Is cycling the new golf?

Monty Dog

Well, according to yesterdays Times it was and apparently sales of expensive road bikes are the leading growth sector in the industry. I've seen a few in these parts - you can see they've dropped the gold card on the counter and walked away - Assos'd from head to foot and typically riding something like a top-of-the-range Trek- the modern equivalent of "10 bob bike, 2 bob legs" I suppose. :roll: I know getting more people on bikes is a good thing - but I'm not sure if it's good for the sport in the long run...discuss

Bagonabike

I can't see it being a bad thing for the sport? Some people might get into the swing of things and end up being "cyclists", others will be happy to bring out their bling on dry weekends.

Would much rather share the road with some weekend warriors on their spanking road bikes than get squeezed into hedges by their Mercs as they drive to the golf course.

Why do you think it might be bad?

Ravenbait

But Munky told me that triathlon is the new golf!

Sam

Bagonabike

Hmmm, it's easier to con yourself that you're the biz on a bike than pretend you can run or swim....

AndyGates

Different sectors! Tri is the new golf for professional fortysomethings. Road bikes are the new golf for fiftysomethings...

A couple of years ago Richard (for 'tis he) was bemoaning that in Italy the wealthy retired chaps bought gorgeous Colnagos, got Assos'd up and went pootling while in the UK they buy flash cars instead. Looks like a fine Italian tradition is spreading.

This is a good thing, guys. We can keep up. Lots of bling bikes on ebay. Bike shops stocking more quality gear. Nobody loses. Embrace your middle-aged but achingly wealthy roadmate!

nicklouse

so how much is one of these top of the line road bikes? and the kit?

sorry just a dumb MTBer who has no idea.

jjojjas

I no next to nothing about specific road bikes, but from what I see on the web, prices seem comparable with your top end exotica D/H bikes.
£3.5k Bianchi & £3.5k carbon stumpjumper... for example.

anyway, back on topic, the more the merrier in my opinion. The more people cycle & throw cash at it means better 2nd hand gear on the market... = more toys for me

Jas

SteveR_100Milers

Like who cares??? so long as more people are cycling and therefore the tolerance of it amongst the population increases; which bike people choose to buy with their money is their business. You never know, some of them might even be faster than you one day..

snorri

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

which bike people choose to buy with their money is their business.:

True, but I get the feeling they are often sold the bike that is in the shop, and not the bike that is best for them.
If the bike is not suitable for purpose the prospective cyclist will soon revert to previous mode of transport.

AndyGates

Believe me, I sold a lot of people really well-suited bikes that went into the shed as soon as a raincloud appeared and have never emerged.

Anyway, expensive bikes have pose value and " I paid for it so I may as well ride it" value and they are, generally, nicer to ride. We're not talking about selling a Planet-X Stealth to your Nan.

Bagonabike

AndyGates wrote:

Anyway, expensive bikes have pose value and " I paid for it so I may as well ride it" value and they are, generally, nicer to ride. We're not talking about selling a Planet-X Stealth to your Nan.

My Nan was a demon stoker in her time, I reckon she might have liked a Stealth....

hubgearfreak

even if a person cycles only for four sundays, and then gives up, they will hopefully become more polite motorists after the experience

Noodley

My concern is the cost of entering events starts to rise beyond what people can afford fair enough those with lots of cash should be able to ride whatever bikes they want, but I fear the marketeers will see it as a good time to have a price increase - thanks god for audax!

Monty Dog

I'm worried that cycling will get too highly priced - that's precisely the reason why I gave up triathlon years ago - £50 for a one hour tri race these days isn't unusual - and judging by the £25 and up entry charges for some sportives, it's heading that way too. The problem is that apart from a bountiful supply of cheap and unused bikes, these people put very little back into the sport - they don't join clubs but somehow expect volunteers to give up their Sunday mornings to stand in the rain for them, and then moan and whine if it doesn't go their way. There's got to be a way of capturing the growth to put down sustainable infrastructure for the future - perhaps Sportives should be levied by BC in exchange for discounted event insurance and course risk assessments? Luckily, living in the south, I can head over to Belgium or France for quality events that cost a fraction of those here - there will be better quality riders and less traffic too.

Noodley

Monty Dog wrote:

I can head over to Belgium or France for quality events that cost a fraction of those here.

searches for smiley with two extended digits

AndyGates

But don't you have to, you know, travel to Belgium?

By the time you've hired a venue for a half-day and paid the plod to close or divert a couple of roads around transition, a triathlon's costs get high. That's why it's full of rich professionals who are running from the Reaper.

heavymental

It good to see people on blingy bikes cus it just feels so good when you toast them on your middle of the range bike! I wish I'd totted up the cost of the bikes I passed on my second hand Caad2 Cannondale at the tri I did last week. The more the merrier I say. Its like overtaking a formula 1 car in your car cus you got a bigger engine installed! :twisted:

laertes

Well, it is new for me, because I have recently quit my golf club after 25 years because I did not have enough time and it was too expensice for the few occasions when I could play. I bought a bike (1st for >25 years) 5 months ago, for exercise and occasional commuting. Of course, I struggle to get out on it as much as I would like, but at least an hour on a bike is more use than an hour to a golfer who lives 30 mins from his course!

I would not be concerned about people with more money than sense taking up cycling for a number of reasons:
- more sales will bring down prices not put them up, in a market with high tech products. The price of golf clubs and course membership has lowered due to increased numbers of players
- people who spend lots and use little subsidise your LBS for those who use a lot with less to spend
- government stats will use bike sales to look at whether they increase bike facilities or not, becuase they are easier to measure than bike usage, so you get more paths etc for doing nothing, with no extra people on the path either.
- the ones who do keep cycling will be enthusiastic "born-again" cyclists who will campaign vigourously for better facilities for themselves and their families, because they pay lots of taxes and want a return for it

So I would suggest you prepare a warm welcome for them (us!)

