Impact of Cadel win on Australian cycling

[daveinzambia]

Quick question for all the Aussies on here.

Do you see any impact from Cadel's win on the attitude to cyclists in Australia?

while it is great to see the media attention here today and all the Cadel love, can you see the public making the connection to all those road cyclists they love to hate so much?

I am sure that Cadel's victory will get more riders on the road but will it help change attitudes towards the large numbers of club riders on the roads. I personally think not and think i will be hearing the same abuse on the road, in the pub and in the media by the end of the month

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Do you see any impact from Cadel's win on the attitude to cyclists in Australia?

A lot more cyclists will try to get a performance boost by breathing helium.

 

[oldcrank]

I personally think not and think i will be hearing the same abuse on the road, in the pub and in the media by the end of the month

Of course you're right, mate. Even after all the love Team GB got
after Beijing, Vicky P. says she still gets abuse riding to the track
in Manchester in full GB kit. And she has a lovely bottom.

 

[Spider1964]

It should have some impact in that there is reportedly already a surge in LBS orders for bikes in the beginner price range ($1k-2k), so if even a small percentage of these people stay on the bike, then yes attitudes may change? Didn't stop a 'P' plater with a very small appendage from throwing a can of Pepsi at our group on our 6am ride a couple of weeks ago!

The more likely scenario is that todays headlines is tomorrows fish and chip wrapping.

 

[Marcuccio]

Media hype here in Australia will attempt to shoe - horn in in to a national past time for about 1 month, bike shops will sell bikes by the dozens, but come December, when beach weather kicks in, those bikes will be in the shed, with 200k on the clock, and the owners will be back down the beach, or the pub.

As for pub-going, abuse shouting hicks, they'll always be around.
Idiots are idiots, regardless of the situation.

 

[fatsprintking]

The fact that 2.2 mil viewers watched the time trial stage and that there is page after page in all the papers today would suggest that at least at a media level that the sport has made a jump into the mainstream.

This process has been going on for 30 years, but it will be this event that creates the big shift.

Next year you can expect much greater coverage and analysis of not only this race but also other big races through the year. You might even find that Matty Goss gets a little bit of overdue coverage for his MSR win.

It is pretty amazing to think that Australians have won the Tour and a monument in the same year. Hopefully some of the coverage in the 1 month of frenzied coverage that will follow will serve to educate the puiblic more about the subtle elements of the sport so they are interested in watching and learning from here on end.

I think that the impact that Chiara is going to have cannot be underestimated either. She is no doubt going to become the template for how you can be dignified and independent while still being a supportive partner. She creates such a contrast to what we generally see in Austrlian sport with its WAG's. I expect to see her hecome the foucus of some serious attention in Austalia at a womans day type level which is once again a big jump into the mainstream.

Things will die down after a while, but the sport has certainly taken a huge leap forward in much the same way that Soccer did a few years ago.

The difference is that Australian's are actually good at cycling...

 

[JA.Tri]

Good points above.

There is this current huge swell in interest that provides a stepping stone to an increased level of awareness. Of course much of this will dissipate over the coming days and weeks. However some of this increased awareness/exposure/interest will remain.

For the first time ever non-cycling friends have been texting me, during live coverage, enquiring esp about Cadel's chances. Many have admired Cadel's tenacity and the efforts of the peloton in general.

Longer term I foresee less resistance to cycling initiatives as recreational cycling increases and cycling gains a greater grass roots acceptance.

As stated before we will always face "idiots" on the road/road users intolerant of cyclists, however I hope that this problem will be reduced (even if only by an imperceptible amount).

 

[AussieGoddess]

Cadels win goes a long, long way here.

If GreenEdge get a world tour licence next year, or even just get an invite to some of the major races, get some Aussies on the team then I think the profile of cycling as a sport in Australia will improve.

Whether that will transfer to attitude towards cyclists on the road is another story. Sadly I dont think it will.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

A lot more cyclists will try to get a performance boost by breathing helium.

LOL. No offense to Cadel at all. I mean, I love that guy.

Seriously though, in the interview today with the legendary Aussie Phil Anderson, he mentioned in his heyday there was not very much coverage of cycling in Australia. But he said that is completely different today. Further, Australia seems to have a boatload of young talent and a pretty good track program I hear. Um, so I don't know if Cadel's successes will change it all that much, but it certainly can't hurt. Especially with youth who will catch the dream of doing something like what Cadel has done.

 

[The Falcon]

are we still going to get hecklers on the road, in arguments at dinner parties etc ? yes, of course.

Is this a step in the right direction, and will this success and the publicity surrounding it be good for the sport in Oz? Absolutely. If everyone knew a cyclist, family member, friend, neighbour they would have a different outlook towards us. Its a long slow process but we are getting there

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well they are possibly naming the West Gate Bridge which is the bridge they went over in the worlds after Cadel.


This is massive. it will start a cycling boom in Australia.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Beach Road will be a log jam ahead of round-the-bay-in-a-day this year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

If you are wearing any cycling gear in 7/11 you can get a free slurpee today...amazing.

 

[Sydney21]

I think It will go a long way to educating a whole new audience about the sport and maybe it will become viable to show all the major classics and the Giro + Vuelta on SBS.

