Special Report – Part 3/3, Before going any further, a reminder: Part 1 explored the positive contributions of cycling influencers. Part 2 It analyzed commercial abuses and the loss of neutrality. And if you haven't read them yet, we recommend starting there to grasp the entire issue. And for this final section, let's delve into a deeper question: what happens when influence overrides cycling, reason… and sometimes even common sense? To answer this, let's briefly revisit a very real-life experience.
By Jeff Tatard – Photo: @jefftatard
The day we stumbled upon an Herbalife seminar in Canada
The story goes back to a trip to Canada. A mundane, touristy, normal stay.
Breakfast in a hotel near a large conference room. So far, nothing out of the ordinary.
And then, as we were leaving the buffet, we came across… an unreal scene.
A room of more than 1,000 people.
An electric, even hysterical atmosphere.
A "coach" on stage, wearing a headset microphone, adopting a guru-like posture.
And facing him: a crowd whipped into a frenzy, North and South American vendors ready to spread the "good word" Herbalife.
This wasn't product training. This was... an indoctrination ritual.
The message was simple, relentless, hypnotic: "We have THE solution. You must convince. Convince again. Convince always. Every new convert must convince others..."
A near-perfect, well-oiled, and deliberate pyramid scheme. A machine for creating not customers… but… relay of influence. People willing to sell anything, to anyone, as long as the pyramid keeps growing.
And that day, we understood something: When influence becomes a system, it erases nuance, neutrality, and reason.
In short, nobody questions anymore. Nobody doubts anymore. We sell. We preach. We convert.
And the product? It becomes a pretext. An alibi. A totem.
In this room, we found the same mechanisms as in certain excesses of the cycling world:
- repetition of simplistic messages,
- absolute certainties,
- social pressure,
- calibrated storytelling,
- dependence on charismatic figures,
- total loss of critical perspective.
It was impressive. Fascinating. Disturbing.
And that reminded us why, at 3bikes, We value neutrality, distance, and independence so much..
Because without it, everything can go wrong. Very quickly. Very badly.
Our role: to protect you from loss of lucidity
If we insist, sometimes heavily, on transparency, it's not just for show. It's because we've seen what happens in a system where everyone influences everyone else without ever questioning anything.
We firmly believe that:
- Cycling should remain simple.
- The information must remain honest.
- Criticism must remain possible.
- Enthusiasm should not be bought or sold.
- And editorial independence must be total.
You can continue to count on us to analyze, dissect, and put things into perspective. without ever giving in to the siren call of sponsored complacency.
Even though, of course, Some may criticize us for having our own biases, preferences, and habits.And they'll be right. Because nobody's perfect. And we embrace that. That's precisely why there are several of us at tester of the equipment at 3bikesBecause everyone is different. But Our opinions are always sincere.That's what you need to remember, and that's what makes the difference compared to influencers.
Conclusion: engine or drift?
So, influencers: a blessing or a downside?
Both. A powerful engine when it inspires. A trap when it deviates.
But the truth lies elsewhere: in the lucidity of each, in the ability to say yes, to say no, to remain free, to love cycling for what it is, and not for what it sells.
Cycling will always remain a space of freedom: two wheels, one breath, one movement.
The rest—the drones, the filters, the gadgets, the matching outfits, all that stuff—these are just options. Sometimes very nice. Often just accessories.
It is up to us, collectively, to hold the reins.
Okay: put away your smartphone. Clip on your pedals. And take a breather.
=> Part 1 of the file
=> Part 2 of the file
=> The economics of influence: understanding a system that has become indispensable
