Culture of Modern Cycling Clubs?

mvc_bryant

Are there any article/papers on the culture, personality, group dynamics ..... of cycling club around the country (US). From my experience the people who make up ths clubs seem to be a peculiar bunch in how they interact with each other and new people

FredC

Which country?

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The media is a self perpetuating publicity stunt.

mvc_bryant

United States

stevebaby

What's peculiar about them? Not that I disagree...just curious.

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mvc_bryant

From my observation, peculiar in their process of accepting new riders. I found that some clubs can be initially stand-off-ish. In some cases it reminds me on my little niece and her friends accepting a new kid on the block. They subject the poor tot to a smug stair down from head to toe, (as to say “I don’t know if I like you.)

From there it goes to: I’m going to see how good he or she is, by trying to run him or her into the ground. If the newbie is broken, they are politely patronized by a few of the riders. If the newbie is completely left behind they may be ignored/discarded (as if to say you’re not good enough)

If the Chap can ride with this group,. he seems to be treated as a step child for a trial period or probation period before being treated as an equal member.

Now if this person is an exceptional rider, he may be treated like this season’s hot celebrity.

I feel that ones behavior defines them. As I watch this process unfold ,I can’t help but think these cyclist are allowing how good they are define themselves (as if to say my value is connected with my ability to cycle). The arrogance projected comes across as poor self worth.

I’m not saying this is all clubs, nor is it everyone in the club. However, as I travel though out the country, I can’t help but notice this pattern over and over. A pattern that I don’t see as prevalent in other activities. Even more surprising is the acceptance of this behavior by the overall body of the club who appear to be genuinely respectful people.

I’m a much stronger rider than I use to be, so I no longer experience this but is still see it happen. Being an African American in a predominately white club, I may be more sensitive to it. Let me say also, I see this behavior in African American cycling clubs as mush as I see it in white cycling clubs so don't get is twisted

B

stevebaby

Now that you mention it..do you think it has something to do with social position/class?
Outside of the US,cycling has been traditionally a working class sport,whereas in the US it seems to be more of a middle class activity.The same sort of thing seems to be developing in Oz as well.
I thought at one stage that it was because cycling is an individual sport (I found a similar attitude in rock-climbing clubs) but I was a member of a fencing club for a few years and all the members were friendly,helpful and always willing to include new members.In fact,the club's best fencers were the most helpful.
It's a bit alarming to read that cycling clubs in the US are divided along racial lines.That can't be healthy at all,IMO.

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stevebaby

Of course,there's always the thought that everone in the US seems a bit peculiar to the rest of us....

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Drink!Feck!Arrse!Girls!
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limerickman

Cycling in this country was always viewed as a "working class sport" too.
Most cycling clubs were founded by working class men and women here.
Cycling was never viewed as a "middle class" sport/pastime.

If you were from a "well to do" background, in all probability you gravitated toward sports such as rugby union (in Dublin anyhow), sailing, hockey, cricket.

Sports like soccer, Gaelic Games (our national games), athletics, boxing and rowing, cycling were the preserve of working class people.

I think that a lot of this goes back to the old professional/amateur schism that occured in Britain in the late 19th century.
Working class people tended to gravitate to sports that ensured monetary compensation when they had to take time off to participate at sport.
Whereas the "well to do" could afford to foresake work for sporting activity.

(in the late 19th century - people in the North of England worked a 6.5 day week : in order to play sport on a saturday, people had to forsake half a days work and consequently weren't paid for the time they missed at work. To compensate them, they demanded "pay for play" for the money they missed out on by not being in work. This is how "professionalism" developed - the notion that one got paid to play sport as compensation for missed wages. Sports like rugby split due to "pay for play" in the late 19th century.Those who were paid were deemed to be "professionals" and thereby played rugby league, whereas those who were not paid and were deemed to be "amateurs" played rugby union. The old Corinthian viewpoint - play for enjoyment - gradually eroded as "professional
sport" became an industry).

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

stevebaby

Cycling was always a working-class sport here too but it's become a middle-class pastime now.I'm wondering if the cost of equipment is a factor?
My first bike,from an imperfect memory,cost about half/third of an average weekly wage for an adult.It was a pretty average bike too.A really good bike could be acquired for about 2 weeks pay(average) and ridden to workdaily,thus paying for itself.
Today there are so many to choose from with many sport riders feeling that they need the best and most expensive bikes to remain competitive.These bikes now cost around a month's average pay...they have become more of a status symbol than a tool.
Perhaps ownership of an expensive bike engenders a certain sense of elitism?
I played for a few rugby clubs,one of which was the Old Boys side from one of the most expensive private schools,so I can understand where mvc is coming from.There was definItely an attitude of "Gentlemen" and "players" there and I moved on after a couple of seasons.The next club that I played for was a bit more mixed in terms of the social background of the members...and a much friendlier bunch.
There are cycling clubs in Sydney with the same sort of reputation...a bit aloof,stand-offish,a bit arrogant etc.,and now that I think about it they are based in the wealthier suburbs.
Perhaps there are a few riders who need to feel part of an elite,perhaps resenting the growth in popularity of cycling in recent years?
An interesting topic for discussion...Fred hasn't been around the s/b much of late,but it would be interesting to hear what he has to say.

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Drink!Feck!Arrse!Girls!
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Wurm

What mvc said. Lots of that going on in the US clubs, and in fact in the largest one in my area, (Mohawk Hudson C.C.)

I in fact never liked to play that ego trip, so the people I ride with are mainly people I know well already - guys from the local bike shops that are also friends, and on occasion a scheduled ride that's open to all.

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limerickman

This thread got me thinking about elitism in the club scene.
I contacted my friend yesterday to get his view and his opinion more or less ties in with my recollection.

I raced with two Dublin clubs.
My first club was founded by men and women who could be best described as
politically active Irish Republicans.
A lot of the people attached to that club would have had a definitive political outlook and were supporters of the concept of a United Ireland and a political system best described as socialist/communist ideal.
I joined that club because my friends joined it - I joined it in order to train/race.
Most of the people at that club were, what is now described as, blue collar workers.
Some were carpenters, electricians, plumbers and others were unskilled workers like manual labourers.
The people in that club were certainly not elitist in any way but they did have, what could be described as a chip on their shoulder about more affluent clubs who had more wealthy members.

Our first club amalgamated with another club and the mix of members gradually changed.
This second club had students, office-based workers, some self employed people, some professional people.
New members were usually recruited through existing contacts, a club member would introduce a friend of a friend so to speak.

In my experience, people joined cycling clubs back then to train/compete.
Essentially, as teenagers we didn't have cars/motorbikes, so the only way to experience "freedom" and to "do your own thing", was to have a bike and join up with your mates.

I contrast this to today where I help out with training younger riders in Limerick.
Most of these teenagers have their own car/motorbike : they've access to all sorts of leisure activity but they choose to cycle/race/compete.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

11ring

Which aloof Sydney club might you be thinking of.

Definately alot of wealthy wankers out there. Speaking of one I heard Chris Corrigan the Scab from Patricks does the sunday waterfall ride.

Oh and Limerickman- you are spoilt. A republican, socialist bike club! Next you are going to tell us about the drunken free love parties after club AGM's. Can it get any better!

limerickman

11ring - can you believe it most of the guys I cycled with were (are) teetotal.

Free love aspect?? I'd prefer not to comment!

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets" - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

11ring

The only Irish socialists I have met are wild drinkers. But maybey that is just something to do with the SWO (Socialist Workers Organisation).

On another note I heard there was a real celebration of the anniversery of the Easter Rising this year. Tis True?