Is cycling now more fun than motoring?
Discussion
For my big three zero next year I have been thinking about ordering a new car, something fun like a Ibiza FR or Mini Cooper. The trouble is that this dream and goal feels pointless every time I drive through Eastleigh/Southampton - the roads are very crowded and thousands more houses are going to be built here in the near future. I love my cars but what is the point in spending fifteen bags of sand on an asset that's going to sit in a traffic jam every day?
For three nights this week I have taken a long route home from work on the road bike - and every time I have enjoyed the sense of speed and achievement that comes with it. The downside is that cars are more convenient and possibly the best for 'fun' when the road is empty and windy (which isn't often).
So that leaves me with three questions which I would be interested in PH members answering.. Is cycling now more fun than motoring overall? Next year should I buy a new car or a very nice road bike? And finally what is the most race orientated road bike for £4k?
Kind regards,
M
For three nights this week I have taken a long route home from work on the road bike - and every time I have enjoyed the sense of speed and achievement that comes with it. The downside is that cars are more convenient and possibly the best for 'fun' when the road is empty and windy (which isn't often).
So that leaves me with three questions which I would be interested in PH members answering.. Is cycling now more fun than motoring overall? Next year should I buy a new car or a very nice road bike? And finally what is the most race orientated road bike for £4k?
Kind regards,
M
I've done 3,000 miles on the road bike so far this year, which is far more than the Porsche.
I prefer to go for an early ride, rather than a blast in the car.
You feel better, get more of a rush and it costs less.
Buy a decent road bike by all means but speed comes with time in the saddle.
I'd spend circa £2.5k and get a power meter plus a smart turbo and Zwift for winter.
I prefer to go for an early ride, rather than a blast in the car.
You feel better, get more of a rush and it costs less.
Buy a decent road bike by all means but speed comes with time in the saddle.
I'd spend circa £2.5k and get a power meter plus a smart turbo and Zwift for winter.
Edited by g7jhp on Sunday 19th August 21:46
Living in London has gradually sucked the joy out of motoring. I've ditched sporty cars for practicality and now spend a fraction of the cost of insuring, taxing, parking and maintaining those on cycling instead.
I used to organise group drives, tunnel runs and European driving holidays and had a lot of fun making progress on country lanes. Hustling a drivers' car down a B-road was great but now I get a bigger kick doing the same on the bike, with the benefit of getting fitter. I've swapped worrying about speed cameras for the stress of dealing with angry tribal simpletons and dangerous exposure to the inept, but overall it's a huge upgrade.
It's quite nice owning a stable of superbikes for less than the cost of a family car.
I used to organise group drives, tunnel runs and European driving holidays and had a lot of fun making progress on country lanes. Hustling a drivers' car down a B-road was great but now I get a bigger kick doing the same on the bike, with the benefit of getting fitter. I've swapped worrying about speed cameras for the stress of dealing with angry tribal simpletons and dangerous exposure to the inept, but overall it's a huge upgrade.
It's quite nice owning a stable of superbikes for less than the cost of a family car.
Yesterday I took the westy out for a run in North Wales. Mostly empty roads and dry weather and it was awesome.
Today I took my Giant Propel out on the roads of shropshire.
Mostly empty roads and dry weather and it was awesome.
Your problem isn't if cars or bikes are better, your problem is you live in a s
t location.
Today I took my Giant Propel out on the roads of shropshire.
Mostly empty roads and dry weather and it was awesome.
Your problem isn't if cars or bikes are better, your problem is you live in a s
t location.Last time I had fun in a car was quite a while ago. Took the D3 to Salisbury Plain for the day. Got another off road trip booked for September, so I'm looking forward to that.
I'm spent a long time restoring my series 3, so I can't claim enjoyment from driving that. Last time I drove it was nearly a year ago and that was 100ft!
