Is cycling at weekends declining in popularity?

PRSboy wrote:

Time is an issue too... 3 hrs plus for a 'proper' club ride in coffee break, plus washing down the bike in the winter etc.  Difficult to justify if you have young family particularly.

But actually, your experience perhaps tallies with what cycle retailers are saying... maybe we have passed 'peak cycle' following the 2012 Olympics and so on.

But don't underestimate the dopamine hit that people seem to get from interacting with strangers on the internet... it is addictive, and software designers exploit this.

There was no 'peak cycle' post olympics, nor any other cycle sport achievement, the facts regarding that have been made clear. There is no correlation between sporting success in cycling and increases in cycling numbers and that is where the issue lies. Sporting cycling, which is what the OP is effectively talking about will only ever have a limited number of people willing/wanting to do it and as alluded to it's the time, effort and often the spare cash to be 'kitted out' 

The way society is these days that's far truer now than it was BITD when it was more relaxed, a lot of club cycling comes across as being extremely competitive, and for the mostpart It's not really for women either unless your club has enough of them to want to do rides as a group for women only or you have a strong female rider, but that really is not common across the whole country as is women cycling as a whole (because of the danger aspect mostly).

As Romanremus points out, clubs can be very clique, if your face doesn't fit, if you ride the 'wrong' bike, wear the wrong kit or as one long standing member of a club found, forced out because the club (two people in power) decided compulsary helmet wearing was required, then it puts people off.

Some clubs just need to have a look at their offer and actually the people within the clubs/those who lead it too. In some cases unless clubs change the attitude of some (not all clearly) and able to offer up groups that are more innclusive say more in the tourist style rather than the nose down/arse up that's become so prevelent, as well as gender specific groups (but again comes down to fear factor/feeling included) then it's not going to get any easier to attract numbers.

I've never been a club rider, I like riding with a couple of friends now and again and some clubs I've come across (through friends or coincidentally) are fantastic, CTC groups are more often than not excellent too.

I just prefer the freedom of riding on my tod because I can go out whenver I want to without having to stick to rigid timescales/dates, at whatever speed I want on any given day, knock it on the head halfway round a planned route, pop in to see a friend for an hour, or as per a couple of weeks ago have a chat with someone on foot (who turned out to be a very keen cyclist), browse an interesting shop you came across or whatever without the restrictions of being in a group.

It's why I like Audax, you can ride with someone for a while if your speed/ability matches, but if they go on ahead and leave you to your own devices, well that was already what you were already going to be doing anyways.

good luck getting more people on board.

Romanremus wrote:

Perhaps my experience is not unique. I have been riding with my local - east Staffordshire - club for a few months. I have enjoyed the riding a great deal. Some riders have been unfriendly, condescending, self righteous and dictatorial. Ironically, the 'leaders' fit this description best.

One or two members have been welcoming and I'm sure are nice people. 

My, non-cycling, friends and family tell me this is typically club behaviour. Maybe. I don't feel in the club or likely to be a welcomed member in the near future. I'm just doing a 'ride along'. Perhaps it takes longer? I think they much prefer their club without new members.

The situation encourages me to be with them on the road so it is very good motivation! 

Am I over sensitive? We all see and feel the world through our own perspective.

Have others had a similar experience?

Thanks for reading.

I think it definitely depends who you are and who the cycling clubs are. I'm probably not too far away from you as I'm based in Congleton. I tried Congleton Cycling Club, Macclesfield Wheelers and Lyme Racing club but none really felt right. I gave up on joining a club as it didn't suit my type of riding. I did a charity ride with a group of guys and one of them went out with the Cheshire Mavericks based out of Alderly Edge and Bramhall and said I should try them. I did and it was night and day for me. They had a more relaxed approach and it suited the way I ride. I have to either drive 15 minutes up the road to go out with them or ride for 30/45 minutes extra either way but it makes my cycling so much more enjoyable! If Alderly isn't too far for you you should defintely come out to join us for a spin. If it is then I would recommend trying another club if you current one doesn't feel right.

Channel your inner Goldilocks.