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Where is everyone?

j1nxhj1nxh Posts: 16
in Road general
Not seeing much riding going on these days.
The industry is allegedly experiencing unprecedented demand. Really? Yet I am not seeing any evidence for it. I've tried contacting a few local clubs, but no replies. The passion and the zeal from maybe 10-15 years ago seems all depleted.
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Posts

  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,457
    Hiding for winter plus covid has closed some clubs plus people don't have the time to commit knowadays.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • MattFalleMattFalle Posts: 11,644
    No replies from clubs? Is that a bad thing?
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • MidlandsGrimpeur2MidlandsGrimpeur2 Posts: 765
    As above, covid will have had a lot to do with it.

    I also suspect a fair few newcomers to cycling have seen their initial enthusiasm drop off. Several clubs near to me have disbanded over the last couple of years. Weekends at my local coffee stop used to see dozens of clubs members, now there are none at all. Speaking to the owner last week, I am now the only regular cyclist he sees!

    A fair few of the more elite riders in my area have also dropped off the radar (guys who got up to E/1/2 level fairly rapidly). There was a big surge of young riders taking up racing 5 or 6 years ago. Once they reach their ceiling, some seem to lose their interest, others have had careers and other commitments take over.

    I think a lot of people don't realise how much time cycling can take up, a lot of people seem to struggle to find the balance and drift away from riding.
  • masjermasjer Posts: 2,150
    Judging by the Cars, cars, cars thread -532 posts and rising.............driving?

  • MattFalleMattFalle Posts: 11,644
    masjer said:

    Judging by the Cars, cars, cars thread -532 posts and rising.............driving?

    well, 412 of those are 4 people bemoaning on street parking and 26 are me posting links to lunatics on motorbikes because its quiet at work at the mo', so hopefully a few other forumites are actually riding....
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • imposter2.0imposter2.0 Posts: 11,988
    j1nxh said:

    The passion and the zeal from maybe 10-15 years ago seems all depleted.

    Are you talking about your own 'passion and zeal', or other people's..?

  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,457
    I think a lot of people are riding in smaller friend or work type groups doing sportives or mtb trail centres. Audax and touring seems to be made up of predominantly older cyclists. A few clubs around me are still riding regularly but the faster groups tend to be summer cyclists.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • darkhairedlorddarkhairedlord Posts: 7,179
    Pizzingdown with rain and blowing a gale, but will be cycling home in a jiffy.
  • MattFalleMattFalle Posts: 11,644
    edited October 2021
    I'd cycle home on a bike if I were you - we all know how much jiffy bags that may or may may not but probably did contain naughty stuff get Wiggins into hot water.....

    #avoidingtroublelikeaMFdoes
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • joe2019joe2019 Posts: 1,338
    j1nxh said:

    Not seeing much riding going on these days.
    The industry is allegedly experiencing unprecedented demand. Really? Yet I am not seeing any evidence for it. I've tried contacting a few local clubs, but no replies. The passion and the zeal from maybe 10-15 years ago seems all depleted.


    You may be old enough to remember the squash fad, then there was golf, and then they all got a bike... next year they'll be on the tennis court.
  • photonic69photonic69 Posts: 1,911
    Cycle to work and back every day then go for a ride with the club on Sundays. Yes MF I am a CLUBBIE!!! There, I’ve said it. I’m happy to be part of my club. We are non elitist, inclusive and just like to ride bikes. We don’t judge. We don’t belittle. (Might take the piss out of those that now need eBike assistance)
  • masjermasjer Posts: 2,150
    photonic69 said:

    Yes MF I am a CLUBBIE!!! There, I’ve said it. I’m happy to be part of my club. We are non-elitist, inclusive and just like to ride bikes. We don’t judge. We don’t belittle.

    That's a typical "clubbie" attitude. You actually enjoy riding and socialising? And all this non-elitist, non-judgemental talk. Disgusting!

  • webboowebboo Posts: 5,502
    Once upon a time I would go for a ride and see no one. These there’s all these friendly b*goers who wave and see hello. Bring back the days of cycling being a niche sport.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 67,631 Lives Here
    Work & funerals has kept me off the road.
    _
  • vincesummerskRoxcBTrvincesummerskRoxcBTr Posts: 309
    Plenty of cyclists round here!
  • j1nxhj1nxh Posts: 16
    imposter2.0 said:

    j1nxh said:

    The passion and the zeal from maybe 10-15 years ago seems all depleted.

    Are you talking about your own 'passion and zeal', or other people's..?

