CYCLING ENTHUSIAST
I’m a road and gravel cycling enthusiast and write for all of you who are fellow enthusiasts. We are a broadly defined group between recreational cyclists and pro racers.
Here’s my definition – Cycling enthusiasts are serious, committed, and regular riders who do 2,500 to 10,000 miles or 4,000-16,000 kilometers a year. We ride on flat, rolling, and mountainous terrain and do interval, strength, and endurance training. We will generally be on our bikes 4-6 days or 6-12 hours a week outdoors in decent weather on one to five-hour rides. In lousy weather or in the winter, many of us will ride on a trainer but we’ll ride year round with the exception of a few week break at the end or during the season. We ride on our own, with regular partners, and in group rides.
During the year, we’ll normally ride for the pure love of it, for the way it energizes us (and reduces stress), and for the collegiality it provides. We’ll do some combination of training on our own, riding with training partners, regular group rides, and road and/or gravel events ranging from charity events, centuries, sportives, long-distance gravel events, crits, and road races. Our road speeds average between 17 to 25 mph or 27 to 40 kph over a typical 35 to 50 mile or 50 to 80 km road ride and 12 to 18mph or 19 to 29 kph gravel ride, depending on terrain, conditions, fitness, and training objectives.
Whether we race or not, we are competitive within ourselves to always do better and maintain or raise our ride performance. Personal and group safety is more important than competing, or at least we know it should be.
About a third of us have been hit by a car, and one in eight have broken a collarbone riding at least once. (Both in my case.) Of course, we enjoy stopping at a good coffee shop or bakery on most rides and getting together for a beer or two every now and then. (I’m in!)
Cycling enthusiasts will have modern composite bikes or high-end alloy or titanium ones that typically cost between $2,500/£2000/€2,500 and $10,000/£8,000/€10,000 to buy or build. We use electronics and apps to help us navigate our routes and track our distance, speed, cadence, heart rate, and power to measure our performance for kicks or to input into our training program to help reach our goals or share with our cycling friend.
Most of us are men, though a growing number are women. We weigh between 125 and 200lbs (57 to 90kgs), are pretty fit, and use cycling to help stay or get there. Yes, we’re probably a little vain and selfish with the clothing we wear and the time and money we spend on cycling gear. But, we prefer to spend both on cycling rather than sitting on a boat casting a line all morning or riding around in a cart for hours, occasionally getting out to whack a little white ball around, or going to a gym to ride a stationary bike, do yoga or body build.
We’re also dedicated to cycling, to the point that most of our family and friends know that we ride, and for some, we do a lot of it. Those of us with young families still put up with us despite all the time we spend away from them out riding.
When it comes to cycling and buying bike gear, many of us also do a lot of research and are analytical, often overly so, but that’s part of the fun.
Does that describe you? If so, good. The reviews on this site are for you. If not, maybe you’re headed that way. At least you now know what enthusiasts are all about.
Tell me more about your profile in the comments below so I can expand or tune the reviews to better suit you.
To see what I have reviewed lately, click here to go to the homepage. And feel free to let me know what you want to see reviewed next by checking a few boxes below.
Thanks.
agree in most part and would been perfect in my teens 20’s in my late 30’s to much time spent in hotels I have crept outside the 90kg but would still call myself an enthusiast. There seems to be many of us Enthusiast that fall into the fat lad at back category a growing group here in the uk with 2 facebook groups
Steve, Happy New Year and thanks for all of the work you put into ITK! You are my go-to source for most things biking. I’m wondering if you have any thoughts on road ebikes. I spend time on almost every ride waiting for my friends (including my spouse) to catch up. I realize I could get new, speedier friends. But what I’d prefer is for my current group to get a touch faster. I think if they got a little help in the form of a battery and motor we’d all have a better ride. I’m curious to know if you’ve thought about reviewing ebikes, motorized wheels, etc.
E-Bikes are the absolute best for the significant other. She can now ride faster than I do if she wants and I never have to wait. We are training for a metric century and that would never have happened with out an e-bike!
The Real Person!
David, Thanks for your very kind feedback. I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you on e-bikes. No plans to review those as I don’t think they really fit with the road cycling enthusiast ethos. One option you might consider would be to find a faster group ride you can do now and again and do your recovery rides with your current group. I would swear that some of my friends do that with me! Cheers, Steve
Completely disagree with this, and I predict in a number of years you’ll be writing about them.
