It's a total rich kids' sport and has been for a long time. Perhaps the fantastic kid on the cheaper bike would still get noticed? If he or she ever turns up to the race that is. Chances are they'll be off doing another more accessible sport.
It always has been but i am afraid that running is get more and more similar. Multiple shoes multiple bikes. Training and racing cloths (more ultra light gear). Watch massage gun gym treadmile.. Cross training.
@paxundpeace9970 Running is still so much cheaper. The most expensive pair of shoes you could possibly buy are like $500, which is nothing in the context of competitive cycling.
@jonathanmorrison2225 I think that risk is overblown. Tons of people run injury free throughout their adult lives. I used to think that I couldn't run long distances consistently without hurting myself, but then I realized that I had been increasing my mileage too quickly. I tried again, increasing mileage no more than 10% per week, and keeping pace low to start. Since I got through the slow ramp up, I've been able to run 28 miles every week with no issues.
In Japan, Keirin racing requires standardized track bikes with frames, wheels and components certified by the commission. IMO this would not only benefit young riders, but should be extended to all non-pro and Olympic events. It’s all about the engine!
I think everyone would like to see some standardization in cycling to prioritize safety and affordability. However, that won't happen as long as so much of cycling is paid for by bike companies who need to convince you to buy a new bike every 3 years. It only works in Japanese keirin racing because that's a regulated gambling sport, and people want to bet on the riders, not the bikes.
Perhaps but doesn't that sanctioned stuff increase costs. My understanding for Saint Piran's woes is that they got some cheap Chinese frames and attempted to make them look like UCI sanctioned ones? A bit naughty, and of course we can pretend that by doing this they potentially could have used unsafe frames - but really I think the frames would have been as safe as any others and 'certification' or 'approval' or whatever is just about getting a revenue stream from every team and sponsor. Because 'Certified' or 'Sanctioned' will cite safety and standards and whatever as motives but generally involves the exchange of wheelbarrows full of money, right? It's like why was zwift once the official esports cycling app and now mywhoosh? Tell me it's not simply about how much VC cash they threw at the UCI.
@ the equipment that is used is simple steel framed single speed with aluminum rims. Setting a standard doesn’t have to be with expensive equipment. St. Piran tried to circumvent the costs by going cheap.
The best cost control mechanism I know of, comes from Swedish amateur car racing (folkrace). If an opponent offers to buy your car for 800€, you have to sell it to them. This means, noone brings a car worth more than that to a race. This can be done with (youth) cycling as well.
I’d say a cap at 2000 or 2500. That’s a good bike which won’t malfunction (probably), while bikes that cost less could malfunction more often. I raced between the ages of 13-16 and half the field rode on bikes above 5k, some even 10k
Absolutely agree. I commented about a year ago suggesting something similar to this with bike value bands. Basically in the Junior categories you can only ride up to a 1.5k bike. Amateur up to 2k bike then Elite up to 4k. Pro... unlimited. It would force people to build smart and level the field a bit. You'd also see more brands pop up competing in that price bracket.
@@Freekement That's ridiculous, at this point price point has almost nothing to do with reliability, and if anything more expensive bikes are more fickle. I've exclusively ridden sub $1000 bikes my whole life and I have never had one malfunction (not even a puncture!), while my friends with finely tuned top-tier groupsets and super supple racing tires seem to have something go wrong every other ride.
Thanks Dan and crew . To me , it's always been a rich persons thing . Perspective , and circumstance being what it is . Large family , poor upbringing . Where I was raised , there wasn't anybody cycling . We rode bikes , but just to get around Team sports was the only real choice .
Has it become it has always bin expensive compared to other sports (still it commonly does not need a large / Stadium or training hall like soccer or gymnastics )
North Wales Cyclocross League. Just started racing (at the very back of the ladies' race) at an, erm, advanced age. Bloody brilliant. No 2nd bike, run what you brung, 3 yo's on balance bikes and then all ages up to Vet70. Not expensive, run well by volunteers all over north Wales. Totally ace. :-)
Bicycle racing is a rich kid sport. I grew up in a working class family and started racing during the early 80's in the U.S. Few families would have been able to afford a race worthy bicycle in the neighborhood I grew up in. It was what my parents could afford, but the bicycle I started racing on was not at all a racing bicycle. It would have functioned well as a boat anchor being made out of so much cheap steel. I raced it when I felt comfortable enough to ask my parents to pay race entry fees and a ride to a race (they never complained, if they could afford the money or time). However, I saw few, if any, people from my socioeconomic class at races. Most were from families with parents who clearly earned at least middle-class living. None were from the parts of town where people like me lived. I didn't really start racing regularly until I could afford to pay for an entry level race bicycle and my own entry fees. I felt guilty asking my parents to pay for things. For juniors and lower category racers, I like the idea of limits on how much racers can spend on bicycles, or limits on the materials and spoke counts that their bicycles can have which would limit the cost. There is no reasonable reason, in my opinion, for new and young riders to be racing $5,000+ bicycles. It's too much money. If I were the bicycle racing king, junior and lower category adult racers would only be allowed to race on aluminum or steel framed bicycles with aluminum rimed wheels having spoke counts no less than 28 per wheel. In my opinion, at that level the focus should be on building fitness, showing who really has some athletic talent, and building better character (something too often lost in athletics of all kinds), not on expensive equipment. I wasn't that great a racer, but racing had a profound positive effect on my life, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything else. It lead to so many positive things because it instilled so many positive qualities in me. In the U.S., if bicycle racing is to become more popular with more people, it need to be more approachable to more people. Making it expensive makes people lose interest because they don't relate to it. Edit: I would also add that, because so many people from the social elite participate in bicycle racing, the culture can be pretentious in many circles, including many of the shops I did and still do go into. I can remember the first time I went into what we used to call a, "pro shop," that mainly focused on selling to racers. I just wanted something simple like a tube. The guy who eventually lowered himself, and did his job by asking me, if I needed some help seemed to have the perspective that he was doing me a favor selling me a tube instead of talking to his buddies. That was, and still can be, an annoying reality in too many bicycle shops and racer culture in general. Again, it makes racing unapproachable.
Yeah, but after spending all that money, training effort and dealing with rude Americans in bike stores you might get close enough to watch a British guy going over the line and winning the race. Everyone needs a dream!
In my mind generally speaking, usually it's people who are wealthy and or have a relatively high income who can afford the costs and time commitment to pursue a professional career or enthusiast cycling lifestyle.
As a 17 year old who loves racing but doesn't have the ability to get the best bike or components, I've certainly seen what you mean by a rich kid sport. It's really is quite the rider, though. In the past year I was my state's overall champion in a spring series, and I can only imagine how much better I could've done with a better bike.
If you’re not already on a team you should find a local club. I grew up extremely poor and couldn’t have participated if it weren’t for the help of my local club. I made great friends and had a blast riding my bike so much.
The expense of the sport, snobbery around kit and the psychological pressure put on the average cyclist to periodically upgrade (fearing they'll look poor at the local cafe ride!) are some of the reasons I now prefer to ride casually. Not having to chase the unobtainable and instead just enjoying what you have and the physical buzz of the sport is a much better way to go imo.
An experiment: What’s the least you could be competitive with in road racing? I know GCN has done some versions of this experiment, but I would love to see them do it across, say, a criterium or circuit race series: Steel frame, aluminum rims, rim brakes, seven speed Shimano Tourney; no power meter. That’s roughly the specs of a Windsor Wellington mail order bike, and the kind of thing a non-wealthy neophyte might try to race with. (Though given sponsorship issues, maybe something like the lowest priced Trek is more realistic for a GCN experiment). Get Dan or Ollie to ride it in one of your local race series. Give it a good tuneup and proper maintenance for the duration. And show people that they DON’T need Dura Ace/carbon aero everything/hydraulic brakes/power meters to be competitive. Unless one actually DOES need all of that stuff to compete…
After seeing the family estate Hank inherited I would say YES to the question: “Is cycling a rich kids sport”. But Kudos to him, I would like to be in his shoes. That estate is beautiful, lucky guy for sure.
The equipment is not the problem , the fact that it seems like you need to be ready at the age of 17 to become professional did turn it into a rich kid sport !!! Not every kid has the support nor the finance at home to get ready at such a young age!!! So the answer to the question is YES, it turns into a rich kid sport while a lot of talent gets wasted !!!
