Do you have a relative / friend who often talks about cycling but never gets round to it? Do you have a partner who just doesn’t share your passion for driving 300 miles round-trip for a nine mile hill climb? How can you inspire them to get off the couch and onto the bicycle?
Here are the unofficial Cycling Info’s top 10 tips for turning a non-cyclist into the next Sheldon Brown.
1. Mend That Puncture. There are thousands of bikes sitting in garages across the UK, with flat tyres. These flat tyre has probably single handedly stopped 1000s of bike rides. For people not familiar with bikes, a puncture is a bit like having a computer crashing – they have absolutely no idea what to do. They could take it to a bike shop, but, they never get round to it. Offer to be a free bike mechanic and you will solve 50% of all excuses.
2. Ride With Them
Some people look to cycling on a road, akin to bungee jumping or parachuting at 10,000 feet. It’s simply something they haven’t done. They have bad impressions and so this fear dissuades them from trying. When preparing the post – Cycling stats, the thing that struck me was the % of cyclists who cycle mainly off road. Try cycling off road for a few times. When you’ve got used to cycling, it’s much easier to move onto roads.
3. Trade off
A successful relationship is all about sharing. Offer to do something in return for your friends commitment to cycling. – If you cycle with me from Land’s End to John O’Groats, I’ll definitely wash up the dishes on alternative Tuesdays -
You can’t say fairer than that. That’s what a successful relationship is all about – sharing and sacrifice.
4. Leave Cycling Magazines Cunningly Around the Place
If these don’t work try covert propaganda campaigns – leave all those inspiring cycle magazine articles - ‘Top 10 Reasons to get on a bike‘ – Just make sure you cut out all the articles about cyclists knocked off their bike due to inconsiderate motorists and drug taking scandals. In fact it might be easier just to cut out the good articles.
5. Appeal to the Economist
Our job has been made much easier by the rising petrol price of petrol. Why not try – £60 for a tank of petrol? You could get a new carbon bottle cage for that money. Before you know it your partner will be putting all their petrol money into saving up for their dream bicycle.
6. Cycling and Weight Loss.
Apart from stick insects like me, most people respond warmly to the idea of being able to lose weight and simultaneously eat more at the same time. Cycling is an excellent way to burn off calories and stay in shape. (Calories used in cycling) This could well be the clinching argument.
7. Buy the Most Comfortable Saddle
One of most popular reasons for non-cycling is the perceived discomfort of cycling. Why not try buying a top of the range comfort saddle. (You can’t go wrong with a stylish Brooks Saddle) which combines both style and comfort.
8. Tandem
A tandem is allegedly the single most useful tool for marriage counselling. A rare combination of mechanical and spiritual harmony, guaranteed to offer a new experience of joy and oneness. Just make sure you cycle fast enough so you can’t hear the complaints from behind.
9. Move To Amsterdam
You could just move to the Netherlands where cycling is much more common and easy.
10. Sell the Family Car
Sell your partners car and spend the money on a top of the range Trek Madone 6.9. This is potentially very effective but should only be done with careful consideration of possible unintended side-effects. Cycling Info can take no responsibility for complications arising from said suggestion.
Related
Not sure about your tandem idea. Myself and Mrs Tacky rented one on our honeymoon. Arguments about who wasn’t peddling and about which way we were actually going exploded immediately.
These days we ride our own bikes.