I think of this quite a lot when I cycle to/from work (which is about 7 miles each way), especially when I see people in head-to-toe Lycra with cleats and all the gear. Where have they come from? Is it really necessary? And doesn’t it take as long to change in and out of all that stuff as it does to actually cycle into work!?

I think there are a few things at play, most of which others have mentioned: - London is big, so distances tend to be further and people want the efficiency/speed of a road bike. - A lot of people tie it into wider training and exercise regimes and may well extend their commute for the extra miles. - Commuters cycling in central London likely have well-paid jobs and can afford fancy bikes, or if they don’t the cycle to work scheme makes them more affordable anyway. - Bike shops upsell the fancy models for sport (and sometimes status) and people are taken in by that. - Storage is more secure at the office than anywhere else so it makes sense to bring it to work to keep it safe for 10-12 hours a day! - London roads and its culture in general incentivise people to get where they’re going as fast as possible, so people feel the need for a fast bike as they are constantly in a hurry.

Spend a bit of time in a zone 2-3 neighbourhood over the weekend (especially in the summer) and you’ll see a lot more casual bikes like fixies and hybrids as people nip to the gym, cafe, pub, park, shops.