I recently came across a first-person essay reflecting on a rider's cycling experience. This person has raced road, cyclocross, gravel, and mountain bikes, yet they cannot wheelie and cannot ride hands-free with confidence. They describe wanting these skills for practical riding situations, which raises the question of what actually makes someone a proper cyclist.
It is a grounded reminder that anyone riding a bicycle is a cyclist, whether on a top-tier carbon race machine or an old commuter. Elitist snobbery, even regarding technical skills, can harm the growth of the sport. We should celebrate anyone on two wheels regardless of their specific trick list, focusing on the joy of the ride rather than a checklist of technical maneuvers.
Are these specific handling abilities essential to being a proper cyclist? Has anyone here successfully learned to wheelie or ride no-hands later in life?
The notion that a 'proper cyclist' must possess a specific checklist of technical tricks seems entirely misplaced. In my view, the definition of a cyclist should be grounded in the act of riding for utility, exploration, or transport, rather than the ability to perform stunts. Whether one is navigating a city commute or touring across Europe, the essential skills are those that ensure safety, reliability, and comfort, not the ability to ride no-hands or wheelie.
