Are We Doing It Wrong?

Last week the Mr., The Dog, and myself drove over to Germany for a few days to enjoy the long holiday weekend (thank you, Ascension Day), see the sights, and do a little relaxing.  The Mr. had some business in Hanau, and after that was taken care of we headed over to American tourist heaven- Heidelberg.

While my husband was working in Hanau on Wednesday, The Dog and I spent half the day walking on the cycle path along the Main river watching swans, cargo vessels, and rowing teams traveling a to and from Frankfurt.  It was a cold day, often with the wind blowing and occasional showers passing through.  The Dog powered through the 8 mile stroll, but towards the end made it clear he wanted to spend the rest of the day camped out on the hotel bed.  Since he's about the size of Cat 1, I couldn't blame him.  Anyway, most of the people we encountered were cyclists heading to work or on errands.  We did come across a couple cycle tour groups, but we didn't see a single lycra clad roadie all morning.  Observing how the Germans of the Frankfurt region appoached cycling by the way they rode and what they rode, showed me that the bicycle culture here is, once again, different from what we're used to.

The Germans of the Frankfurt region (since I haven't seen the whole country, my knowledge stops here) take a similar approach to the Dutch, regular folks are riding bikes.  Sport takes second place to transportation.  But, unlike the Netherlands, Germany is still a car nation.  You can't deny it, with some of the most high performance automobiles in the world being made from German companies, BMW and Audi.  Another difference is that while being pretty flat, this area isn't as table level as the Netherlands.  Big heavy, cargo bikes haven't hit the market so much, but high end commuter bikes with electric assist are a popular choice.  They still ride in slow bike style, though, and have their own network of cycle paths, many of which avoid car interaction all together.  Despite the fact they love and use their cars, they seem to have just as much emphasis on bicycles as viable modes of transportation.  But, it's not all about getting from point A to point B.  The Germans love to meander too.  Folks on all sorts of bikes from heavy uprights, to hybrids with mustache bars, to even traditional road bikes and mountain bikes fill the roads and paths on the weekends going from town to town, hotel to hotel.  Cycle touring is a huge thing there and several hotels allow you to store the bikes inside or even in your room.  From the looks of things, the groups aren't so concerned about training for a long weekend tour.  They go slow, relaxed, and they make frequent stops at path side restaurants.  They'll get there when they get there.  They dress in what they find comfortable.  They are cycling to have fun with friends and family, not necessarily to prove something to themselves.

These five guys were German cycle tourists staying at our hotel in Steinheim.  While the picture doesn't 
show them too clearly, they all had different styles of bicycles and equipment.  Some opted for the traditional cycling apparel, while one guy chose cargo pants and a button down cotton shirt.  Some had helmets, some did not.  Some had "sprinters'" physiques (which is what I like to call it), others were a little more fit.  They didn't all have the same kits and they probably weren't going to be pedaling at the same pace, but that didn't seem to dampen the fun.  

We met a friend of ours from Baden-Baden for dinner one night and he explained that for most Germans cycling is mostly about having fun or transportation, not Sport.  Many people use their bikes instead of cars, of course, but they also view them as a form or recreation too.  Weekend tours are a favorite way to unwind.  He said that the strict traffic laws in Germany for speeding and the high costs of tickets, make cycle touring a less stressful and often cheaper option than a drive.  "But," he said, "We don't go too fast and we always make sure there is a break every 10-15km and a hotel at the end of the day."

It's an interesting take on the bicycle.  In Germany, it is a respected vehicle.  They get their own roads and lanes.  Pedestrians absolutely must stay on their side of the paths.  While they don't view cycling as as a sport, they do view it as recreational.  In a way, they view bicycles much like Americans of the 1950's and 60's viewed their cars.  You use them to get to work during the week, but they also provide a fun vacation opportunity- the road trip.  Much like Route 66, the German cycle paths link attractions, hotels, and restaurants.  For example, if you ride your bike to Heidelberg from say, Frankfurt, you will pass several small biergartens along the way, right off the bike path.  Then at the end of the ride, you will find a nice hotel in the old city where you can store your bike and get a shower.  Then, you can climb up to the famous castle and see the world's largest wine barrel.  Afterwards, have dinner and sleep in a soft bed.  Since you're taking it easy there's little worry about wearing yourself out and ruining the weekend with an injury.