When it comes to the amateur cycling scene in America, the biggest problem is the sheer lack of amateur events. The cost of gear certainly contributes, and I do think bike manufacturers should aim to make entry level bikes more affordable, but the lack of amateur races is the biggest challenge. I also think the pressure to enter the pro scene at such a young age means that you pretty much need to be put into that pipeline at a young age (such is the case with many professional sports). I don’t know if that will ever change since there will always be pressure from the pro teams to find young talent. If I were to make changes in the US, I’d like to see more affordable entry/mid-level bike options, more amateur events, and better pathways into established cycling programs (ie, university teams).
I believe the idea that willpower and grit will get you through is ludicrous. The bikes themselves are super expensive. While it’s true that you don't need a super expensive bike, you need something priced above £500 as a bare minimum. Race licenses cost £50 or more, along with race fees that typically exceed £15. Additionally, consider a coach for £30 per month for a basic entry-level coach. Also, factor in the expensive clothing, shoes, and helmets. Overall, you should expect to spend well over a thousand pounds for a season of racing, even on a very tight budget. Working in a primary school where the children often come in saying they don't eat breakfast and that they ate bread and ketchup for dinner means that cycling misses out on heaps of talent.
When I was racing BMX back in the 80s I was self supported as mid aged teen, my parents didn't have the money to support me and if they did they didn't back me anyway. I would cadge a lift to races with my cousin or by train. I kept my bike on the track with my paper round money, it wasn't just a race bike, it was my only bike. I used wool gloves some second hand goggles and helmet. I raced in jeans, t-shirt and trainers. I wasn't the only one like that. There were plenty of us, but we loved racing our bikes, passionately. I would get looked at on the start gate by kids with the best that money could buy. I would look at those same kids coming over the finish line long after me. Equipment helps, passion and determination and some natural talent is what counts. The big problem is, I was over looked by sponsors because I didn't fit the bill and my family had no money. That was the 80s, I hope things have changed.
If junior riders reach a certain level they may find sponsors, however anyone who doesn’t reach that level and cannot afford top-end kit (juniors, seniors and vets) will be at a disadvantage, always wondering ‘what if’. An equipment price cap would be good in theory but difficult to implement. The UCI don’t help though when they keep moving the goalposts: whatever happened to the 3:1 rule for tubing, the reset of the hour record, and banning non-production equipment? A lot of people in the UK used to get into the sport through time trialling, and that really has become an arms race! Even ‘road bike’ category TT’s now allow TT equipment (wheels, frame, skinsuit, helmet) with no tri-bars
It was a working class sport until 90s but it has not got extreme with reviewers talking about a basic bike at £2k-5k GCN doesn’t help when you review a cheap bike it is almost done as a parody and never review anything in the £1K region
I'd like to see more reviews of affordable bikes and read about the durability of components. They fawn over the 105 groupset, but what about Sora or Claris? The new stuff is bulletproof for everyman's demand.
@@slowcyclist4324 actually not true. In the 80's I used to cycle to work, it was my only transport. But on weekends I'd use the same bicycle to go to races. But back then entries were 'affordable' but these days event entries are just ridiculous (were I live at least).
The Problem is that channels like GCN and magazines also cyclists push the narrative that a expensive bike is needed. Cycling is basicqlly pay to win. Im a triathlete, I don't do too bad on a cheap 2002 bike and cheap shoes and neo, I cab just imagine how well I could do with expensive Equipment
I would like to see a standard bike used for age groups add olympics. Add some countries can't afford 70,000 a bike While others can even the playing field years ago gcn did a episode on the Japanese racing circuit where everyone uses the same kind of bike that's what we need
I think everyone would like to see that, but it won't happen as long as riders and teams are taking so much money from companies whose business model is based around convincing you that you need a new bike every 3 years.
Even more sad to see the thumbnail, where the photo of the “budget bike” in rim break actually has Ultegra Di2. That whole build would be easily over $4k second hand. Yet it looks dated comparing to the new disc & integrated aero cockpit and frame. That marketing has gotten to me I hate to accept😢 - Edited: but one good thing, fast rider are fast no matter what bike they’re on, and the gap between old and new is not as great as they want us to believe. There’s still hope in the used market.
You don’t have to be rich to get into cycling. You can’t buy speed. Just ride what you can afford. If you can finish with the guys on their $10,000 s-works you are doing great. Learn how to fix your bike. Make friends and join a club. Barrow tools. Upgrade with second hand parts. Just have fun and ride and don’t worry about the bike you have or the kit you wear. Let the rich kid know he was chased down with your legs not cash.
I have to say, when I turned up to my first cyclocross training session a month or so ago, I felt so utterly out of place with my old gravel bike with panniers. I live in a shared house and can't afford or find space for a second bike. Meanwhile even the juniors had rollers, and a van for their really expensive bikes. Cyclocross SHOULD be more inclusive; should be about mud and fun. I'm a 24 year old man
Price cap would be a great idea. I was glad when my daughter decided to be a runner instead of a cyclist. Like you said, running shoes are a lot cheaper than a bike.
But really, in any sport (here in the US) its pay to play, or play at the highest level, attitude is in every sport. Football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, hockey. The kids who want to specialize or are particularly gifted at one sport tend to focus on that. All of these are extremely expensive. That may be just the way the world is going. I’m not sure if cycling is in any category of its own.
You could switch the "no carbon" to "only aluminium", ban aero suits, aero bra's, aero socks, aero helmets for junior categories. You can get a decent 2nd hand alu bike for cheap, and with the current howto's on youtube maintenance shouldn't be that hard. With a bit of smart shopping even parts could be had for quite decent prices.
Yup, cost is the main thing that keeps me out of competitive cycling. I still like to ride, but I'd rather run competitively because equipment is not really a factor in running.
I started racing in 2001 on a Trek 2300 (cylindrical tubed aluminum frame with Ultegra 9speed and some heavy Rolf wheels) that cost $1800. Put that into an inflation calculator and that would be $3200 in todays dollars. Definitely think I could put together an aluminum frame bike with Ultegra mechanical 11spd that is a lot nicer for that money now. A $5500 back then, which was pretty standard for Carbon, Durace, and Carbon wheels would be 9K now.... so seems like its pretty much tracked with inflation... There's very little difference between an 8-9K bike and the top top of the line 13-15K bikes
There's a good reason there are school uniforms - it levels the playing field regarding clothing for all students irrespective of their financial situation - same should apply to age categories and a limit on bike cost increasing only with age. It would also make the kids appreciate the value of money and get them creative with building their race bike. With research and a bit of legwork anyone can find or build a perfectly acceptable road bike for well under 750 quid.
I got my first racing license in 1984 as a 14 year old when an entry level racing bike was about $1200. Kids racing were all working / middle class. Student wages in Canada at that time about $6 / hr, so about 200 hours of work. In 2024, student wages are $18 / hr. So 200 hours of work would get a you a $ 3600 bike. More than enough for an entry level racing bike. I would encourage young people looking to race to consider second-hand equipment and Chinese brands like Winspace, etc and AliExpress deals. Racing is a great experience in itself, it's not about getting "noticed" for 99.9% of riders. I appreciate the economics are much less favorable for young riders in developing and middle income countries.
Playing a musical instrument is just as expensive as riding a bicycle. I played saxophone in middle school, high school, and college. My saxophone was $5,000+ in 1995. Then you add in music lessons, marching band uniforms, band fees, camps, etc. It all adds up. I sometimes referee football (soccer) and the cost of playing on a competitive team is the same price as lower level SL8s. Parents are paying this cost yearly.
The issue is two-fold. Cycling is becoming more expensive to participate in, and at the same time increasing inequality means that fewer parents have the resources to support their children with any extra-curricular pursuits - especially at higher levels.
I agree, I have 3 kids racing cx and bit of road in the summer, but also triathlon, and it's already becoming an arms race, and they're all U12! But, it's definitely about the skills and ability more than the kit, and we buy second hand bikes every time the next size up is required. Biggest issue with implementing more rules (above gear restrictions) is getting everything checked pre-race. Commissaires have other things to do, and kids just want to ride, so it gets very laborious. Would be equally tedious at adult races. But a single bike rule in cx until the junior category would be interesting, as would no carbon.
I have a son racing Mtb xc and a no carbon until they are juniors would have fantastic. He is 16 now and on a trek hardtail with X01. But he worked all summer at a supermarket for that. So a no carbon in u 11-u13 nd u15 would make it a lot cheaper to get in to and grow with sport
My club is trying to attract juniors to track riding, because we can provide track bikes free of charge. If they get really keen on the sport, they can look to invest in their own equipment, but the club bikes will absolutely get you around!
I grew up very poor and if I hadn’t hooked up with my local club I would have given up. That was back in the 80’s. By the time I stopped racing I had a Pinarello. That never would have happened without my clubs help. Always join a club.
