Is cycle sport encouraging uptake of cycling?

One of my workmates is a conservative, cyclist-hating driver who used to love making jokes about mowing cyclists down etc etc.

He bought a Brompton last week. Loves it. Not very sporty, obvs. I don't think it's Wiggo-related, specifically, as he decided he was going to get one long before Wiggins was "famous", but he has been taking an interest in the cycling on the telly since the Tour de France.

I don't think the average person would see Wiggin's success on the pro circuit and immediately think 'I'm going to start cycling to and from work on a £5k+ bike, fully outfitted in lycra!'

Most of us do not give these things so much thought. I'm still not convinced pro cycling will have a significant impact on encouraging more people to commute on their bike but one can hope. What's not helping is Wiggins pushing helmets on cyclists. I think that only dissuades certain would-be riders.

I would say it definitely is.
Amongst my friends, three of them have got really into it over the last couple of years from having no previous interest in it whatsoever. They all commute to work by bike now

I dont really understand the whole attitude of wanting other people to do the something that you like doing.

Nice people often like to share nice things.

The number of cyclists in London these days is staggering. There was a time when there were couriers and no-body much else.

I dont really understand the whole attitude of wanting other people to do the something that you like doing.

When something puts a big fat smile on my face like cycling does, I love seeing that smile on other people's faces. Especially people I know who have been mildly curious for a long time but always too scared to give it a go. There is nothing that warms my heart more than seeing a beginner cyclist ride a lap by themselves. Luckily I get to see that every week at work!

Never mind the fact that more cyclists = better overall for cycling.

I was idling near southwark bridge a couple of days ago, when a middle aged bloke stopped in his tracks and had a good stare at a trek hybrid locked to a nearby stand. He moved on, looking pensive. As he walked away, a brompton rider coasted past, at which point said middle aged bloke whipped around to get a lock on the bike.

It was quite funny. I thought to myself: "I give that man 2 weeks before he cracks and buys himself a bike."

Just an anecdote, apropos of nothing at all.

I think sport is total shit. Seriously. I'm hoping that not everyone is blinded by a stupid gold medal and a few drugged up overtrained murdoch-sponsored 'sportsmen'.

Fair enough if you don't like sport. But the rest of your post is one of the biggest loads of rubbish I've ever seen written on this forum!
If it wasn't for cycling as a sport your lad wouldn't be able to go mtbing at HH, amongst a billion other things that benefit cycling as transport and recreation through British success in cycling as sport.

I dont really understand the whole attitude of wanting other people to do the something that you like doing.

Yeah but I was into not liking other people doing things I like doing before you were.

I dont really understand the whole attitude of wanting other people to do the something that you like doing.

I guess it depends on whether you think cycling is good for people and/or society, or at least better than the alternatives.

I think I do.

Nice people often like to share nice things.

When something puts a big fat smile on my face like cycling does, I love seeing that smile on other people's faces. Especially people I know who have been mildly curious for a long time but always too scared to give it a go. There is nothing that warms my heart more than seeing a beginner cyclist ride a lap by themselves. Luckily I get to see that every week at work!

Never mind the fact that more cyclists = better overall for cycling.

Well I know what you mean there, but its hard to say if other people would enjoy something as much because you have to appreciate they are all different people with different lifestyles and things they hate. Pushing bikes onto people is preachy, most people are disgusted by the idea of having to move around under the own steam come all weathers and find the notion of cycling childish and embarassing. And I am ok with that.

If I could see how someone might enjoy or benefit greatly from things I am into, I of course love sharing my interest. But I feel no urge to go around campaigning and pushing a particular idea or activity onto everyone.

Just because I like riding bikes I really feel no desire campaign for others to do so. I would recommend it to people I meet in person, like asylum seekers and new immigrants who get rinsed paying for busfares. And I would campaign for better facilities for cycling (not to encourage cycling, but to make things better for those who choose to.

But the arbitrary desire to encourage everyone to have the same interest/lifestyle as you, is basically Authoritarianism.

I guess it depends on whether you think cycling is good for people and/or society, or at least better than the alternatives.

I think I do.

I think diversity and freedom is good for society.

Let put it this way.

We got all kind of people buying the Wiggo t-shirts and the Sky jersey.

And our store is looking emptier with less bicycles on display for the first time in two years.

(MTB are still almost fill to the brim).

You can keep the fanboy Ts, but if there's a FS Mtb frame on special then dibs

Been commuting by SS in London for nearly five years now and the increase in numbers is off the scale...definitely a spike after Beijing although the return of half-decent weather seems the most important factor for the increases

most people are disgusted by the idea of having to move around under the own steam come all weathers and find the notion of cycling childish and embarassing.

Tosh. The number of cyclists out there disagrees with you.

Asking someone if they want to go for a ride does not equate to forcing them to commute or smash themselves on turbos through the depths of winter. It could be a gentle canal ride to a pub.

But the arbitrary desire to encourage everyone to have the same interest/lifestyle as you, is basically Authoritarianism.

'encourage' is not 'force'

Cyclists who say "cycling is great, you should give it a go" are not the same as governments mandating you must not congregate in groups of more than 15.

For future reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism

Hippy, stop being so authoritarian

I want everybody else to cycle so that I can talk about cycling all day without people's eyes glazing over and embarrassing myself.

But the arbitrary desire to encourage everyone to have the same interest/lifestyle as you, is basically Authoritarianism.

I know, right - Cyclists are always authoritarianing people right in the face.

I think diversity and freedom is good for society.

I disagree. Everybody should like the same things I like, and dislike the same things I dislike.

Only then can we achieve the force of will necessary to bulldoze all the hills and make London flat.

I disagree. Everybody should like the same things I like, and dislike the same things I dislike.
God* willing, this man is correct.

• My God, that is. Not yours. If it's a different God, then we have a real problem here.
  

I disagree. Everybody should like the same things I like, and dislike the same things I dislike.

Only then can we achieve the force of will necessary to bulldoze all the hills and make London flat.

But where would we have North Drinks?

The curious Joey Barton tweeted yesterday that he was going to get a bike.