Is cycle sport encouraging uptake of cycling?

We need to remember that London is a big city and so many people commute longer distances, I would not want to do my commute on a shopping bike / town bike.

I dunno mate, I think it's entirely possible to commute longer distance on a shopping/town bicycles.

As long you don't feel the urge to chase down cyclists when they're baiting you to race them, you'll be fine.