Is Cycling The New Golf

I think the whole "business networking" association is a bit of a cliche tbh. 99% of the people I've ever played with are playing golf for golfs sake and nothing else. Yes, it's a social sport and no doubt business is done but in reality I doubt it's any more than most other sports where large numbers get together. Would imagine the journalist thinks we all wear Pringle jumpers and loud trousers as well.
 
Well 2 miles down the road i am blowing that hard i cant talk, so unless its a gentle cycle to a pub, i will stick to corporate golf ta!
 
I read something on this over the weekend. Lots of guys and gals in their 30s and 40s taking up cycling and spending £1k-£2k on a bike; joining clubs; getting bunch of mates together and planning cycling trips in UK and Europe - having good time together, great crack and getting fit. Golf has direct and serious competition for that age group - most folk don't have the time or the money to do both.

If I didn't play golf and was faced with the choice I'd choose cycling. Get's and keeps you fit and you can cycle the famous stages of the tours for free - you don't get charged £150-200+ for doing so.

Worrying for golf. So I think maybe my club has to form a relationship with the local cycling club - serious suggestion?
 
Not for me...





Nottingham cyclist killed in crash with lorry

BBC News ‎- 3 days ago

A cyclist dies after she is involved in a crash with a lorry in Nottingham city centre.




Jack Russell puppy killed after being hit by cyclist


Surrey Mirror‎ - 6 hours ago



Cyclist killed in collision with vehicle Sunday evening


CTV News‎ - 1 hour ago


More news for cyclist killed


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BBC News - Cyclist struck by lorry near Salisbury dies



www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-28079385



29 Jun 2014 - A cyclist dies when he is struck by a lorry near Salisbury.


Cyclist killed in rush hour crash with tipper truck at ... - London



www.standard.co.uk/.../cyclist-killed-in-crash-with-lorry-in-vauxhall-9468...

by Rachel Blundy - 2 Jun 2014 - A cyclist was killed in a crash with a lorry today in a rush hour accident at the “nastiest” gyratory in London.


Second cyclist killed in Crossrail lorry collision - London ...



www.standard.co.uk/.../second-cyclist-killed-in-crossrail-lorry-collision-94...

3 Jun 2014 - A crossrail lorry has been involved in the death of a second cyclist, the Standard has learned. A tipper truck from a haulage firm working on the ...


Tributes paid to cyclist killed in Great Bookham crash - Get ...



www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/.../tributes-paid-cyclist-killed-great-7251075



11 Jun 2014 - The cyclist killed in a crash on Tuesday has been named locally as Ian Jobson, who was described as a lovely, kind and gentle man with a ...


Daughter's tribute after cyclist killed in French Alps crash



www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/.../joe-pether-lower-sunbury-killed-7362009



4 days ago - Joe Pether, from Lower Sunbury, was killed in a collision with a car last ... The daughter of a Sunbury cyclist killed in an accident in the French ...


Cyclist killed in collision on Tour de France climb - Express



www.express.co.uk/.../Cyclist-killed-in-collision-on-Tour-de-France-clim...



7 days ago - A BRITISH cyclist has been tragically killed on a popular Tour de France climb after a collision with a motorist, also British.


Witness appeal after cyclist killed in HGV collision ... - Road.cc



road.cc/.../122676-witness-appeal-after-cyclist-killed-hgv-collision-notti...



3 days ago - 10 posts - ‎9 authors
After seven cyclists died on the area's roads in 2012, Nottingham councillors and MPs lobbied Parliament to force cyclists to wear helmets and ...


British cyclist killed in head-on collision as he descends ...



road.cc/.../122335-british-cyclist-killed-head-collision-he-descends-alpe-...



5 days ago - 31 posts - ‎22 authors
A British cyclist has been killed in a head-on collision with a car as he descended Alpe d'Huez in the Rhône-Alpes region of France – with the ...


Shropshire cyclist killed in collision is named - Shropshire Star



www.shropshirestar.com/.../shropshire-cyclist-killed-in-collision-is-name...



