Standup Zone Forum

General => Random => Topic started by: TallDude on October 29, 2019, 04:02:29 PM

Title: Road bike racing looks to be losing mass interest in the US.
Post by: TallDude on October 29, 2019, 04:02:29 PM
The fate of bicycle road racing may be mirroring that of SUP racing in the US. I used to be into doing road bike racing years ago, but I just got too dangerous to ride on the roads in Southern California. Maybe electric bikes are becoming a bigger market? When I see someone riding a non-electric bike, I think good for them. They are the minority around here these days. Plus the stationary bikes like Peloton and spinning classes are pretty big these days. 

https://www.velonews.com/2019/10/news/amgen-tour-of-california-to-go-on-hiatus-in-2020_502280


Title: Re: Road bike racing looks to be losing mass interest in the US.
Post by: Badger on October 29, 2019, 05:14:06 PM
SUP in general has died off considerably in northern New England. Similar to windsurfing in the 80's.

Road biking is very popular while mountain biking has dropped off. I never hear anything about racing these days.

Electric bikes are a rarity here at least for now. I want one.

.
Title: Re: Road bike racing looks to be losing mass interest in the US.
Post by: surf4food on October 29, 2019, 05:48:12 PM
Road racing in the US (at least centuries and/or stage races) has been in decline for quite awhile.  This is nothing new.  As far as competitive racing, cyclocross and gravel grinders have really exploded in the past several years and I think that has cut into the popularity of traditional road racing.  In California, events like Grinduro in Northern California and The Belgian Waffle Ride in Southern California have dwarfed the popularity of the AMGEN Tour of California.  In the Midwest, The Dirty Kanza is not only a huge event in that area but one of the biggest competitive cycling races in the U.S.  Combine those type of races with the growth of non competitive or semi competitive events like Gran Fondos and that's kind of where the cycling world is heading.  I don't think e-bikes really have anything to do with the declining popularity of road racing as there are just simply other types of racing that have taken over.  Also fixed gear/track bike crits have become big (tho Red Hook was cancelled for 2019).  You might see more e-bikes in your area but overall they are still in the minority and again they have noting to do with road racing's shrinking popularity.  If that was the case, then the other types or racing I mentioned wouldn't be as popular as they have become.   
Title: Re: Road bike racing looks to be losing mass interest in the US.
Post by: surf4food on October 29, 2019, 05:53:36 PM
And stationary bikes and spin classes are not really considered part of the cycling world and have nothing to do with the popularity or lack of for any other type of bike riding. 
Title: Re: Road bike racing looks to be losing mass interest in the US.
Post by: ukgm on October 30, 2019, 01:54:04 AM
Three key changes in the market here:

1) The end (and implosion) of the 'Lance effect'.

2) The rise and shift to participation events (i.e. gravel and gran fondo's).

3) The rise and interest in online platforms such as Zwift.

I still compete in time trial's, road and track and the exact same thing is happening in the UK.
Title: Re: Road bike racing looks to be losing mass interest in the US.
Post by: surf4food on October 30, 2019, 10:07:30 AM
One thing I wish we had in the US that the UK has is cycle speedway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbFW997Kt4

Looks like a lot of fun.
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