Team staff transfer used to only be talked about in rare instances of major figures changing, like Rod Ellingworth moving to Bahrain McLaren. The media would sit up and take notice of those, so i think it has become a feedback loop. To get interaction and content suggesting progress and good optics on social media teams are announcing "star" staff so a content-hungry media picks it up as a headline so everything gets echoed out of proportion.
Every sport is a rich kid sport when you get to a deliberately competitive level. If you look at sports by how much equipment influences the outcomes vs human fitness or skill, cycling is nowhere near as bad as others. As Dan mentioned, Motorsports, Equestrian, and Sailing are …far worse. The reality? Everything is more expensive now than it ever has been, and that will always be the case. The only people surprised by this are the ones who get stuck in a certain era mentally, or income level, and that would certainly sum up Madiot, whose team is seemingly a decade behind.
I've only just considered racing now that I've been able to build decent bikes due to working in the industry, non of them are carbon though. After working out the logistics for going to some races, I realised that more money will be needed. I can't imagine cycling has ever been an accessible sport...it's probably at it's most accessible now just due a wider range of races, riding and affordable bikes, but to be truly competitive requires capital or an outgoing, bubbly persona that gets enough views on social media for companies to want to support you.
I'm not sure putting some restrictions on equipment for the younger categories - like the mentioned no-carbon rule - would help, actually quite the opposite IMO. I've just been helping a friend, who's currently a runner and wants to start with triathlon, choose his first racing bike with a budget of max. €1200, but rather lower. I could barely find a new bike for that price and if, it was something you wouldn't have fun riding; on the second hand market, however, I could find some top-end carbon fibre frames even with 11-speed mechanical Dura-Ace or Ultegra Di2 from just a few years ago for less than a grand (all but one I found had rim brakes, but I don't think that's that important, especially for children, which are typically very light). I appreciate that might still be a lot of money for some parents just trying to get their child into the sport, but honestly, you're gonna spend likely more than in a year on starting fees and fuel to get to races alone. As for the multiple bikes in cyclocross from the age of 12, I didn't know that rule, and agree that allowing a bike in the pit from let's say the U17 category (so 15-16 years of age) would make more sense.
Completely agree with levelling the level of gear for under19's. Confidence is so fragile at those vulnerable ages. They go through puberty at different rates as well as the lottery of age groups where they fall into. And so a kid that was doing well at 13 can be spat out at 14. It is soul destroying to have a kid roll up with handed down kit alongside a kid with S-works level kit at a point where they are now entering an older age group. I speak from experience of a father that has watch the enthusiasm of his son be quashed by this. There are too many obstacles to our sport, this is one where we can make a conscious change for the better of the kids.
Not here in Germany. Went to a cyclocross meeting in Rheinzabern on Sunday where there were racers across the board from tiny U 11’s through hobby racers - some nearly as old as me - to Elite Masters. The encouragement for the youngsters was tremendous and although some were pedalling very shiny, new bikes, many were getting a lot of fun out of whatever they had in the garage. How about some GCN support for the young beginners?
Added to the fact that nobody will be able to watch cycling without a subscription, once ITV finish free to air TdF coverage, meaning cycling reaching a much smaller audience.
Isn't that a specifically UK problem? Other European countries will still have it free to air in some way or another. But then that's also the men's tour - what about the women's? Do we think that only men's cycling deserves an audience?
It depends, Dan. If you compete or you want to turn pro the answer is Yes. But if you will use it just for everyday for your exercise, training, bike to work etc it is not expensive. By the way as you get older weight is not a big deal anymore. Just ride your bike. Ride safe
Not in Australia. Need a proper BMX -approx $1000, full face helmet $100-150, Race license - $100 shoes and clothes - $150-$200, weekly race fee - $15 per week adds up quick
Most valuable thing in life is time. Forget the equipment cost, you mostly pay for the sport with your time in training and salary for coaches, doctors and mechanics/engineers/etc who spend their time. And for this matter no endurance sport is neither cheap nor a good investment, it's an upper-middle class leisure.
The rising cost of bikes is fast becoming one of the biggest obstacles facing youth cycling in the UK. As the sport grapples with dwindling participation numbers and a shaky domestic scene, we need to face a harsh reality: if we don’t act soon, we risk losing an entire generation of potential riders before they even pin on a race number. It’s time to ask some hard questions. Why should a sport where strength, skill, and determination should shine through be increasingly defined by the depth of a rider’s (or their parent’s) pockets? For years, professional cyclists have had to abide by rules limiting bike specifications-why shouldn’t we apply similar thinking to youth racing? Here’s the proposal: all riders under 18 should race on metal-framed bikes weighing 10kg or more, equipped with standard wheels and no aero enhancements. The benefits are clear. By leveling the playing field, we ensure that races are won through hard work and talent, not financial advantage. Stronger, smarter, and more resilient riders will naturally emerge, prepared for the rigors of adult competition. Think of the greats. Riders like Sean Kelly or Bernard Hinault honed their craft on bikes far heavier than today’s ultra-light machines, developing raw power and mental toughness in the process. Would those legends have risen as they did if cycling had priced them out before they even started? Critics might argue this approach is too prescriptive or risks alienating manufacturers. But let’s be honest-if the current trajectory continues, the domestic racing scene will suffer far more. Youth riders-and their families-are already opting out due to spiraling costs, leaving empty start lines and a shrinking talent pool. It’s not just about accessibility; it’s about the future of UK road racing. A shift like this sends a clear message: cycling is for everyone, and success is earned on the road, not in the wallet. Moreover, it could spark innovation among bike brands to create high-quality, durable, and affordable options for young racers, rather than relying on pushing ever-expensive upgrades. The time for change is now. Let’s give our young riders a fair shot and rebuild the grassroots of UK cycling before it’s too late. After all, the stars of tomorrow need more than shiny bikes-they need a stage they can afford to step onto.
10 year old road bikes are just as fast as the new stuff, and are also extremely cheap.... I suppose the advertising has fooled people into thinking cycling is "expensive"... It's probably the cheapest sport. Using a bike for commuting compounds the savings.
Strange timing for GCN to talk about cycling becoming a rich kids sport when only earlier today one of their presenters quite literally uploaded a video on how hes just inherited his families sprawling estate and title.
My friend’s kids played tennis… only need a racket and trainers? No. Costs a bomb for courts, coaching , membership in tennis clubs. Sport is costly and the richness and passion from parents a big factor. I used to help with kids athletics and the poorer kids struggled getting to away competition and parents getting them to training especially if they were single parents with other kids. So many factors involved not just the purchase of kit.
I do worry about this for my boys coming up through the sport. I hope I can support them to the point where their talent can get them the support to progress further.
Compared to the costs of playing competitive hockey in Canada, which can easily exceed $10-15k yearly depending on one's level, cycling is not out of the ordinary
A cap is such a good idea for kids cyclecross. However, this is easily abused ("handy" secondhand), thus a kit type restriction sounds excellent e.g. Aluminium or steel only, no electronic gears, etc.
My club is 'aging out' and road racing, the biggest entry is 45-55. The barrier to entry to the sport is polluted by the amount of DuraAce. Thinking good, means ye need to spend £££. Gravel could have been the revolution before the Aero gravel bike was introduced.
I learnt of the existence of cyclocross when I was over the age of 35… I also think that there’s almost none of those races in my country. Still. The options for non-European kids getting into cycling is minuscule and the technology arms race definitely has made it worse. It’s going to be generations before cycling truly becomes a global sport. I mean, wasn’t a national champion recently looking for a pro contract on Instagram? You can guess what continent he was from. You’re going to get your outliers from outside Europe but this will not change anytime soon. And that’s really sad.
I don't believe that it has necessarily become a rich kid's sport due to increasing prices of the equipment. I think, however, it might have become partially a rich kid's sport because of the increase inequality of wealth/income distribution. Gini coefficient for UK has increase compared to 70-90's. Also I believe consumers (riders) are pushing themselves to buy more expensive equipment. Decades ago, you could rock up in far less expensive equipment and you wouldn't have stood out. While I agree with Dan on the 'only one bike', a price cap would be too difficult to administrate properly. How are used bikes valuated, equipment bought abroad etc?
he is right, I love cycling now in my late 30s , now I always wish that I started racing from a young age, but there is no ways I would have been able to afford a decent bike at that age.
I've been racing for about 4 years and all on my own it and really rough, I was one of the top junior in Canada last years and cause of money a lot of project I couldn't do. I think I would be for more advanced in the sport if I had money. Also cycling is a sport of knowing the right person and people with more m0ney then to know more the right person in my experience
I once proposed a 9kg minimum weight on jr bikes and people lost their minds. I’ll never forgot one mom inveighing “I work hard to make my money and I can spend it any way I want.”
