Cycling is the new golf for entrepreneurs - Apr. 29, 2014

Is Cycling the New Golf? | Resonance

This is about road biking, but I think many of the elements are similar.

 

That's awesome. Nothing wrong with golf. Here in California i see tons of folks 60+ riding road and mtn. That's one thing i love about the west, people are just more active even as they get older. I grew up in N.J. and you just don't see very many older folks staying active. Maybe it's changing, i don't know. Good to know that the trend is catching on in Virginia. i myself plan to ride, hike, swim and play in the surf until my body doesn't let me anymore. Seniors riding and staying active is inspiring to me

 

That's awesome. Nothing wrong with golf.

Sure there is, huge waste of space and destruction of natural environment. On the other hand, there are probably some old warehouses that could be converted to indoor golf courses...

 

It would be nice to see real numbers. I hope it is growing, but the vast majority of riders I see are in there 30s and 40s....not a lot of young entrants into the sport it doesn't appear. I hope it is growing, but I doesn't appear like it is showing much growth in total numbers to me, if any.

 

I can not give solid numbers. Only anecdotal evidence. I doubt solid numbers really exist.

In California, many of the high schools now have mtb race teams. There is a sanctioning body to govern over their races and they have their own race series. Their races bring together dozens of teams and hundreds of racers. Its not uncommon to see 400 - 500 racers show up for a race.
Even the non high school league races benefit from the high school racers. One of our local race series saw double attendance this year, simply from the number of high schoolers showing up.
And they are fast!! Oh My God!!! kind of fast. A couple of them regularly give our local pro guy a run for his money, even beating him once in a while. Its seriously inspiring to see the quality of mtn bikers that are being developed right now.:thumbsup:

 

Aloha, this is a great thread because I find both appealing. Each for their own aspects for sure. Mountain biking has brought me to so many amazing places, allowed me to see so many things you just can't from a car or hiking (unless you have even more time). I've also met so many amazing people from all walks of life riding here and around the world. Mountain biking has a great physical aspect to it.

Then golf, it really grounded me and allowed me to learn patience. No matter how good I am and how much I practice, I'll never have a perfect game. Even the pros will tell you they never had a perfect round. A perfect round can be defined as making a birdie on every hole which should be a score of 54. The lowest scores recorded by the pros have been 59. So that means even with all the practice, preparation, technology, ducks in a row, there'll be stuff that goes wrong and I've learned to just go with it because that's the shot I got and there's nothing I can do about that shot. All I can do is focus on the next shot at hand. Don't make it worse and adapt. Exactly like trying to live life.

Also, golf has its side of physical attributes. People may think anyone can do it and to some degree that is true. However, it requires one to turn on and turn off full concentration. It requires one to be as fresh when finishing a round as when starting so that it's not a factor in the swing. It's not easy. And like mountain biking, there are some amazing views and things to see on golf courses around the world.

So going back, they're just two different activities that I happen to totally enjoy for what they each bring to the table.

Finally, I laugh. I'm pushing the Hawaii 5-0 this year and have been riding since the mid 80's. I have a friend that I regularly ride with that's pushing 70 and he still kicks my butt.

 

Golf has three things going against it:
1) It's expensive (credit card comes out every round)
2) Huge commitment of time to get any good at it or even play a round
3) Regardless of how good you get at it, a typical round has a significant amount of frustration built into it. Things that we'd think would be easy to do are extremely difficult.

I can get on a road bike from my garage and have fun, a great workout and an adrenaline rush in one hour with no hassle and don't have to get out my credit card every time I ride. Or, for me, 5 minutes away is killer singletrack.

I say this as a person who played golf his whole life, got down to mid single digits handicap and was really serious about it. I've just lost interest because of how much time the game demands to play well.

 

Much of Virginia (especially the Charlottesville area northward towards D.C.) definitely has more of a west 'feel' when it comes to being active, eating healthy, being outdoors, etc. I grew up in the east but have relatives in Colorado and Cal, and I agree regarding the differences in attitudes out there. Of course, it certainly doesn't hurt that your weather is generally better (as you can attest growing up in NJ), but IMO we have great weather here most of the year too.

 

As a mountain biker and a golfer, I was just talking about this with my brother while out for a round of golf. How cool would it be to have a golf course set up in the mountains with trails and you just ride to each tee box with your mountain bike. The only hiccup would be, transporting your clubs on your bike somehow.

 

My grandfather used to say "You only need two clubs, five iron and putter." He beat many people using just those.

I however would need a trailer to carry all of the balls that I would loose.

 

My grandfather used to say "You only need two clubs, five iron and putter." He beat many people using just those.

I however would need a trailer to carry all of the balls that I would loose.

Your grandfather would ride a single speed.

 

i used to bike a lot, then really got into golfing for a while, and last year got back into biking.......i still hope to golf a few times this year with my spouse and/or my kids, but I guess I decided I enjoy biking more and it is not nearly as frustrating as golf......

