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Is cycling at weekends declining in popularity?

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  • December 9, 2018 at 10:21 pm #29191
    Stef Marazzi

    Just wondered if anyone else had if numbers in their cycle clubs or groups seem a bit stagnant lately?

    I’ve been chatting to a few other people who run cycle clubs and we’ve all noticed that we don’t seem to have many new people joining this year, unlike in previous years.

    Not sure whether its due to things like anti-cycling press, the increase in popularity of Zwift, high barriers to entry (e.g. cost of a bike, plus clothing being about £300 for the bike, plus about £150 for helmet, clothes, shoes), the rise of alternatives like cross-fit, or gyms, which might only cost £20 a month, or things like Park Run, which are free.

    My Cycle Group is completely free, and very well organised, but this year is the first year we’ve had only 1 or 2 new people join. 

    What do others think? Have you noticed numbers not particularly increasing as fast as previous years?

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  • December 10, 2018 at 11:14 am #932753
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    PRSboy

    Time is an issue too… 3 hrs

    Time is an issue too… 3 hrs plus for a ‘proper’ club ride in coffee break, plus washing down the bike in the winter etc.  Difficult to justify if you have young family particularly.

    But actually, your experience perhaps tallies with what cycle retailers are saying… maybe we have passed ‘peak cycle’ following the 2012 Olympics and so on.

    But don’t underestimate the dopamine hit that people seem to get from interacting with strangers on the internet… it is addictive, and software designers exploit this.

    December 10, 2018 at 11:11 am #932751
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    King_Louis
    Romanremus wrote:
    Perhaps my experience is not unique. I have been riding with my local – east Staffordshire – club for a few months. I have enjoyed the riding a great deal. Some riders have been unfriendly, condescending, self righteous and dictatorial. Ironically, the ‘leaders’ fit this description best.

    One or two members have been welcoming and I’m sure are nice people. 

    My, non-cycling, friends and family tell me this is typically club behaviour. Maybe. I don’t feel in the club or likely to be a welcomed member in the near future. I’m just doing a ‘ride along’. Perhaps it takes longer? I think they much prefer their club without new members.

    The situation encourages me to be with them on the road so it is very good motivation! 

    Am I over sensitive? We all see and feel the world through our own perspective.

    Have others had a similar experience?

    Thanks for reading.

     

    I think it definitely depends who you are and who the cycling clubs are. I’m probably not too far away from you as I’m based in Congleton. I tried Congleton Cycling Club, Macclesfield Wheelers and Lyme Racing club but none really felt right. I gave up on joining a club as it didn’t suit my type of riding. I did a charity ride with a group of guys and one of them went out with the Cheshire Mavericks based out of Alderly Edge and Bramhall and said I should try them. I did and it was night and day for me. They had a more relaxed approach and it suited the way I ride. I have to either drive 15 minutes up the road to go out with them or ride for 30/45 minutes extra either way but it makes my cycling so much more enjoyable! If Alderly isn’t too far for you you should defintely come out to join us for a spin. If it is then I would recommend trying another club if you current one doesn’t feel right.

    Channel your inner Goldilocks.

    December 10, 2018 at 10:26 am #932749
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    cougie

    I think everyone who wanted

    I think everyone who wanted to join probably has joined. 

    Zwift is fine – I use it myself in the winter but it’s no replacement for being out in the countryside and seeing nature.   

    December 10, 2018 at 9:47 am #932747
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    Romanremus

    Perhaps my experience is not

    Perhaps my experience is not unique. I have been riding with my local – east Staffordshire – club for a few months. I have enjoyed the riding a great deal. Some riders have been unfriendly, condescending, self righteous and dictatorial. Ironically, the ‘leaders’ fit this description best.

    One or two members have been welcoming and I’m sure are nice people. 

    My, non-cycling, friends and family tell me this is typically club behaviour. Maybe. I don’t feel in the club or likely to be a welcomed member in the near future. I’m just doing a ‘ride along’. Perhaps it takes longer? I think they much prefer their club without new members.

    The situation encourages me to be with them on the road so it is very good motivation! 

    Am I over sensitive? We all see and feel the world through our own perspective.

    Have others had a similar experience?

    Thanks for reading.

    December 10, 2018 at 8:34 am #932745
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    Anonymous

    Probably all the getting run

    Probably all the getting run-over they want to avoid.

    December 10, 2018 at 7:41 am #932743
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    CXR94Di2

    Its Zwift.  A lot of my club

    Its Zwift.  A lot of my club mates ride at leat once a week in the winter on Zwift.  I use Zwift 4/5 days a week, but I dont ride outdoors at all in the UK in winter.   You get far more training benefit from an hour or two from indoor training.  However if you want to feel the fresh cold air of a Sunday morning then Zwift wont give you that- well it does for me I open the conservatory doors

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