Monika Sattler
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19 Sep

Keep the golf out of cycling

Posted 19. September 2016 By Monika Sattler

In recent times, the perception of cycling has changed. You see more “pretty” cycling kits sold for a hefty $500 and the matching socks for $50. You can easily spend five figures on a bike.
Cycling has become a status symbol. A new golf, according to a regular flow of articles in the mainstream media.
As a passionate cyclist, I should be happy about that. More interest and attention on cycling. Is there something bad about that? Well, I think there is.
Don’t get me wrong, it is awesome to see greater interest in the sport – but the problem is the change of perception.
There have always been unwritten rules in regards to what to wear, how the colour of your bar tape has to match your seat and about what bike you ride. But at the end of the day, it really didn’t matter how much your bike was worth because the enjoyment of the sport, the company of your friends and the accomplishment through your legs overruled any blatant materialism.
But it seems, there is a new trend creeping in.
The capitalism-induced search for a new status symbol has changed the reason why people ride bikes. Cycling has become pretty, elitist, materialistic with a seemingly insurmountable wall to be climbed to be accepted into a group. Until then, you will be shamelessly ignored as a hubbard or fred.
That scares me.
What’s happening to my friendly community?
Having moved around the world with my bike, I could always trust a welcoming cycling community.
I could show up to any group ride and by the end of the ride while chatting over coffee, I was invited to the next ride, to the next adventure and to the next opportunity to meet new cycling friends. We shared the same passion for cycling. That was enough to be accepted into a group of cyclists.
But in recent times, instead of this welcoming cycling community, there are many times I have come across arrogance, ignorance and close-mindedness when trying to take part in new rides. Instead of the encouragement to join, people tried to spit me out of the back leaving me with comments that were a clear message: “We are a closed group of friends. You are not invited!” This seems a pretty bizarre way to behave on a publicly advertised ride or shop group.
There seems to be no interest in letting others into the group, especially if there is any potential that it would lower their status. It does not matter what your legs can do as long as your bike is reflecting its preciousness while waiting at the traffic lights. Interestingly, cycling used to be a poor-man’s sport, a way for the underprivileged to climb, literally, out of poverty.
Even worse, my experience is that those self-proclaimed “cyclists” are usually the ones that shed bad light on the sport – displaying arrogance, poor cycling skills, and disrespect to other road participants.
There is nothing wrong with owning the best equipment and riding in the most stylish cycling kit. But you shouldn’t have to buy your way into cycling group credibility and showing off fancy gear shouldn’t be the main reason to ride a bike. There are so many more meaningful reasons for getting that expensive bike dirty and that stylish kit sweaty.
Let’s make cycling what it should be – a sport you do for pure enjoyment as you revel in the wind in your face, the endorphin kick from going fast, the new friendships, the rewarding coffee afterwards and the accomplishment of success.
Next time we see someone who is not aware of (or just doesn’t care about) the many unwritten rules within the cycling scene – instead of ignoring them or labelling them – let’s be friendly and celebrate their decision to join our beautiful sport!

Tags: cycling, friendships, status symbol
Comments
  1. Sep, 20, 2016 4:41 AM
    Rocket

    Monika,
    well said………
    As the saying goes, “Strangers are only friends we haven’t met”.

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    1. Nov, 12, 2016 7:26 AM
      Monika

      Thank you, Rocket!

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  2. Nov, 07, 2016 10:08 AM
    Anonymous

    Visitor Rating: 5 Stars

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  3. Dec, 08, 2016 11:53 PM
    Monika Sattler

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Today was a beautiful ride across the Glaubenbiele Today was a beautiful ride across the Glaubenbielenpass and Glaubenbergpass.
Both passes I will ride being well into the challenge.
Glaubenberg, I will ride on stage 20 with Rengg, Schüpferegg, Schallenberg and Fritzflue

Glaubenbiehlerpass, I will ride on Stage 21 with Brünig and Ächerlipass

Two tough days before heading to Valais for more tough days. 😅

This is going to be epic! 

#124spc
Meine Story, meine Mission und der Grund, warum ic Meine Story, meine Mission und der Grund, warum ich alle 124 Schweizer Pässe mit dem Velo fahre, jetzt in @tagesanzeiger @bernerzeitung.ch @derbund @baslerzeitung_baz 

Vielen Dank, Philipp für das super Gespräch! 

#124spc
“We have two lives, and the second begins when w “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”

- Confucius
Good morning Monday! ☀️ What a weekend! Film Good morning Monday! ☀️

What a weekend! Film shooting until 1am with scenes in the swimming pool, fitness studio, performance test and an interview. An intense but fun time. Now heading back to 🇨🇭 to continue the training. ⛰️🚴⛰️🚴⛰️

#weekend #124spc
My mission with the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge goe My mission with the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge goes beyond setting a cycling record. I aim to inspire others, especially women, to go outside their comfort zone and pursue big goals.

A documentary will be made about this challenge that will tell the full story. The first film shoot is this weekend. 

#inspire #beyourself #getoutsideyourcomfortzone #goforyourgoals #makethingshappen
So excited about having received today the road bi So excited about having received today the road bike I will tackle the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge with:
The @cervelo Caledonia. 🥳And with that, I finally can announce my new partnership with @sramroad which I am very excited about! 🎉🎉🎉

A huge thanks 🙏 to @cervelo and @sramroad for making this happen! I cant wait to ride this beauty up every @swisstopo pass in Switzerland! ⛰️🇨🇭⛰️🇨🇭⛰️

#cervelo
@zippspeed
#newbikeday
#zippwheels
#roadbike
Just be yourself and stay true to your values. ❤ Just be yourself and stay true to your values. ❤️

@myswitzerland @cervelo @polartecfabric @projects_martinakink @cyclingswitzerland @santini_cycling
Life is all about choices. Even if we do not choos Life is all about choices. Even if we do not choose, we choose. Oftentimes, we walk through life taking the path that is ahead of us seemingly right for us without consciously asking ourselves if that is actually the path we want to take. Down the road we all of a sudden find ourselves on a path we wonder how we got there and question its purpose. 

Being aware of our decisions (also not deciding is a decision) is key to understand WHAT we want and to make sure we stay on track.
Very nice ride up Grimselpass to Furkapass and bac Very nice ride up Grimselpass to Furkapass and back via Grimselpass today. I missed to charge my shifter battery so did the full ride with one gear. Luckily, you dont need more anyway. 😅

@cervelo #cyclingadventures #grimsel #furka #furkapass #cervelo #aspero
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