I am a late cycling enthusiast at the age of 55. But I see some age 80 hitting on the road still, conquered elevation which I haven’t tried. My friend told me that there is “no gain without pain”. So I try a little bit harder on my own time.
I am 80 and have been riding for 19 years. I started in the 80s as a cyclist then a cycling rep.
I rode for 11 years then took a 20-year break. I missed it and returned to the same competitive style as before. I ride city rides and hilly rides.
Three months ago I was hit from behind by a car on a highway. I suffered extreme injuries and my beautiful Trek Domane SLR 6 was destroyed. I am in rehab now and working toward riding again asap.
This is what I love and am very fit because of cycling. I do not want to deteriorate into an overweight unfit man.
Steve,
just discovered your site, and have really enjoyed the info provided. It has proven useful already. Not sure I fully fit in the enthusiast profile, but I love riding, live in a great spot for it (foothills of Colorado), commute on my bike, and aspire to faster and farther rides. I am older as well, and coming off a double knee replacement (parts upgrade). Keep up the good work!
How can you relate A Biking Enthusiast’s Value of Endurance towards the aspects of life such as Academics, Spiritual life, pastoral, social life? . I need your help because this is for my Thesis or for my studies. Thank you
The Real Person!
Alexis, Wow, that’s quite an existential question. Honestly, I have no answer. All I can say is… cycling is my drug of choice. Steve
Hi Steve,
Steve here from Houston, Texas. I might be on the top end of Enthusiast. I am 50 years old and have ridden on every terrain from mud and gravel to smooth asphalt. Temps from 15 degree windchill to 105 with 90 percent humidity. Even severe rainstorms. I commute every day 36 miles round trip and ride 60-80 miles on the weekends. I own 4 bikes one of which I built and one I am currently building.
I would like to see you review single speed/fixed gear bikes, frames, components, and wheelsets. It is a growing community. The bikes I build are Fixie’s.
I am by no means an expert, but I am thirsting for as much info I can get on this type of riding. Thanks for reading and feel free to reach out if you would like. I might be able to share some knowledge to your followers
Hi Steve
Since I started cycling 4 years ago at age 51 I have watched the explosion of sub categories of bikes being introduced into the market place(lightweight,endurance,aero,triathlon,cycloross and gravel). The industry has cleverly created specialized niches to seduce riders into believing that they need a different bike for every occasion. As an enthusiast who has spent a ton of money on bikes and gear I have come to the conclusion that unless you are pro cyclist or serious racer in a club the marketing hype surrounding this industry is a crock of S##T !. The reality is that one bike properly configured can fulfill the niche of a lightweight,endurance,aero & gravel bike). With their greater Tyre clearance gravel bike road frames now allow such configuration and flexibility. All one need’s is separate wheel sets you can swap over to suit the conditions & terrain on which you intend to ride. In hindsight as an enthusiast I would now have rather have spent 5-7k on one bike than 10k on 3 bikes. I am not critical of those who spend money on N+1 bikes that’s their money their choice but for those who are seeking to get fit and enjoy riding on a limited budget but would also like a bike that can be configured to ride gravel, endurance and also comfortably keep up in a peloton doing 40+kmh there is very little discussion or info available suggesting how to build your do it all one road bike. Maybe you can give this some attention in your future articles. Cheers and keep up the excellent work.
