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Well, that's partly because you've specified "competitive hobbies".

98% of cyclists don't compete in time trials or races. If you single out the 2% of cyclists whose hobby is trying to go faster than the guy next to them, and ask why they buy equipment to make them go faster than the guy next to them, isn't the answer obvious?




98% of cyclists may not compete, but a large % will shave their legs, don Lycra, and time themselves etc.

Plus 98% of cyclists don't ride around on sit up and beg bikes, wearing normal clothes etc, outside of the Netherlands and a few other countries.


No doubt it depends on your location. Cycle commuters in my locale look like [1] - you might see people with TT bars and shaved legs from time to time, but it's certainly not the norm. And if instead of cycle commuters you look at weekend cyclists on scenic bike paths, or the bikes locked to bike racks at major train stations, the vast majority won't be top-price high performance bikes.

[1] https://www.123rf.com/photo_30847100_london-may-6th-unidenti...


"scenic bike paths"

We obviously live in different UKs.

It is more of a weekend rider thing, I note theres still only one sit up and beg, to the two drop handled bikes.

Edit: Just to add, that picture is quite encouraging. People actually cycling in 'normal' clothes, a sign of an improving cycling culture. Hopefully it will spread to the rest of the UK.


why are Scandinavian style bikes, ridden by people in day clothes, seemingly the only acceptable bike commuter to you?

what is it about the look of someone on, say a hybrid, who's wearing gear appropriate to their commute (which may be athletic gear) that induces so much tut-tutting?


My rant did start off on competitive hobbies. In my neck of the woods cycling is very much in that category.

I wasn't complaining about the hybrid bikes, I did mention the drop handlebars, hybrids don't tend to have drop handlebars though.


> but a large % will shave their legs

well for 51% of the population in places like the US and UK, it's also a cultural thing...




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