criznell

I've noticed an increase in older men on really nice rides. While there is nothing wrong with dentists and lawyers taking up road cycling, has the game of golf lost its luster in the eyes of white collar professionals (I assume if you can train on Zipp wheels, your probably not working in a garage).

For what its worth, I commend these gentlemen for their efforts.

StephenH

I was just googling, and it does seem golf is in a bit of a downswing.

I don't think the two are really competing, though. It's kind of like saying tractor sales are up and limo sales are down so "Have tractors become the new limos?" Most of the people I know that play golf are doing good to wheeze around the course and aren't about to take up something aerobic in nature. The golf issue is partly because there was a big upswing several years ago, and partly because of the economy. I don't know but what high-end bike sales aren't off, either.

dougmc

Certainly, you're not the first to ask this question (or declare the answer to be "yes") ...

Any doubts? See what google says.

Motobetird

From what I can tell, yes in some areas and no in others. As popular as cycling has become, golf is a leisurely business expense. I think that the majority of people who were serious into golf, however were looking for a more physically challenging sport, have landed into cycling. But you can still drink beer and smoke cigarettes while getting in 18 holes. Also, golf proves for more communicating. Cycling with business associates could prove just as beneficial. You may feel a closer bond to cycling associates just because you are doing something semi-against the grain. And although the verbal communication is not there during a ride, there is still an unspoken bond which can lead to more topics of interest when not on the bike.

FrenchFit 

We are doing a ol' prof. guys MetC this morning, we weren't golfers. If there is a common datapoint, (a big if), we used to do more high impact sports and picked cycling as something of a ease off. My limited experience says you'll find more runners, kayakers, gym rats, mountaineers, windsurfers, racer-sailers etc. who want the work-out cycling provides without getting physically beat up. Ironically, seems like many of the older golfers I've met have chronic knee and hip problems, wierd.

alpha_bravo

I'm a poster boy for this topic. I was a very avid golfer who worked his way down to a 2.1 handicap. I have have transitioned into a casual golfer who's become a serious road cyclist.

For me it's the combination of expense and time. You can't do anything in golf without having to lay down some cash. Even a simple trip to the driving range to practice costs $10 a pop. And on the weekends, when you're battling through slow foursome after foursome you're lucky to escape with a 5 hour round. Combine that with driving time to and from the course and you've lost 6 or seven hours of the day. I love the fact that I can hop on my bike, roll out of the driveway and enjoy myself. Now that I've purchased my bike, I don't have to pay anyone or deal with anything. It's just me, my bike, and the road.

iheartbenben

Golf sucks.

Jamesw2

Hey Honey get me a beer I am watching golf.
Something wrong about that saying

Hey Honey I am watching these crazy cyclist use gravity go down some mountain in Chile, Please get me a beer.
Much better ring to it

Now a movie about cycling like Caddy Shack

ppena

Breaking Away?

tcs

Call me when the US President, Vice President, Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader go on a bike ride together.

Elmog

Totally agree with AB. Just suit up, ride out of your garage and go for it. It's the least hassle sport that I know of, even less trouble than going to the gym. The only cost is a couple of lousy energy bars and the physical benefit waaay out weighs that of golf. Golf can also be very frustrating, while biking is very stress relieving.

billyb0b115

cycling is probably just as expensive

Sabalo

It has for me. I used to play golf 3 or times a week. Now I ride 4 or 5 times a week.
Golf eats up about 6 hours ( drive to the course,warm-up, 4+ hours to play 18 holes, settle all the wagers, drive home).

dstrong 

FIFY. I consider cycling, AFTER the initial investment, to be a pretty cheap sport. The recurring costs are pretty low and if you can avoid catching the dreaded upgrade-itis, it's pretty budget friendly.

davehbuffalo

Someone just just commented yesterday that two years ago all I did was golf and now all I do is cycle. I'm not that old though.

dahut

This is true. Even the entry costs can be held low if you go used and shop it around. Its the riding that matters, after all.

I think it is interesting that only white collar professionals are considered here - one couldn't be a tradesman or artist and be a real cyclist, I gather?

lotek 

There was actually an article in the N.Y. Times with this same line, Cycling is the new Golf.
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/fa...04SILICON.html
A very interesting article.
Never played golf seriously, but I am an old guy on a nice old bike.

stonefree

It's just me, my bike, and the road.

That says it all.