When did road bikes become popular?
Comments
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I don't know about always been there - as I said earlier, the number of roadies I see out and about now is orders of magnitude more than when I first got one only 8 years or so ago - on a sunny saturday it's dozens as opposed to one or two.
It would be interesting to see some stats for bike sales - overall and road specific - anyone have any?
I agree. When I first started riding with a club, in the early 90's, we often used to climb Box Hill on a Sunday morning, and would be the only people on the hill. The club used to stop at the tea stop at the top, and whilst the oldies were drinking their tea, and eating cake, us youngsters (I was still at school!) used to freewheel down to the bottom, and climb the hill again, sometimes twice. The only other people out would be dog walkers. Compare that to these days, where it's difficult climbing Box on a Sunday morning due to full on Lycrageddon.
Whilst there weren't the vast array of 'sportives' back then, there seemed to be a lot more 'reliability trials' and the like promoted by local clubs, which were a lot cheaper to enter. The Weybridge Wheelers in particular I seem to remember used to put on some very professional events.1938 Hobbs Tandem
1956 Carlton Flyer Path/Track
1960 Mercian Superlight Track
1974 Pete Luxton Path/Track*
1980 Harry Hall
1986 Dawes Galaxy
1988 Jack Taylor Tourer
1988 Pearson
1989 Condor
1993 Dawes Hybrid
2016 Ridley Helium SL
*Currently on this0 -
When I first started riding with a club, in the early 90's, we often used to climb Box Hill on a Sunday morning,
Sorry for the OT. I'm not familiar with the Box Hill area but it does get mentioned an awful lot considering it's length. Is it so popular with cyclists because it's literally the only climb of it's type in the area?0 -
When I first started riding with a club, in the early 90's, we often used to climb Box Hill on a Sunday morning,
Sorry for the OT. I'm not familiar with the Box Hill area but it does get mentioned an awful lot considering it's length. Is it so popular with cyclists because it's literally the only climb of it's type in the area?
South East England, for the most part, is as flat as a pancake. To the south of London, you've only got the North Downs, and the South Downs. There are about 20 climbs on the North Downs of note, with Box Hill and Leith Hill being the most famous. Ditchling Beacon is the most famous of the South Downs climbs. Box Hill has a cafe at the top, a view point, and a nice zig zag ascent that makes it quite easy to climb. It's therefore probably the most popular hill in South East England.
I actually went to University in Durham, so know Chester le Street fairly well. It's only once I started cycling with the University cycling club that I realised quite how flat the South East is. You've got some proper hills near you. Box Hill is only about 500ft from beginning to end. It's a mere pimple in the scheme of things. However, it's all we've got down here!1938 Hobbs Tandem
1956 Carlton Flyer Path/Track
1960 Mercian Superlight Track
1974 Pete Luxton Path/Track*
1980 Harry Hall
1986 Dawes Galaxy
1988 Jack Taylor Tourer
1988 Pearson
1989 Condor
1993 Dawes Hybrid
2016 Ridley Helium SL
*Currently on this0 -
South East England, for the most part, is as flat as a pancake. To the south of London, you've only got the North Downs, and the South Downs. There are about 20 climbs on the North Downs of note, with Box Hill and Leith Hill being the most famous. Ditchling Beacon is the most famous of the South Downs climbs. Box Hill has a cafe at the top, a view point, and a nice zig zag ascent that makes it quite easy to climb. It's therefore probably the most popular hill in South East England.
Thanks! It's just coming from County Durham where I could off the top of my head think of about 10 climbs which are on a par with Box Hill within close proximity to my house, but some flat would be nice on occasion too!
Edit: Just saw your edit, so you'll know what I mean then! Not only the local stuff, like around Burnhope etc but just a bit further on you've got the North Pennines which is proper mountains. Anyway, we digress
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I'm a bit surprised it's that small an increase, really. Could it be that it's always been the case that a lot of people have owned bikes, but now they're less likely to never come out of the garage?sales at £745 million in 2013, up 14 per cent in five years from £639 million in 20080 -
Slightly OT, but I was wondering what the statistics for Box Hill is vs Ditchling Beacon.
I live just North of the Beacon and it was always the challenge to see who was the fastest up it.0 -
[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19692679#p19692679]Snakebite the 2nd[/url] wrote:Slightly OT, but I was wondering what the statistics for Box Hill is vs Ditchling Beacon.
I live just North of the Beacon and it was always the challenge to see who was the fastest up it.
Ditchling Beacon: https://www.strava.com/segments/770191
Box Hill: https://www.strava.com/segments/627910
Box Hill has been climbed about 5 times more than Ditchling beacon, with double the number of people.1938 Hobbs Tandem
1956 Carlton Flyer Path/Track
1960 Mercian Superlight Track
1974 Pete Luxton Path/Track*
1980 Harry Hall
1986 Dawes Galaxy
1988 Jack Taylor Tourer
1988 Pearson
1989 Condor
1993 Dawes Hybrid
2016 Ridley Helium SL
*Currently on this0 -
I think "back in the day" in was cool to have a mountain bike (further back it was a BMX, then a copper etc) so a lot of the people riding bikes back then (and I don't recall there being very many) would have naturally ridden MTBs. It has to be said that a mountain bike with slick tyres -especially a 90s one with super steep geometry, no suspension...almost what we would now call a hybrid but with nobblier tyres) - makes an awful lot of sense as a commuter, especially compared to a fragile, old school "racer"
Before the Wiggo effect was the Mountain Bike Boom which was driven by people riding MTBs at trail centres and the like. This meant (especially in the UK) that mountain bikes started to be designed for more and more aggressive sorts of off road riding and so did nt quite have the crossover possibilities that an "old school" MTB had.
