Monday, December 16, 2013

bikespeak

bike vocabulary drives me bonkers.  let's just call it bikespeak.

the more and more i am around cyclists, the more i catch myself staying stupid phrases, that are indiscernible to the normal ear.

this must stop!

i made a handy chart below - please read - and do your best to resume to normal speak.  i will do my part.

What you sayWhat you meanExample
"Refeuling"Stuffing your faceSometimes I even hear people use the phrase "refueling" when they aren't even cycling.  If you go to the mall and stop for an Auntie Anne's pretzel, you can't really call that re-fueling.  If you go on a recovery ride and stop for coffee and a pastry, that also is not refueling.  Even if you are "refeuling" during a ride, just say eat.
"Resting"Being Lazy"Rest day -- need to recover." One of my favorites.  A great excuse not to do dishes, laundry, cleaning, take out trash, or take care of anything that really needs to be done.  
"Recovering"See Above See above
"Need a massage"I'm indulgingDoes anyone ever really *need* a massage.  Somehow when I took health class, I don't really remember seeing "massage" high up on Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
"Can't ____ because of my coach"Making a lame excuse For real?  How old are you?  Is this like when you were in high school and your mom would say: "if you need an excuse at the party... you can always use me."  No need to make your coach into public enemy #1.  I'm sure he/she isn't a huge buzz kill.  You're an adult - if you want to do something, do it. Tell your coach your schedule, that is what you are paying them for. If you don't want to go on a ride with your friend, just say it.  No need to bring your coach into it.
"Fuel up"EatAre you a car?  You are just eating.  Just talk like a normal person and say eat. 
"Hydrate"DrinkThis one isn't so bad, but still, drink and thirsty are perfectly acceptable words in the English dictionary.      
"Bonked"SuckedJust cause you were stupid to not eat enough doesn't change anything.  You still sucked.  Own it.
"Junior"Teenager, Teen, YouthDon't get me started on this one.  Who uses the word "junior" other than an old man saying to his grandson: "hey junior, come over here."  I don't know why the national federation decides to call 10-18 year olds "juniors" - but can't we just say what most people in society say... high schooler, middle schooler, youth, teen, etc.  Nobody says junior unless you are 80.

I am sure I can think of more, but let's first start by eradicating these from our vocabulary.  That will definitely prove to be challenging enough.

Friday, December 13, 2013

i'll always have the F100

it's that time of year...cleaning house.

who needs this bike...



when you have this bike...

itsnotaboutthebike, itsnotaboutthebike, itsnotaboutthebike

that's the F100.  if you haven't heard of the F100.... what's wrong with you?  let me just give you some fun facts about the F100 to make you (er, me) recall how sweet it is:
  • The F100 has the uniformly perfect seat angle for time trialing: 73 degrees.  48cm frame, 61cm frame - same, same!  Why mess with a good thing?
  • I AM BETH.  name decals, check.
  • 9-speed.  Anything more just requires double digits.
  • F100 - almost vitage.  Now you can only buy the 500 model
  • I once won a time trial on it.... and mark my word, I'll do it again in 2014.  
Speaking of 2014 - I am pretty excited.  So what's up with me?  I have some really awesome individual sponsors that have agreed to work with me, and I am excited to talk about those a lot once january rolls around.  I'm not riding with a team next year, and will be focusing my year a lot more on track, but doing some road stuff too. But for now, back to cleaning.