We've all seen them. Categories of weekend warriors, wrapped in brightly coloured (often overstretched) Lycra, sipping lattes in a cafe filled with what seems like a slightly overweight version of an expert cycling Peloton. The familiar "click-clack" of cleats on polished concrete is all too familiar in most inner-city cafes on weekends. Blended with the most common brunch conversations, you'll hear earnest debates on topics like average watts, the aerodynamic advantages of shoe covers and the best leg hair removal techniques Onestoptown.
Whilst MAMILs (Middle Age Men In Lycra) have long been a widely mocked, and dismissed as try-hards suffering some kind of identity crisis, many are now actually cottoning to the very real business advantages of the weekend group ride.
Over the last three decades, golf has reigned supreme as the business enterprise networking activity for the discerning Executive. Many a higher profile corporate deal was sealed on the fairways of the world's golf courses, or over an article game drink in the country club. These days cycling has firmly entrenched itself as the preferred networking event of the current business person.
Golf and cycling share many a similarity, and it's easy to see why increasing amounts of corporate players are hitting the roads every weekend. The fashion choices are notoriously dodgy, with plaid pants or overtight pink Lycra a standard sight. The obsession with having, and showing off, the best and most high-priced gear can be prevalent in both sports. It's not uncommon to see a $20,000 bike in a suburban group ride around Melbourne. Carbon wheels, power meters or carbon shafted clubs. It's yet really.
It's the social aspects of a shared, physical activity that hold the main element to cycling's popularity amongst our business leaders though. Rather than the staid, formal and structured interactions that prevail within our boardrooms, cycling offers a peaceful, fluid environment and also a very real sense of shared achievement and camaraderie. The group ride also allows participants to assess their comrades at a natural, primal level minus the masks and personas of the standard business meetings. Not just fitness, but a willingness to work for a group goal, self-sacrifice, aggression and resilience are all on display and impossible to fake when you're riding into a screaming headwind with 40kms still to ride. Sometimes it's the communal suffering of a hardcore ride that bonds participants. The shared water bottle, the warm pouch of "fruit" flavoured energy gel passed to a flagging companion.
The post-ride ritual of cake and coffee (or the full fatty fry up) is where the magic really happens. Sharing stories of real (or slightly exaggerated) ride highlights, power outputs, average speeds and Euro-Pro fashion tips. The bond that develops on a group ride makes for the perfect environment for business deals to be made. Information is shared, opinions are called for and given, and contacts are made. It creates sense. Obviously you'd work with someone you ride with over a stranger Onestoptown.
As someone who works in a sales based role, I've found cycling to be invaluable in building and cementing not just real social friendships, but in addition mutually beneficial working relationships. I not just enjoy the fitness and social aspects of the ride, but realize that my work benefits just as much from the open networking of social cycling.
The best thing about cycling over golf is that it takes alongside almost no time to get at a level of competency which will enable you to participate. You don't have going to endless practice shots for decades on end in order to not humiliate yourself, you simply need a bicycle, some Lycra and a vague amount of fitness.
If you're setting up a company, looking to broaden your network, or just want to make some new friends, cycling is a good way to meet people. Help you on the road. I'll bring my business cards.
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