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COPYRIGHT 2006 University of South Alabama
Cycling in the United States is in the middle of a revival. This can partly be attributed to the success of American cyclists in the Tour de France, long considered the premier bicycle race in the sport of cycling. Greg LeMond became the first American to win the Tour de France in 1986 and again in 1989 and 1990. Over a decade later, Lance Armstrong became the second American to win in 1999. After overcoming life-treating cancer, he repeated as Tour champion in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 to tie the race record for most wins. In 2005, cycling fans from around the world marveled as Lance Armstrong shattered the competition on his way to a record-breaking seventh Tour De France title and elevating cycling's appeal in the United States to unprecedented levels.
Examining the reasons why individuals participate in the sport of cycling is both timely and important. Like running a marathon, participation in the sport of cycling, does not simply consist of arriving at the starting line at a designated time and then having to suffer hours of physical exertion before arriving at the finish (Masters, Ogles & Jolton, 1993). Rather, participating in an endurance event is the result of months of daily training (Croft, Gray & Duncan, 1999). As such, Masters et al. (1993) found that these athletes sometimes must alter their lives in the form of work responsibilities, time spent away from family, eating behaviors and so on. With this in mind, it makes sense that the principle applies to cyclists, who also take their sport very seriously (Croft, Gray & Duncan, 1999).
Past research on the sport of cycling has mostly been limited to physiological studies of elite cyclists, strength and power output measures, and the efficacy of various training regimes. To date, there are few empirical studies examining the psychological aspects of cycling. However, past research on marathon runners and triathletes reveals a long list of possible motives for participation. For example, Clough, Sheperd, and Maughan (1989) found multiple reasons for participation including well being, social, status, health, appearance, and fitness among marathon runners. The reasons why individuals are motivated to participate in such activities are thought to be influenced by several factors including gender, age, activity level, and type of activity (Koivula, 1999; Ogles & Masters, 2000).
Understanding the various motives for participating in cycling events may play an important role in developing and increasing adherence to training programs, promoting cycling-related events, and increasing physical activity among adults. Previous research suggests athletes are not motivated by the same factors. Masters et al. (1993) suggests that runners may be characterized by different motives for participation. For example, some are motivated by a need to compete against other participants, whereas others are driven to improve their own performance...
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