The Future Of Cycling

Snipped from Honda's video on their upcoming e-mtb

 I work at a non-profit cycling collective in Waterloo, Iowa. This job has provided me with a perspective I feel was sorely missing previous to my working there. That is, the cycling industry makes far too many bicycles. Also - The cycling industry makes cycling way too complicated and focused on performing. 

Many times I have feelings which find expression in other people's words. Such is the case with a recent discovery of video content on Instagram from a U.K. company called Starling Cycles. . I'm not sure who the gent is that takes the time to do these social media posts for Starling. I imagine it is the head of the company, I do not know. But he's got some good, thought-provoking statements and this particular Instagram post is well worth listening to. 

His point is essentially we don't need all these new bicycles. And it isn't just on the boutique, high-end, or mainstream brands that this is true. It is really evident on the low end. The amount of straight-up "bicycle shaped garbage" we recycle at the collective is amazing to me. The bikes were never meant to be repaired, last long, or give any joy in usage. They exist only for the reason of monetary extraction from the poorer folks to the richer folks. That's it. That is the story of big-box cycling.  

This is why we should be cycling: To build community and have FUN.

On the latest "Guitar Ted Podcast" - amongst other subjects - I mentioned why I thought the cycling industry has it all wrong. The focus is way off. 

Performance is all you ever hear about in the brand messaging, media coverage, and event coverage. Where is the "FUN" at? 

How about we think more about that and how being together doing the cycling thing is a good time. Less about grams, weight, and weird clothing would go miles with getting more people on "real" bicycles. The major appealing thing for the youth when it comes to scooters and mopeds powered by electricity is (a) they can be themselves - No weird accoutrements required, and (b), it's easy. Just hop on and go. 

That used to be under the purview of "real" cycling. I used to grab my bicycle when I was young and just pedal to wherever the day took me. No weird shoes to wear. No helmets, (Yes, this is a hindrance to cycling) No focus on performing a certain way. We rode to get together, go places, have some fun. These kids today are doing the exact same thing, but just not on bicycles. Why? Because bicycles they can afford are complete garbage or the bicycles that would work are far too expensive. Plus there is all this helmet, jersey, shoe weirdness, and the kids do not want it. 

This doesn't exist in the e-world, and as a bonus, they don't have to get sweaty to go someplace. It's easy. The parents don't have to drag the kids around by car to wherever either. 

The future of cycling is bleak because the industry is missing the points which would draw in the youth. And now? With electrified easy transpo, you are going to be hard  pressed to get kids to go back to pedaling, unless some drastic thing happens in the near future to change the availability of those devices.

I don't know about where you live, but this is the reality where I am.