Is cycling the new golf?

[oz rider]

I think that biking could be the "new black"!

Strong is the new thin.

[Velocivixen]

Oh I like that even better!

[Bike Chick]

Strong is the new thin.

Ewww, I like that! I just lost 20 pounds

[Pax]

Strong is the new thin.

Cool!! It only took me to age 50 to be hip.

[Bike Writer]

I'd say in business cycling is not the new golf because it's not mainstream enough yet, however in mainstream middle America, at least, I believe it might be nearing the tipping point.

Note the number of advertisments that feature bikes and biking. I'm not talking cycling all decked out in traditional cycling garb, but more and more advertising is showing people enjoying city, cruiser or hybrid type bikes around town. The persons biking are portrayed doing errands, going to market or just out crusing and having fun with their family.

Much of this can also be attributed to the economy, in the 1970's during a very poor economic time in the USA, bicycling enjoyed a big resurgance here. It can be a very inexpensive pastime. People can go to a big box store and for under $120 pick up a new bike, hop on it and find a source of cheap entertainment. Add craigslist into the mix and voila, for under $50 bucks you have wheels and your on the path right along side the $2700 cyclist.

Just my own opinion on the matter........

[Crankin]

I have noticed the trend of placing cyclists of all kinds in advertising. Maybe in the last 5 years; it's become a lot more noticeable.
I wouldn't say that cycling is the new golf in mainstream America. Maybe more people are using bikes for plain old recreation, but around here, cycling seems to be divided into 3 groups of riders: fitness riders/racers who tend to be upper middle class, college students and the urban "hip" who ride for transportation in the city, and the "invisible" cyclists who are often immigrants on beater bikes, or those who just can't afford any other type of transportation, including the subway.
We have a lot of high tech and medically oriented businesses here, as well as all of the universities. It seems that there are a large number cyclists in all of these professions. In the group I ride with, which consists mostly of people in their 40's to 80's, I'd say about a third are professors or work in a university, another third are doctors or nurses, and the rest are divided between engineers, artists, teachers, or other medical professionals.