Is it true majority of cyclists are old men or middle aged men with nothing better to do with their time and are too weak to engage in a true adrenaline pumped sport? Let's face it, if a 2 year old can learn how to ride a bike, how hard could "cycling" possibly be. Everytime I drive past a cyclist, I seek wrinkles off underneath their helmets, off the sides of their shades. WHen was the last time you saw a teenager on the road on a bike? Pro racing excluded I'm seventeen and I road bike all the time (weather permitting, as I live in Oregon..) But I don't really have the time to train for and compete in races, because 3 college courses + high school and work kind of get in the way. Kids are a lot busier these days and I really don't as much free time to cycle as I'd like Im a teenager and I cycle to school :)
And the reason I started to was because two of my friends also do, and I thought it could cut my journey time in the mornings (more sleep!) and I could go home during my free periods, and get healthy!
Im 16. Report It
Blaze hit it right on the head.
If cycling aint a 'true, adrenaline pumped sport', then nothing is. You cannot bike w/o adrenaline. And mountain biking down a washed out , tree root infested path where a split second of indecision would cause you to wrap your bike around the nearest tree might be the very definition of adrenaline pump. I'm sure my mountain biking brethren who have real mountains and 20' drops to bike in could lay some more serious 'drenalin scenarios on your lazy a**.
Those wrinkles you see are born of mile-wide smiles from going places on a bike most mortals dare not dream.
The reason you dont see more teens on bikes is that they are all geeked about getting their first drivers license. They lead a much more sedentary lifestyle. They expect to get things without effort. They beg their mommies and daddies to buy them a Wii and the games that replace their miserable reality. They'd rather walk the mall with a cell phone than challenge themselves on a bike. Its only after a few great beatdowns later in life where some of them rediscover the joy they got at 2 years old on their first bikey. Adrenaline is going down a twisty mountain road and PASSING all the slow-pokes in cars. Excitement is breaking 60mph while wearing only lycra and riding a sub-20lb bicycle with barely 2cm of tire contact. Extreme is hammering a climb in the big ring to catch that unknown rider you barely saw rounding the last corner.
When was the last time I saw a young person put forth effort beyond lifting their xBox controller? When was the last time a teenager gave a crap about what they put into their body? If given a change, would a 17-year old rather ride fast under their own power or step on a gas pedal? When was the last time you WORKED for something instead of demanding that it be given to you instantly? You judge rather quickly without having ANY experience as a cyclist, Junior.
If you want to be a pro cyclist, you better act fast. You need to be chosen by a pro team by the time you're about 20, and if you're REALLY good your career lasts about 10 years.
The real answer, though, is that the younger riders are faster than your car, so all you can catch are the older guys that still have the energy to go out and enjoy themselves instead of getting fat & lazy. Hey Sadman,
I do not think it is true because, where I live we have all ages of bicycle riders. Anywhere from 5 year olds to 75+ year olds ride the trails and bike lanes in my area. (San Diego, CA)
You must live near a Retirement Community or a Geriatric Rehabilitation Center, because all you see are older adults on bicycles. I think it is wonderful to see older adults engaging in some type of sport to keep them physically and mentally fit. You also need to understand that most parents do not teach their children to ride a bike at 2 years of age, it is too dangerous. I have never seen a 2 year old riding a bicycle even with training wheels. You definitely do not know what Cycling or Sportsmanship is about. = (
Kimber Its true that middle age men probably have the best endurance in terms of long-distance cycling--just go to any 24 hour racing event and the bulk of riders are in the 40+ range.
I've not seen any kindergarten kids doing 55 mph down a winding mountain pass lately but if you joined a couple thousand other 20-70 yr old cyclists at Ride the Rockies or other week-long event rides, you might see it differently. Moreover, If you want the adrenaline rush, try riding a 20lb piece of carbon-steel down hairpin turns at 30-45+ mph and you'll be adrenalized ....or maybe you can't handle the rush like me and my 40 year old buddies can. I mostly see people around 30-40 cycling. I rarely see younger people my own age and I don't find that many old people, this is where I live.
I think your quite ignorant towards cyclists, infact very.
"are too weak to engage in a true adrenaline pumped sport"
Is that why you 'drive' past them? Cycling is as intense as you make it, I can't think of many sports I'd pick over it.
"Let's face it, if a 2 year old can learn how to ride a bike, how hard could "cycling" possibly be."
It's harder than driving, it requires balance and can be more dangerious as your vulnerable. I can do both.
"WHen was the last time you saw a teenager on the road on a bike?"
I'm a teen, eighteen and I usually ride on the road.
Next time you see someone, don't think they are boring and have nothing to do with thier time but insted they are alot more eco. than you and probably more healthier.
I'll be honest, guys I think this guy made this question to wind up us cyclists. Were we supposed to find this clever or insightful? The biggest reason you don't see teenagers on the road is because cycling is seen as dorky, uncool, or something that poor people have to do because they can't afford a car. Cycling (whether it be road, track, mountain, 'cross, downhill, bmx, etc.) is not for the weak, or faint of heart. Most of these middle aged men that you see out riding long miles could probably hand you your @$$. They certainly hand me mine, as cycling is one of the only sports where you can actually get better with age. Cycling is clearly too hard for you, and since a two year old can do it, that does not say much for you.
Cycling takes strength, balance, and body control. You see so many old people doing it, because cyclists are the only people who remain in shape enough to continue to participate in their sport as the get older.
