WWCC Pseudoblog
SharePosted on 21-May-2011
I'D RATHER BE BIKING ... THAN PUBLIC SPEAKING
It appears we’ve created some traditions.
I’ll mention the Wild Women t-shirts first because … well, ahem … they are a tradition that might need a little nudge this year. They are officially in progress! Stay tuned! If you see the someones who are purportedly working on said t-shirts, give them a high-five, a wink, and a triple-shot espresso.
Although we ride all year round, I’d say May marks the official beginning of our riding season. And Monday, May 23 marks our third annual “Beginner Round-Up.” All through the land, adventurous, curious, and self-possessed women are gearing up for their MTB1 debut or rebirth, whichever the case may be. With the first rides of the season comes a certain pressure for a speech, a motivational toot toot. And for me … I’d rather be riding than public speaking. I saw Mayor Stewart Alsgard speak yesterday at my son’s May Day celebration – that’s a tough act to emulate! (I really liked his “Be not afraid!” finale … which on reflection was the needed motivation for this entry.)
And so without further ado, and with the prime objectives of avoiding excessive droning, contextual phobias, and diverted riding time … here is … the third annual attempt at a motivational speech.
If you want an accompanying soundtrack, try this randomly selected motivational song that will hopefully appeal to Wild Women of all ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KUmAphvThQ
Also, the following is rated PG-13, for thinly disguised coarse language.
Congratulations to both the newbies and the returnees! To start or restart riding sometime in the next few weeks means many things. It means you have committed to the idea of cycling. It means you have acquired a bike, inherited a bike, borrowed a bike, or revitalized a bike. Against all odds, all required tasks, all real and perceived obligations, you have made time for yourself. You have deemed that your bum on your bike is a major priority. You have committed to trying something new or retrying something that you haven’t done in a while. You have given a thumbs up (possibly two) to a group ride with a clump of similarly adventurous, curious, and self-possessed women. In their multitude, all these steps could amount to a formidable, seductive sampler plate of reasons not to ride. But you said “No!” to the s***a** sampler plate and “Yes!” to yourself, on a bike, riding into the future.
Is mountain biking easy? Gee willikers, no. Becoming an avid and capable mountain biker is quite unlike many skills and endeavours we attempt. There is no gene on chromosome 12 assigned to this. There is no manual. There are no step-by-step classes, no workbooks, no simulations, and no socket in the back of your skull that you can install the program like Neo might. Nope. It’s hours and hours of entirely learn-by-doing and trial-and-error. What you put into it is exactly what you get out of it. It’s all up to you. And that is precisely why mountain biking is so empowering.
Many of us may naturally gravitate towards recipes, treadmills with pre-programmed speeds, and money-back guarantees. There is security there, a start and a finish. But with mountain biking, it’s all DIY. You get the opportunity to freestyle, to decide for yourself what is the next step or the next move. You decide what it’s all about and you determine your goals and desired outcomes. Perhaps you want to ride on low-key trails every week through the summer. Boom – done. Perhaps you want to learn how to huck yourself over a log. Poof – on it. Perhaps you want to ride the BC Bike Race next summer. Whah-chaaaah – go girl. It’s all do-able, and that’s just damn beautiful.
Mountain biking is far more than just sitting on a two-wheeled vehicle, generating forward momentum with rotational forces. Every time you ride, it is a creative and expansive process – which starts off a chain reaction … beyond the bits and bikes. You create possibilities for yourself in so many ways. You create a new facet to your identity. You develop confidence in your fitness, athletic skills, and ability to meet a physical challenge. Rain or shine. You establish comfort with the unknown, the wait-and-see, and the “oh s***!” obstacle around the blind corner. You build backbone and mettle. You make sounds in the forest which might surprise you.
And … you create new relationships. The first is between you and your bike. Are you the extension of the bike or vice versa? Not sure, and perhaps this distinction is moot2. You have a trusted steed, a mode of transportation, a new BFF, an unconditional conduit for toodle or schralp (and every permutation in between). The second is between you and other riders. These relationships are built on trust and bonded by laughter. You will ride with women you may never have otherwise encountered in your day-to-day orbits. Monkey-see, monkey-do becomes the catalyst for learning and friendship. You squint at a vaguely familiar woman in the grocery store, and then smile with recognition at the WW in civvies - no helmet, no feral stance, but that knowing twinkle and blackberry bramble gash on the mid-shin. The third relationship is between you and your backyard - the grand backyard with your community forests, trails, lakes, streams, bogs and innumerable layers of flora and fauna. You develop trust in your navigation, comfort in the outdoors, and knowledge about what lies beyond the limits of our roads and fences.
Have I mentioned the cycling metaphors for life? (Let’s save that for the next installment.)
And don’t get me started on the appeal and benefits of knee-high socks.
I feel I should conclude with a recipe for success: Equal parts woman, bike, woods, and friends … with a dash of hydration and chocolate, served warm and sweaty on a medley of fresh fortitude, enthusiasm, and verve.
Yep. Get ready for this? You already are.
1 As it turns out, MTB also stands for magnetotactic bacteria. Hmm. Nod. These are a group of bacteria with internal magnetic crystals that allow them to orient along the magnetic field lines of Earth’s magnetic field. While I find this quite interesting, I will end this footnote here.
2 Whenever I get to use this word, I get a little tingle.
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