 

I would agree that I don't golf as much as i did 3 years ago when i first go back into cycling. But I don't have the free time to golf either like i did in my late teens thru mid 20's. Its much easier to hop on my bike after work or whatever and take off for an hour than it is to go golfing and I can ride by myself where i always golfed with other people.

 

I've been mtbing since the early 90's. The sport has grown by leaps and bounds since then. Just the amount of trail access now is pretty crazy, and growing every year.

What was once considered a reckless youth activity, has become accepted as a healthy lifestyle... those reckless youth are now middle aged. The modern mountain bike, with it's smooth suspension, and disc brakes, light weight, etc... made getting out and learning a bit less painful/daunting. I see a wide variety of ages in new riders. Plus you can't discount the Mt.Dew generation, with it's cultural shift to adrenaline sports.

Golf was always kind meh to me. The couple of years when I tried to get into (about the same time I took up mtbing) - it was more about a way of killing time, while you drank a 6-pack, and farted around in a golf cart, chasing that stupid little ball... and it still is.

 

When you combine the media impact that Lance had for all those years and the huge improvement in mountain bike trail building plus all the new lift driven resorts opening up, it's all contributing. Add to that how much better mountain bikes have gotten over the last 10 years too.

And, of course, bikes are an absolute blast to ride.

 

I golfed before I mtn biked. When I discovered mtn biking I realized it made me smile, and golfing made me curse. Soon after that epiphany I sold my golf clubs.

I knew a golf pro at a prominent golf course here in FL and he said he sees the popularity of golf dropping significantly in the future. His reason? Gamers. His point, that young people don't care about "the outdoors".

But I have a different opinion from the OP on the increase in MTB'ing popularity. I think it's simply because the sport has come out of the shadows, it's no longer an underground, non-mainstream activity. IMBA and an increase in local clubs has a lot to do with that. Simply put; more people are aware of it, so more people try it out.

I sold one of my older bikes last week to someone totally new to mtn biking. His reason for wanting to get into it? "Because it seems like everyone he knows rides". So there ya go

 

Most of the people I know in my general demographic either quit playing golf or have no interest in taking up the sport for two main reasons: 1. Money, and 2. Time (this is what I hear most). It takes 4-5 hours just to play a round of golf, and that doesn't include travel time to/from and any socializing you might want to do afterwards, such as hanging out in the clubhouse having drinks/food. I mentioned my typical baby boomer dad being gone a good chunk of the day...I just don't see or hear of that as much anymore with guys who now have young families of their own and want to spend their free time with them.

I have nothing personally against golf, but I don't see myself ever playing it much given the amount of time it requires. As for MTB 'coming out of the shadows,' I agree though I'll say again that advancement in bikes also really helped, especially for the middle aged and up crowd. Some of the guys I see these days would have no chance on a rigid/hardtail 26er from yesteryear.

 

I started golfing and playing tennis with my father when i was 4 and did until he passed away two years ago. It gave him a reason to sneak off and drink away from my mom. We lived on the second hole and the country club they belonged too was a few hundred yards away. My baseball coach/brother hated that I played golf and tennis. I think he was just mad that i could beat him and his buddies by the time I was 12 at golf. The club is now open to the public after memberships dropped off like many others in the country.

None of my friends do any kind of cycling and make fun of me for doing it. F... them. LOL

I am new to mtn biking and have talked to some nice people all three times i have went to one of the local trails. I could always pick up cyclist when I rode in florida on the the road bike i just sold.

 

I don't golf but a few of my friends do. They are late 40's to early 50's and from the sounds of it they golf very infrequently. Unlike me they are still working so their lives are busy but they manage to fit in 2-3 rides a week. People are busy and have to prioritize their recreation time. MTB vs anything else in my books is no contest. One commented the other day that MTB is the new golf and I will say that is is extremely popular here in the Comox Valley, BC. People I used to work with always talked about golf when the Comox are was mentioned but my experience here is markedly different. I do live in Cumberland which is the trail hotspot on N Vancouver Island so my observation may be skewed. On my one block street there are probably 8 MTBers. We have a parking lot near the trailhead that holds about 40 cars and it is full up on Wed night and during the weekend these days. Lots of vehicles parked nearby and loads of riders on the trails. For afterwards the village has a great pub, pizza shop, and coffee place which are quite busy with MTBers. Similar I suppose to the clubhouse.

 

I don't golf but a few of my friends do. They are late 40's to early 50's and from the sounds of it they golf very infrequently. Unlike me they are still working so their lives are busy but they manage to fit in 2-3 rides a week.

On my one block street there are probably 8 MTBers. We have a parking lot near the trailhead that holds about 40 cars and it is full up on Wed night and during the weekend these days. Lots of vehicles parked nearby and loads of riders on the trails. For afterwards the village has a great pub, pizza shop, and coffee place which are quite busy with MTBers. Similar I suppose to the clubhouse.

Sounds like how I started golfing.... (no talent or great interest) just promise of food and beer afterward and/or beer while 'in session'. In the mid to late 1980's I was working out of sales ofc and the guys would go out once a week on thurs nights. It was fun camaraderie and the boys night out so-to-speak.

