Cycling is the new golf in Silicon Valley – NY Times article

[dplasters]

As the forums only rider and avid golfer (that I’m aware of) I am compelled to note that, this has been going on for a long time.

Both activities do seem to be highly cyclical. Golf and cycling seem to go through booms and busts regularly. I am a fan of either, so whatever works for you.

On a positive note for golf, rounds are up at Fairfax County Public Courses this year.

[KLizotte]

@dplasters 144931 wrote:

As the forums only rider and avid golfer (that I’m aware of) I am compelled to note that, this has been going on for a long time.

Both activities do seem to be highly cyclical. Golf and cycling seem to go through booms and busts regularly. I am a fan of either, so whatever works for you.

On a positive note for golf, rounds are up at Fairfax County Public Courses this year.

Wow, you must have a whole garage full of “toys.”

[Vicegrip]

@KLizotte 144939 wrote:

Wow, you must have a whole garage full of “toys.”

You say that like it is a bad thing. :rolleyes: I am guilty of far worse. Trade golf for race cars, scuba diving RC quadrocopters and more.

Golf seems to be on a long slow slide down. Tiger Woods came along and stopped the decline for a while but overall the decline in golfers and activity has resumed. a couple of equipment makers are getting out altogether. I am guilty of converting a golfer to a cyclist. golfers are easy marks. they are used to shelling out $ for gear and happy to find they don’t have to shell out $ or set up a T time whenever they want to ride. (they are also used to wearing funny looking clothing and shoes that are hard to walk in on hard surfaces)

[dplasters]

@KLizotte 144939 wrote:

Wow, you must have a whole garage full of “toys.”

It helps that my townhouse doesn’t have a garage

Golf, like cycling, can be done inexpensively. It can also be done very expensively. That choice is always up to the individual. Ebay is probably the greatest creation ever for a golfer on a budget.

Golf seems to be on a long slow slide down.

They are both pretty cyclical. You hear about golf more (in the good and the bad times) because:

1. Its on broadcast TV every weekend
2. Most major OEMs are publicly traded
3. Courses are capital intensive

Its like if Specialized or Trek had to constantly sell 5% more bikes every year to meet shareholder’s expected earnings. There is a point where the market is saturated. Thus, Nike Golf.

Golfers are primed to pay for gains, which makes them an easy market switch. I find it interesting that many of the articles talk about how easy it is to cycle. This is of course true, but it doesn’t talk about the effort, work and suffering required to get good at road cycling. I get a little chuckle when they push the idea that golfers turn to cycling because golf is too hard. Then cyclists talk about suffer scores, power meters and cracking on a climb.

Mechanical doping on friendly group rides here we come!

[KLizotte]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply negativity. Having just bought another bike and living in a high rise apartment makes me jealous of people with lots of storage space. And the thought of managing two sports equipment needs makes me shudder!

[Author]

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