughts to myself. We are all different, there have always been competitive cyclists around, thats fine by me. I don't cycle with them anyway.

Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
Annoying Twit
Posts: 962
Joined: 1 Feb 2016, 8:19am
Location: Leicester

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by Annoying Twit »

Much of my cycling is "old fashioned" then.

View from the top of Cleeve Hill from Saturday. (Yes, I failed to get up this hill on my single speed bike :) ).

Cleeve Hill.jpg


Cheltenham College.

cheltenham_college.jpg
SpannerGeek
Posts: 722
Joined: 12 Nov 2015, 2:16pm

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by SpannerGeek »

I often go out with a Strava crowd and deliberately take no mobile phone or even a trip computer, forcing them to talk about 'real things'!!
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20308
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by mjr »

pete75 wrote:Oh how true......

"And the chat is about bikes and times, Strava segments, with the same fervour dull men use to talk about football teams. People are less and less likely to talk about experiences, the things they’ve seen, the places they’ve been, the fun and epic hardship they’ve experienced. They’re less and less likely to talk about the joy of cycling. "

I disagree. Maybe that's how London's gone, but it's really not what I see elsewhere. It's just people on bikes with all the usual range of concerns. On Sunday's freewheeling group ride (32 miles or so with a lunch stop), top talking points weren't about speeds or Strava or anything like that: it was about the three rarely-used fords we crossed (well, some of us - most chickened out of the third one and took a diversion, which was sensible given the mud I found myself padding through), how nice the pub lunch stop was :), looking forward to planned rides, the start of the cricket season, recent trips abroad and probably lots else I've forgotten.
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.
Mark1978
Posts: 4912
Joined: 17 Jul 2012, 8:47am
Location: Chester-le-Street, County Durham

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by Mark1978 »

I think the author is overplaying it. Cycling is what you want it to be. It would seem he's going out with the wrong people if all they care about is Strava times. Or perhaps it's just because it's London.
blackbike
Posts: 2492
Joined: 11 Jul 2009, 3:21pm

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by blackbike »

That Guardian article reads like an ageing pop fan bemoaning the stuff the kids like today.

By far the biggest cultural shift in cycling I can remember is the collapse of cycling as an everyday form of transport for many people, not the shift from touring as a hobby to Strava statistics gathering by Lycra clad new roadies as a hobby.

In the 1960s cycling for transport was still very popular with adults and children, but it declined very quickly during the 70s as car ownership rocketed. That really was a cultural shift.
samsbike
Posts: 1178
Joined: 13 Oct 2012, 2:05pm

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by samsbike »

As someone said already, its who you ride with.

For some reason (probably because I live on a busy road) on the weekends there are a whole bunch of riders out to ride fast, but similarly on the weekdays there are also more casually attired group just out for a gander. It just depends.

My LBS runs rides but I have bothered going as it seems to be much less of a social thing. Their average pace is a about 16-17mph and I sure that is much too quick for me. Anyway I dont want to race, I would just rather have a social ride.
Bmblbzzz
Posts: 6258
Joined: 18 May 2012, 7:56pm
Location: From here to there.

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by Bmblbzzz »

He admits as much:
This sounds like a reactionary rant, and that’s because it is.
Samuel D
Posts: 3088
Joined: 8 Mar 2015, 11:05pm
Location: Paris
Contact:

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by Samuel D »

Mark1978 wrote:I think the author is overplaying it. Cycling is what you want it to be.

To a great degree this is true.

However, depending on your own personality, you may find it off-putting that the culture around you values Strava segments and new three-grand bicycles every year when you value something else. Some people are just fine with that, but others – maybe this author – long for a sense of shared experience and belonging.

That said, these forums are full of people who don’t view cycling as the new golf. Indeed, many of them have been getting lost in the countryside on rusting bikes since before golf was the new golf! Technology has made it easier than ever to share notes with like-minded people (in fact, maybe too easy – hence the deepening schisms in the cycling world, since we’re no longer forced to get along with people with even a slightly different view of the world).
pete75
Posts: 16370
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 2:37pm

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by pete75 »

mjr wrote:
pete75 wrote:Oh how true......

"And the chat is about bikes and times, Strava segments, with the same fervour dull men use to talk about football teams. People are less and less likely to talk about experiences, the things they’ve seen, the places they’ve been, the fun and epic hardship they’ve experienced. They’re less and less likely to talk about the joy of cycling. "

I disagree. Maybe that's how London's gone, but it's really not what I see elsewhere. It's just people on bikes with all the usual range of concerns. On Sunday's freewheeling group ride (32 miles or so with a lunch stop), top talking points weren't about speeds or Strava or anything like that: it was about the three rarely-used fords we crossed (well, some of us - most chickened out of the third one and took a diversion, which was sensible given the mud I found myself padding through), how nice the pub lunch stop was :), looking forward to planned rides, the start of the cricket season, recent trips abroad and probably lots else I've forgotten.


There are groups around here like that and I'm in a much less London influenced area than you you are. Their talk is as described. I've heard 'em chatting at caffs and similar places. They are the new cyclists.......
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
colin54
Posts: 2529
Joined: 24 Sep 2013, 4:34pm

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by colin54 »

I love the amazing things you see whilst out and about, I saw some ostriches on Sunday.

Stopped and had a gander ( so to speak ), who knew they made a noise similar to a bongo being struck.

I was out about six hours I suppose, I didn't get too far but saw loads, that's my choice other people have theirs.

P1060879 (1024x768) (640x479) (2).jpg


Some people like strava etc, is that a lot different to posting on cycling forums really, it's just a pastime.

Good luck to 'em.
Nu-Fogey
User avatar
cycleruk
Posts: 6064
Joined: 17 Jan 2009, 9:30pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by cycleruk »

colin54 wrote:I love the amazing things you see whilst out and about, I saw some ostriches on Sunday.
Good luck to 'em.

I think that's an Emu. :wink:

Image0046 (Medium).jpg
You'll never know if you don't try it.
colin54
Posts: 2529
Joined: 24 Sep 2013, 4:34pm

Re: How the spirit of cycling has changed

Post by colin54 »

I bow to your superior knowledge, lucky I never attempted to make a laboured joke about Ostriches, cyclists and sandy conditions.
Nu-Fogey
Post Reply