While I excelled in the sport of cursing and inventing new words born of frustration, my partner would throw his clubs at times. I got stuck with him due to our similar ability but it was all good fun. He usually showed up a bit early and would 'burn one' in his car so he was usually good humored and had a serious interest in going out to eat. He once tossed his club and it landed in a creek (this was in Michigan) so I suggested he bring a big magnet and rope the following week. I was more or less kidding but sure enough, he had it next time out and fished around a bit to retrieve it. It didn't stop him from his club toss from time to time and in fact, it may have encouraged it.

Other's brought fireworks from time to time so there was a bit of excitement added to the game (like not getting caught and thrown off the grounds). The booms and bottle rockets seemed pretty out of place there but I won't say it was a posh resort and even if so, the group sure changed the nature of the place in short order.

 

The moment I discovered MTB....was the day I retired Golf for good. I'm 50 and you won't ever see me swinging that club again. My future retirement presents to myself is a road race bike, a race XC machine(currently have), Trail(5.5" travel) bike, a new Porsche and a Fatbike. :thumbsup:

Yeah, I'm spinning pedals till' I drop....

 

Never played a round of golf in my life. Probably due to the fact that all my friends and my youngest brother pickled themselves with alcohol everytime they played. I never could drink in the middle of the day. lol

Been Mtnbiking since the early 90's and have indeed seen a considerable increase in the sport here in VA.

 

Old joke I heard once. Why do they call it golf? Because "****" was already taken. I tried to play for years when I was in HS and college. Managed too break 100 once my whole life.

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Old joke I heard once. Why do they call it golf? Because "****" was already taken. I tried to play for years when I was in HS and college. Managed too break 100 once my whole life.

I broke a 100 once, on the front nine.

 

Interesting thread! I was just wondering if MTB could partially replace golf for business for some folks one day; I'm having my first bike ride with a banker to discuss business tomorrow and I thought it's pretty cool!

 

With the drought in California the enormous consumption of water for golf courses is being revealed.

The most rare and beautiful riparian canyon ecosystem at the headlands of Wildcat Creek in Tilden Park was destroyed to creat a golf course many years ago.

Golf is struggling to survive by making the game shorter. It is dying. It is a luxury of time and money fewer and fewer seek.

 

I always thought golf was pretty boring anyway. Plus when I was growing up it was this weird quiet game on TV. My Dad didn't play golf so I certainly had no one to try to get me interested in it. Although the other kids in my neighborhood started taking it up as we grew up. But it just never had any kind of appeal to me. But no sport that had any kind of a ball in it appealed to me anyway. I was always a "car guy". And I didn't know golf was declining in popularity until I came across this thread.

For one thing, you don't have to pay anything like a "green fee" to go out and ride your bike.

 

i dont really see how golf and mtn biking can be compared. i dont think the rise of one and decline of another are related. maybe jogging vs mtb (exercise) or hiking vs mtb (being outdoors on trails)?

its like quitting bird watching to take up base jumping.

 

I think the drop in golf popularity has more to do with the economy than anything else...it's a very expensive sport. Credit cards come out for every round and every trip to the range. Add in lessons, destination golf travel ... it's very expensive.

But, when you look at the interest in mountain biking with younger people that could have a long term effect on less people getting into golf. If more and more buffed out "groomer" style mtn biking trails get built and the danger/injury factor is reduced, it will pull in a lot more older riders.

 

I never got into golf. I went to the driving range with a friend once and that's about it. My father in-law is really into golf and in a way if i got into it we could bond more, but that's about the only reason for me to get into it. I have like a handful of friends that golf, but it's not frequent. Like it was said, it's the time consumption I was never into.
Another person brought up video games in the younger generation and i can see that. Up until I was like 26, I was on the computer gaming 3-5 hours a day. It's easy because it's at home and doesn't take much to play.
When I was 27 is when I got into MTB. It was after i was at a local park here and I saw they had a mountain bike trail. So i looked it up, and thought it looked fun. I've always been outdoorsy being in boy scouts/camping/hiking/rafting until i hit college. Then I got caught up with school and career. Plus I always grew up with bikes until. And I was always a "car-guy", so a vehicle type hobby sounded appealing to me.You can get a bike and "mod" it for a fraction of the cost of cars.

Looking back at my story there, I can see where this generation gets stuck. College/career. You gotta think a mass majority of gen-y is struggling with college debt and getting a good job, so hobbies that costs any significant amount of money are tuff. I'm 30 now and stable, but my wife is 26 and still hasn't found a job paying over 30k a year. Most of my friends stuggle the same way, and have no idea how I can afford a bike of this caliber. i tried to get 2 friends into the sport with me, and they had the idea of spending $100 on a bike, so it didn't work out.

 

Last night I sold my 29er to a gentleman closer to his 60s I would say. He went last week for the first time to mountain bike and loved it and went ahead and got himself a bike. His shins were all sorts of scraped up and as he put it "I keep hugging the trees" lol.

If the stupid cancer wouldnt have taken my father I am sure he would have loved it too.

 

A mountain bike is way sexier to look at than a golf bag.