Why do so few people cycle?

joolsybools

I was just wondering why there seems to be so few people on here that cycle/ask questions about cycling, especially as cycling is so MSE. :money:

Do any of you cycle?

If you don't, have you ever considered it?

If not why not?

What would help you to do it?

goldspanners

plenty of folk ask about bikes and cycling.
i cycle,but only when enthusiasm and weather permit it. i work in the cold all day so going out cycling in it before or after work this time of year isn't too appealing to me.

anewman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvWJsxI8Vz4&feature=PlayList&p=57E2904FB7136A6A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=72

Plus there are too few cycle lanes, and any there are are usually little more than one metre long, I mean come on, waste of paint and effort?!

If I lived in Erlangen, Germany, I would cycle everywhere. Nice wide cycle paths that go everywhere and are separate from cars and the pavement.

angeltreats

I did for years when I lived in London. Far far quicker than public transport.

Now I live an hour's drive from work, and also in a rural area where the roads are really not suited to cycling (just about wide enough for two cars to pass each other and also extremely hilly) so it's just not practical. I really miss being able to cycle to work though.

Kool_Kool

I'm too scared to cycle here in London, car drivers have no respect and cycling lanes arent that many unfortunately

themac1977

No, I dont, considered it for around half a second, then regained my sanity! lol

Seriously though, cycling wouldnt be of any use to me, as I'm a self employed IT engineer on 24hr call out due to my contracts and need to carry my toolbox at all times as a bare minimum (aluminium "flight box" style) and usually printers / monitors / baseunits / spare parts, even to "pop to the shops" is nearly 2 miles away, and not along the sort of roads I would feel safe cycling on!

joolsybools

anewman wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvWJsxI8Vz4&feature=PlayList&p=57E2904FB7136A6A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=72

Plus there are too few cycle lanes, and any there are are usually little more than one metre long, I mean come on, waste of paint and effort?!

If I lived in Erlangen, Germany, I would cycle everywhere. Nice wide cycle paths that go everywhere and are separate from cars and the pavement.

Re the youtube clip, yes, but the cyclist did a blooming stupid manoeuvre without looking. It looked like a moped to me, I need to watch it again.

I agree about cycle lanes being rubbish - it's far safer imo to ride on the roads as long as you have some roadsense/technical skill. I'll investigate Erlangen, there are loads of places in Europe we could learn from!

joolsybools

angeltreats wrote: »

I did for years when I lived in London. Far far quicker than public transport.

Now I live an hour's drive from work, and also in a rural area where the roads are really not suited to cycling (just about wide enough for two cars to pass each other and also extremely hilly) so it's just not practical. I really miss being able to cycle to work though.

Aw that's a shame, I bet you enjoy the greenery now though! I must confess I won't be sorry to see the back of Loondon (pun intended )

plebeian

There's plenty of reason why you don't see more cyclists on here.

a) We mostly spend our forum time on the BikeRadar forums. FYI over there I'm known as 'posh_pedaller'.
b) Cyclists are snobby - whilst this is true of some of us, we are mostly are happy to see more people taking up the sport. If you want to poke your head in to the BR forums, I suggest either the beginners' forums or the commuting forums - we're friendly in there.
c) Cycling gets a bad rap when it comes to safety - seriously, read Cyclecraft, ride like that, and you'll be fine.
d) Most people's bikes are Bike Shaped Objects (BSOs) bought from supermarkets which are horrible to ride and break down after 100 miles.
e) Image problem - we're not all lycra-clad racing snakes (although I must confess to being a lycra-liker myself!).
f) Cost - people see carbon fibre racing frames that cost £ks and are put off. A Carrera Subway/Virtuoso, or something from the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative's Revolution range, gives you a very good bike for a few hundred pounds. Yes its multiples more than the £80 full-suspension mountain bike you see in ASDA, but it'll last thousands of miles (Decathlon also do very good bikes, and very very good value cycling gear, if there's one near you, and they deliver these days as well).
g) We spend all the money we save on shiny new bits of kit - that is a risk inherent in taking up cycling, or any other hobby!

Seriously, though, cycling is MoneySaving, given that it covers many bases - transport, saving on fuel/trains; fitness, saving on gym membership; as a hobby etc. Given that a good road bike or hybrid, plus kit and repairs, will probably cost £800 over your first year, and that can cover all of the above, you can save loads.
And to the person who said it's 2 miles to the shops - pah! I'd happily ride that rather than drive (just as long as there's not a big hill on the way back).

ScottishSapper

considered it for around half a second, then regained my sanity

I bought a bike, rode it 2 miles on main road, then jumped in car to go to get prozak from GP! A lot needs to be done with roads and the attitude of drivers before it could be anywhere safe

themac1977

plebeian wrote: »

And to the person who said it's 2 miles to the shops - pah! I'd happily ride that rather than drive (just as long as there's not a big hill on the way back).

That will be me that said that!.

You might be happy with that, but when I go to the shops its for 1 of 2 things, either the big weekly shop (so no chance of doing that on a bike!) or its because I need something in a hurry, for example I've got unexpected visitors and I need milk, in which case getting cycling gear on and cycling to the shops and back takes too long!

It's unfortunately just not practical for me:(, trust me, I would LOVE to save on fuel costs, but I can be called out at any time, and need to respond straight away or I'll lose my contract! (Guess whos usually the designated driver!):beer: