Bicycling More Popular?

I don't have any anecdotes but I will say that over the past 20 years
or so that during the Tour those areas that have a lot of cycling fans
seems to have the most of those fans on the roads. That is not hard to
imagine, is it?

As to the question of growth year to year I can only say what I have
observed while already living in areas of the US with plenty of
cyclists that those areas have become ever more saturated with
increasingly more money spent per person too. I am not suggesting that
is a good thing but that is what I have seen. I also think that in
Europe there are a lot more fans of the type that buy matching kit,
etc. When I first started in cycling the only people I saw in Europe
with race kits were a few fans at the races and of course those in the
race. Europe is looking more like some parts of the US and maybe that
is caused by the emerging middle class consumerism more than being any
indication of popularity.

As more cycling infrastructure has been built in the Minneapolis/St.
Paul area, more riders are out there to be seen. 10 years ago if I saw
10 other bikes during a ride it was remarkable- now I see 20-50 other
bikes on almost every ride! Buses now have bike racks and the light
rail system has a spot on each train for bikes. Miles of
commuter-oriented bike paths have been built and there are many bike
lanes striped onto city streets. This summer I see a LOT more people
obviously riding to and from work than ever before. There's also been a
bug upswell in old road bikes converted to single speed- I see probably
a dozen a day or more.

On 16 Jul 2006 10:52:06 -0700, "Chris M" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I don't have any anecdotes but I will say that over the past 20 years
or so that during the Tour those areas that have a lot of cycling fans
seems to have the most of those fans on the roads. That is not hard to
imagine, is it?

I assume you're talking about the Tour of France race. How do you
know the riders being out on the roads at that time of the year are
related to the race, and not to, say, the start of summer vacation in
schools or the start of summer weather in general?

JT

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Hi, Paul, I begin my rides around the same time that you do and,
especially in the past couple of weeks, I've noticed quite an increase
in the number of people riding bikes here, on the Trinity Trail in Ft
Worth TX.

I had attributed this to people trying to get their rides in earlier
than usual, as it has been unusually hot and dry here.

Lewis.

*****

Paul Cassel said:

This is my second season with a road going bicycle so my experience
doesn't extend very far, but then again, I'm out there regularly in all
seasons so I note who else is also about.

I've noted that in the past few weeks a significantly greater number of
bicyclists mostly which I take as new people. I think they're new
because they ride in a rather slow and often hesitant manner different
from the confident folks who ride around doing 17+ mph often in groups.
Also many I take to be new are riding around in male / female couples
which I take to be husband and wife activity.

I usually start my Saturday and Sunday rides between 0530 and 0600. I
take a main road for about 5 miles (I start early to avoid traffic on
this main road) to a multi use trail and then take this trail on a long
loop lasting from 1 to 2.5 hours depending on how long I wish to ride. I
then take other trails and roads home.

In the past, and during the entire last summer, I'd be completely alone
when I started out and run into 2 or 3 other riders while on the multi use.

The past two weeks, and much more today, I noted many other bicyclists
out there when I started and the multi use was, well, crowded. I was
always in sight of a bicyclist or more often, a couple cycling, ahead of
me as a pedaled along.

Some of those I assume to be new riders are on these comfort style
bicycles, but many are on road bikes which seem to me to be fairly
serious in the sense that I figure they're worth well over $1,500 new
(based on when I was shopping for a bike). So I'm curious to hear if the
vendors or other knowledgeable folks here know if, in fact, bicycle and
equipment sales are really up this season? Anybody know and wish to say?

-Paul

Paul Cassel said:

This is my second season with a road going bicycle so my experience
doesn't extend very far, but then again, I'm out there regularly in all
seasons so I note who else is also about.

I've noted that in the past few weeks a significantly greater number of
bicyclists mostly which I take as new people. > In the past, and during the entire last summer, I'd be completely alone. (snip)

Quoted message said:

The past two weeks, and much more today, I noted many other bicyclists
out there when I started and the multi use was, well, crowded. I was
always in sight of a bicyclist or more often, a couple cycling, ahead of
me as a pedaled along.

Well, Paul obviously these people have noticed how much fun you've been
having <g>!

I've noticed similar, recently. Tour de France effect?

Nothing like a good solo ride, but just for reference:

http://www.austincycling.org/rides.html

These rides are commonly attended by riders of all ages, levels of
experience, etc. etc. Some ride to the out-of-town starts, where you'll
see smaller groups of aquaintances start together (later or earlier
than the "official start time"😉 in addition to the larger roll-outs.
--D-y

Quoted message said:

Hi, Paul, I begin my rides around the same time that you do and,
especially in the past couple of weeks, I've noticed quite an increase
in the number of people riding bikes here, on the Trinity Trail in Ft
Worth TX.

I had attributed this to people trying to get their rides in earlier
than usual, as it has been unusually hot and dry here.

Hi Lewis,

I'm in Albuquerque. Here it's strange to see anybody out at 0600 or
before heat or not. I didn't notice this phenom last year so doubt
that's it.

Quoted message said:

Well, Paul obviously these people have noticed how much fun you've been
having <g>!

I've noticed similar, recently. Tour de France effect?

Nothing like a good solo ride, but just for reference:

http://www.austincycling.org/rides.html

These rides are commonly attended by riders of all ages, levels of
experience, etc. etc. Some ride to the out-of-town starts, where you'll
see smaller groups of aquaintances start together (later or earlier
than the "official start time"😉 in addition to the larger roll-outs.
--D-y

Ha, that must be it. It may be the TdF, but gee, is it really being
watched now that Lance is out. I'd guess 99% of the citizens of the US
never heard of any rider aside from Lance.

I rarely ride with a local group. These guys head out at 18+ mph on each
other's wheel & often go a lot faster. While a exhilarating to bomb
along at those speeds, it's enervating for me to keep just the right
distance. After 25 or so miles, I'm mostly tired of keeping position,
doing the group actions, and shuffling around as I move up or back in
the pack. I like to ride sort of zoned out enjoying the scenery and
effort. I must pay great attention when riding in this pack (peleton?).

The company is great, but my expertise isn't sufficient to ride with
these folks much further than 20-30 miles.

-paul

In article <[email hidden]>,

Paul Cassel said:

It may be the TdF, but gee, is it really being watched now that Lance
is out. I'd guess 99% of the citizens of the US never heard of any
rider aside from Lance.

Greg Lemond? Jan Ullrich? But perhaps not much deeper than that.
However, a Minneapolis movie theater has been showing the TdF live on
the big screen on Saturdays and Sundays, and a local restaurant has been
showing it on a big screen TV.

http://www.riverviewtheater.com/index.cfm

http://www.birchwoodcafe.com/

Tim McNamara said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Paul Cassel said:

It may be the TdF, but gee, is it really being watched now that Lance
is out. I'd guess 99% of the citizens of the US never heard of any
rider aside from Lance.

Greg Lemond? Jan Ullrich? But perhaps not much deeper than that.
However, a Minneapolis movie theater has been showing the TdF live on
the big screen on Saturdays and Sundays, and a local restaurant has been
showing it on a big screen TV.

http://www.riverviewtheater.com/index.cfm

http://www.birchwoodcafe.com/

Dear Tim,

Jan Ullrich? Who's she?

Cheers,

Carl Fogel