Relationship between cyclists' perceptions of using wearable sports technology products and their cycling motivations

This study aims to examine the relationship between the participation motivations of bicycle users in physical activities and their attitudes toward wearable technological sports products. In particular, it evaluates the relationships between individuals' intrinsic motivation dimensions (competence, challenge, adventure, socialization, and relaxation–escape) and their positive and negative attitudes toward technology. The population of the research consists of amateur or recreational athletes who regularly cycle on the European side of Istanbul. The sample group was composed of 347 voluntary individuals who have been cycling regularly for at least one year and are between the ages of 18 and 65. Data were collected online through the "Bicycle Event Participation Motivation Scale" (Sağlam and Kömürcü, 2021) and the "Attitude Scale Toward Wearable Technological Sports Products" (Çar et al., 2022). In addition to descriptive statistics, Independent Samples t-Test, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson Correlation Analysis were applied to the collected data. According to the analysis results, a positive and significant relationship was found between Positive Attitude and Negative Attitude (r = 0.326, p < .001). Positive Attitude also showed moderate, positive, and significant relationships with Competence (r = 0.524, p < .001), Socialization (r = 0.228, p < .001), Adventure Experience (r = 0.208, p < .001), and Challenge (r = 0.555, p < .001). The research findings revealed that individuals' positive attitudes toward technology are particularly aligned with intrinsic motivational factors (self-efficacy, challenge, adventure), and that this alignment may support the sustainability of participation in physical activity.