Cycling as Sport vs. Biking as Transport
In the greater US, we’ve developed a strong culture of Cycling as Sport, which is a great thing! At Bike Ashburn we hope to bring more attention to the subject of Biking as Transport. Here’s our take on the two perspectives. It basically boils down to goals and gear.
For most people, Cycling as Sport is a weekend or leisure time athletic activity, whereas Biking as Transport is part of the weekday routine. Fenders, lights, cushioned saddles, racks, baskets, and paniers have no place on a bike built for speed. But for less-athletic folks who want to build exercise into their regular day and save on car-related costs, all those things serve the goals of having a comfortable, reliable, practical replacement for a second car.
Cycling as Sport is primarily an athletic pursuit focused on speed and endurance.
- Gear is as light as possible
- Seating position is aerodynamic
- Special clothing is worn
- Protective gear is essential because of high speeds
Biking as Transport seeks to combine business with pleasure with focus on comfort and utility.
- Gear is heavy duty for reliability
- Seating position is upright
- Dress is more for the destination, less for the trip
- Safety is still paramount, but looks different
Safety considerations
Low speeds and physical separation from motor vehicles change the perspective on bicycle safety.
- Good infrastructure is the best form of protection because vehicles with vastly different speeds, power, mass, and size do not interact.
- The low speeds of non-athletic biking are much less prone to causing the types of injuries that call for special protective gear, both because of the physics of collisions and because of the longer reaction times.
- Upright seating positions allow riders to see farther and to more easily maintain 360° awareness of surroundings.