I was appalled at the obscenely expensive bikes at youth race here in Ireland. We should look to motorsports and have a spec bike (alloy frame+wheels, no Di2, etc) up to a certain age
For junior cyclocross, instead of a no carbon rule why not a gear limiting rule, say no more than 9 at the rear and limited gear sizing. In time trialling there’s a gear limit rule in force. It’d bring down the cost of the bike straight away as that would be the pool of bikes parents search for. And, kill the two bike rule, one race, one bike. It’d cost nothing to enforce and parents can pick up bikes at a reasonable price.
Question to Belgians: How do you convince the farmers to allow cyclocross on their fields? Do they get a big compensation? Are they just all cyclocross fans and happy to offer it?
They get compensation, but some find it too small, and say go f' yourself 🎉, that is why par example a few years ago they had to change the whole track on ' Koppenberg' 😂
I raced elite in NL/BE in 2008 on entry level Mavic Aksium wheels. But even as recently as then, the only real differentials at the top of the amateur ranks was frame (carbon or alloy - yeah some guys raced on aluminium) and groupset (105 or Dura-Ace). This aero stuff, tubeless etc has changed too much.
Forget the kids, what about us old people? I have a perfectly fine titanium mechanical rim brake bike with an Ultegra group and sweet Mavic Rys wheels. The SAME FRAME with integrated cabling, disc brakes and DI2 Ultegra is $15,000 more than I can sell my bike for. I have the money, but not the nerve to spend it, especially when I can still stay on the wheels of most who ride the top end bikes. If I were young, I'd buy aluminium. Splurge carbon integrated electric disc when you can afford it.
Cycling has become a rich kids’ sport. In the 80’s & into the 90’s a middle class to lower middle class kid could get into road cycling, ex Lance Armstrong. Obstacles to entry have risen apace with bicycle prices.
As with a lot of sports, cycling is suffering with marginalization that excludes so many. But thankfully some of that can be mitigated. The availability of swift and bike trainers, that are less expensive than any high end bike, allows for racing and talent identification while still allowing us to ride in the real world just for fun on less expensive gear. To be honest i don't completely agree with my own statements... but I'm just choosing to think about it from another point of view.
It's a pretty dangerous sport if you have to train on the road. The risk of death is very high compared to most other sports. CTE risk is there as well, which is something that goes under the radar.
In a UK context, no races on the roads, except for maybe the Tour of Britain and the occasional start for the likes of the TdF or Giro, are closed road. This means that road racing happens on open roads, and that normal car and HGV traffic is allowed to mix into a race. It's not uncommon for races in the UK to be halted and cancelled due to a rider being killed by an inpatient driver. There are a few annual triathlons which take place near where I live in the summer time. Organisers put up signs along the roads starting "Caution: Race in Progress", but there's nothing really stopping someone in a BMW 5 series from just plowing into a rider he didn't see in time at 60mph.
I’m 15years old and I have a 20year+ old bike but a few weeks ago I won a race with it The guy in second had a carbon bike with the newest ultegra (he was also 15) So it’s not all about the bike
It's not that simple, that if you are good enough, you will be noticed. Of course buying latest Trek Madone for an U14 rider will not get him win races, but on the other hand racing with a cheap gear can cost a podium. Poor brakes can cost crash, that will demotivate. Heavy bike can be the reason, when you will be dropped at a hill, and it will demotivate, etc. Kids demotivate quickly, specially in multimedia times, when there are plenty of other things to do, that do not make dissapointment. So if a young rider have poor bike it can be an excuse to stop riding. It's maybe funny, but it' true. Not every young rider is Peter Sagan, or a Tadej Pogacar, who as a kid won on every gear, every time. Sagan was one of his era, so is Pogi. What about others? Now without a parent, who will pay for a decent (not necesserly the best) gear and will spend time to train a kid it is barely impossible to perform. Even in U12 the difference between trained rider, who train not only under coach's, but also father's eye is noticable to a kid, who is on his own, with clubs poor gear and a poorly paid coach. Now pure talent is irrelevant. It can be only with genius cases like Peter or Pogi. One in a milion.
There is absolutely no difference between my very first 500€ alloy bike with Tiagra and my current Aeroad …when using them on zwift. That’s why I’m a big fan of the Zwift academy and other such programs.
Zwift is not really going to create a generation of skilled racing cyclists though is it? ZA is just a relic from when they were just cluelessly throwing VC around and hoping something sticks "Let's flood youtube with zwift adverts...hmm, that didn't work that well....Let's sponsor the women's tour and see how many subscribers we get....hmm...none....well let's become the UCI official esports app....hmm that didn't work....let's start a zwift academy...." it's just random money spending.
I grew up poor in a large family. Sport could only be done as part of school events and even that was limited where the school didn't provide basic equipment and transportation. In an environment where both parents are working often including some time on weekends, the children have home responsibilities limiting opportunity and then you add cost and transportation which makes it all but impossible to participate in sport. Expensive sports like cycling are totally out of the question.
it's always been a rich man's sport if you want to race pro-elite, you not noticed...? in order to compete at the highest level then you need every advantage in order to do this which means spending thousands on the bike or rather bikes for different disciplines, then there is the tools as well as food and transport as well as accommodations, i'm all for getting out there going against the grain as i did in my younger days, i revelled in beating & winning races on a lesser bike, but lets be honest in a 7 to 10 day race you need that lighter bike with different gear ratio accompanied with a different wheel sets and tyres, i could go on so yeah it has always been a middle class type of sport, but yeah just. get out there and try it out as you will enjoy,
But the question is, how is a young person meant to get started and be spotted these days? Most clubs don't allow under 18s so it's difficult to get to a high level in the first place to get into races that they may do.
you confuse "cycling" with sanctioned and heavily sponsored European road racing bicycle races. as though rich boys just popped up last year. the recent instant gilded millionaire (pogacha) is the vesper of official "this sport is dull, boring and dominated by big dollar sponsors. most of us dont race, and find racing dull and boring. the bike is the least of the expenses needed to participate in this elitist lycra and leg shaving sport. mens rode racing finish line "Jesus pose an chest thumping aside", I'm glad you report on sanctioned cyclocross racing in Europe. love it!!
It is among the most elitist sports, absolutely. The cost is outrageous and shameful. I would love to see racing with bike limits. Aluminum, 19 pounds. The talented endurance athletes who are not rich should have a way in.
I see quite a few Sunday posers who dress like a pro cyclist, and believe that by having a carbon bike you are going to ride so fast, which is totally not true
It's a total rich kids' sport and has been for a long time. Perhaps the fantastic kid on the cheaper bike would still get noticed? If he or she ever turns up to the race that is. Chances are they'll be off doing another more accessible sport.
It always has been but i am afraid that running is get more and more similar.
Multiple shoes multiple bikes.
Training and racing cloths (more ultra light gear).
Watch massage gun gym treadmile..
Cross training.
It has always been a rich kid's sport, but I think the gap to other sports is increasing.
@paxundpeace9970 Running is still so much cheaper. The most expensive pair of shoes you could possibly buy are like $500, which is nothing in the context of competitive cycling.
@@rlm4471man all that wear and tear on the body though. Too much for me.
@jonathanmorrison2225 I think that risk is overblown. Tons of people run injury free throughout their adult lives.
I used to think that I couldn't run long distances consistently without hurting myself, but then I realized that I had been increasing my mileage too quickly. I tried again, increasing mileage no more than 10% per week, and keeping pace low to start. Since I got through the slow ramp up, I've been able to run 28 miles every week with no issues.
In Japan, Keirin racing requires standardized track bikes with frames, wheels and components certified by the commission. IMO this would not only benefit young riders, but should be extended to all non-pro and Olympic events.
It’s all about the engine!
I think everyone would like to see some standardization in cycling to prioritize safety and affordability. However, that won't happen as long as so much of cycling is paid for by bike companies who need to convince you to buy a new bike every 3 years. It only works in Japanese keirin racing because that's a regulated gambling sport, and people want to bet on the riders, not the bikes.
Perhaps but doesn't that sanctioned stuff increase costs. My understanding for Saint Piran's woes is that they got some cheap Chinese frames and attempted to make them look like UCI sanctioned ones? A bit naughty, and of course we can pretend that by doing this they potentially could have used unsafe frames - but really I think the frames would have been as safe as any others and 'certification' or 'approval' or whatever is just about getting a revenue stream from every team and sponsor.