P.S. I'm 26, and I don't care what "adrenaline pumped sport," you do, most good cyclists could do it better.
Thanks for your narrow mindedness though. It is sad you have no manners ....
Like silver said, let's roll brother. I do know teens and twenty somethings that ride regular. But I bet there are several in their 50's here that would make a fool of you on a bike -- any bike. All it means is that they have kept their fitness longer than any other sport. Top that!
Oh, and you even dis Kimber and all the females that ride hard too.
Is trolling a better sport? Gheesh! I see cyclists of all ages around here. And if you think it's an easy sport, I would challenge you to a race...I'd say most of your serious riders are probably males in their 20's. Although alot of women are riding too.
A two year old can also toss a football. So what's your point?
I'd be carefull or one of those "old men" will clean your clock. Let me see now. I am 54 years old and I have ridden my bikes close to 5,000 miles this year alone. I eat century rides for breakfast. I will race across Ohio this summer under 48 hours with my buddies who are 20 years junior to me. I am not quite the sprinter I use to be (bio-knee) but my last recorded flat speed run was tact at 36.8 miles per hour. I only managed 32.6 miles per hour last week because of the frigging wind, and the 3 layers of cloths I was wearing to keep from freezing my *** off. To date I have never seen a teenager compete in any century plus races. Wonder why? Ahh... A Troll!!!
The reason you see a high percentage of older cyclists is not that there's too many old riders, but that there's not enough young riders. Today's kids are too wimpy to take up a manly (or womanly) sport like cycling. They'd rather have their momma drive them to the arcade than to do something physical. Besides that, in the U.S. kids are too fat to look good in lycra. LOLOLOL
Anytime you think you can stay with me for 100 miles...... bring it!
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Edit: and you can make that on road or off.
Maybe you don't see so many kids because they're out of shape. My son's friends don't like riding with me because they have trouble keeping up. This guy just wants to stir the pot!
But I can't resist ...
I live and work in San Francisco the home of - for better or worse - critical mass and I would say that no, you are wrong, it is not true that the majority of cyclists are old or middle aged men. Cyclists are all ages. come down off a mountain pass at 40+mph on a bike and then tell me there no adrenaline pumping. go on a 100 mile bike ride and then tell me it isn't hard. by the way, while you are driving you probably should be looking at the road, not checking for wrinkles on riders faces. Your just jealous. I am 20 bodybuild and mountain bike to keep in shape. I know for a fact most of those "old guys" are in better shape than your cottage cheese ***. Good thing you are saying that behind your computer because you could get your *** beat for saying something like that where im from. I'm 61 and have been riding over 50 years. I probably have wrinkles and am not quite as fast as I use to be. I ride because I enjoy it and really don't care what other people think. I think cycling is not a weak sports its takes lot of energy and in anyway its not for middle aged or older persons. I enjoy cycling and I am in my mid 20,s Ever heard of BMX? Apparently not!!! Scram troll!!!!!!!! today, cycling to school Maybe it has something to do with the wisdom that comes with age.
The key here in your question for me is the fact that you are driving past the cyclists. When was the last time you got out of your car and walked, rode or ran anywhere?
There is far more to cycling than simply learning how - try it sometime. I ride 16 miles total every darn day to work and back while you sit in your car at stoplights or on the freeway in traffic. I gaurantee that even if you are 20 years younger than me I have a better physique and better endurance.
So go and ride 10 miles every day for a month, rain or shine and try to average 12-15 mph then come back and talk smack about cyclists, OK? For the record I average 15-20 mph but I'm going to cut you some slack, newbie.
And yes, I don't see a lot of teenagers on bikes and I think that's just sad. You kids are growing up car obsessed. I know I did. Had to have a car... had to have a PT job in HS just to afford the darn thing... and back then gas was cheap. I can't believe what you kids are paying now.
Somewhere along the line a few of us old folks realized we'd lost the joy of bike riding! Remember when we were 10 years old? We could ride all day!
I think a lot of "old folks" like myself go to college and it's the first time we experience life "car free". Maybe you young'uns can't understand this yet, but it is darn liberating.
Comon kids - you want to save the world and be better than us right? Don't let us 30-40 somethings show you up! Ditch the car and have enough cahones to withstand some peer ridicule and do something meaningful for your health, the planet and your hard earned extra cash or your parents extra cash... remember every dollar they give you now is one less you get later when they kick the bucket.
Do you really want to spend your inheritance on gasoline? I don't know if you really want an answer to this or not, but it's clear that you aren't familiar with the cycling world!!! :o)
I will say that, yes, there is definitely a large chunk of riders who are male in their 40's or so.....seems to be a time when lots of men get an itch to be healthy or competitive, etc. But there are TONS of riders of all ages. I think the most popular age range is late teens to late 20's, and then there seems to be fewer in their 30's, followed by that surge of people in their 40's. Seems to hold true for female riders, too, but for different reasons I think.
The good thing about it....and if you rode and enjoyed bikes you'd surely understand this....is that there are riders of all ages and walks of life, getting out and enjoying ALL of the benefits of cycling whether it's to the coffee shop, sport road riding or racing, mountain bikes, bmx parks....everything. Cycling just rawks. :o)
Maybe it's different in your area, but my comments are coming from being a cyclist on all levels for the last 23 years, since I was about 14. People and local communities are just too diverse to draw any conclusions with a question like this. And it doesn't really matter anyway.....just enjoy what you do and let everyone else do the same, y'know? | 