WHY CYCLISTS ARE RUDE UNTRUSTWORTHY DOUCHEBAGS! hint: they are not!


There are very few negative aspects to Cycling, in my biased opinion. Obviously, the dangers of sharing the road with automobiles and having family members consistently say "you are too skinny and need to gain weight" quickly come to mind! But then there is also the negative stereotype to being a "Cyclist". Last week, an image was floating around the internet showing what happens when you type "cyclists are" on Google - well, you can try it yourself, but the image below is what I got when I tried:


 

Google's search engine's suggestions to "Cyclists are"...for real!


Now, using Google's search engine as a tool for public polling is probably not the most scientific way to determine your Public Image. But when you get screamed at to "get off the damn road" more often than you would prefer or read comments online joking about running over cyclists, you start to think that Cycling may indeed have a Negative Public Image problem.

So, here is my challenge as a beginner blogger trying to compose a post that can serve as an introduction into cycling culture: turn that google image above into a positive marketing piece!

Let's start with the obvious: "Cyclists are riding their bikes on the Road all the time, and they think they own the road... and they make drivers have to slow down... and they should be on the sidewalk... and they don't pay road taxes... and they painted that bike lane on my way to work... and now I am late for work and that damn cyclist is on my way..." The biggest source of the negative image some people have towards cyclists, takes place on the road where people, dressed as motorists, must interact with other people, dressed as cyclists. This is a huge subject, which I undoubtedly will write more about later, but I think there is one simple misconception fueling this negative perception: that cyclists are somehow breaking the law by simply riding on the road. At least, that's what I thought when I was just a motorist. Truth is, in most places, the LAW requires cyclists to ride their bike on the road (in some places, it is actually prohibited to ride a bicycle in the sidewalk). Typically, a cyclist should also ride as far right as practical or on a bike lane, if one is provided. I have a feeling that if people knew that "Share the Road" is not a polite request or suggestion, but the actual LAW, most motorists would deal with having to spend 2.8 seconds to change lanes while passing a cyclist, much less of an enraging experience.  You can read more on Rules #4, 10 and 13.


Yes, these are pretty much the same thing!

Then we have: "These fools on bikes think they are all pro's with their tight matching outfits..." One of the great things about cycling as a sport, is that you get to play on the same stadium, with the same equipment, on the same day as the biggest pro's in the world. You can literally ride on the Tour de France roads just ahead of the biggest cycling stars. Those stars practice on the same roads where countless other amateur racers train in - yes, that "fool on the bike" you passed on your way to the grocery store, could be one of the sport's biggest pro stars! The Debaets-Devos local Michigan bike race this year was won by Bobby Lea, who went on to recently win a Bronze Medal in the track cycling World Cup in London. Anyone willing to buy a one-day license, could've participated on that same event, on the same roads, on the same day and with the same support as one of the fastest cyclists in the world. And when it comes to the group of cyclists with the matching outfits, those are probably amateur racers who are training with their Cycling Club (yes, cycling is a team sport!) Cycling Clubs will also allow anyone who joins to ride with, and learn from, some of the fastest cyclists in the region (two of the cyclists enjoying their coffee break on the picture above are Michigan State Champions - and also my friends)

And lastly: "They are just plain arrogant!!!" It's not arrogance, it's confidence. After all, if you see cyclists on the road, or in a coffee shop during a break, they are not only riding their bike - they are experiencing a soul-cleansing therapy session! The therapeutic aspect of cycling is probably the biggest, and most surprising, benefit to the sport. The ability to propel yourself over the steepest hills in your town, or to ride faster and further than you ever thought possible is incredibly stress releasing, and leaves you with a powerful feeling of self-fulfillment and accomplishment. I guess it even sounds arrogant, but anyone willing to hop on a bike and go for a ride can experience those same benefits. Even if you got beat down on the road, you still feel like a winner! My favorite way to explain my passion for cycling, is to describe a long bike ride as a way to burn 3000 calories on what feels like a week-long vacation in just a few hours! And that's a pretty positive marketing tag-line!