Cycling Blogs – The Good and the Bad

Blogging or ‘tweeting’ is increasingly popular. If you’re an aspiring cyclist, what are the pros and cons of having a blog and proudly telling the world about the time you drove 200 miles with bike in boot only to forget front wheel?

Here is the completely official guide to the pros and cons of cycle blogging.

• The Good: You get to write about all the joys and positive experiences of cycling -  you can passionately elucidate how cycling could transform the nations health, reduce congestion, reduce pollution, make commuting great fun, and generally bring about world peace.
  • The Bad. It doesn’t make any difference. No one listens to another cyclist blogger, except those who already agree with you anyway. Despite all my best efforts there apparently are still tabloid journalists who seem to believe cyclists should go around with a licence plate strapped to their back and dismount at the sight of a car.

• You can tell all your readers about your latest heart rate intervals and recovery time.
  • No one else is  interested in your average heart rate on a 25 mile recovery time or how you feel after a 40 mile level two ride.

• If you don’t feel like going training in the rain, you can write an article on the importance of staying motivated during winter.
  • Talking and writing about cycling really doesn’t actually get you any fitter at all. This will come as a great disappointment to those who spend hours discussing the relative merits of different modes of training on internet forums.
• Receiving really good products to review like energy bars, mudguards and tyres
  • Getting repeated unsolicited emails from random cycle clothing companies in China and India giving you  the chance to advertise and buy their very latest in custome cycling gloves and shorts.

• I earn a little extra money from ads and affiliates.
  • I still spend more on cycling than I receive in blog income. (BTW: If anyone wants to give me a pair of Zipp 202 Wheels to review (weight 1095 grams, cost £1,600) don’t feel shy.
• Developed an interest in aspects of cycling I previously didn’t. Like Vintage bicycles and commuting for fun.
  • You realise that even cyclists can be irritating

• Great to hear feedback from other people who cycle and who you might race against.
  • My mother gets to read about what I’m up to (which means I can’t write about the times when I fall off on ice when I really shouldn’t be out cycling in that kind of weather, should you?)

• Cycling is a really great topic for photography.
  • Can’t think of any more cons. It’s good fun, just don’t expect to change the world or become a good cyclist through writing.