Laertes

shazzz

Surely more people on bikes is a good thing, whoever they are?

I'm not convinced that a new breed of wealthy weekend warriors is driving prices up. If you ride something like the Fred Whitton (arguably the most popular UK sportive and £25 a ride) the middle aged Rapha clad newbie is very much in the minority - it is still mainly local club riders taking part.

The Etape has seen an explosion in popularity amongst fifty-somethings looking for a challenge, but again most people I know who ride it are UK club riders. Some of them are new to the sport, but they are getting involved and revitalising it, not sitting on the sidelines and taking advantage.

ivancarlos

Noodley wrote:

My concern is the cost of entering events starts to rise beyond what people can afford fair enough those with lots of cash should be able to ride whatever bikes they want, but I fear the marketeers will see it as a good time to have a price increase - thanks god for audax!

Whats the differnce between an audax and a sportive? - about £30 :?

HungryCol

Good point Laertes. Last week my LBS sold two expennie Cervelo's exactly the same spec to a rich guy who wanted one for his home in Ireland and one for his home in France. This very same rich guy bought an Aston Martin DB9 in January. I think it's great. These are the guys who can influence and help with sponsorship of local (and who knows perhaps even international) events. They may also have more clout with their local councillor/MP re lanes and road quality. I want to see more of the wealthy folk cycling bikes. The more people out on their bike the better which is healthier for us and the environment.

... and the road is free....

pabloweaver

we are never happy us Brits are we ...one minute there are not enough cyclists then its the " wrong sort " .. ... its exactly this stuffy attitute ( not saying re this subject , just in general ) that keeps people off bikes and away in particular from clubs . i have been cycling for years and yes i have a shiny expensive bike ( though i have rode clunkers galore over the years ) and why shouldnt i , if my next door neighbour wants to spend 3k on a bike a ride it twice ...great .... ( means i can get it 2nd hand mucho cheapo ! ) the more the merrier . Cycling is just like Golf in the way that some club members maintain this elitist attitude ( i gave up trying to find a group to cycle with near n-le w , been out a few times and felt like i was intruding into a best kept secret - work commitments meant that the " regular club run " was not accessable to me every week ...some sort of cardinal sin that was hinted at ...) ... more bikes , more people on the road ( riding well of course ...the whole cycling thing can be set back by bad road attitude ...and thats ALL cyclists ... ) the better . i go to work and earn a wage ...how i choose to spend that is down to me ...and ditto to the people who want to " splash cash " . . im safe in the knowledge if have put the miles in over the years to warrant my passion for spending on bikes , bits and clothing...lets give newcomers everybit of encouragement to get the time, miles and enjoyment this " PASTIME " of ours brings .

oh ..and if any one knows of a " relaxed " chain gang i can tag along with now and again near newton le willows ( lancs ) ..then im always happy to try again.

passout

Society is becoming richer and leaning more towards consumption and leisure rather than production and work. This is reflected in all sports - including cycling. If people want to buy a new bike instead of golf clubs, a motorbike or a skiing holiday then so what? Either become a socialist or accept it.

We are all becoming middle class (except for the new underclass) - don't blame cycling.

And where does this leave golf now anyway?

sonicred007

HungryCol wrote:

Good point Laertes. Last week my LBS sold two expennie Cervelo's exactly the same spec to a rich guy who wanted one for his home in Ireland and one for his home in France. This very same rich guy bought an Aston Martin DB9 in January. I think it's great. These are the guys who can influence and help with sponsorship of local (and who knows perhaps even international) events. They may also have more clout with their local councillor/MP re lanes and road quality. I want to see more of the wealthy folk cycling bikes. The more people out on their bike the better which is healthier for us and the environment.

... and the road is free....

I go with this optimistic view - the more the merrier, the greater the political pressure and will to improve cycling in the UK

Also ride are expensive because of the set up costs and admin and novelty - their growth should eventually bring the price down as it becomes more normal than exceptional IMO

jimmythecuckoo

Bagonabike wrote:

Some people might get into the swing of things

:roll: That's some pun in a thread mentioning golf in the title.

jonesy124

I started reading this thread, but am in a bit of a rush so I didnt bother to read it all.

Instead I shall just share my humble opinion....

1. More people on bikes = more interest and publicity for the sport
2. More people on bikes = more people for me to overtake = boosted ego :twisted:
3. More people on bikes = less people in cars = better for lots of reasons
4. More people on bikes = more people doing exercise = more sexy bods around
5. More people on bikes = less people on golf courses = more likely to let little scallywags like me on the course!

jimmythecuckoo

So the theory behind Team Slipstreams jersey is now know. They are appealing to the golf generation of business types.

ricadus

ivancarlos wrote:

Noodley wrote:

My concern is the cost of entering events starts to rise beyond what people can afford fair enough those with lots of cash should be able to ride whatever bikes they want, but I fear the marketeers will see it as a good time to have a price increase - thanks god for audax!

Whats the differnce between an audax and a sportive? - about £30 :?

The prices of the sportives here are comparable with the premium events in Italy (Nove Colli, Maratona dles Dolomites, etc) but they don't seem to have degree of support from the local communities, perhaps because they are new and aren't yet made use of by the local tourist industry.

The big Italian ones might have a bike fair or related cycling events in days prior the the big ride – more of a festival week / weekend – whereas I suspect some of the UK organizers are pricing high not just to cover costs but to position their ride as a high status event: more £££ = more important. Also some events here are planned and run by bike shop businesses and so it is understandable they need to make a profit, not just break even like Audax events might do.