CYCLING IS ONE of the fastest growing sports in the country, but at what cost to the other sports?
Golf is certainly one of them and here are five reasons why:
Easier on the body than golf
Back, knee and shoulder pain are common injuries amongst golfers and most ailments are down to overuse.
Driving off the tee and the fairway is quite strenuous (even more so if you take two or three tee shots).
All that explosive power can put huge stress on the muscle tissues, particularly as we age, because the muscles and tendons are unable to withstand such force.
Cycling, on the other hand, is far kinder to the body and though injuries do occur, they are more uncommon.
Of course, crashes occur all the time resulting in broken wrists, collar bones and ribs but from a recreational point of view, these are rare.
Cycling is less frustrating
Anyone who’s played 18 holes on a links course will know they’ve been in a warzone, probably hacked a few balls far too left or right to even bother retrieving and maybe the clubs even got the flick too.
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Yes, few can argue there are fewer pursuits guaranteed to leave you feeling more annoyed than golf.
It’s a superb game but so frustrating at times and easy to see why the odds are utterly stacked against you finishing a round feeling good.
Golf was a victim of the recession as club memberships dwindled. Jon Super
Jon Super
Cycling, of course, can be frustrating too, especially when you’re unfit, get rained on, or you suffer a puncture.
However, the latter is rare and every mile you ride is making you fitter.
There’s nothing we can do about the rain, though!
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Few places are as picturesque as an immaculately manicured golf course on a summer’s day – and the same argument can be made for cycling, only on a bigger scale.
While a golf course allows you peace and tranquillity it’s simply confined to a smaller area.
You’ll see far more during a 100-kilometre spin on the bike and return from the spin actually knowing your surroundings that much more.
Bigger chance for social networking
Both are really good bonding exercises but with golf, there’s more small-talk as you chase your ball up the fairways… or into the rough.
Cycling is more interactive and by riding side by side for a few hours, you just end up talking more.
The growth of sportives – as you’ll see from our weekly events calendar – offers cyclists a bigger social outlet.
Golf has always had the exclusivity tag around it. Cycling hasn’t.
Golf takes longer
Unless you’re privileged to live beside a course, to play involves a drive.
Cycling doesn’t have that issue and for today’s time-crunched society, it’s a perfect pursuit in that regard.
The other aspect worth noting is golfers can put in more time at the driving range, play competitions, read psychology books yet still get so little reward.
In contrast, how many hours you cycle will directly impact on how you perform, at recreational level anyway.
5 reasons why cycling is the new golf
CYCLING IS ONE of the fastest growing sports in the country, but at what cost to the other sports?
Golf is certainly one of them and here are five reasons why:
Easier on the body than golf
Back, knee and shoulder pain are common injuries amongst golfers and most ailments are down to overuse.
Driving off the tee and the fairway is quite strenuous (even more so if you take two or three tee shots).
All that explosive power can put huge stress on the muscle tissues, particularly as we age, because the muscles and tendons are unable to withstand such force.
Cycling, on the other hand, is far kinder to the body and though injuries do occur, they are more uncommon.
Of course, crashes occur all the time resulting in broken wrists, collar bones and ribs but from a recreational point of view, these are rare.
Cycling is less frustrating
Anyone who’s played 18 holes on a links course will know they’ve been in a warzone, probably hacked a few balls far too left or right to even bother retrieving and maybe the clubs even got the flick too.
Yes, few can argue there are fewer pursuits guaranteed to leave you feeling more annoyed than golf.
It’s a superb game but so frustrating at times and easy to see why the odds are utterly stacked against you finishing a round feeling good.
Cycling, of course, can be frustrating too, especially when you’re unfit, get rained on, or you suffer a puncture.
However, the latter is rare and every mile you ride is making you fitter.
There’s nothing we can do about the rain, though!
You see more
Few places are as picturesque as an immaculately manicured golf course on a summer’s day – and the same argument can be made for cycling, only on a bigger scale.
While a golf course allows you peace and tranquillity it’s simply confined to a smaller area.
You’ll see far more during a 100-kilometre spin on the bike and return from the spin actually knowing your surroundings that much more.
Bigger chance for social networking
Both are really good bonding exercises but with golf, there’s more small-talk as you chase your ball up the fairways… or into the rough.
Cycling is more interactive and by riding side by side for a few hours, you just end up talking more.
The growth of sportives – as you’ll see from our weekly events calendar – offers cyclists a bigger social outlet.
Golf has always had the exclusivity tag around it. Cycling hasn’t.
Golf takes longer
Unless you’re privileged to live beside a course, to play involves a drive.
Cycling doesn’t have that issue and for today’s time-crunched society, it’s a perfect pursuit in that regard.
The other aspect worth noting is golfers can put in more time at the driving range, play competitions, read psychology books yet still get so little reward.
In contrast, how many hours you cycle will directly impact on how you perform, at recreational level anyway.
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Cycling Fitness Golf New Craze