I concur with the majority of Jonathan Liew’s viewpoints (regarding the UK’s cycling craze being temporary and the possibility of it being hindered by a lack of government support, 6 February). However, his piece does not fully distinguish the sport of cycling from the recreational aspect. I have been a cycling excursion guide and instructor since 2009 – a couple of years prior to the surge in popularity.

In the early 1980s, I lost interest in racing when I realized that cycling clubs were similar to golf clubs on bikes. The term “Rapha cafe bore” is equivalent to a golf bore from the 1980s. Prior to the pandemic, I enjoyed riding at the velodrome in Glasgow, but then I was reminded of the golf club mentality from the 80s and have not gone back since.

The British Cycling/Team Sky project was generously funded by both the National Lottery and the British government, resulting in great success. This brought recognition to the sponsors and politicians, which was highly valuable to them. Unfortunately, this also meant that public funds were redirected to the private sector, resulting in a lack of funding for public-sector cycling projects.

At my job, my coworkers and I have led over 3,000 people on bike rides and have instructed and coached approximately 1,000 individuals, including both kids and adults, in learning how to ride a bike. This level of effort is necessary for promoting a shift in behavior and culture towards cycling. Focusing solely on promoting biking as a sport will not succeed. Investing in infrastructure and cycling initiatives is the key to creating sustainable and impactful change.
Davey Campbell
Paisley, Renfrewshire

According to Jonathan Liew, the grassroots cycling scene appears to be doing well based on anecdotes. However, the anecdotes I have heard suggest that non-elite cycling competitions are struggling. Races on open roads are scarce and time-trialling, which used to produce top British world champions, is facing challenges with fewer participants and events. Additionally, the dedicated volunteers who are crucial to the sport are aging and not being replaced.

Recently, British Cycling has not prioritized support for amateur cyclists. The leadership has mainly consisted of individuals from non-cycling backgrounds, focused on achieving international success for a select few. This approach reflects the short-term mindset prevalent in contemporary Britain, disregarding the long-term consequences. Ultimately, neglecting non-elite races will result in a lack of future champions.
Chris Lovibond
Chertsey, Surrey

Source: theguardian.com