Is cycle sport encouraging uptake of cycling?

Sport and Uptake.

To take up throwing the javelin for anything other than sport would be eccentric, but cycling is different.

I have always assumed that racing cyclists are a distillation from a base of utility riders. If there are few ordinary cyclists there will be a scarcity of racing men, but if half of one percent of new riders get to turn a pedal in anger, every type of race will be better supported.

Lack of knowledge by the non cycling public is clearly a big deterrent to anyone thinking of starting, and I believe the other side of this coin is that since the vast majority of racing cyclists do big non racing mileages it is to be hoped that their example will encourage the others to follow. The experience of competition greatly increases knowledge of cycling, so even long retired former racers can pass on vital information to beginners – my own first tutor was my Grandfather who had stopped racing half a century before I started.

However, I see plenty of problems ahead. Will an increase in utility riding bring unwanted legislation – compulsory use of cycle paths for example? Will the creaky club structure be able to cope? There’s a reference further up this thread to “wizened faced old choppers, wordlessly beasting each other over grey drizzly hills” That might well be referring to me, but at least I can still ride; what worries me is seeing a road race that depends on octogenarians for marshalling, or a time trial which relies on a time keeper who can only just walk with the aid of a stick.

My own club, along with many others, has seen a big rise in membership in recent years, but we find it’s generally the same old faces who turn out to do the necessary organising and marshalling jobs.

Enough, I’m getting off the point, which is:-

For me, racing and utility riding go hand in hand.