Because 'Certified' or 'Sanctioned' will cite safety and standards and whatever as motives but generally involves the exchange of wheelbarrows full of money, right? It's like why was zwift once the official esports cycling app and now mywhoosh? Tell me it's not simply about how much VC cash they threw at the UCI.
@ the equipment that is used is simple steel framed single speed with aluminum rims. Setting a standard doesn’t have to be with expensive equipment. St. Piran tried to circumvent the costs by going cheap.
The best cost control mechanism I know of, comes from Swedish amateur car racing (folkrace).
If an opponent offers to buy your car for 800€, you have to sell it to them. This means, noone brings a car worth more than that to a race.
This can be done with (youth) cycling as well.
I’d say a cap at 2000 or 2500. That’s a good bike which won’t malfunction (probably), while bikes that cost less could malfunction more often. I raced between the ages of 13-16 and half the field rode on bikes above 5k, some even 10k
Absolutely agree. I commented about a year ago suggesting something similar to this with bike value bands. Basically in the Junior categories you can only ride up to a 1.5k bike. Amateur up to 2k bike then Elite up to 4k. Pro... unlimited. It would force people to build smart and level the field a bit. You'd also see more brands pop up competing in that price bracket.
Clever Swedes! 👍
@@AlbertBuckinghamEllison The problem with the different caps for elites and pro’s are that they’re the same ;)
@@Freekement That's ridiculous, at this point price point has almost nothing to do with reliability, and if anything more expensive bikes are more fickle. I've exclusively ridden sub $1000 bikes my whole life and I have never had one malfunction (not even a puncture!), while my friends with finely tuned top-tier groupsets and super supple racing tires seem to have something go wrong every other ride.
Thanks Dan and crew . To me , it's always been a rich persons thing . Perspective , and circumstance being what it is . Large family , poor upbringing . Where I was raised , there wasn't anybody cycling . We rode bikes , but just to get around Team sports was the only real choice .
Has it become it has always bin expensive compared to other sports (still it commonly does not need a large / Stadium or training hall like soccer or gymnastics )
North Wales Cyclocross League. Just started racing (at the very back of the ladies' race) at an, erm, advanced age. Bloody brilliant. No 2nd bike, run what you brung, 3 yo's on balance bikes and then all ages up to Vet70. Not expensive, run well by volunteers all over north Wales. Totally ace. :-)
Bicycle racing is a rich kid sport. I grew up in a working class family and started racing during the early 80's in the U.S. Few families would have been able to afford a race worthy bicycle in the neighborhood I grew up in. It was what my parents could afford, but the bicycle I started racing on was not at all a racing bicycle. It would have functioned well as a boat anchor being made out of so much cheap steel. I raced it when I felt comfortable enough to ask my parents to pay race entry fees and a ride to a race (they never complained, if they could afford the money or time). However, I saw few, if any, people from my socioeconomic class at races. Most were from families with parents who clearly earned at least middle-class living. None were from the parts of town where people like me lived. I didn't really start racing regularly until I could afford to pay for an entry level race bicycle and my own entry fees. I felt guilty asking my parents to pay for things. For juniors and lower category racers, I like the idea of limits on how much racers can spend on bicycles, or limits on the materials and spoke counts that their bicycles can have which would limit the cost. There is no reasonable reason, in my opinion, for new and young riders to be racing $5,000+ bicycles. It's too much money. If I were the bicycle racing king, junior and lower category adult racers would only be allowed to race on aluminum or steel framed bicycles with aluminum rimed wheels having spoke counts no less than 28 per wheel. In my opinion, at that level the focus should be on building fitness, showing who really has some athletic talent, and building better character (something too often lost in athletics of all kinds), not on expensive equipment. I wasn't that great a racer, but racing had a profound positive effect on my life, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything else. It lead to so many positive things because it instilled so many positive qualities in me. In the U.S., if bicycle racing is to become more popular with more people, it need to be more approachable to more people. Making it expensive makes people lose interest because they don't relate to it. Edit: I would also add that, because so many people from the social elite participate in bicycle racing, the culture can be pretentious in many circles, including many of the shops I did and still do go into. I can remember the first time I went into what we used to call a, "pro shop," that mainly focused on selling to racers. I just wanted something simple like a tube. The guy who eventually lowered himself, and did his job by asking me, if I needed some help seemed to have the perspective that he was doing me a favor selling me a tube instead of talking to his buddies. That was, and still can be, an annoying reality in too many bicycle shops and racer culture in general. Again, it makes racing unapproachable.
Yeah, but after spending all that money, training effort and dealing with rude Americans in bike stores you might get close enough to watch a British guy going over the line and winning the race. Everyone needs a dream!
Way too long
In my mind generally speaking, usually it's people who are wealthy and or have a relatively high income who can afford the costs and time commitment to pursue a professional career or enthusiast cycling lifestyle.
Actually that’s the reality lol. It’s less the equipment, but the time and financial commitment needed to support a competitive lifestyle
As a 17 year old who loves racing but doesn't have the ability to get the best bike or components, I've certainly seen what you mean by a rich kid sport. It's really is quite the rider, though. In the past year I was my state's overall champion in a spring series, and I can only imagine how much better I could've done with a better bike.
You would have done much better, with better legs. Are you racing, because you love winning, or are you racing because you love racing.
If you’re not already on a team you should find a local club. I grew up extremely poor and couldn’t have participated if it weren’t for the help of my local club. I made great friends and had a blast riding my bike so much.
The expense of the sport, snobbery around kit and the psychological pressure put on the average cyclist to periodically upgrade (fearing they'll look poor at the local cafe ride!) are some of the reasons I now prefer to ride casually. Not having to chase the unobtainable and instead just enjoying what you have and the physical buzz of the sport is a much better way to go imo.
Just adopt slow cycling, and #PartyPace and ignore idiots who think they know best. They don't.....
Yes, while cycling is healthy, jumping off the consumer train is probably more so. Well-played. 🎩🎩🎩
An experiment: What’s the least you could be competitive with in road racing? I know GCN has done some versions of this experiment, but I would love to see them do it across, say, a criterium or circuit race series: Steel frame, aluminum rims, rim brakes, seven speed Shimano Tourney; no power meter. That’s roughly the specs of a Windsor Wellington mail order bike, and the kind of thing a non-wealthy neophyte might try to race with. (Though given sponsorship issues, maybe something like the lowest priced Trek is more realistic for a GCN experiment).
Get Dan or Ollie to ride it in one of your local race series. Give it a good tuneup and proper maintenance for the duration. And show people that they DON’T need Dura Ace/carbon aero everything/hydraulic brakes/power meters to be competitive.
Unless one actually DOES need all of that stuff to compete…
After seeing the family estate Hank inherited I would say YES to the question: “Is cycling a rich kids sport”.
But Kudos to him, I would like to be in his shoes. That estate is beautiful, lucky guy for sure.
The equipment is not the problem , the fact that it seems like you need to be ready at the age of 17 to become professional did turn it into a rich kid sport !!! Not every kid has the support nor the finance at home to get ready at such a young age!!! So the answer to the question is YES, it turns into a rich kid sport while a lot of talent gets wasted !!!
When it comes to the amateur cycling scene in America, the biggest problem is the sheer lack of amateur events. The cost of gear certainly contributes, and I do think bike manufacturers should aim to make entry level bikes more affordable, but the lack of amateur races is the biggest challenge. I also think the pressure to enter the pro scene at such a young age means that you pretty much need to be put into that pipeline at a young age (such is the case with many professional sports). I don’t know if that will ever change since there will always be pressure from the pro teams to find young talent.
If I were to make changes in the US, I’d like to see more affordable entry/mid-level bike options, more amateur events, and better pathways into established cycling programs (ie, university teams).
I believe the idea that willpower and grit will get you through is ludicrous. The bikes themselves are super expensive. While it’s true that you don't need a super expensive bike, you need something priced above £500 as a bare minimum. Race licenses cost £50 or more, along with race fees that typically exceed £15. Additionally, consider a coach for £30 per month for a basic entry-level coach. Also, factor in the expensive clothing, shoes, and helmets. Overall, you should expect to spend well over a thousand pounds for a season of racing, even on a very tight budget. Working in a primary school where the children often come in saying they don't eat breakfast and that they ate bread and ketchup for dinner means that cycling misses out on heaps of talent.
