Cool and intelligent? Must be a cyclist
Study reveals what those in the South West really think of the Lycra-clad
Brits consider cyclists to be 13 per cent more intelligent, 13 per cent cooler and ten per cent more charitable than the average person, according to research commissioned by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) on the launch of their 39th London to Brighton Bike Ride which raises vital funds to fund research to fight heart disease.
With British cyclists taking centre stage at the Tour de France and Olympics and the splendidly side-burned Bradley Wiggins bringing a cool nonchalance to the sport, it appears that many of us now think cyclists are made of special stuff.
In a psychological study conducted by scientists at Mindlab, an implicit association test examined people’s subconscious attitudes towards different sports. The test revealed that people think cyclists have a unique blend of intelligence, generosity and the cool factor.
Neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis said: “Because Implicit Association Tests measure unconscious responses, they are able to reveal what people truly believe. They provide insights into people’s beliefs unbiased by any desire to conform to the opinions of others. These results indicate we view cyclists as possessing attributes of which they can be proud."
And these attitudes towards our lycra lovers are clearly shared by people in the South West.
The results suggest that perhaps the days of the footballer’s WAG are over, as more than two in five people in the South West (42%) would choose to go on a date with a cyclist over a selection of other sportspeople. Nearly a third of people in the region (30%) would also want a cyclist on their pub quiz team, but only 17 per cent would trust the trivia skills of a footballer.
The BHF has commissioned this research to mark the opening of registration for their London to Brighton Bike Ride. The ride, which is supported by Santander and takes place in June, is the largest charity bike ride in Europe and this year they are opening registration early to give you more of a chance to snap up a coveted spot on the start line.
London to Brighton cyclists can sign up in teams or tandems to add to the fun. But who would you team up with? Over a third of people in the South West (35%) would most want to ride with their best friend but when it comes to tandems the top choice would be Susanna Reid (19%) or Michael McIntyre (17%).
More than one in ten people in the South West (12%) have completed a charity bike ride before, making it one of the top challenges for those in the region to take on. Plus, with a massive 67 per cent of people saying they would be impressed if a date or partner had completed a charity challenge, it is a good way to get noticed.
It seems sporty is the new sexy, with over half of people in the South West (56%) now saying they find sportspeople more attractive than celebrities. When looking for love, over one fifth of people in the region (17%) think it is important that a potential partner keeps active. Not even the dreaded Lycra shorts puts people off, with 69 per cent confessing to love or like the stretchy material.
Nancy Prior, Head of Events at the BHF, said: “We see over 28,000 riders descend on the capital for our London to Brighton Bike Ride each year to raise much needed funds for life-saving heart research, so we have always known that cyclists are a pretty special bunch. These results just confirm that the rest of the nation feels the same.
“With cycling more popular than ever why not make 2014 the year to get in the saddle for charity? Cycling is a great inclusive sport that everyone can enjoy and as well as getting yourself fit and healthy, you’ll be helping to save the lives of thousands of people around the UK suffering from heart disease with the money that you raise.”
To sign up today visit www.bhf.org.uk/l2b
