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Will cycling ever be the same again?
I’m always thinking about the future of cycling, both as a mode of transport and as a sport.
Last week I was recording two podcasts that hit on this topic, and it got me thinking.
You may know Monument Cycling and myself from the races I run - it would make sense that someone who wants to have a future in cycling would think about where the sport is going, wouldn’t it?
But, before the Saffron Walden Grand Prix, I was entirely focussed on the sporting aspect of cycling.
Before I organised races, I hardly thought of anything except competition. Something changed.
Take a look at this picture.
What do you see? I see the future of cycling.
There’s always been a real focus within the UK’s racing community on improving the state of play for elite and amateur competition.
We’ve seen a lack of investment in teams; a gradual decline in sponsorship levels and the quiet death of established races. Were it not for Rapha’s involvement, we would have seen the loss of one of the UK’s greatest races - the Lincoln Grand Prix.
So, don’t get me wrong - we need to shout from the rooftops to protect racing on the roads.
However, I think we’ve made a mistake.
The future is green.
If reports are to be believed, the UK government will invest £2 billion in cycling after Covid-19.
This green recovery is the lifeline that cycling of all levels in the UK needs.
Hopefully, you will all have seen the Monument Cycling grassroots revival I’m always harping on about on Instagram. It’s a recognition that change cannot come from business as usual.
Change cannot come from ploughing money into the highest echelons of the sport. It can’t even come from a strong National Road Series. Give us a cycling culture like the Netherlands, not Olympic medals.
Instead, we need to focus our efforts on making cycling accessible, inclusive, and welcoming for everybody.
That picture I showed you earlier? It’s my favourite picture from our biggest event of 2019. Not the racing. Not the winners throwing their arms in the air. Just young families enjoying cycling on traffic-free roads with a big smile on their face.
What can you do?
Broadcast established and emerging cycling to the world.
Tell stories about how awesome cycling is; how much fun it is as an everyday activity. Tell your co-workers, encourage your family to ride, volunteer to help the organisers of grassroots events.
Coming out of Covid-19, things will get worse before they get better. Nevertheless, we have the opportunity to make sure that cycling comes out of this better than before.
It’s not all doom and gloom!
Have a great week,
Owen
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