When I was racing BMX back in the 80s I was self supported as mid aged teen, my parents didn't have the money to support me and if they did they didn't back me anyway. I would cadge a lift to races with my cousin or by train. I kept my bike on the track with my paper round money, it wasn't just a race bike, it was my only bike. I used wool gloves some second hand goggles and helmet. I raced in jeans, t-shirt and trainers. I wasn't the only one like that. There were plenty of us, but we loved racing our bikes, passionately. I would get looked at on the start gate by kids with the best that money could buy. I would look at those same kids coming over the finish line long after me. Equipment helps, passion and determination and some natural talent is what counts. The big problem is, I was over looked by sponsors because I didn't fit the bill and my family had no money. That was the 80s, I hope things have changed.
Thanks for sharing your experience
What are your thoughts? Should there be some sort of equipment price cap? 💸 What would you do about this? 🤔
If junior riders reach a certain level they may find sponsors, however anyone who doesn’t reach that level and cannot afford top-end kit (juniors, seniors and vets) will be at a disadvantage, always wondering ‘what if’. An equipment price cap would be good in theory but difficult to implement. The UCI don’t help though when they keep moving the goalposts: whatever happened to the 3:1 rule for tubing, the reset of the hour record, and banning non-production equipment? A lot of people in the UK used to get into the sport through time trialling, and that really has become an arms race! Even ‘road bike’ category TT’s now allow TT equipment (wheels, frame, skinsuit, helmet) with no tri-bars
Oh and this rich kid problem is the most interesting subject ever in the racing show. Thanks. More subjects like this one would be great.
It was a working class sport until 90s but it has not got extreme with reviewers talking about a basic bike at £2k-5k GCN doesn’t help when you review a cheap bike it is almost done as a parody and never review anything in the £1K region
Let’s be real; if you have time for sports, you aren’t the working class.
I'd like to see more reviews of affordable bikes and read about the durability of components. They fawn over the 105 groupset, but what about Sora or Claris? The new stuff is bulletproof for everyman's demand.
@@slowcyclist4324 actually not true. In the 80's I used to cycle to work, it was my only transport. But on weekends I'd use the same bicycle to go to races. But back then entries were 'affordable' but these days event entries are just ridiculous (were I live at least).
@@slowcyclist4324 Some of us self employed people stay poor to have the time to ride bikes a pointless amount, haha. Worth it for me though!
@@slowcyclist4324 not true
The Problem is that channels like GCN and magazines also cyclists push the narrative that a expensive bike is needed. Cycling is basicqlly pay to win. Im a triathlete, I don't do too bad on a cheap 2002 bike and cheap shoes and neo, I cab just imagine how well I could do with expensive Equipment
I would like to see a standard bike used for age groups add olympics. Add some countries can't afford 70,000 a bike While others can even the playing field years ago gcn did a episode on the Japanese racing circuit where everyone uses the same kind of bike that's what we need
I think everyone would like to see that, but it won't happen as long as riders and teams are taking so much money from companies whose business model is based around convincing you that you need a new bike every 3 years.
Even more sad to see the thumbnail, where the photo of the “budget bike” in rim break actually has Ultegra Di2. That whole build would be easily over $4k second hand. Yet it looks dated comparing to the new disc & integrated aero cockpit and frame. That marketing has gotten to me I hate to accept😢
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Edited: but one good thing, fast rider are fast no matter what bike they’re on, and the gap between old and new is not as great as they want us to believe. There’s still hope in the used market.
You don’t have to be rich to get into cycling. You can’t buy speed. Just ride what you can afford. If you can finish with the guys on their $10,000 s-works you are doing great. Learn how to fix your bike. Make friends and join a club. Barrow tools. Upgrade with second hand parts. Just have fun and ride and don’t worry about the bike you have or the kit you wear. Let the rich kid know he was chased down with your legs not cash.
I have to say, when I turned up to my first cyclocross training session a month or so ago, I felt so utterly out of place with my old gravel bike with panniers. I live in a shared house and can't afford or find space for a second bike. Meanwhile even the juniors had rollers, and a van for their really expensive bikes. Cyclocross SHOULD be more inclusive; should be about mud and fun.
I'm a 24 year old man
You could have left your panniers at home...
Of course you feel out of place. You put a pannier on your bike!
My spare cyclocross bike cost me $300. 1x8, drop bars with v brakes (the horror I know lol), it began life as a hybrid bike.
Lizzy Deignan's record is amazing, particularly when you include giving birth twice: something not even Pogacar can manage (well, not so far anyway!)
Price cap would be a great idea. I was glad when my daughter decided to be a runner instead of a cyclist. Like you said, running shoes are a lot cheaper than a bike.
But really, in any sport (here in the US) its pay to play, or play at the highest level, attitude is in every sport. Football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, hockey. The kids who want to specialize or are particularly gifted at one sport tend to focus on that. All of these are extremely expensive. That may be just the way the world is going. I’m not sure if cycling is in any category of its own.
Of course the highest level is pay to play in every sport but barrier to entry for cycling is a lot higher than most of the other sports you listed.
Can you do a series explaining the rules of the various disciplines? Cyclocross is a mystery to me.
GCN have loads of videos on CX
First one over the line wins - simples
You could switch the "no carbon" to "only aluminium", ban aero suits, aero bra's, aero socks, aero helmets for junior categories.
You can get a decent 2nd hand alu bike for cheap, and with the current howto's on youtube maintenance shouldn't be that hard. With a bit of smart shopping even parts could be had for quite decent prices.
Yup, cost is the main thing that keeps me out of competitive cycling. I still like to ride, but I'd rather run competitively because equipment is not really a factor in running.
It’s not just the equipment. Travel, entry fees, “development camps”, it’s all well out of the reach of normal families.
I started racing in 2001 on a Trek 2300 (cylindrical tubed aluminum frame with Ultegra 9speed and some heavy Rolf wheels) that cost $1800. Put that into an inflation calculator and that would be $3200 in todays dollars. Definitely think I could put together an aluminum frame bike with Ultegra mechanical 11spd that is a lot nicer for that money now. A $5500 back then, which was pretty standard for Carbon, Durace, and Carbon wheels would be 9K now.... so seems like its pretty much tracked with inflation... There's very little difference between an 8-9K bike and the top top of the line 13-15K bikes
It was always a rich kids sport lol
when cycling becomes expensive sport. our friends from china is there to balance things out. and they're actually competing for quality tbh
Yes their carbon quality control ranks higher than the big name brands.
A bit rich from a show that uses top end kit
They have budget kits too
i rode my old SL4, exposed cables, rim brakes. Still crush the aspirational office men woth their sl7&8
There's a good reason there are school uniforms - it levels the playing field regarding clothing for all students irrespective of their financial situation - same should apply to age categories and a limit on bike cost increasing only with age. It would also make the kids appreciate the value of money and get them creative with building their race bike. With research and a bit of legwork anyone can find or build a perfectly acceptable road bike for well under 750 quid.
I got my first racing license in 1984 as a 14 year old when an entry level racing bike was about $1200. Kids racing were all working / middle class. Student wages in Canada at that time about $6 / hr, so about 200 hours of work. In 2024, student wages are $18 / hr. So 200 hours of work would get a you a $ 3600 bike. More than enough for an entry level racing bike. I would encourage young people looking to race to consider second-hand equipment and Chinese brands like Winspace, etc and AliExpress deals. Racing is a great experience in itself, it's not about getting "noticed" for 99.9% of riders. I appreciate the economics are much less favorable for young riders in developing and middle income countries.
Playing a musical instrument is just as expensive as riding a bicycle. I played saxophone in middle school, high school, and college. My saxophone was $5,000+ in 1995.
Then you add in music lessons, marching band uniforms, band fees, camps, etc. It all adds up.
I sometimes referee football (soccer) and the cost of playing on a competitive team is the same price as lower level SL8s. Parents are paying this cost yearly.
playing instruments is also something that is more for the rich kids
The issue is two-fold. Cycling is becoming more expensive to participate in, and at the same time increasing inequality means that fewer parents have the resources to support their children with any extra-curricular pursuits - especially at higher levels.
I agree, I have 3 kids racing cx and bit of road in the summer, but also triathlon, and it's already becoming an arms race, and they're all U12! But, it's definitely about the skills and ability more than the kit, and we buy second hand bikes every time the next size up is required. Biggest issue with implementing more rules (above gear restrictions) is getting everything checked pre-race. Commissaires have other things to do, and kids just want to ride, so it gets very laborious. Would be equally tedious at adult races. But a single bike rule in cx until the junior category would be interesting, as would no carbon.
I have a son racing Mtb xc and a no carbon until they are juniors would have fantastic. He is 16 now and on a trek hardtail with X01. But he worked all summer at a supermarket for that. So a no carbon in u 11-u13 nd u15 would make it a lot cheaper to get in to and grow with sport
My club is trying to attract juniors to track riding, because we can provide track bikes free of charge. If they get really keen on the sport, they can look to invest in their own equipment, but the club bikes will absolutely get you around!
