Cycling is the new golf

So ladies, played any golf recently? No, me neither. And your partner - has he been climbing the greasy pole, playing golf with the boss? No, thought not. So, what are thrusting young lawyers doing these days to get ahead, entertain their clients and keep fit? Well, the golf bags have been consigned to the attic and they are buying expensive road bikes instead. They are dashing off on rides, raising money for charity, networking like mad and entertaining their clients at the same time.

Cycling is the new golf, take my word for it.

When was the last time you received one of those round-robin emails, full of self depreciating comments and a request for charitable donations which mentioned a golf day? Ages ago, wasn't it? But I bet it's less than a month since a similar message, only this time entailing a thrilling cycle route, horrible hills and a lycra-clad colleague's photo, popped into your in-box.

In the past fortnight, I've heard about three cycle rides organised by lawyers - two with work colleagues or clients and one which was a gruelling 120k road race in Snowdonia. At these cycling events the age range is wide: trainees can rub shoulders with partners, clients get to meet their lawyers and they all share in bike envy: even I, a twice-a-year-on-holiday-cyclist, know my Bianchi from my Boardman these days.

Cycling is being taken seriously by law firms as a profile raising, charity supporting, client entertaining pastime these days. Lawyers at Pinsent Masons are taking part in the London to Paris cycle ride, raising money for the charity Cure Leukaemia. Bott & Co, solicitors in Wilmslow, have gone even further and sponsor a cycling team as part of their interest in road safety.

Its also a popular topic for bloggers: The Cycling Solicitor at Bolt Burdon Kemp writes about cycling safety and current issues while The Cycling Lawyer is a blog written by a QC who is chairman of Thames Velo - East Berkshire's cycle road racing club.

So, if golf is dead, then long live cycling.

And not all of it on the roads. If you are more interested in watching, and not getting rained on, then give the velodrome a try. There is nothing more exciting than a high speed whirl of colour and noise which the enclosed space can supply. The success of Team Sky and the Olympics have encouraged a wider UK audience and it's been a pleasure to watch the sport evolve and to see cycling go mainstream. It is really great to see people who would never have visited a velodrome a few years ago, cheering on riders from all over the world and having a great night out. How fantastic is that?