Staying In and Letting it all Hang Out

I have to admit I’ve never quite got the idea of riding in a big group. I know it’s something that a lot of people enjoy, especially as it can make them believe they’re racing in some big event and holding their position in the peloton. I’ve also never been entirely into riding on stationary bikes and going nowhere, but spinning has been exceptionally popular. For me it lacks the excitement and fun of being in the real world, and also I just get bored. There’s no development and after a few minutes of looking at MTV I’m thinking of all the other things I could be doing instead. That can’t happen 15 miles from home when you’re on a real bike and you have to focus on the ride to get you back.

If, however you enjoy riding in a group and indoors, but were also looking for the illusion that you are going anywhere at all then The Sun has a report on a new craze soon to be sweeping gyms. VRX-Biking seems to allow you to ride along a virtual trail with your friends, without leaving the gym, although, it does beg the question why you wouldn’t just go for a ride with your friends. Also confusing is how they managed to convince serious downhill and 4X mountain biker, Scott Beaumont, to give his top tips from on top of one of the VRX bikes.

Another story that I’m sure the Sun would be interested in turned up (amazingly) in the Brisbane Times. Spenser Tunick might be world famous for taking pictures of naked people all over the place, but I can’t help feeling he’s jumping on the World Naked Bike Ride bandwagon. It obviously took a lot of imagination to combine nudity and bikes for a photo project in a city famous for its bicycles and for a relaxed attitude to nakedness.

More clothed and also closer to home, it seems that the Greater London Authority are forging ahead to set an example of green working, encouraging people to ride to work with bike loans and a bike pool. I just hope that another initiative they’ve implemented to restrict the time that people can spend showering doesn’t leave a lot of half-clean civil servants all over the place.

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