I grew up very poor and if I hadn’t hooked up with my local club I would have given up. That was back in the 80’s. By the time I stopped racing I had a Pinarello. That never would have happened without my clubs help. Always join a club.
Team staff transfer used to only be talked about in rare instances of major figures changing, like Rod Ellingworth moving to Bahrain McLaren. The media would sit up and take notice of those, so i think it has become a feedback loop. To get interaction and content suggesting progress and good optics on social media teams are announcing "star" staff so a content-hungry media picks it up as a headline so everything gets echoed out of proportion.
Every sport is a rich kid sport when you get to a deliberately competitive level.
If you look at sports by how much equipment influences the outcomes vs human fitness or skill, cycling is nowhere near as bad as others. As Dan mentioned, Motorsports, Equestrian, and Sailing are …far worse.
The reality? Everything is more expensive now than it ever has been, and that will always be the case. The only people surprised by this are the ones who get stuck in a certain era mentally, or income level, and that would certainly sum up Madiot, whose team is seemingly a decade behind.
I've only just considered racing now that I've been able to build decent bikes due to working in the industry, non of them are carbon though. After working out the logistics for going to some races, I realised that more money will be needed. I can't imagine cycling has ever been an accessible sport...it's probably at it's most accessible now just due a wider range of races, riding and affordable bikes, but to be truly competitive requires capital or an outgoing, bubbly persona that gets enough views on social media for companies to want to support you.
I'm not sure putting some restrictions on equipment for the younger categories - like the mentioned no-carbon rule - would help, actually quite the opposite IMO. I've just been helping a friend, who's currently a runner and wants to start with triathlon, choose his first racing bike with a budget of max. €1200, but rather lower. I could barely find a new bike for that price and if, it was something you wouldn't have fun riding; on the second hand market, however, I could find some top-end carbon fibre frames even with 11-speed mechanical Dura-Ace or Ultegra Di2 from just a few years ago for less than a grand (all but one I found had rim brakes, but I don't think that's that important, especially for children, which are typically very light). I appreciate that might still be a lot of money for some parents just trying to get their child into the sport, but honestly, you're gonna spend likely more than in a year on starting fees and fuel to get to races alone.
As for the multiple bikes in cyclocross from the age of 12, I didn't know that rule, and agree that allowing a bike in the pit from let's say the U17 category (so 15-16 years of age) would make more sense.
Completely agree with levelling the level of gear for under19's. Confidence is so fragile at those vulnerable ages. They go through puberty at different rates as well as the lottery of age groups where they fall into. And so a kid that was doing well at 13 can be spat out at 14. It is soul destroying to have a kid roll up with handed down kit alongside a kid with S-works level kit at a point where they are now entering an older age group. I speak from experience of a father that has watch the enthusiasm of his son be quashed by this.
There are too many obstacles to our sport, this is one where we can make a conscious change for the better of the kids.
Not here in Germany. Went to a cyclocross meeting in Rheinzabern on Sunday where there were racers across the board from tiny U 11’s through hobby racers - some nearly as old as me - to Elite Masters. The encouragement for the youngsters was tremendous and although some were pedalling very shiny, new bikes, many were getting a lot of fun out of whatever they had in the garage. How about some GCN support for the young beginners?
Added to the fact that nobody will be able to watch cycling without a subscription, once ITV finish free to air TdF coverage, meaning cycling reaching a much smaller audience.
Isn't that a specifically UK problem? Other European countries will still have it free to air in some way or another.
But then that's also the men's tour - what about the women's? Do we think that only men's cycling deserves an audience?
It depends, Dan. If you compete or you want to turn pro the answer is Yes. But if you will use it just for everyday for your exercise, training, bike to work etc it is not expensive. By the way as you get older weight is not a big deal anymore. Just ride your bike. Ride safe
BMX is the way to get young kids started racing.
Not in Australia. Need a proper BMX -approx $1000, full face helmet $100-150, Race license - $100 shoes and clothes - $150-$200, weekly race fee - $15 per week adds up quick
Most valuable thing in life is time. Forget the equipment cost, you mostly pay for the sport with your time in training and salary for coaches, doctors and mechanics/engineers/etc who spend their time. And for this matter no endurance sport is neither cheap nor a good investment, it's an upper-middle class leisure.
The rising cost of bikes is fast becoming one of the biggest obstacles facing youth cycling in the UK. As the sport grapples with dwindling participation numbers and a shaky domestic scene, we need to face a harsh reality: if we don’t act soon, we risk losing an entire generation of potential riders before they even pin on a race number.
It’s time to ask some hard questions. Why should a sport where strength, skill, and determination should shine through be increasingly defined by the depth of a rider’s (or their parent’s) pockets? For years, professional cyclists have had to abide by rules limiting bike specifications-why shouldn’t we apply similar thinking to youth racing?
Here’s the proposal: all riders under 18 should race on metal-framed bikes weighing 10kg or more, equipped with standard wheels and no aero enhancements. The benefits are clear. By leveling the playing field, we ensure that races are won through hard work and talent, not financial advantage. Stronger, smarter, and more resilient riders will naturally emerge, prepared for the rigors of adult competition.
Think of the greats. Riders like Sean Kelly or Bernard Hinault honed their craft on bikes far heavier than today’s ultra-light machines, developing raw power and mental toughness in the process. Would those legends have risen as they did if cycling had priced them out before they even started?
Critics might argue this approach is too prescriptive or risks alienating manufacturers. But let’s be honest-if the current trajectory continues, the domestic racing scene will suffer far more. Youth riders-and their families-are already opting out due to spiraling costs, leaving empty start lines and a shrinking talent pool.
It’s not just about accessibility; it’s about the future of UK road racing. A shift like this sends a clear message: cycling is for everyone, and success is earned on the road, not in the wallet. Moreover, it could spark innovation among bike brands to create high-quality, durable, and affordable options for young racers, rather than relying on pushing ever-expensive upgrades.
The time for change is now. Let’s give our young riders a fair shot and rebuild the grassroots of UK cycling before it’s too late. After all, the stars of tomorrow need more than shiny bikes-they need a stage they can afford to step onto.
10 year old road bikes are just as fast as the new stuff, and are also extremely cheap.... I suppose the advertising has fooled people into thinking cycling is "expensive"... It's probably the cheapest sport. Using a bike for commuting compounds the savings.
Strange timing for GCN to talk about cycling becoming a rich kids sport when only earlier today one of their presenters quite literally uploaded a video on how hes just inherited his families sprawling estate and title.
Link?
@@elbowspeak th-cam.com/video/FEAbK6JALA4/w-d-xo.html
My friend’s kids played tennis… only need a racket and trainers? No. Costs a bomb for courts, coaching , membership in tennis clubs.
Sport is costly and the richness and passion from parents a big factor. I used to help with kids athletics and the poorer kids struggled getting to away competition and parents getting them to training especially if they were single parents with other kids. So many factors involved not just the purchase of kit.
I do worry about this for my boys coming up through the sport. I hope I can support them to the point where their talent can get them the support to progress further.
Compared to the costs of playing competitive hockey in Canada, which can easily exceed $10-15k yearly depending on one's level, cycling is not out of the ordinary
I have x2 daughters racing CX.. I'm really happy the WMCCL has a 1 bike rule!!
I guess that doesn't apply for national level events 😢
A cap is such a good idea for kids cyclecross. However, this is easily abused ("handy" secondhand), thus a kit type restriction sounds excellent e.g. Aluminium or steel only, no electronic gears, etc.
My club is 'aging out' and road racing, the biggest entry is 45-55. The barrier to entry to the sport is polluted by the amount of DuraAce. Thinking good, means ye need to spend £££. Gravel could have been the revolution before the Aero gravel bike was introduced.
Ref junior cycling.. maybe a class where everyone ride the same bike 😊 Pete 👍🚴🏻
Newsflash: all sports have
I learnt of the existence of cyclocross when I was over the age of 35…
I also think that there’s almost none of those races in my country. Still.
The options for non-European kids getting into cycling is minuscule and the technology arms race definitely has made it worse.
It’s going to be generations before cycling truly becomes a global sport. I mean, wasn’t a national champion recently looking for a pro contract on Instagram? You can guess what continent he was from.
You’re going to get your outliers from outside Europe but this will not change anytime soon. And that’s really sad.
I don't believe that it has necessarily become a rich kid's sport due to increasing prices of the equipment. I think, however, it might have become partially a rich kid's sport because of the increase inequality of wealth/income distribution. Gini coefficient for UK has increase compared to 70-90's. Also I believe consumers (riders) are pushing themselves to buy more expensive equipment. Decades ago, you could rock up in far less expensive equipment and you wouldn't have stood out.
