National Masters Crit Champs

Simon Whiten

The 2014 National Masters Crit Champs at the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit

In a busy week for Masters racing, numerous age category Road Race and Criterium National Championship titles were decided. Dave Reed had camera ready at the National Masters Crit Championships at West London’s Hillingdon Circuit.

Much of the growth in the road cycle market has been initiated by well to do middle aged riders, able to spend much more on their equipment than younger generations. Many of these ‘veterans’ also enjoy much more leisure time in which to train than younger riders who are often still finding their feet on the career and property ladders.

Some older riders are new to cycling; others coming back after some years absence. Many are spurred on by the daily commute and soon find their second sporting wind aided by reduced childcare responsibility, more financial freedom and less work commitments on the one hand, and lured in by cycling’s technological appeal, group riding camaraderie and more forgiving nature on ageing bodies on the other. No surprise then that cycling advertising often seems to be targeted at this ‘older’ generation of riders and their healthy disposable income; with the bulk of sportive riders in this age category, it makes complete sense.

And so it shouldn’t come as a surprise then that Masters and Veterans racing is also booming as more of these riders get into, or get back into racing. The younger end of the sport may have the talent, with more speed and power, and get all of the serious sponsorship money, but it’s the cycle-boom-fueling Veterans who have the buying power… Read More >