Oh look, the world's largest wine barrel.

It seems to me like a good attitude to have.  It isn't always our attitude, is it?

In the minds of the Luxembourgers and back home in the States, cycling, for the most part is sport. That attitude therefore influences infrastructure and marketing.  Luxembourg is just barely ahead of the United States on infrastructure.  While a path network crisscrosses the entire country, they're not complete nor completely accessible to the someone wanting a leisurely ride.  Of course, that has to do with the terrain, but finding a bicycle that can tackle such terrain for the person with below or average fitness or experience isn't easy or inexpensive.  For the most part, the shops sell road bikes (thank you, Schlecks) and mountain bikes.  The upright bikes so common in Germany or the Netherlands are rarer on the market and often prohibitively priced.   But, Luxembourg, like so many American communities, is pushing for more cycling infrastructure and participation from the regular population.  The traffic association is currently running a contest for teams of bike commuters to "raise awareness" and win prizes.  New lanes and paths are sprouting up and you can rent an eBike in Luxembourg City.  But, they're decades behind Germany in support and attitude.  I can confidently say that most of the United States is in the same position.

So, the question is, are we doing it wrong?  If the United States (and Luxembourg) took on a more relaxed and practical attitude towards cycling would it reach the heights that advocates and bike lovers hope that it will?  If we could just calm down instead of "suffering and hammering" all the time, maybe we could grasp this concept of enjoyable cycling and, therefore, not turn so many people off.  Then, if bike shops start stocking more regular bikes for regular people would cycling become what it is in places like Germany?  Instead of sleek speed machines or beefy mountain bikes that conjure up mental images of lycra shorts or wrecking into trees, would more people ride if the typical bicycle on the floor had upright bars and wide tires that conjure up images of relaxation and safety?  What if instead of novelties, they were the norm?  Then, perhaps, cycling wouldn't be something for just the athletes anymore.  It would become a normal way to get around and a normal way to enjoy the weekend and more people would ride.  Would more people riding bikes the way they want to ride them create that desperately wished for infrastructure instead of the other way around?  I think we're starting to get on that track, but we still have a ways to go.

Could we really be OK with "getting there when we get there?"  Is that against our nature as Americans?  We're a strange culture that emphasizes hard work, sticktoitiveness, and "sufferfests" while struggling with laziness and obesity.  To many people cycling is a sporting activity.  Just because cycling is a physical activity doesn't mean it always has to be sport, right?  Why are we always training?  Why can't we just ride our bikes?  Why do so many people feel that cycling isn't for them?  Why did someone recently tell me that they feel they'd have to get in shape before they can start cycling so they can feel confident in the clothing?  Why don't we feel it is alright to ride cargo pants and cotton oxfords?  Is it because it is ingrained in us that cycling comes with tight pants?  Why?

What is our deal?

We can blame city and state governments and bike manufactures for not providing what we think needs to be available for Americans to start cycling more.  The fact is though, it comes down to our attitudes.  We have to be willing to say that we want a comfortable ride, we aren't "training", and we're going to wear whatever we want.  More people have to look at cycling not as sport but for what it is in the end, a way to get around and a way to have fun.  When we start doing this, all those images and stereotypes won't matter anymore.  We'll just be riding our bikes.  I have a feeling if we just starting riding our bikes without all this pressure to fit an image, it will get more people riding bikes.  Before we know it, maybe, taking a weekend tour won't seem like something that requires interval training and diet plans.  Sure, that doesn't mean those that want to suffer can't suffer.  However, not everyone has to in order to be a cyclist.

It really is OK to get there when you get there.