The Wiggo effect boom has corresponded with the (long overdue) growth of the Sportive/classics road bike which make a bunch more sense for us normo's who don't need a Pro level bike (no matter what we might think) and which have a few less of the issues for city riding than an out and out racer will. So not only were people suddenly in the market for a new bike but there was suddenly a type of bike that really suited themWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
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Obviously mountain bikes still have their uses and remain good for those uses but aren't the default bike to get in absence of not knowing what to get so much now.
I would argue that, although the pull is now much less strong, the MTB is still the 'default' choice for most people who just want a really cheap bike to knock around on. Possibly because most of the very cheapest bikes you can buy are mountain bikes.
They are nt really though are they, they re your classic BSO...We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
It has to be said that a mountain bike with slick tyres -especially a 90s one with super steep geometry, no suspension...almost what we would now call a hybrid but with nobblier tyres) - makes an awful lot of sense as a commuter, especially compared to a fragile, old school "racer"
Up until about a year ago when the rear axle broke, that's pretty much what I was using as my daily commuter.
It's now relegated to the garage awaiting repairs...0 -
Yes of course but your average BSO is made to resemble a MTB not a road bike.0
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well yes, but could you make a roadie that cheap?
It's easy to weld a few scaffold poles together, call it a TRAILCRUSHER EPIC, and pretend it's heavy becasue it's "super epic strong"
There are the Viking bikes which start at £120ish and are on the cheap rather than the cheerful end.0 -
I started this thread because of a ride home one day and I suddenly spotted that about 75% of the bikes I saw were road bikes. Normally it is more of a mix with hybrids, cheapo FS MTBs and one ladies shopper complete with shopping basket and no gears. That last one was actually being ridden pretty fast along the A6 by a lass in full lycra. If she had been on a road bike I pretty much would never have passed her.
Now thinking about it a bit more I seem to remember a time when road bikes were actually very rare in bike shops, usually a couple in the back costing a lot of money for what was probably not a very good spec for a bike. Typically overpriced. Now you see bike shops that cater for the full range of bikes with at least as many road bikes as MTBs. It is a complete change, more road bikes in the shops is a good sign they are being more popular. Whether this is N+1 thing going on and most roadies now have MTBs or they are MTBs buying road bikes to commute on or for training. Or it is a proper trend with riders not automatically getting into offroad stuff but now actually preferring the road with a bike made for it.
It has been a sea change, but I am curious as to when it happened. Was it really 2012 or sooner?0 -
When I left the UK in 2010, I reckon it was just starting in That London. It was helped by the pound being so strong in the years before then that bike really were stupidly cheap.
When I came back in 2014 it was staggering to ride around the south downs or commute through london with so many other bikes around.
So I reckon 2008 was around when it started, then 2012 really kicked it into gearWe're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
- @ddraver0 -
For me personally it was when CX bikes and the influence of cyclocross seemed to bleed through and road bikes went from being seemingly delicate and super-refined instruments of speed to being fairly rough and tough, chunky wheeled, and relaxed rides. I realise now this was more perception than reality0
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I think that what Cross (or cross 'style') bike brought was more practicability - slightly wider tyres and mounts for guards and rack.
Having been an MTBer and commuting on a flat barred Hybrid with mostly MTB components, I've recently found myself looking at road bikes more and more, is there anything that can be done to cure me of this?
Ref Box Hill, there are plenty of little used good climbs in the Southeast, just too far from London to 'count' Castle Hill Road in Dover is great, or Lydden Hill for example, or chalky hill from Alkham, not very fashionable but circa 100m climbsCurrently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
I am new to Road biking but used to have a racer 20 years ago :shock:
Its really popular up here in yorkshire & its great fun 0 -
I think that what Cross (or cross 'style') bike brought was more practicability - slightly wider tyres and mounts for guards and rack.
Having been an MTBer and commuting on a flat barred Hybrid with mostly MTB components, I've recently found myself looking at road bikes more and more, is there anything that can be done to cure me of this?
Ref Box Hill, there are plenty of little used good climbs in the Southeast, just too far from London to 'count' Castle Hill Road in Dover is great, or Lydden Hill for example, or chalky hill from Alkham, not very fashionable but circa 100m climbs
Been kinda doing the opposite and having just gone back to my flat-bar I have realised how nice the position is and how I have more fun on the hybrid. Read through your Carrera Kraken thread and am now thinking along the lines of a project for a new light and racy flat-bar0 -
Well the commuter is not dissimilar to the Kraken, Carrera Gryphon disc frame, lightweight Mosso forks and all in weighs about 9Kg before rack and guards.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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I don't really own a road bike strictly speaking. I've had a couple of cross bikes and the Kinesis with disc brakes is the mutt's nuts. But came at it from the same position as you. I don't use a rack, but with 37mm tyres and guards it's fast and comfy.I think that what Cross (or cross 'style') bike brought was more practicability - slightly wider tyres and mounts for guards and rack.0
