Dear Group, Many factors contribute to a "popularity" in an age. It is hard to pick and blame just one. I cannot point to the 1950s as a "great bicycle time." But yet, I rode a bicycle from age six when I was given my new--full sized Schwinn--to age nineteen and driving. I did not return to the bicycle until I reached age forty-five and was told, "I was going to seed." But during the twenty-six year hiatus, the bicycle world went to complex "de-railer" bicycles and nearly useless children's bicycles. With the new complexity of de-railers, bicycle stores became repair shops. And then as in most "adult" activities, bicycles became a "personality statement" much as automobile "type" had become. I was disgusted at the attitudes of an "adult" bicycle trouring group I rode with the year I returned to the bicycle at forty-five. (twenty years ago). It was all about the equipment. There seemed a race on for every known gadget in the bicycle world. Of course that has also been the history of most "adult" activities where marketing holds sway. People love it and love to spend money for certain "psychic pleasures." Just look at the changes in downhill skiis and their sales and promotions.
But how does this affect bicycling overall? That is hard to say. Some might enjoy new equipment much like many enjoy a new car. But then some might be discouraged from even "thinking about cycling." Since equipment "was not my thing" I soon found out that the variable was "training" not equipment and I returned to my 3-speed with the bent fork and wheels from fifth grade. I made it "fit" my personal geometry and stepped up high gear to 105inch. I learned Gregg LeMond's training intensities and felt comfortable in my cutoffs and valueless bicycle. That is what I use today. But maybe the issue of ridership should be approached from the "sociological" direction. Just what naturally occurring institutional changes have contributed to the rising and declining of the bicycle in certain areas and among certain populations. Bicycle promotion should address these issues, also. Eric _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