While I agree with Dan on the 'only one bike', a price cap would be too difficult to administrate properly. How are used bikes valuated, equipment bought abroad etc?
he is right, I love cycling now in my late 30s , now I always wish that I started racing from a young age, but there is no ways I would have been able to afford a decent bike at that age.
I've been racing for about 4 years and all on my own it and really rough, I was one of the top junior in Canada last years and cause of money a lot of project I couldn't do. I think I would be for more advanced in the sport if I had money. Also cycling is a sport of knowing the right person and people with more m0ney then to know more the right person in my experience
I once proposed a 9kg minimum weight on jr bikes and people lost their minds. I’ll never forgot one mom inveighing “I work hard to make my money and I can spend it any way I want.”
Hi Dan and GCN,
Hasn't Hank just inherited a Manor House in the Cotswolds?
🤔🤴
I was appalled at the obscenely expensive bikes at youth race here in Ireland. We should look to motorsports and have a spec bike (alloy frame+wheels, no Di2, etc) up to a certain age
For junior cyclocross, instead of a no carbon rule why not a gear limiting rule, say no more than 9 at the rear and limited gear sizing. In time trialling there’s a gear limit rule in force. It’d bring down the cost of the bike straight away as that would be the pool of bikes parents search for. And, kill the two bike rule, one race, one bike. It’d cost nothing to enforce and parents can pick up bikes at a reasonable price.
Felipe Orts is on fire this year!
Question to Belgians: How do you convince the farmers to allow cyclocross on their fields? Do they get a big compensation? Are they just all cyclocross fans and happy to offer it?
They get compensation, but some find it too small, and say go f' yourself 🎉, that is why par example a few years ago they had to change the whole track on ' Koppenberg' 😂
Always was.
I raced elite in NL/BE in 2008 on entry level Mavic Aksium wheels.
But even as recently as then, the only real differentials at the top of the amateur ranks was frame (carbon or alloy - yeah some guys raced on aluminium) and groupset (105 or Dura-Ace).
This aero stuff, tubeless etc has changed too much.
Forget the kids, what about us old people? I have a perfectly fine titanium mechanical rim brake bike with an Ultegra group and sweet Mavic Rys wheels. The SAME FRAME with integrated cabling, disc brakes and DI2 Ultegra is $15,000 more than I can sell my bike for. I have the money, but not the nerve to spend it, especially when I can still stay on the wheels of most who ride the top end bikes. If I were young, I'd buy aluminium. Splurge carbon integrated electric disc when you can afford it.
Sure has!
Cycling has become a rich kids’ sport. In the 80’s & into the 90’s a middle class to lower middle class kid could get into road cycling, ex Lance Armstrong. Obstacles to entry have risen apace with bicycle prices.
As with a lot of sports, cycling is suffering with marginalization that excludes so many. But thankfully some of that can be mitigated. The availability of swift and bike trainers, that are less expensive than any high end bike, allows for racing and talent identification while still allowing us to ride in the real world just for fun on less expensive gear. To be honest i don't completely agree with my own statements... but I'm just choosing to think about it from another point of view.
It's a pretty dangerous sport if you have to train on the road. The risk of death is very high compared to most other sports. CTE risk is there as well, which is something that goes under the radar.
In a UK context, no races on the roads, except for maybe the Tour of Britain and the occasional start for the likes of the TdF or Giro, are closed road.
This means that road racing happens on open roads, and that normal car and HGV traffic is allowed to mix into a race. It's not uncommon for races in the UK to be halted and cancelled due to a rider being killed by an inpatient driver.
There are a few annual triathlons which take place near where I live in the summer time. Organisers put up signs along the roads starting "Caution: Race in Progress", but there's nothing really stopping someone in a BMW 5 series from just plowing into a rider he didn't see in time at 60mph.
6:54 I think you mean circumventing, not circumnavigating 😂
I’m 15years old and I have a 20year+ old bike but a few weeks ago I won a race with it
The guy in second had a carbon bike with the newest ultegra (he was also 15)
So it’s not all about the bike
It's not that simple, that if you are good enough, you will be noticed. Of course buying latest Trek Madone for an U14 rider will not get him win races, but on the other hand racing with a cheap gear can cost a podium. Poor brakes can cost crash, that will demotivate. Heavy bike can be the reason, when you will be dropped at a hill, and it will demotivate, etc. Kids demotivate quickly, specially in multimedia times, when there are plenty of other things to do, that do not make dissapointment. So if a young rider have poor bike it can be an excuse to stop riding. It's maybe funny, but it' true. Not every young rider is Peter Sagan, or a Tadej Pogacar, who as a kid won on every gear, every time. Sagan was one of his era, so is Pogi. What about others? Now without a parent, who will pay for a decent (not necesserly the best) gear and will spend time to train a kid it is barely impossible to perform. Even in U12 the difference between trained rider, who train not only under coach's, but also father's eye is noticable to a kid, who is on his own, with clubs poor gear and a poorly paid coach. Now pure talent is irrelevant. It can be only with genius cases like Peter or Pogi. One in a milion.
There is absolutely no difference between my very first 500€ alloy bike with Tiagra and my current Aeroad …when using them on zwift. That’s why I’m a big fan of the Zwift academy and other such programs.
Zwift is not really going to create a generation of skilled racing cyclists though is it? ZA is just a relic from when they were just cluelessly throwing VC around and hoping something sticks "Let's flood youtube with zwift adverts...hmm, that didn't work that well....Let's sponsor the women's tour and see how many subscribers we get....hmm...none....well let's become the UCI official esports app....hmm that didn't work....let's start a zwift academy...." it's just random money spending.
no, idiots just overpay for s-works and cervelo bikes, when you can get a 10 year old trek rim brake bike that performs better.
I grew up poor in a large family. Sport could only be done as part of school events and even that was limited where the school didn't provide basic equipment and transportation. In an environment where both parents are working often including some time on weekends, the children have home responsibilities limiting opportunity and then you add cost and transportation which makes it all but impossible to participate in sport. Expensive sports like cycling are totally out of the question.
Lizzie Deignan had her best season in 2015. The same year she missed 3 out of competition tests.
it's always been a rich man's sport if you want to race pro-elite, you not noticed...?
in order to compete at the highest level then you need every advantage in order to do this which means spending thousands on the bike or rather bikes for different disciplines, then there is the tools as well as food and transport as well as accommodations, i'm all for getting out there going against the grain as i did in my younger days, i revelled in beating & winning races on a lesser bike, but lets be honest in a 7 to 10 day race you need that lighter bike with different gear ratio accompanied with a different wheel sets and tyres, i could go on so yeah it has always been a middle class type of sport, but yeah just. get out there and try it out as you will enjoy,
Lets be honest, we all like the new shiny, lighter, faster shit
But the question is, how is a young person meant to get started and be spotted these days? Most clubs don't allow under 18s so it's difficult to get to a high level in the first place to get into races that they may do.
you confuse "cycling" with sanctioned and heavily sponsored European road racing bicycle races. as though rich boys just popped up last year. the recent instant gilded millionaire (pogacha) is the vesper of official "this sport is dull, boring and dominated by big dollar sponsors. most of us dont race, and find racing dull and boring. the bike is the least of the expenses needed to participate in this elitist lycra and leg shaving sport. mens rode racing finish line "Jesus pose an chest thumping aside", I'm glad you report on sanctioned cyclocross racing in Europe. love it!!
Depends, if you looking to be the best, it has always been, for fun any bike will do
It is among the most elitist sports, absolutely. The cost is outrageous and shameful. I would love to see racing with bike limits. Aluminum, 19 pounds. The talented endurance athletes who are not rich should have a way in.
Other then track cycling at least in US, it's always been a sport for the effluent. That was true decades ago as well.
*than
@@notreally2406 Being dyslexia comes enough challenges of everything having being typed out. Don't you have enough do do without being a pedant?
The affordable used bike market is so overlooked! Probably because promoting it keeps sponsors away.
I see quite a few Sunday posers who dress like a pro cyclist, and believe that by having a carbon bike you are going to ride so fast, which is totally not true
You can buy pristine rim brake supersix evo HM with Dura Ace for less then $1k.
When was it not a rich kids sport. As a youngster i couldnt afford even an entry level race bike. Now that im a professional i can buy those toys.
I haven’t watched the video but the answer to the title is - yes. Nuff said.
Yes.
yes it has, and gcn is big in it with all the promo content. sad times