Appearance and behaviour: Are cyclist physical attributes reflective of their preferences and habits?

Abstract

Cyclist physical attributes are important for performance aspects such as speed, effort, and energy expenditure, and could also be systematically related to preferences and behaviour. Casual assumptions (stereotypes) about cyclists based on their appearance are common among road users but largely untested. This study examines whether readily observable physical attributes are significantly associated with cycling efficiency, preferences, and habits for a sample of 531 intercepted cyclists in Vancouver, Canada. Due to strong correlations among physical attributes, a typology is developed using cluster analysis based on physical aspects of the bicycle (bicycle type, tire type, tire width, tire pressure, and cargo) and rider (apparel and riding position). Results show that Mountain, Hybrid and Road type cyclists are, in that order, systematically more efficient, more comfortable on major roads, cycle more consistently year-round, cycle faster, and engage in more vigorous physical activity. Still, the hypothesis of significant relationships between appearance and behaviour is only weakly supported: behaviour differences among cyclist types are modest and wide ranges of preferences and behaviours within the physical clusters could be viewed as a refutation of common cyclist stereotypes. For application of the physical typology, readily observable attributes such as tire type can be used as indicators to infer resistance parameters and more generally characterize a sample of cyclists. This study establishes associations, not causality, and future work should examine a potential positive feedback effect between equipment efficiency and cycling frequency.