    I'm referring to the general cycling environment, ethos, culture, vibe.
  • j1nxhj1nxh Posts: 16
    Cycling used to be a poor man's high-tech game. Not anymore. Times have moved on and for people there are other more entertaining things for cycling to compete with.
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 22,967
    j1nxh said:

    Cycling used to be a poor man's high-tech game. Not anymore. Times have moved on and for people there are other more entertaining things for cycling to compete with.

    Good.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • joe2019joe2019 Posts: 1,338
    j1nxh said:

    Cycling used to be a poor man's high-tech game. Not anymore. Times have moved on and for people there are other more entertaining things for cycling to compete with.


    How young are you?

  • womackwomack Posts: 566
    I go out circa four times a week but must admit during winter I mix it up a bit, don't mind the cold so if a predominantly dry day will go on the bike but if a wet day will go for a run. (I am quicker and easier to clean than a bike)

    Recent observations of cyclist numbers out and about would suggest that some have packed their bike away for the winter or opted for indoor cycling.

    I ran the local cycle / shared path today and very few cyclists compared to summer months.
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,457
    I've noticed a few lads I know on strava have hit the indoor smartbikes and racing on the various virtual platforms there are.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 22,967
    Cyclists were in clubs, knobs joined clubs during the boom, cyclists left clubs.
    That, bad weather and the increase in trainers & apps bought during lockdown.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • alwaystimetotorquealwaystimetotorque Posts: 215
    I'm in Warrington - thanks for asking. I'll be in Northwich later. I commute by bike as it's good for me and it's better than driving my car. Oh, and I can recover 20p/mile for the privilege.
    I hardly ever see anyone else commuting by bike on my travels, just loads of angry and frustrated drivers. More people should commute by bike as it really is a very good way to get around.

    Loads of folk still around at weekends on bikes from what I can see too. Where are you?
  • masjermasjer Posts: 2,150
    edited October 2021
    I sometimes wonder if burnout/overtraining may account for more people packing cycling in (if they actually have). There seems an increased pressure (through a myriad of online training info) to ever increase intensity (quality over quantity) and ditch more traditional periodised training.
    Strava might not help either. Trying to post a `good average` or trying to always better your last ride +KOMing. Power meters, too might have an effect, by trying to always keep good power numbers.
    Ignoring ageing won't help either.
    Personally I feel more burnt-out this year and haven't done half of my normal riding.
    Just a thought.
  • NcovidiusNcovidius Posts: 229
    There was an article in one of the rags recently. Apparently the dip seen in many areas is largely down to people having panic bought bikes during the worst bits of lockdown. They had time to ride them, whilst on tax payer funded holiday, and there was far less traffic about then. A lot of the panic bought bikes are now either on Turbos, or being used to dry the owners pants, because they really don’t like riding now that the traffic levels are getting back to normal, and riding takes up precious pub time. There are regional differences though, London is seeing a far less dramatic down turn ( largely due to people’s reticence to get back on public transport ) some of the Shires are seeing much bigger down turns. It probably won’t mean a sudden surge in box fresh used bikes appearing on Gumtree and the like just yet though, as a lot of the people buying the bikes didn’t realise how much / quickly bicycles depreciate.
  • webboowebboo Posts: 5,502
    Have you just made that up. As the shire where I ride is still very busy with cyclists and my mate who has a bike shop can’t get enough bikes and parts to keep up with demand.
  • NcovidiusNcovidius Posts: 229
    webboo said:

    Have you just made that up. As the shire where I ride is still very busy with cyclists and my mate who has a bike shop can’t get enough bikes and parts to keep up with demand.

    Do your own research.
  • webboowebboo Posts: 5,502
    What I posted was my own work. You could post another your COVID myths to try and back up your point.
  • NcovidiusNcovidius Posts: 229
    webboo said:

    What I posted was my own work. You could post another your COVID myths to try and back up your point.

    https://road.cc/content/news/cycle-sales-grew-25-following-2020-bike-boom-figures-show-285075?amp

    “The bike sales boom of early 2020 was driven by lockdowns and quiet roads that encouraged more leisure cycling for daily exercise, and shifted key workers to pedal powered commutes, as well as emergency investment in cycling infrastructure.

    Surveys show the main reason most people won’t cycle on the roads is a fear of traffic and a lack of protected infrastructure. Overall UK cycling growth from 2020 has now plateaued at pre-pandemic levels during the week, with weekend cycling seeing a residual boom.”

    This wasn’t the exact article, but it does make (pretty much ) the same points, particularly the bit in bold.

  • webboowebboo Posts: 5,502
    So overall there are more people riding bikes now than before the pandemic.
    Just what point were you making.
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