5 days ago - A cyclist from Shropshire who died following a collision with a car has been named as 42-year-old Luke Barrett.
 
shewy said:
I've never known a company attend or set up a cycle outing...
Click to expand...


Evans Cycles.... Regularly organise ride outs both on and off road... With support from other related companies... Energy drinks/bars clothing etc etc...


My son rode to Paris last year on a ride organised by his employers which was attended and supported by clients/customers... Doing the same next year but to Barcelona....
 
But if golf is the thing that we are trying to encourage the 35-55yr age group to take up then I do believe that cycling is a direct competitor for folk in that age group. Lot's of guys and gals buying bikes that cost £1k-£2k - and in much of the country that is a few yrs golf club membership. And you've got to have a lot of leisure time if you are able to play golf and go long cycle rides.
 
Rooter said:
It'll pass in a few weeks when le tour is over, i am sure tennis racquet sales went up last week also.
Click to expand...

No it won't, cycling in this country is becoming steadily more popular thanks to our Olympic and TDF success in the last few years.

I cycle and play golf, both are time consuming because if I go out for a ride it will be at least 2 hours, often 3 or 4. Organised events are hugely popular, there are websites that list all these (road, mountain bike, time trial etc) and every weekend there are dozens of them. Typically they cost £10-30 and you generally get food, drink, electronic timing and sometimes a goody bag or tee shirt at the end.

Growing sport....it's here to stay!
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
I read something on this over the weekend. Lots of guys and gals in their 30s and 40s taking up cycling and spending £1k-£2k on a bike; joining clubs; getting bunch of mates together and planning cycling trips in UK and Europe - having good time together, great crack and getting fit. Golf has direct and serious competition for that age group - most folk don't have the time or the money to do both.

If I didn't play golf and was faced with the choice I'd choose cycling. Get's and keeps you fit and you can cycle the famous stages of the tours for free - you don't get charged £150-200+ for doing so.

Worrying for golf. So I think maybe my club has to form a relationship with the local cycling club - serious suggestion?
Click to expand...

I did it the other way round, spent £2.5k on a bike when I was young, but then it wasn't road cycling *yawn*

Throwing myself off mountains was what my mother called it :thup:

I still have my bike all these years later, I'd never get rid of it
 
Myself and a colleague clicked on to this a couple of years ago. Increasingly groups of successful, well-heeled middle-aged men (typically) were foregoing golf and instead jumping on a bike for four hours on a Sunday morning. It's a great networking opportunity and increasingly benefits from the 'club' atmosphere typically reserved for golfers. As has been mentioned above it is a far less expensive hobby in terms of ongoing costs without the need for lessons, memberships and course fees.

We concluded some time ago that it is the 'new' golf in some regards however sufficient numbers still enjoy playing golf and will use any excuse - corporate hospitality included - to get in a game.
 
upsidedown said:
Cycling always been popular , more popular then golf http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/22806853

Can only seeing growing after this weekend.
Click to expand...

..and you get to wear cool colourful lycra shorts and collarless shirt - and no socks is de rigeur. In other words 35-55 yr olds can pretend to be young and trendy (even although they can look just a bit erm...whatever).

In fact with cycling you can wear whatever you want and no-one bothers - whilst we discourage anything that looks too young and trendy and encourage - may demand - 'old fart' dressing. ah well - that's the dress code debate held elsewhere on here.
 
Doon frae Troon said:
ttp://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/04/business-networking

Talking about this on Radio Scotland this morning.
Interesting discussions, mostly in favour of cycling.
Click to expand...

I've no idea.

2 things though ... It would be a bad day if I had to spend 4 hrs plus with 99% of my customers. Secondly, I'm picturing the fat folk that try and play golf on a 10 speed racer :rofl:

Cycling isn't for everyone!
 
Cycling isn't for me. To be honest, those that want to golf will and those who want to dress in lycra and ride will. And they moan about golf fashion. I'm sure there is an argument that cycling will impact on membership. Golf is facing pressure from many other pursuits and this is just another. As long as clubs can offer a good product at a good price and be creative in how they market themselves the good ones will survive and the bad ones will go. That may not be a bad thing
 
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