Balancing sport and transportation cycling
If you like to ride a roadie in Lycra on the weekends but also use your bike for transport -- or perhaps you are just a transport cyclist and admire 'weekend warriors' -- read this nice piece from 'Lovely Bicycle' blog.
I cannot take seriously the idea that to take part in paceline rides is to "betray" transportation cycling. I see the two as completely independent activities that can be pursued in parallel. Am I being unrealistic? Today I am cycling for transport while daydreaming of sport, and it seems completely natural.
Read the full post on Lovely Bicycle.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Merrett on -
I'm reasonably new to cycling, like some others, having ridden a bicycle in my younger years but then let the habit slip and rediscovered cycling again in my later adult years (mid 50's in my case).
From the observations of a newbie, there does seem to be two basic groups (with various sub categories and overlaps between all), the commuter or transport cyclist group and the road bike lycra clad set. I don't mean to judge or allocate any greater glory or moral standing to either group. I think cycling is great whatever form it takes.
I'm in the recreational commuter subset of the transport cyclist group, owning a mountain bike, a hybrid and a flat bar road bike so I can choose my mode of transport depending on my mood and the purpose of the trip.
I do find myself looking with envy at both road bike users for the power and endurance of some riders and the funky older style utility bikes that seem to be increasing in number and that seem to scream, ever so quietly "relaxed cruising".
Is this perception of two'ish distinctive cycling groups just me?
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Stephen, I am one of your crowd and we are still cyclists. We may cycle shorter distances but make up for it by riding every day.
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Permalink Reply by Ian Rawley on -
I can't see the point in categorising people, unless you feel the need to belong to a particular group. I my case I commute for an hour each way (fast) every day whatever the weather on a single speed roady and so I wear cycle specific gear and shower/change at both ends of the journey. Lycra and cleats are not affectations, they improve comfort, efficiency and the enjoyment of the experience for me. I also enjoy MTB, with gears and fat tyres, and have competed in the local XC scene, proudly wearing my baggy shorts. This year I have done a number of road rides of over 150 kms and hope to complete all of the Grand Slam series. I sometimes get up early to ride up steep hills with workmates before commuting in. I own a variety of different bikes including a tandem...So what category do I belong to? Don't care just love being on the bike and choose riding over any other form of transport whenever possible - oh and generally I acknowledge other cyclists when our paths cross...whatever they are riding or wearing especially if its a smile :-)
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