Moronacity

I originally posted this article on August 20, 2009 for my Michigan Mountain Biking Examiner column, a column which I have given up due to low returns for my efforts. I figure it’s best to put my energy into my blog when it comes to cycling. I will be publishing my Examiner articles on this web site. Those that are time-sensitive, Fat Tire Festival reviews for example, will be posted under the original publishing date. Enjoy!

Guys love their bikes. They love to ride their bikes. They know that mountain biking is a fun, healthy activity that reduces stress levels and simply brings a smile to one’s face. It is fun. The guys want to share that experience with their significant others, but the question remains: how do you get women into the sport?

Once women gain some confidence on the bike, they may venture onto bigger and better things, like stunts.

Women like to do things with their guys. They also do not want to hold them back or get in the way. This is one of the most common reasons women cite for not riding with their guys. Many women, like men, do not really want to be nitpicked or told what to do all of the time. For whatever reason, many people do not want to be taught by their significant others. This article will not address the reason why, but will tell you how to work around it.

It can be a slippery slope, but there are some general guidelines you can follow to get your girl into the sport.

• Set her up with a comfortable bike. If the bike is awkward and does not fit, she will not be able to enjoy the ride to the full experience, and probably will feel much less comfortable on descents and climbs.
• Help her choose the right clothing. Comfortable clothing is a must if a woman is going to enjoy her ride. The clothing must not be an issue if she lacks confidence with how she looks. Of course, a nice compliment from her guy does not hurt.
• Do not give her pointers unless she asks, at least for the first ride. She needs to simply ride, get her bearings, and simply find joy in the activity. When she feels more confident on the bike, she may ask you questions, or she may look for answers in books and magazines. You need to respect her choice of information sources.
• Let her lead. If she is in front, she sets the pace. This keeps her from riding beyond her ability and feeling slow.
• Do not ride her rear tire. Give her some room. Leave two or three bike lengths between your bike and hers. The closer you get to her bike, the more pressure she will feel to go faster because she will feel like she is holding you up.
• After a week or two, take her on some group rides with other beginners and women. These people will be her source of advice.

Eventually, she may become your best riding partner. To truly ride like a girl often means fast and aggressive. Some guys find that their girls become faster than them. They are pretty cool with that because they know that other guys wish they had a girl that mountain biked.

Tags: Mountain Biking Women

Wintertime is a great time to stargaze, at least in mid-Michigan. When the sky is clear and the air is freezing, the stars shine brightly and one can gaze at the Milky Way and beyond. I must clarify that I live in the countryside in mid-Michigan and the light from surrounding cities is faint. I can see a lot, here. It’s not like living in the UP, but it can be pretty awesome.

I would like to test drive this little guy, tonight, but the dreary skies tell me this may not happen until another day. That doesn’t mean I can’t share this with you. London, England’s Paul Neave created the “Neave Planetarium.” You click on your little section of the world and look at and play with the really cool, interactive, flash star map. More accurately, it is an online planetarium. Enjoy!

In the meantime, I might just exercise indoors. Mountain biking season is rapidly approaching.

Tags: online planetarium, star map

Bravo, Canada! More specifically, bravo, Vancouver!

Last night’s Olympic opening ceremonies were nothing short of spectacular. Vancouver welcomed the world with fantastic, visual storytelling of Canadian culture. The display started with Canadian Aboriginals walking on ice that broke up and floated away under the northern lights, which were created by tiered screens hanging from the ceiling of the arena. Projection cameras created the rolling, bouncing northern lights, took us through the lush forests of Canada, wheat fields, and onward to mountainous terrain with snowboarders and skiers.

The opening ceremonies gave us a glimpse into Canadian culture. Personally, I would love to go find the funky, tap-dancing fiddlers and pull up chair, give a listen, and enjoy a good, Canadian beer.

Donald Sutherland’s voice was heard echoing through the arena has he narrated the great, Canadian story. He was one of six Canadians to carry in the Olympic flag, along with Jacque Villeneuve, a race car driver who I used to cheer for; and Anne Murray, a singer who my parents used to listen to when I was kid, and who I called, “Aunt Mary.” Gotta love kids. Yeah, I was cute wearing my little “tony-pales” while sitting on Mom’s lap and listening to “Aunt Mary.”

While we were watching the opening ceremonies, my brother kept saying, “Wow, this better win an Emmy,” and “I can’t believe nothing has gone wrong!” Well, something did go wrong when it came time to light the indoor torch. Four Canadians, including hockey great, Wayne Gretzy, “The Great One,” who I saw play at the Joe Louis Arena many years ago, stood on the arena floor waiting for the four outer legs of the torch to pop up from the floor.

The world waited and watched, some of us praying that Vancouver could continue this perfect show. Unfortunately, one of the “legs” would not spring up from the floor, but the Canadians persevered and proceeded by raising the other three. The four torch-bearers walked to the different columns and lit them from the ground. Three of the torch bearers lit their columns while the fourth stood in the middle holding her torch in the air. The flames shot up the columns to the main center torch and the games began…well, not yet.

The rules state that the Olympic torch must be lit for the whole city to see, so hockey great, torch-bearing, Canadian Wayne Gretzky and his torch were transported through the streets of Vancouver via a GMC pickup truck to the outdoor torch. Gretzky walked up to the outdoor torch, which was the perfect counterpart to the indoor torch, and lit one of the columns on which the flame traveled up to the torch top to light the remaining three column tops and the larger, middle torch. Five flames now burn as one in the great city of Vancouver, Canada.