I think in the short term Contador/Armstrong are ticking time bombs for negative publicity and if Armstrong goes down there will be a mass of negative publicit here and many of those just at the begining of their careers as a cycling fan may be scared away.

a lot of the future also depends on Richie Porte or any other rider that might be able to contest for the Tour de France for the next 10 years i think. Thats really what Aussies want to see an Aussie battling with the best up the Alp d Huez or Mount Ventoux. Guys like Gossy Haussler Bobridge Meyer and Matthews do make the future of the sport in this country look strong but i think its a second generation contender for the tour that will make us go from strength to strength

it will never be mainstream but it will continue to grow as a sport and as a lifestyle

 

[Archibald]

I have a BMC and am returing to Oz in a few weeks - thanks to Cadel's win, I'll cop sh*t as a "Cadel wannabe"...

Just hope there's some more awareness from motorists in Sydney for commuting when I get there, but I doubt it. Oz has far too many f*ckwits allowed behind the wheel of cars.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I have a BMC and am returing to Oz in a few weeks - thanks to Cadel's win, I'll cop sh*t as a "Cadel wannabe"...

Just hope there's some more awareness from motorists in Sydney for commuting when I get there, but I doubt it. Oz has far too many f*ckwits allowed behind the wheel of cars.

Agreed but there are also some F*ckwits on the bike who take no care on the road.

 

[rgmerk]

Cycling is already booming

Road cycling is booming now. It's been going gangbusters for several years. Commuting is also growing strongly, albeit off a low base.

However, a lot of the growth has been in adult riders - the "new golf" phenomenon. That's fine as far as it goes, but juniors are where the next generation of elite cyclists will come from.

That's the frontier for cycling in Australia - big fields of junior riders.

From talking to a few people in the cycling organizations, they think that perceived safety on the road is the issue; hopefully Evans' win can help get further action on that score.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Just do me a favour.

Stand by your cuddles - whatever may happen

If you put yourselfs out in cuddle's sun, then hand him out your umbrella if it should start raining.
Another good thing is that he is too old, to become a fat failure who is always under pressure.

 

[Archibald]

Road cycling is booming now. It's been going gangbusters for several years. Commuting is also growing strongly, albeit off a low base.

However, a lot of the growth has been in adult riders - the "new golf" phenomenon. That's fine as far as it goes, but juniors are where the next generation of elite cyclists will come from.

That's the frontier for cycling in Australia - big fields of junior riders.

From talking to a few people in the cycling organizations, they think that perceived safety on the road is the issue; hopefully Evans' win can help get further action on that score.

If the parents don't believe it's safe for their kids out on the roads, they just won't let them ride. Sad but true...

 

[daveinzambia]

I think we are always going to have to deal with the most dangerous elements of riding on the roads, idiot drivers who hate bikes, chavvy teenagers who have nothing better to do than through coke bottles at passing riders and of course taxis.

but over the last few weeks i have had a couple of middle aged, middle class friends that i always thought sane (and do not know i am a cyclist) complaining about these bloody tour de france types blocking the road and you know sometimes you just want to run them down to teach them a lesson or would love to wait with a rifle for all those cyclists who dare ride around the Park.

i have also seen a fair amount of negative comments about bikes, and particularly those evil bike lanes, that keep the bikes out of traffic.

was hoping the positives of the win and the growth with Green edge may help reduce that murmur of negativity towards cyclist that seems to be everywhere, even if it has no impact on the taxi drivers of sydney.

oh and I have already had 2 Go Cadel calls on the road. and i was wearing a caisse d'epargne jersey and am a fat 38 year old so yes aus cycle fan you are going to cop some sh$#

 

[leftover pie]

I think we are always going to have to deal with the most dangerous elements of riding on the roads, idiot drivers who hate bikes, chavvy teenagers who have nothing better to do than through coke bottles at passing riders and of course taxis.

but over the last few weeks i have had a couple of middle aged, middle class friends that i always thought sane (and do not know i am a cyclist) complaining about these bloody tour de france types blocking the road and you know sometimes you just want to run them down to teach them a lesson or would love to wait with a rifle for all those cyclists who dare ride around the Park.

i have also seen a fair amount of negative comments about bikes, and particularly those evil bike lanes, that keep the bikes out of traffic.

cadel would have to win 5 tdf's, 6 afl grand finals (against collingwood) and the melbourne cup on a MTB before the average australian in a car willingly gives up even 2% of "their" road for a bike rider.

bikes on the road/bike lanes/cyclists should pay rego etc etc is still the "go-to" hot topic for news websites/radio talkback whenever they want to whip up their readers into a frenzy to get some traffic on their sites or stations. i can't see that changing any time soon.

 

[daveinzambia]

I thought boat people was the go to topic on talk radio, oh god imagine what would happen if refugees started arriving on bikes, it would be like the perfect storm. I would expect at least one talk radio host to self combust.

 

[leftover pie]

I thought boat people was the go to topic on talk radio, oh god imagine what would happen if refugees started arriving on bikes, it would be like the perfect storm. I would expect at least one talk radio host to self combust.

:laugh: !!!!

can you imagine hundreds of these pulling up on our shores full of refugees?

 

[The Falcon]

comedy gold !

how about lycra clad refugees riding 2 abreast !

 

[leftover pie]

comedy gold !

how about lycra clad refugees riding 2 abreast !

lycra clad refugees taking up a whole shipping lane by riding 2 abreast on water bikes that they don't pay rego on!

LOLOLOLOL!