Bicycles / Cycling and Beer

Good for you, but the fact remains that it is not helping.

 

Things that I do and that I enjoy: I work, I bike, I drink beer, I sleep. I'm not a complicated man. There are other things that I do and enjoy but TMI. This is the one of the best threads I've read here because it involves beer and biking.

 

I'm feeling lackadaisical so I'm not going to run back through the thread, but I read your earlier posts as supportive of the concept that most people who ride bikes fit into a wealthier group. If I mis-read and you qualified that differently, my apologies. And that would be a privileged perspective, and I don't mean it as a jab. A large number of the bike riders in L.A. that are hurt or killed on the roads are people of color doing the bike-bus-bike commute to/from work in the middle of the night.

Anyways, I apologize for veering the convo away from the OPs topic, but I love talking about bike shit! I think the intersection between bike and craft beer comes down to people interested in things that don't quite fit in the mainstream. I think somebody already made this point, but riding a bike is not mainstream, and craft beer, although growing rapidly, is certainly not mainstream.

Also, as an aside, this has to be one of the most dangerous set ups I have ever seen, please don't ever do this unless you don't mind stitches in your tender bits!

 

Never given it much thought because it's always just seemed a given. I do know there's not much more enjoyable than a good ride (mtb or road) and a good buzz from a tasty beverage. Also, they both seem pure, simple and timeless.

Of course it all started for me when I realized a couple of Bigfoot's in the evening were packing it on big time, which subsequently called for a trip to the local bike shop, and then it was all downhill, or uphill if you prefer, from there.

The subculture aspect of it (mtb at least) was also very appealing, but I didn't really start to realize all that until after I got into it.

 

Cyclist, beer lover and marketer here. Not that it makes me especially qualified, but it's not the breweries making the connection. For some reason, there's a historical connection. Maybe it's got something to do with prominence of cycling in beer-loving nations of Europe (Belgium, Germany, Denmark, UK to an extent). There's a longstanding relationship between cyclists and beer - US breweries are either A. Genuinely interested in some capacity (likely), B. Capitalizing on what they perceive as a fad (very antithetical to the ethos people love to tie to breweries around here), or C. A combination of the two (most likely).

That's not how it works. For 'athletic' (sorry, lack of a better word. Endurance, race, etc.) riding, a better saddle (not seat) is firm (read: hard), smooth (low-friction), weighs only a few grams (carbon fiber) and can run you over $150. And it's not just spandex. You need a pad sewn in there. I've recently become partial to gel, but it's not for everyone...

 

I rode from Columbus to Cincinnati a few weeks ago (106 miles). Went straight to Rhinegeist Brewery. Prost!

 

Someone really should write a book about this.

 

I just love also a good stop during my lunch hour to my beer places, load up after work on my Messenger bag.. and bringer home!!

Been doing it for years, heck it's how my beer GETS home! 95% of the time

Heck I even threw a Sam Adams winter classics in my old back pack and took that thing home... that was one hell of a ride.

 

Interesting thread, which I just skimmed quickly. I think it's really a convergence of a number of factors, some of which have been mentioned, some that maybe haven't been:

• Both are particularly popular among white males with disposable income
• Both are deeply rooted in European culture/tradition
• Both attract people with an "independent" mind set
• Both (in my experience anyway) are favored by people of above-average intelligence who might still be turned off by the perceived snobbiness of wine
• Cycling is for athletic people who aren't necessarily jocks; beer is for drinkers who aren't necessarily alcoholics
• The "gearhead" factor
• Geography (as mentioned): some of the best beer is made in places that are also beautiful places to ride
• Cycling burns calories; beer provides plenty of calories to burn
• Marketing

 

I can't speak for the previous poster's experience, but it can be done. I have 1333 miles in so far this summer, including four 50+ days and many in the 30-50 range. It does help that I have some, um, built-in padding.

But I will admit to occasional soreness and am thinking next year I'm going to break down and buy my first pair of bike shorts.

Getting a little back on topic, beer is a great motivator. I'm trying to bike to every taproom in the greater twin cities (MN) area this summer (at least one-way, and most round trip) and even many of the non-taproom trips have some type of beer destination along the way.

Random question for the biking/beer folks: I've found after a decent ride, especially if it's warm, a Red tastes incredibly good, even though it's not my normal go-to style (generally, I prefer the opaque beers, you know, the ones compared to used engine oil). I haven't figured out if there's actually something about the reds that really synergizes with the exercise/water loss/electrolyte loss/hypoglycemia, or if it's all in my head, and I was just really thirsty the first time I had a red after biking and somehow have convinced myself it tastes so much better. Anyone else have similar experience?

 

Next time you go let me know. I do that ride more than a few times a year. Between Yellow Springs Brewery and Rhinegeist, its a perfectly bookended day.

 

So how do you bring beer home when you ride a bike? How would that even work with growlers, cases, or (oh dear I am tired just thinking about this) a keg? Semi-serious question.

 

Too bad Their is not more long distance runners who also love good beer. There is nothing quite like running ten miles and then drinking ten beers. Its quite a great feeling. I suggest trying it.

 

Competitive cycling and beer?

Yes.

Sandra Looney (Team Ergon) with a post race Whisky 50 brew
Marble Brewery's Red Ale (ABQ, NM)