I think cycling is more accessible. Generally speaking fast cars cost a lot of insure, run and buy (relatively speaking). You could be out enjoying a bike ride for not much outlay at all
I have several bikes and I went out on my first group ride on Sunday and that was very enjoyable.
I'm spent a long time restoring my series 3, so I can't claim enjoyment from driving that. Last time I drove it was nearly a year ago and that was 100ft!
I think cycling is more accessible. Generally speaking fast cars cost a lot of insure, run and buy (relatively speaking). You could be out enjoying a bike ride for not much outlay at all
I have several bikes and I went out on my first group ride on Sunday and that was very enjoyable.
For me, Riding is way more fun. Its easily accessible and cheaper. Its just a much nicer experience than going out in the car only to be stuck behind other people with speed cameras everywhere not to mention the endless lines of traffic on roads with speed limits getting ever lower. The health benefits of cycling are great as are the financial ones too. I'm late 30's but fitter than what I was in my early 20's.
As much fun as a drive out can be, its hard to find empty roads without going out stupidly early on some sunday morning and it needs to be on a track to really test it and drive at anything near exciting speed. I can go out ANYTIME on the bike and enjoy it. The roads are slowly getting more and more filled with slow boring traffic and more and more policed. Id rather be out on the MTB, fresh air, great views, no quewes, great fun.
As much fun as a drive out can be, its hard to find empty roads without going out stupidly early on some sunday morning and it needs to be on a track to really test it and drive at anything near exciting speed. I can go out ANYTIME on the bike and enjoy it. The roads are slowly getting more and more filled with slow boring traffic and more and more policed. Id rather be out on the MTB, fresh air, great views, no quewes, great fun.
lufbramatt said:
Road cycling is more fun than motoring. Although can be type 2 fun.
Mountain biking more fun than road cycling though ;-)
Mountain biking more fun than road cycling though ;-)
Black can man said:
Going downhill is .
I started cycling again last month, unfit as I am even going uphill is fun on an e-mtb, you set the assist so you still get a good workout without burning out half way up. BeirutTaxi said:
And finally what is the most race orientated road bike for £4k?
Kind regards,
M
£4k gets a lot of bike e.g.Kind regards,
M
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163103784584 Scott Addict SL eTap / Zipp
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123303498829 Trek Madone 9 Dura Ace / Zipp
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153107171289 Cannondale SuperSix etap
I sold my trackday car about 3 or 4 yeas ago and now race DH / Enduro on MTB, it's better for you in fitness terms, more exciting, requires more skill and commitment, it isn't much cheaper though, my mountain bikes add up to more than the cost of an Elise. However I do indeed sometimes miss trackdays and the people I made friends with.
Road cars on the other hand are utterly dead to me, they started becoming less interesting to me shortly after I did my 1st trackday back in 2003 and by 2010 after getting my full motorbike license I had lost all interest. I don't care what anyone says you cannot drive a car REALLY fast, i.e. Trackday fast on roads unless you are a moron with a death wish. I actually don't like driving on road at all now, I don't do it often, I just end up with road rage. Instead I use a motor bike (Honda CBR600) for daily commuting, halves journey time and never have to sit behind a line of dawdling idiots.
If I had loads of spare time and cash I'd ride mountain bikes on the weekends and do trackdays in the week, bit unachievable for the average joe though.
Road cars on the other hand are utterly dead to me, they started becoming less interesting to me shortly after I did my 1st trackday back in 2003 and by 2010 after getting my full motorbike license I had lost all interest. I don't care what anyone says you cannot drive a car REALLY fast, i.e. Trackday fast on roads unless you are a moron with a death wish. I actually don't like driving on road at all now, I don't do it often, I just end up with road rage. Instead I use a motor bike (Honda CBR600) for daily commuting, halves journey time and never have to sit behind a line of dawdling idiots.
If I had loads of spare time and cash I'd ride mountain bikes on the weekends and do trackdays in the week, bit unachievable for the average joe though.
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