Abstract
This chapter examines the current social environment of competitive cycling as it relates to masculinity. The notion of competitive road cycling having a ‘macho culture’, which is commonly referred to in popular press, is examined and interrogated in line with the available academic evidence on the topic. Research on male cyclists’ identity with masculinity is presented, with findings suggesting male cyclists identify with a stricter notion of masculinity compared to the general population. From this, the argument is made that competitive road cycling presents a cultural lag behind the broader culture in its understanding and relationship to masculinity.
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Hardwicke, J. (2023). ‘Don’t be soft’: Cycling and Masculinity in the Twenty-First Century. In: Masculinities and the Culture of Competitive Cycling. Palgrave Studies in Masculinity, Sport and Exercise. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26975-2_4
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