When I look around, it feels like more people of all ages are cycle commuting than ever, and that greater numbers of bike riders are continuing to pedal well into their autumn years. But this is likely a slightly skewed view, as seen through the tinted glasses of someone now immersed in cycling.
In fact, a new study by Age UK has just revealed a far less positive picture, finding that millions of people in their 50s and 60s are nervous about taking up sports like cycling, and feel particularly anxious about joining a club, very often because of negative or traumatic experiences they had decades earlier, during PE lessons. This might seem a bit far-fetched, but to someone of my vintage it sadly sounds all too plausible.
