Utility vs. Sport
Because I bike everywhere and that is odd to many people, I get a lot of odd questions.
Explaining the difference between utility cyclist and sport cyclist has gotten old. So I’ve just started playing dumb and asking them if they do this when they drive:
Just for the fun of making them explain the difference between a utility motorist and a race car driver.
Wow can I relate! Especially riding an e-bike. Riding one 10 miles is like riding a traditional bike 3 miles, really noticeable where the sweat thing is concerned. I notice we see less of the racing uniforms in Portland than most other cities. I think our culture is much like the Bikeyface culture. “Ride to fit your own lifestyle.”
Brilliant point, brilliant analogy, brilliant illustration. Out of the park on this one.
Shhh! Don’t tell anybody, but when it’s real cold out, I wear my wool leg warmers underneath my regular work pants when I cycle to work. I can easily remove them at work, they’re not as constricting as longjohns.
My word, where to start?
In the 5 years I’ve been riding, I’ve never worn cycling clothing. I’m the first to admit it has its uses depending on speed, distance and terrain, but I’m comfortable in pretty much what I would walk or drive in, in most cases.
Here in the UK, the central government and local authorities have promoted cycling for a number of years, increasing cyclepaths and giving financial incentives, but it seems that many people perceive it as a sport and leisure activity…and not really a substitute for the car for short journeys. I suspect one of the things putting them off are the sport oriented bikes (Dutch/utility type bikes are rare and difficult to find) that need you to dress up to ride without ruining your clothes…
interesting, that in English there’s such a big difference between using a bicycle for everyday life or for sportive purposes. and even more interesting, that you have to explain yourself!
e.g. I don’t think that there’s a meaningful translation of “bicycle commuter” in German..you just “ride a bicycle” or “go by bike” in Austria, no matter what purpose 😉