The marketing hype is in our faces at time, but it is definitely not a crock of S##T.. Am neither a Pro, Nor a racer. Too busy with work, some militay deployments recent year. BUT, what you say does nto reflect reality. In 40,000 kms recent years, I first started with a Giant Defy- noodle Carbon, Small crack, free replacement, Defy Advanced. Gain 2 km/hr. Zipp 303s, gain 2 km /hr vs Aluminium. Then Columbus Italian Bike- wih grand Fondo averaging 37 km/hr SOLO FRONT for nearly 3 hours, with winds. I then buy into the ‘hype’ and get ENVE SES, to realize that they are 2 km/hr faster than Zipps, stronger angular momentum, less Yaw. NO LONGER COMING OFF TRUE a sopposed toe once evry 6 weeks for Zipp (not once in 3 summers for ENVE). So I am now, on a non aero endurance bike, puching 42-43 km/hr SOLO for 10 km stretches… Am 6-7 km hr faster overall averages than when I started cycling in 2014. Yes, I agree with you, one should nto have a pure hill and pure aero bike, but one needsmultiple bikes. Why? Maintenance. At the intensity I mention, elite level, a bike maintenance, with COVID- is now 1 week in a shop for items. Or a hub issue- 1-2 weeks. Bike#2 saves the day. Also, sometimes you want a relaxed enduro bike, not the racer. As for 40km/hr in a peloton, well that is my 30 km/hr effort! yes, I calculated a 30-35% wattage gain in a group. So me solo at 35 km/hr am working way harder than anyone doing 40 km/hr in a peloton. Catching up with a 38km/hr peloton generates incredulous looks, as they know I am pushing way higher than them. And I am not a pro as I can only clock 7,000 kms a year.But equipment helps. My next bike MUSt be an aero,my present ones being 2012-2014 designs. So, SL7 Tarma or Scott Addict Ultimate XML. To you, the differences could be insignificant. To me, each time I exceed a frame, (and I never trully had a pro 2014-2020 bike), the gains are gargantuan. So if I buy for 2999$ Scott Addict Ultimate, I know benefitting from its fitness on each high intensity stroke. Yes, at $5,999 FRAME ONLY Tarmac SL7 seems brutally priced, and 8,900 for Dogma F12 FRAME ONLY is even more so. Hence I must choose carfully. But, when I am out, I pass 99% of riders and numerous Cat wahtever licensed ones as well. with second baby coming, it may reduce my time, but each session I must trat as an all end all effort… Now, would you prefer Mavic Aksiums at 28 km/hr, or ENVES at 37? Cannondale with creaking BB at 35 or an elite bike at 40? As these deltas are very real!
You pretty well describe me to a tee except I spend much of my time on a trainer due to time/light constraints and desire to minimize car/body encounters in the bicycle hostile town I live in. I am on the road 1-2 days per week and on the trainer for an hour a day for 4-5 days per week. Add strength training, yoga and some other cross training and you have my routine. I ride to get fit the the rest of my life and use big rides as challenges to train for. I do ride road and gravel and look to purchase equipment that will really make me faster and the riding more fun. I try to avoid stuff that will make me look like the guy with the $10,000 bike and the $100 legs.
I would like to thank you for all the work you do to separate the good from the not so good so that the average reader can maximize the effect of their cycling dollars.
hi Steve,
such a delight to have a kindred spirit put time and enthusiasm in a site like this and put out well crafted articles. More watts to you!
Vincent Ace
Philippines
The Real Person!
Thanks Vincent.
Steve, thanks for your thoughtful, thorough, and regular reviews. You certainly produce one of the best resources for fellow enthusiasts available. With that in mind, have you every written a post on how you would approach budgeting purchases from an enthusiast’s standpoint? For instance, if an enthusiast had X dollars to spend, how would you recommend spending it for optimal quality across different products such as bikes, wheels, components, shoes, helmet, etc.? You may have written this previously and I simply missed it. Even without the exceptional detail that you often share in specific product or comparison articles, I think this may be really helpful to fellow enthusiasts. Regardless, thanks for all you do!
The Real Person!
Cody, I like that idea! Thanks. Let me see what I can come up with in the next month or so on the topic. Steve
I am 79 and ride a TREK Emonda SL7 Sram wireless but I’m not as fast as I used to be so when I overtaken by 20 to 30 year olds they all seem to slow down for a good look I have even heard one of them say what is the silver old boy doing on a bike like that, the only modern equipment I don’t use is clip in pedals I have stopped and come off to many times so its back to toe clips and straps.
Hi Steve,
My wife and I are both retired and in our 70s. We are in the process of moving out of California. We still like to ride, but rather than tear down and ship our bikes, we’d like to sell our bikes in the Los Angeles area, and buy new ones when we relocate. Both bicycles are vintage road bikes from the early 80s — my bike is a Bottecchia 56cm with Campagnolo groupo, and my wife’s bicycle is a Vitus 979 with Dura Ace components.
We’re not interested in making a huge profit, but just want to sell our bikes at a reasonable price to someone who would appreciate them, use them, and care for them. We’re hoping to find buyers in the Los Angeles area, to avoid tearing down, shipping, etc. I’m hoping you might have some suggestions, or could help spread the word on your website. Thank you for your kind consideration. Skip Spiro
The Real Person!
Skip, Craig’s List, eBay, Pinkbike, a vintage local bike club would probably be your best bets. We don’t have an audience or mechanism for advertising and facilitating trades. Keep on riding. Steve.
Any chance you’d do a review of wheels from Princeton Carbon at some point in the near/far future?
The Real Person!
Justin, I’d like to but have nothing planned. Despite several attempts, I haven’t been able to get PCW or a retailer to loan me one to test and can’t justify buying it. Steve