Eric C.
I think the premise of the article is a little flawed....
whatever diversion or escape cycling may provide for some men is no
different than other sports and hobbies that may be considered "guy
stuff".
and to say that men enjoy or pursue such a diversion specifically to
avoid relating to women (consciously or subconsciously) is a bit
narrow....if such a phenomenon exists...the discussion should be
broader.
it's true that men and women are wired differently... it doesn't take a
genius to figure that out.. (that whole men are from mars, women from
venus thing).
it's probably fairer to say that for the most part , from the dawn of
time to eternity, guys will tend to enjoy "guy stuff", for better or
worse....to express themselves, share their feelings and all that stuff
is still pretty much a super-human feat for most males.
there is a realsyndrome or dysfunction...where guys will fixate,
ramble, and obsess about cycling gear (it could easily be stereos,
motorcycles, dungeons and dragons, sports trivia)...and these folks
have trouble relating to PEOPLE period....not just women. It's all
about social skills.
Poor social and emotional development is not a RESULT of an interest or
active participation in cycling or any other hobby, but something that
my push a person toward a certain activity.
I would have to argue that activities like cycling do more good than
harm and if there is a negative impact on someone's personal life..that
has more to do with the person and their circumstances, social and
emotional development and less to do with the actual activity or hobby.
Now....triathlon...that's a sport that's screwed up, for sure. and
will doom any relationship. :)
Eric
-------------------
bikemecca.com
On Monday, January 31, 2005, at 03:51 AM, ob-@topica.com wrote:
-- Topica Digest --
It's not about the bike - or is it?
By lynch-@yahoo.com
results-Cyclcross World Championsips
By cmur-@obra.org
FS: Fixed gear and Jamis Mt. Bike
By palm-@comcast.net
Fw: Road racing clinics?
By E-Ra-@comcast.net
------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 09:08:44 -0800
From: Lynette Chiang <lynch-@yahoo.com>
Subject: It's not about the bike - or is it?
Folks, I am doing some research for a different kind of bike article. I
meet a lot of bike people in my job at Bike Friday. It seems there is a
'bike-guy' syndrome (or 'phenomenon' for those who might take exception
to 'syndrome'), where from a young age (or even an old age) a man,
typically, uses the bike to escape having to relate, especially to the
opposite sex. This has often been written about in the realm of
athletics. Perhaps it is no different, and quite a few male cyclists,
the ones who have been divorced twice or have been alone for several
years) or their estranged partners, tell me that this is a definite
syndrome. "I did not know any better." they say. "If only I could have
been different, if my father didn't do/say blah blah to me etc etc ".
Any thoughts you have on this are welcome. Indicate what I can quote
from you and what I cannot. And who else you think I could interview
about it. Mainly, I am interested in your view. I received interesting
replies from people like Phil Liggett and Maynard Hershon, so it's
definitely one to ponder! Maynard of course, wrote the seminal
satirical article 'The Rules' back in 1997 about how to meet women on
centuries. 'Do not mention bike brand parts' etc. Wry and true. It's
OK, also, if you think I am talking a load of post modernist feminist
psychobabble - you can tell me so. And of course, there are women who
are 'bike gals' but this syndrome it is definitely skewed towards men,
particularly in the roadie sense rather than MTB. Send replies about
this to lynchiang at yahoo dot com as I am sure many well balanced and
happily married or partnered readers will hate to have their brake shoe
discussions interrupted by talk about such angst-ridden matters ... :o)
Thanks in advance.
Lynette
Lynette Chiang, Bike Friday World Traveler
http://www.galfromdownunder.com
PERU trip: http://www.bikefriday.com/bf/galfromdownunder-peru2004
THE HANDSOMEST MAN IN CUBA USA Edition
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"The only time you will put it down is when you finish it." -
Australian Cyclist magazine.
"I can't put the @#$% thing down" - Amazon reviews
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