The best way to describe cycling to an alien from another planet
A being from another world is visiting our planet, and of course they want to know all about cycling – but how would you concisely explain The Best Sport On Earth to them?
Here on Planet Earth we all know precisely what cycling is, but there's a chance that other beings from distant worlds may not have come across it before.
We recently asked Cycling Weekly readers to tell us how they would describe cycling to a visitor from another planet. So, suspend your disbelief for a moment and enjoy this selection of answers, brought to you in association with Decathlon.
An alien has landed from another planet. How would you describe cycling to them? Let us know in the comment box below.
I spend my time obsessively tweaking frail machines to near-perfection, then I balance on them for hours to reveal the shortcomings in both the machines and myself.
Alan Bates
A bio-mechanical propulsion system with minimal crash protection that is despised by many petro-chemical propulsion users.
Dave Doohan
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If he had to ask he wouldn't get it, just keep riding past the green dude!
Two round things joined together with a pedestal at the top powered by the legs of a sweaty human dressed in tight clothing.
Chris Doyle
A human-powered machine designed for capturing Strava kudos. (Surely even aliens know about Strava).
Tim Peatman
It seems unlikely that they'd speak English. Not many planets have an England. I'm not entirely convinced a species capable of interstellar flight would need to be taught about cycling – the technology involved in cycling is probably somewhat simpler – but either way, it’s probably simpler to just show them than try to describe it.
Thomas Willingham
Two wheels and a chain powered by physical force... 50 years ago it was a cheap means of transport, now used by many as a method of exhibiting one's peacock feathers while utilising technology trickled down from athletes.
Paul Morris
Push your body so hard you can hardly stand up let alone walk. Sleep. Get up and do it all again for three weeks until your brain doesn’t even know what day it is... but it’s fun!
Norman Bradbury
A way of travelling between two places. As easy as walking but you can travel much further and faster by using a circular motion of your legs and feet to propel a light, thin chair on two big wheels.
Mark Middleton
Don't park your saucer in the cycle lane please. And watch you don't door someone when you open the hatch.
Dava Jonah
"It's similar to pod racing..."
Jon Elliott
Take me to your leader
(Image credit: andy jones)
Find a big hill, then say "Get on and I'll push you down. You'll figure it all out by the time you get to the bottom".
Gaz Matt
The art of staying upright between two spinning discs while moving rapidly in a forward direction.
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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