Cycling is quite the diverse world. It amazes me that there are so many different aspects to the sport. There is road, mountain, track, BMX, cyclocross and more. All of these sports are great participant and spectator sports to be involved with!
Let’s go through how professional road racing works. At the helm of all bicycle compeition is the UCI, the Olympic governing body for cycling. They have set out the rules and calendars for various levels of cycling.
At the top is the ProTour Teams. These teams are ranked the top 20 in the world, have minimum salaries for riders and are automatically invited to the most prestigious races in the world.
Another reason why biking makes economic sense. A recent study found that for every $1 spent on cycling infrastructure in Portland, $5 is saved on healthcare and fuel costs. Because of this, by 2040, Portland’s bikeway investments could in fact save $800 million.
A recent analysis of the health savings resulting from the bicycle infrastructure in Portland, Ore, came up with stunning results. If the city builds out only the infrastructure it currently plans, the researcher found, it will break even by 2015. By 2030, Portland will have saved $800 million — partly in fuel costs but primarily in health care and the value of reduced mortality. For every $1 we spend, $5 is saved.
Every Wednesday on Ditch Your Car we’ll be bringing you just another reason to spend more time on two wheels. Be it a photo, a statistic or an inspirational video, we want to keep reminding you about why riding is great!
Come this time of year, when some of us are still getting slammed with cold and/or rainy days, you need some summer inspiration. Today it’s in the form of a Santa Barbara bike lane. So if you’re stuck inside on a grey Monday, close your eyes and dream of warm weather, bike lanes and an afternoon ride along the waterfront.
Have a lane that you love? Send us a photo! You can post it to our Facebook page, shoot us an email at blog[at]ospreypacks[dot]com or upload to our Flickr group and we might just feature it here on our weekly photo feature, Lane Love.
